Bhutan Tours | Small Group & Private Tours

31 March - 13 April 2025 | 14 DAYS 2025 Paro Festival Tour

Some people travel for art and culture. Some for nature or adventure. Then there are those who travel for spiritual reasons, to learn a bit more about the world, or history or discover special foods. This tour gives you all those things and more.

Scheduled to coincide with an amazing Tsechu (festival) so you can experience the ancient living culture of Bhutan, we also visit Bhutan’s many unique cultural sites and explore ancient fortresses and monasteries, walk pristine mountains and valleys and meet the beautiful Bhutanese people who will charm you with their big smiles and simple warmth.

Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu, has much to offer and you will be inspired by beautiful architecture, delightful bookshops, museums and arts and craft schools. Leaving thriving city life behind, at Punakha Dzong and Trongsa Dzong you have the opportunity to roam around the most extraordinary ancient architecture and see monks go about their daily life. We also spend leisurely days exploring Bhutan's pristine natural wonders with days in valleys roaming the countryside with an informed guide who will take you to local farmhouses for lunch or to restaurants with amazing views and local food.

This tour finishes with the great Paro Tsechu (festival) held at Paro Dzong, a rich and happy expression of Bhutan’s ancient Buddhist culture. People dress in their finest clothes and most resplendent jewelry while the monks prepare for weeks ahead, deep in prayer and meditation. They perform special masked dances, inspirations of enlightened beings in history. Bhutanese believe that watching these dances is essential for enlightenment.

We finish with a hike to the iconic Tigers Nest which will make your stay in Bhutan unforgettable.

ASK US FOR AN ITINERARY - julia@davenportmarketingandadvisory.com.au

Departure Date: 31 March 2025
Days: 14 days
Max. Group size: Max. of 8
Difficulty: Easy

Price: $ USD 4,740
Single Sup.: USD 5,195

highlights

Thimphu is a bustling city compared to the rest of Bhutan. It is the world’s only capital without a traffic light! It is also a great place to learn about the nation’s thriving arts and crafts

Punakha Dzong is arguably the most beautiful of all dzongs in Bhutan. We meander through this complex architectural structure which is home to hundreds of monks half of the year

Attend the Paro Tshechu and visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan. Later enjoy playing archery with the locals.

A magnificent and unforgettable walk in the Phobjekha valley and a visit to the magnificent Gangtey Gompa.

Visit the Yatra weaving center as we arrive in Bumthang, beautiful and shrouded in legend

Visit a traditional village and enjoy a Bhutanese picnic lunch

Enjoy a day in the Bumthang Valley with a beautiful walk through a pristine forest and a lunch in a traditional farm house.

Hike to the beautiful Tigers Nest Monastery. We will have lunch at a restaurant with unforgettable views over the Paro valley

| Day 01 | Paro to Thimphu

Arrive at Paro Airport. Transfer by road to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan

| Day 02 | Thimphu

Visit major sites and see thriving arts and crafts. Free time to explore this intriguing city

| Day 03 | Thimphu to Punakha

Drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan. Afternoon sightseeing.

| Day 04vPunakha to Gangtey

Drive to Gangtey with a scenic stops on route. Afternoon sightseeing.

| Day 05 | Gangtey

Visit Gangtey Monastery then an unforgettable walk in the Phobjekha valley. Free time to relax and explore

| Day 06 | Gangtey to Trongsa

Drive to Trongsa, the gateway to central Bhutan. Approaching Trongsa, enjoy the sight of the enormous fortress monastery dripping down the slopes of the valley. Wander the township and meet the locals

| Day 07 | Trongsa to Bumthang

After visiting the Trongsa Dzong, head to Bumthang with scenic stops on one of the most beautiful routes in Bhutan.

| Day 08 | Bumthang

Day excursion in the Ura Valley with a beautiful, easy walk though pristine forest with picnic lunch.

| Day 09 | Bumthang

A leisurely day in the beautiful Bumthang Valley. Walk though pristine forest; lunch in a traditional farm house.

| Day 10 | Bumthang to Paro

Board a domestic flight to Paro with magnificent views of the Himalayan range

| Day 11 | Paro Festival

Attend the Paro Festival (Tshechu), visit Kichu Lhakhang, and play archery with the locals.

| Day 12 | Paro

Hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery with lunch at a restaurant with unforgettable views over the Paro valley.

| Day 13 | Paro

Get up early if you wish to attend the unforgettable Thanka unfurling with the locals. Rest of day free for leisure, shopping and personal sightseeing in Paro.

| Day 14 | Departure

Tour concludes.

INCLUSIONS

Dept of Tourism accredited home stays and 3 star hotel accommodation

All meals

All transfers and sightseeing with licensed English speaking guide for the whole trip

All entrance fees and permits

Bottled drinking water daily

All internal taxes and charges including Sustainable Tourism Fund levy which goes towards education, healthcare and the building of infrastructure, airport tax, insurance surcharge, fuel surcharge and Visa Fee

EXCLUSIONS

International Airfare to / from Bangkok or place of departure; Flight ex BKK to /from Paro; internal flight

Personal expenses such as bar bills, tips, telephone, laundry etc.

Expenses due to nature / unforeseen events such as flight cancellation, road blockade, no show etc.

Travel insurance- must be evidenced

Payza

Payza is one of Bhutan’s most experienced and popular tour guides. Julia and Payza met in 2010 with Julia’s first trip to Bhutan, and Payza made it unforgettable. Not only is he highly organized with meticulous attention to detail and speaks fantastic English, but the extra care he puts into ensuring you have the best time possible is awesome. From consideration of special dietary needs to finding the best vantage points for festivals, to negotiating a way to get you that special photograph in a monastery, to telling the most fabulous and unforgettable stories that will have you laughing, Payza is a joy to travel with. He says that what he enjoys most about being a tour guide is sharing how people can live happily. He believes visitors come to understand and appreciate these values better through journeying though Bhutan.