Bhutan · Religious & Spiritual

6-Day Religious Tour of Bhutan from Paro with Punakha and Taktsang

6 Days Round trip from Thimphu Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Pay a visit to the Punakha Dzong
02 Visit the Temple of the Divine Madman, Lhakhang Karpo, and Lhakhang Nagpo
03 Marvel at the architecture of the Taktsang Monastery
04 Observe the National Memorial Chorten, a monument commemorating the third Druk Gyalpo

Sign up for this 6-day religious tour to Bhutan and explore its mythical sites, ancient monuments, and sacred monasteries. Visit the Punakha Dzong, Taktsang Monastery, Lhakhang Karpo, and Lhakhang Nagpo, and delve deeper into the ethics of Buddhism at the Temple of the Divine Madman. Along the way, discover Bhutan's cultural heritage in Thimphu and enjoy time in Paro's local market or at a local brewery before the tour ends.

When you get there, lace up your boots for a hike to the Taktsang Monastery, perched seemingly precariously against a cliff, and ready yourself for a magnificent view of one of Bhutan's most enduring images.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Haa Valley

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Paro and Transfer to Thimphu

On arrival in Paro, your representative will be at the airport to whisk you off to the hotel.
Drive through verdant forests and picturesque valleys until you arrive at Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
After check-in, meet your tour leader for a pre-trip briefing at 1 p.m., then head out to get acquainted with the city on an orientation walk.
Later, sit back and get to know your fellow passengers over a welcome dinner.

Day 02

Cultural Exploration of Thimphu

After breakfast, make a foray into the cultural aspect of Bhutan by visiting its most important centres of learning, starting with the National Memorial Chorten - a monument constructed to commemorate the third Druk Gyalpo, the head of the kingdom.
Continue to the National Library, a repository of Bhutan's cultural heritage and Buddhist literature, and then visit the Zorig Chusum Institute to observe young artists deftly moving their fingers or hammering metals into shape, keeping the traditional arts of Bhutan alive and thriving.
Later in the afternoon, drive up to the Drubthob Lhakhang Nunnery to observe snapshots of daily life, as well as the panoramic views afforded by the road en route.

Day 03

Scenic Drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass

Follow the road to Punakha - an approximately 3.5-hour drive via the Dochula Pass - ornamented by mountain vistas and hills that stretch out to the blue horizon.
Once the afternoon settles in, walk through rich green paddy fields to reach Chimi Lhakhang, or the Temple of the Divine Madman - a quirky temple built by an unorthodox Buddhist monk. Listen to the story of its inception, which is just as quirky as its murals. Once you're done visiting the temple, head across to the farmlands and gain an insight into the day-to-day existence of its residents.

Day 04

Punakha Dzong and Journey to Haa Valley

Explore the approximately 400-year-old Punakha Dzong in the forenoon before driving out to the Haa Valley. Despite the frequent fires and natural calamities that have damaged the Dzong, modern renovation and preservation efforts have kept alive its reputation as arguably the most aesthetic among all in Bhutan. Indeed, with the waters of two rivers washing its sides and green hills rising behind it, the prophecy of its construction and beauty seems aptly fulfilled.
Walk through its seven stories and then drive for approximately 5 hours to Haa Valley, a quiet getaway cradled by pine forests, green hills, and a river that crawls across the valley floor. Almost as if to live up to its name - Hidden Rice Valley - Haa lies suffused in stories wrapped in mystery, magic, and myth, some of which you might uncover as you visit the Monastery of Lhakhang Karpo (White Temple), followed by Lhakhang Nagpo (Black Temple).

Day 05

Chele-La Pass, Taktsang Monastery, and Paro

Driving east, ascend the steep and highest pass of Chele-La, standing at 4200 metres, and gaze at the distant mountains of Chomolhari (6700 metres) and Jichu Drakey before descending through pine forests and rhododendron-clad woods to reach Paro.
When you get there, lace up your boots for a hike to the Taktsang Monastery, perched seemingly precariously against a cliff, and ready yourself for a magnificent view of one of Bhutan's most enduring images.
Head back to Paro after this excursion and, if you have time, take a walk through the local market or sample at a local brewery before ending your adventures over the last dinner.

Day 06

Departure from Paro

It's time now to bid farewell to your tour leader and new friends, but not without a backpack full of memories.
Departure transfers are included on the day.