Day 1. Arrival in Paro
Arrive in Bhutan’s Paro Valley, its airport tucked dramatically between forested ridges. Transfer to your boutique lodge surrounded by rice paddies and alpine air. In the afternoon, visit Paro Rinpung Dzong, with its towering white walls and ornate woodwork, before a gentle riverside walk. Evening at leisure with a welcome dinner of Bhutanese flavours — red rice, ema datshi (chilies with cheese), and warm butter tea.
Day 2. Paro’s Temples & Traditions
After breakfast, enjoy a short hike through farm villages to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, where pilgrims spin prayer wheels worn smooth by centuries of devotion. Continue to the National Museum, housed in a hilltop watchtower with collections of masks, thangkas, and sacred relics. Return to your lodge for an afternoon of stillness — perhaps a guided meditation with a monk, or a herbal bath to ease into the slower Bhutanese rhythm.
Day 3. Paro → Dochula Pass → Punakha
Set out by road across the mountains, climbing towards Dochula Pass. Here 108 white chortens crown the ridge, and on clear days Himalayan peaks rise in the distance. Pause for tea and the sound of prayer flags flapping in the wind before descending into the fertile Punakha Valley. After settling into your riverside hotel, visit Punakha Dzong, a vast fortress where two rivers meet, its painted balconies glowing golden at sunset. Evening free to relax.
Day 4. Punakha’s Rivers & Valleys
This morning, hike through rice terraces and small hamlets to reach Chimi Lhakhang, the “fertility temple” dedicated to Bhutan’s most colourful saint. Share a picnic by the riverside before crossing Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge, strung with thousands of prayer flags. In the late afternoon, return to your lodge for a private hot-stone bath, where river stones heated in fire infuse the water with minerals. A restorative ritual once reserved for farmers, today it’s your chance to soak like a local.
Day 5. Punakha → Gasa Tshachu
Venture north into wilder valleys to reach Gasa, home to Bhutan’s most beloved hot springs. Along the way, stop at Gasa Dzong, a fortress perched high above the valley. Settle into your simple lodge, then join locals in the open-air pools, where steaming mineral waters bubble beneath forested slopes. Evening free for stargazing and a rustic dinner.
Day 6. Gasa → Thimphu
Begin with a final morning soak, letting the steam rise against the forested slopes. Then travel south through winding valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. After checking into your boutique hotel, head to the hilltop Buddha Dordenma, a giant golden statue gazing across the city. If it’s the weekend, explore the bustling market, where farmers sell chillies, yak cheese, and herbal incense. Dinner tonight may be accompanied by a traditional performance of song and dance.
Day 7. Thimphu’s Cultural Life
Explore the capital’s blend of tradition and modernity. Start at the National Memorial Chorten, circled by locals in prayer, then visit the School of Arts and Crafts, where students keep Bhutanese painting, weaving, and woodcarving alive. In the afternoon, try your hand at Bhutan’s national sport with an archery session before returning to your lodge for a wellness treatment or meditation. Evening free to enjoy the cafés and craft shops of Thimphu.
Day 8. Thimphu → Paro → Bumdra Trek
Return to Paro and set out on a trek into the highlands. The trail climbs through rhododendron and pine forest into alpine meadows strung with prayer flags. Arrive at Bumdra Camp, perched high above the valley, where tents are set up with full support staff. Views sweep across ridges and peaks; at night, stars blaze overhead as you gather around a campfire dinner, wrapped in the silence of the mountains.
Day 9. Bumdra → Tiger’s Nest → Paro
Wake to dawn light in the mountains before beginning your descent. The trail winds downhill to the iconic Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), clinging impossibly to a cliff. Explore its inner temples and meditation caves, listening to the murmur of prayer before completing the hike into the valley. Return to Paro and check into your lodge for a well-earned soak and a quiet evening.
Day 10. Paro at Leisure
A day to slow down and savour the valley. Options include a short hike to a hermitage, a farmhouse lunch with a local family, or time in your lodge’s spa for a final hot-stone bath. In the afternoon, receive a blessing at a nearby lhakhang before a farewell dinner of Bhutanese dishes.
Day 11. Departure
Transfer to Paro Airport for your onward flight, departing with the memory of valleys, springs, and prayer flags carried on the wind.
Accommodation
COMO Uma Paro
Paro
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Boutique luxury lodge blending Bhutanese tradition with contemporary comfort
&Beyond Punakha River Lodge
Punakha
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Luxury tented suites among orchards and rice fields
Six Senses Thimphu
Thimphu
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wellness-focused retreat with serene interiors and sweeping valley views
Travel your way...
Our hot-spring holidays are entirely bespoke. We start by listening closely to your wishes, then craft a personalised itinerary just for you, fine-tuning every detail.
Your thermal journey. Your rhythms. Your way.
