Bhutan, Tiger's Nest, Punakha, and a few quiet valleys

March, April, May, October, November

Spring (March–May) brings rhododendrons in the high valleys and jacaranda blossoms around the Punakha Dzong. Autumn (October–November) is the clearest mountain visibility of the year. December and January are cold but bookable and even quieter.

Tradeoffs: Monsoon (June–September) closes some passes and clouds the views. April is the most expensive month: it overlaps with the Paro Tshechu festival and books out 4 months ahead.

7 days ideal, 5 minimum

Five days does Paro and one overnight in Punakha. Seven adds proper time to acclimatise before Tiger's Nest, a Thimphu morning, and a day with no agenda, which is the way Bhutan is meant to be done.

Flights

~£950

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Accommodation

~£720

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Activities

~£540

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Ground transport

~£220

Food

~£180

Buffer

~£140

Total~£2,750

SDF of £80/night × 6 nights = £480. Mid-tier hotels (~£90/night), licensed guide + driver (£100/day shared between two), entrance fees. LHR–Paro via Delhi or Kathmandu on Druk Air. Higher-end Aman properties triple the budget.

Estimate only. We don't see live prices.

1. 1

   Arrive Paro, acclimatise

   • Druk Air into Paro, left-side window for the Himalaya pass

   • Slow walk along the river

   • Early dinner of ema datshi (chilli + cheese)

   Sleeping in Paro valley farmstay or boutique hotel

2. 2

   Drive to Thimphu

   • Hour to Thimphu

   • Tashichho Dzong and the giant Buddha

   • Walk the weekend market if it's Saturday

   Sleeping in Thimphu hotel

3. 3

   Over Dochula to Punakha

   • Drive over Dochula Pass (clear morning, ideally)

   • Punakha Dzong walk-around

   • Hike to Khamsum Yulley chorten in the afternoon

   Sleeping in Punakha riverside lodge

4. 4

   Punakha morning, back to Paro

   • Suspension bridge walk

   • Drive back to Paro via Thimphu

   • Quiet evening, early night

   Sleeping in Paro farmstay

5. 5

   Tiger's Nest

   • Start the trek by 07:30

   • Hour at the monastery

   • Lunch at the cafeteria halfway down

   • Hot stone bath in the evening

   Sleeping in Paro farmstay

6. 6

   Slow morning

   • Drukgyel Dzong ruins

   • Kyichu Lhakhang (one of Bhutan's oldest temples)

   • Pack

   Sleeping in Paro farmstay

7. 7

   Fly home

   • Early Druk Air departure

   Sleeping in Plane

• Add Bumthang

  Three more days east gets you to the Bumthang valleys, the spiritual centre of Bhutan and where the festival calendar runs deepest. Adds a long drive each way; not worth it on a first trip unless you're chasing a specific tshechu.

• Trek the Druk Path

  A 5-day high-altitude trek between Paro and Thimphu, camping at lakes above 4,000m. Replaces the Punakha night and most of the cultural sites; better suited to a second visit.

Bhutan punishes travellers who want to optimise. The pace is set by the guide and the road. The trip is meant to be partly about not getting much done. If your idea of a holiday involves checking off ten cities, this isn't it.

Visa

All foreign visitors except Indians, Bangladeshis, and Maldivians need a visa, arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator before arrival. Allow 2 weeks.

Vaccines

Routine boosters. No malaria risk in the valleys above 1,700m, which is most of where you'll be.

Safety

Among the safest countries in the world. The risks are altitude (Tiger's Nest, Dochula Pass) and the mountain driving. Both are managed by the licensed guide system.

Money

USD cash converts at the airport. ATMs are unreliable; cards work at some hotels. The SDF and all guide/driver costs are pre-paid; you'll spend cash on tips, drinks, and shopping.

1. 1

   The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night (halved from 200 in late 2023). It covers healthcare and conservation, not the trip itself.

2. 2

   Tiger's Nest is a 4 to 6 hour round trip with roughly 520 to 700m of climb. Acclimatise for at least one day at altitude first.

3. 3

   Cross Dochula Pass at 3,100m on a clear morning, then descend into Punakha; the Dzong at the confluence of the Pho and Mo rivers is the photo set piece.

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