Bhutan Cultural Tour - 4 Days
4 Days
Easy
Private Vehicle
Hotel
The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is fast emerging from centuries of self imposed isolation. First opened to tourists in 1974 in very regulated manner upon the coronation of present Bhutanese King, this mountain kingdom is still perhaps the world's most exclusive tourists destination.Due to the Royal Government's far-sighted policy to preserve the countries pristine environment and its culture, the harmful effects to industrialization and mass tourism on the environment and the traditional lifestyle of Bhutanese have been carefully avoided. This makes Bhutan a truly unique destination. An unspoiled country with majestic mountains, a unique cultural heritage preserved for many centuries, an architectural style like no other, a landfill of warm hearted and friendly people, reveals a true paradise in the lost era of the present century
Itinerary details
Day 1: Arrive Paro Transfer To Thimphu (55 Km, Approx 2 Hours Drive
Fly into Himalayas with Druk Air, Bhutan's National Air Carrier. The green walls of the hills known as doors or gateways, in to Bhutan from the plains of India rise ever higher as the plane flies north towards the Tibetan border. Silvery rivers rush along the valleys, waterfalls plunge down the forested mountainsides, and to the north, the great snowcapped peaks of the inner Himalayas rise up to the heavens. Farm houses dot the hillsides on either side of the plane.
As the aircraft enters the Paro valley, look down and you will see the Paro Dzong on the hillside overlooking Paro Chu (river) with Ta Dzong, formerly a watchtower and now the National Museum, above it. Received by our representative at the airport and transfer to Thimphu, The modern capital town of Bhutan. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 2: Thimphu / Paro (55 Km, Approx 1.1/2 Hour Drive)
After breakfast, sightseeing in Thimphu valley including visit to the following: the National Library, housing an extensive collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts; the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan's 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later visit Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.
After lunch, visit King's Memorial Chorten continuously circumambulated by people, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan's third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk ("the father of modern Bhutan") who has wished to erect monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.
Then, visit the government-run Handicrafts Emporium and local crafts shops, to browse through example of Bhutan's fine traditional arts. Here you can buy hand-woven textiles, thangkha paintings, masks, ceramics, slate and wood carvings, jewelry, interesting items made from local materials.
Evening drive past Trashichhoedzong, "fortress of the glorious religion". This is the center of government and religion, site of monarch's throne room and seat of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Built in 1641 by the political and religious unifier of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, it was reconstructed in 1960s in traditional Bhutanese manner, without nails or architectural plans. Later, drive to Paro. Overnight at the hotel in Paro.
Day 3: Tiger's Nest Hike & Paro Sightseeing
After an early breakfast, drive to the trailhead and begin the hike to the iconic Paro Taktsang, Bhutan's most revered monastery. The hike takes approximately 3 hours uphill and offers spectacular views of the monastery, dramatically perched on a granite cliff 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Spend time exploring this sacred site before descending back to the base.
On the return journey, if time and energy permit, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred temples, believed to mark the introduction of Buddhism to the country.
After lunch, visit Rinpung Dzong, the magnificent "Fortress of the Heap of Jewels." This historic dzong is renowned for its impressive Bhutanese architecture and beautiful wall paintings illustrating Buddhist legends, including the Four Friends, the Wheel of Life, scenes from the life of Milarepa, Mount Sumeru, and intricate cosmic mandalas.
Continue to Drukgyel Dzong, the ruins of a fortress where Bhutanese warriors defended the kingdom against Tibetan invasions centuries ago. On a clear day, enjoy magnificent views of the sacred peak Jomolhari, known as the "Mountain of the Goddess."
Overnight at your hotel in Paro.
Day 4: Departure To Onward Destination
After early breakfast at the hotel, drive to the airport to Kathmandu upon arrival Kathmandu we will have guide to pick you up. Upon arrival drive to Hotel afternoon sightseeing Kathmandu city.
The Cost Include(s)
- Flight Kathmandu- Paro-Kathmandu,
- Bhutan Tourist Tariff Royalty & Visa fees,
- All private excursions and transfers in superior air-conditioned vehicle,
- Local English speaking guide/tour leader,
- Experienced driver,
- Accommodation in carefully selected, highest standard goverment approved hotels & guesthouses,
- All meals in Bhutan,
- All entrance fees and permits
The Cost Exclude(s)
- All personal expenses such as bars, beverages, laundry, telephone and tips,
- Medical / Travel Insurance
Booking
Review
Mera peak trekking
I joined the 17-days mera peak trekking through Nepal Social Treks. All the plans and schedules are good and strong, including the acclimatisation/rest day or before&after the trekking! My guide Pasang Jangbu Sherpa and my porter Samuel are very supportive from all aspects through the whole trek from day to night. I have experienced a bit of altitude sickness in the trip but my guide got the experience to handle my body condition which makes me more confident in the whole trip. This is a fantastic experience and I will definitely choose this company again for my next nepal trip! Thanks for everything!
Upper Mustang and Tiji Festival amazing experience in Tibetan culture
I had an amazing experience in Upper Mustang with Nepal Social Trek, they are profissional with large experience in many treks around Nepal. I been for about 2 weeks with their guide ( Santabir ) and one of their porters ( Nishan ) who were also extremely professional, knowledgeable and warm hearted, we went to experience the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang and it was incredible an unique experience worth every step of the trekking in the Nepali Mustang desert with amazing landscapes and interesting villages. Most important I was safe and taken care of everything by Nepal Social Treks and their guide and porter, if I have to recommend an agency for you do book me your treks in Nepal i highly recommend Nepal Social Treks. Thanks for everything guys you will be with me in my memories and i learned a lot with you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Highly recommend Nepal social treks!
