5-Day Bhutan Sightseeing Tour through Thimphu, Punakha and Paro

• 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 in Thimphu.

• Visit Trashichhoe Dzong, the beautiful medieval fortress-monastery that houses most of the government's offices and the 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, and see students at work producing intricate designs on cloth.

• Later, visit the Textile Museum and Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony to 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.

• In the 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 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.

• In the 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 your flight to the onward destination.