• Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Keep your copy of the visa clearance letter handy.

• Meet your Bhutanese tour guide and driver outside the terminal building and transfer to Thimphu.

• Stroll around the city in the evening.

Overnight stay at Thimphu.

• Visit Trashichhoe Dzong, the beautiful medieval fortress/monastery which houses most of the Government’s office and King’s Throne room. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot.

• Stop at the National Library, which has a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts.

• Drive to the Arts & Crafts School, famous for traditional 'Thangka' paintings. See students at work producing intricate designs on cloth.

• Later visit Textile and Folk Heritage Museums, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.

• After lunch, visit the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays a wide assortment of beautifully hand-woven and crafted products.

• Drive to the Memorial Chorten. 

• Late afternoon, drive to Punakha across Dochula pass (3,080 m).

Overnight at the hotel in Punakha.

• After breakfast, visit the Punakha Dzong. 

• Drive to Wangdue Phodrang to visit the Dzong and local market. 

• After lunch, drive to Paro with a short stop at Dochula pass.

• En route, visit the Simtokha Dzong.

Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

• After breakfast, take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries. The excursion to the monastery takes about 5 hours for a round trip.

• Afternoon, visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum of the Kingdom. 

• Walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, which has a long and fascinating history.

Overnight at the hotel in Paro.

• After breakfast, drive to the airport for a flight to your onward destination.