Before choosing dates
- Decide whether weather, festivals, fewer visitors, or price matters most.
- Allow at least seven days for Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha without rushing.
- Check regional flight availability before buying long-haul connections.
Plan your nights
Add nights in each valley to see how long your trip becomes. We check the drives and send you a priced plan.
- ParoArrival, Tiger's Nest2 nights
- ThimphuThe capital2 nights
- PunakhaDzong and rice fields2 nights
- PhobjikhaCrane valley · about 5 hours from Punakha0 nights
- BumthangCentral Bhutan · long drive or domestic flight0 nights
- HaaQuiet valley near Paro0 nights
Your trip
7 days
Paro → Thimphu → Punakha
We check the drives and send you a priced plan. Free, no payment to start.
Bhutan planning checklist
What to settle before you book, for a first visit.
Entry and paperwork
- Use a passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip.
- Budget the $40 tourist visa and the Sustainable Development Fee.
- Keep travel insurance details and passport scans available securely.
Budget decisions
- The current SDF is $100 per adult per night through 31 August 2027.
- Choose a hotel level before comparing quotes; it materially changes cost.
- Confirm whether meals, entrances, permits, guide, and driver are itemised.
Pace and comfort
- Tell your planner about mobility, altitude, dietary, or room requirements.
- Keep arrival day light and avoid stacking long drives with major hikes.
- Pack layers, broken-in walking shoes, sun protection, and rain protection.
A balanced first seven days
Adjust this route around your flights, festival dates and preferred pace.
- Day1Paro → ThimphuArrive in Paro, meet your guide, and take the scenic drive to Thimphu. Keep the first afternoon gentle while you adjust to the altitude.
- Day2ThimphuChoose a few visits in the capital: Buddha Dordenma, a craft workshop or market, and Tashichho Dzong when access permits.
- Day3Thimphu → PunakhaCross Dochula Pass, pause for Himalayan views, then descend into the warmer Punakha valley for an easy village walk.
- Day4PunakhaVisit Punakha Dzong and the suspension bridge. Add Chimi Lhakhang, rafting, or a longer countryside walk to suit your interests.
- Day5Punakha → ParoReturn west with stops your guide can adapt to the weather. Explore Paro town and prepare for the next day's hike.
- Day6ParoHike to Tiger's Nest. Start early, take the ascent steadily, and leave the afternoon flexible for rest or a traditional hot-stone bath.
- Day7Paro departureTransfer to Paro Airport. If your flight is later, fit in a short local visit without making the departure day rushed.
Turn the sample route into your trip
Share your dates, party size, pace and interests. We'll return an itemised proposal with no payment required.