We did the Annapurna circuit trek with Bishnu as our guide and Nabin and Suman as our porters. It was an incredible experience, amazing views and rewarding trekking getting to experience the nepalese culture along with way. Bishnu was very knowledgeable about the mountains, preventing altitude sickness, and was always there to help us with our crampons, poles, or anything else we needed. We were very well fed/ fuelled and he kept us laughing along the way with his funny sayings. We were always in accommodation with amazing views too. Nabin and Suman our porters, hard to summarise how incredibly hard they both work all while always having a smile on their face. We could not have done the Trek without them and are forever grateful for how hard they work. Definitely recommend going with nepal social treks it was an incredible experience.
This tour was amazing!! 10/10 would recommend. All of my communication with them was prompt and very helpful. For my trek to Khopra Danda it ended up only being myself and my very experienced guide, Lakpa Sherpa, and I felt so taken care of beginning to end. I did not bring enough luggage for a porter to be necessary so I wore my larger backpack during the trek and my guide carried his pack and my day pack. We also made some adjustments to our route due to weather conditions and what my guide thought would provide the best experience and I was grateful we did! The accommodations along the way provided everything you could need and the food was filling and delicious. The hotels in Pokhara and Kathmandu were much nicer than I expected and the taxi trips to and from airports were all well organized and made the trip very easy and comfortable. If you are flying between Kathmandu and Pokhara and want the sky view of the mountains, ask to sit on the right side of the plane when flying to Pokhara and the left side when flying to Kathmandu. You cover a lot of different terrain and climates when trekking in this region! The gear list that Nepal Social Treks sent was very thorough and helpful. I used Aquatabs and a filtering water bottle for drinking water and it worked very well the whole trek and saves the waste of purchasing water along the way. There is power and wifi essentially everywhere you go. I got a SIM card in Kathmandu (the amazing receptionist at the Temple Suites Hotel helped me out!) and it worked well throughout the trek. I would highly recommend Nepal Social Treks and am already thinking about when I can return to Nepal! Thank you!! :)
Greetings from Indonesia! I recently completed the EBC Trek, guided by Mr. Ramji and assisted by Bbag, our porter. The journey was truly amazing, and the views were absolutely spectacular. Mr. Ramji proved to be a caring and exceptional guide. His patience and encouragement greatly helped me, especially when I almost gave up due to altitude sickness in Namche Bazaar and Tengboche. Thanks to Mr Ram, Bbag, Nepal Social Team's and Mr. Basu's support, we successfully made it to Base Camp. I first discovered Nepal Social through the Lonely Planet guidebook Trekking in Nepal Himalaya. From that moment, I knew they came highly recommended for trekkers embarking on their adventure in Nepal. Every aspect of the journey was flawlessly arranged — from seamless logistics to welcoming stays at comfortable 3-star hotels in Thamel, Kathmandu. With their professional service and meticulous attention to detail, Nepal Social guarantees a trekking experience that is not only memorable but completely worry-free.
Met Mr. Basu at Nepal Social Treks booth in Toronto at the Adventure Outdoor Show in Feb & decided to book our Nepal land trip with Mount Everest & Annapurna helicopter tours. Also booked Temple Himalaya hotel in Pokhara after his recommendation. Everything went great & beyond our expectations🙏🙏🙏🙏. Highly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Shall I Visit Bhutan?
You can visit Bhutan any time of the year. However, in autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best seasons to visit Bhutan. During these time of the year, you can find clear warm weather with many important festivals of the country.
Will I Need A Visa To Travel To Bhutan? How Can I Apply For A Visa To Travel To Bhutan?
You must have a Bhutanese Visa to enter Bhutan. For visa application, you must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after you leave Bhutan. For further information follow the link http://www.mfa.gov.bt/?page_id=220
Will You Provide Any Documents That I Have To Take With Me To Bhutan?
Yes, we will provide the following documents.
Visa confirmation letter: Your visa for Bhutan will be organized by us prior to the start of your trip. For this, you must send us a color copy of your passport and two passport size color photographs.
Itinerary: You must take a copy of your tour itinerary with you.
How Can I Enter Bhutan?
You can enter Bhutan by two ways:
By air: You can enter Bhutan only through a Tour Company. We will arrange your visa for your trip to Bhutan. You can book online tickets available for Druk Air for your trip to Bhutan. Please check http://www.drukair.com.bt/ for the status of your tickets.
By land: You can use two overland points to enter/exit Bhutan. You can enter Phuntsholing in southwest Bhutan from the Indian state of West Bengal. From Phuntsholing, you have to take a 6-hour drive to Thimphu. You can also enter Bhutan from Samdrup Jongkhar in the southeast which is 110 km from Guwahati, India.
Will You Arrange A Private Tour For Me?
Of course. We will arrange you a private tour as per your demands. We value the wish of our customer and will try to fulfill all of your demands.
Can I Customize My Itinerary Of The Tour?
Of course. You can customize your tour and schedule as per your convenience. We will try to assist you to plan your itinerary based on your interest, limited time, and your suitability. We will manage your itinerary as per your demand.
Do I Need To Book My Tour In Advance?
Well, you will get to select your arrival and departure dates if you book your tour in advance. Similarly, if you’re planning for holiday trips, you must reserve your hotels several months before to find the best selection. So, it’s more advantage if you book in advance.
Will I Be Safe While Traveling To Bhutan?
Sure, you’ll be absolutely safe while traveling to Bhutan. The crime rate in Bhutan is very low.
