Bhutan Tour Packages

Bhutan is a small, landlocked country of roughly 38,000 square kilometres, wedged between two giants — India to the south and the Tibetan plateau of China to the north. What it lacks in size it makes up for in vertical drama: within a hundred kilometres the land rises from subtropical plains at barely 100 metres above sea level to Himalayan peaks above 7,000 metres.

The country divides neatly into three bands. The southern belt is a strip of hot, humid lowland and dense jungle bordering the Indian plains. The central band — where nearly all travellers spend their time — is a series of fertile, temperate valleys separated by forested ridges: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha, Bumthang. The northern band is high Himalaya, a realm of glaciers, alpine meadows and remote yak-herding communities, home to sacred unclimbed peaks such as Gangkhar Puensum, the highest mountain in the world never to have been summited.

Rivers born in the northern snows carve south through the valleys, and their confluences are traditionally where the great dzongs were built. More than seventy percent of the country remains under forest, protected by a constitution that mandates at least sixty percent forest cover for all time.

Culture is not a museum piece in Bhutan; it is lived, daily and everywhere. This is a deeply Buddhist society whose Vajrayana faith shapes the calendar, the architecture, the art and the pace of life. Prayer flags carry blessings on the wind, prayer wheels turn at every threshold, and the white-walled, gold-roofed dzongs that dominate each valley are simultaneously monastery, fortress and seat of government.

Bhutan is also the guardian of a distinctive national identity it has chosen, consciously, to protect. Traditional dress is worn daily and required in official and religious settings — the knee-length robe called the gho for men, the elegant ankle-length kira for women. Architecture follows time-honoured forms, and even modern buildings carry traditional windows and painted motifs. Archery is the national sport, and a village tournament — full of teasing, dancing and celebration — is one of the most joyful things a visitor can stumble upon.

Underpinning it all is the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan's guiding measure of progress, which weighs cultural preservation, environmental protection and psychological wellbeing alongside economic growth. It is not a slogan for tourists — it is genuinely how the country governs itself.

Bhutan is a place of experiences rather than attractions, and the best of them stay with you long after you leave.

• Hike to the Tiger's Nest. The pilgrimage to Paro Taktsang, a monastery impossibly perched on a cliff, is the defining Bhutan experience — a rewarding two-to-three hour climb through pine forest and prayer flags.
• Walk through a working dzong. The great fortress-monasteries at Paro, Thimphu and above all Punakha are architectural masterpieces still buzzing with monastic and government life.
• Cross the Dochula Pass. On a clear day the 108 memorial chortens frame a panorama of the eastern Himalaya.
• Spot black-necked cranes in Phobjikha. The glacial valley hosts these rare, revered birds each winter.
• Try a traditional hot stone bath. River stones heated in a fire and dropped into wooden tubs of herb-infused water — the classic Bhutanese unwind after a hike.
• Take part in an archery match, or a village festival. Nothing reveals the Bhutanese spirit faster.
• Spin prayer wheels and light butter lamps alongside pilgrims at Thimphu's great memorial chorten.

Paro — the gateway valley, home to the international airport, the Tiger's Nest, the beautiful Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum. Most trips begin and end here.

Thimphu — the capital and the only one in the world without a single traffic light. A fascinating blend of the traditional and the modern: the giant Buddha Dordenma statue overlooking the valley, the memorial chorten, weekend markets, and the takin preserve, home to Bhutan's peculiar national animal.

Punakha — reached over the Dochula pass and dropping into a warm, subtropical valley. Its dzong, set at the confluence of two rivers, is widely considered the most beautiful building in the country. The valley also holds the fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang.

Phobjikha (Gangtey) — a wide, glacial U-shaped valley of exceptional beauty, winter home of the black-necked cranes and a wonderful place for gentle walking.

Bumthang — a cluster of four valleys in the centre-east, the spiritual heart of Bhutan, dense with ancient temples and monasteries, and well off the standard short-trip route.

Trongsa and beyond — for travellers with more time, the road east unlocks a wilder, less-visited Bhutan.

Bhutan's festivals, or tshechus, are the beating heart of its culture and, for many travellers, the highlight of the trip. Held in the courtyards of dzongs and monasteries across the year, they are vivid, days-long celebrations of masked dance, music and devotion, drawing entire communities dressed in their finest.

The masked dances — performed by monks in elaborate costumes and fierce, beautiful masks — enact Buddhist teachings and legends, and are believed to bless all who watch. Some festivals culminate in the unfurling of a giant applique religious scroll, a thongdrel, so large it covers an entire building wall, displayed only at dawn and believed to cleanse the sins of anyone who sees it.

The most famous include the Paro Tshechu (spring) and the Thimphu Tshechu (autumn), both huge and spectacular. Smaller regional festivals such as the Punakha Drubchen, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang, and the crane festival in Phobjikha offer a more intimate experience. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year, so if seeing one matters to you, plan the trip around it — and book early, as they are popular.

Bhutan is a deeply respectful society, and a little cultural awareness goes a long way.

Do dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, especially at temples and dzongs, where you will also be asked to remove hats and shoes before entering inner sanctums. Do walk clockwise around chortens, prayer wheels and monasteries, following the pilgrims. Do ask before photographing people, and accept that photography is often forbidden inside temples — your guide will tell you where. Do carry small denominations for butter-lamp offerings and local markets.

Don't point your feet at altars or religious images, or step over anyone seated on the floor. Don't touch religious objects, statues or wall paintings. Don't smoke in public — Bhutan has strict tobacco laws, and public smoking is prohibited. Don't climb on chortens or sit on altars for photographs. And don't expect to buy or use recreational drugs — penalties are severe.

Above all, travel gently and gratefully. Bhutan has opened its doors on its own careful terms, and visitors who honour that are met with genuine, unforgettable warmth.