The tour will start and end in New Delhi, India in order for the group to fly together into and out of Paro, Bhutan. The flights into and out of Paro are included in the tour cost.

April 10 , Day 1 - Overnight Delhi: Radisson Blu Delhi Airport or similar

Upon arrival at the Delhi Airport, a driver will be waiting outside of security to transfer you to the hotel. Most likely your flight will arrive very late in the evening or very early in the morning. There will be nothing planned for today so that you can get some rest after the long flight.

April 11, Day 2 - Overnight Delhi: Radisson Blu Delhi Airport or similar - B, L

Today after breakfast, we will meet up and enjoy a private tour of New and Old Delhi with a local guide. We’ll visit sites such as the Jama Masjid Mosque, ancient bazaar of Chandni Chowk, spice market Khari Baoli, the Red Fort, shrine of Grudwara Bangla Sahib and many others. We’ll take a rickshow tour through Old Delhi and also enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. It will be a nice introduction to this part of India before moving on to Bhutan.

April 12, Day 3 - Overnight Thimpu, Hotel Drukgyal Twin Tower - L, D

It will be an early start to the day when we transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Paro, our first introduction to the beautiful county of Bhutan. Upon arrival we will be met by our driver and guide before driving to Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. We’ll start with a visit to Buddha Dordenma, standing at 177 ft hight, it is one of largest seated Buddha statues in the world. We will visit its temple and begin to learn about the Bhuddist religion and its significance to the local people. We’ll make a stop for lunch before visiting the Circumambulate Memorial Stupa with its congregation of devout Buddhists circumnavigating it from dawn to dusk (alwaya in a clockwise direction.) We’ll end our tour with a visit to Tashichho Dzong (Fortress of Splendid Religion), which is also the office of the Dragon King of Bhutan. The day will be the perfect blend of beautiful landscapes, Bhutanese architecture and Buddhist religion. After checking into our hotel, you’ll have some free time to relax before meeting in the restaurant for dinner as a group.

April 13, Day 4 - Overnight Thimpu, Hotel Drukgyal Twin Tower - B, L, D

After breakfast we’ll head out to explore some of the nature of Bhutan. We begin with a peaceful hike to the Tango Monastery. Perched high on a thickly-forested hill above the Thimphu Valley, it is one of Bhutan’s most important Buddhist sites and serves as a premier university for Buddhist studies. Next we’ll make a stop at the Pangrizam School of Astrology. Founded as a monastery in the 16th century, legend has it that a raven guided Zhadrung (the Unifier of Bhutan) here. Apart from issuing Bhutanese calendars for each year, the College of Astrology is responsible for deciding dates for important national events. We’ll stop for lunch before making our way to the Royal Takin Preserve where we’ll see the the National Animal of Bhutan. Our day will end with a visit to the Institute of Zoricghusum - the 13 Traditional Arts School - and have the privilege of meeting some of the students studying these ancient and important crafts. Once back at the hotel, we’ll have dinner as a group.

April 14, Day 5 - Overnight Punhakha, Hotel River Valley - B, L, D

After breakfast and checking out, we’ll make our way to Punakha Valley, stopping at Dochula Pass. Here at 3150 meters/10334 ft elevation, on a clear day we’ll be able to see a spectacular view of the snowcapped Himalaya mountains. Along the way to Punhakha Valley we’ll stop for a short walk to Chimi Lhakhang (also know as the Fertility Temple) a sacred Buddhist temple nestled atop a hill in the Punakha district. Here, many newly married and childless couples from all over the world visit to receive fertility blessings. We’ll end our tour with a visit to the Punakha Dzong (Fortress of Great Bliss) and a walk on the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. After checking into our hotel, you’ll have some free time to relax and enjoy the magnificent view from the terrace before having dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

April 15, Day 6 - Overnight Phuntsho Guesthouse - B, L, D

After breakfast and checking out, we’ll start our journey to the beautiul valleys of Bhumthang. We’ll make a stop at Pele La Pass (3420 m/110,662 ft) where you will have the opportunity to purchsse some local products from the local nomads. We’ll visit Chendebji Chorten, an 18th-century Buddhist stupa. Built to subdue local demons, it features striking Nepalese architecture, complete with painted eyes facing the four cardinal directions. After stopping for lunch we’ll visit Trongsa Dzong, the largest and arguably the most strategically and architecturally dramatic fortress in Bhutan. Perched on a steep ridge high above the plunging Mangde Chhu river gorge, it once controlled the crucial trade and transport route connecting eastern and western Bhutan. This is sure to be one of your favorite places in Bhutan with its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful arthitecture and dramatic views. We’ll also visit the Watch Tower Museum, built high above the dzong and once used to keep an eye over the valley. This evening we’ll check into our guesthouse before having dinner as a group.

April 16, Day 7 - Overnight Phuntsho Guesthouse - B, L, D

Today we’ll spend the day exploring the Bumthang Valley as we start with easy walk in the area, visiting some of the local sites followed with a picnic lunch. A few of the sites we’ll visit are the Jakar Dzong, the fortress of the White Bird, the seat of the first king of Bhutan, followed with a visit to the Jambay Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Bhutan and famous for its four-day festival held in October. We’ll also visit the Kurjey Lhakhang complex, one of the country’s most sacred pilgrimage sites. It takes its name from a rock cave where Guru Rinpoche (one of the founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism) meditated in the 8th century, leaving a clear imprint of his body (kur) on the stone. After lunch we’ll visit the Red Panda Beer Factory, the only microbrewery in Bhutan, where you can be refreshed with the local beer. We’ll stop at the Pema Choling Nunnery where you can meet the nuns and have the opportunity to talk to them about their life as a nun. The evening will be spent back at the guesthouse where we’ll enjoy dinner prepared by our host.

April 17, Day 8 - Overnight Phuntsho Yangkill Resort - B, L, D

Today we’ll drive to the Phobijkha Valley - the valley of the Black Necked Crane and the most remote area of Bhutan on our tour. We'll stop for lunch before visiting the Crane Observation Center and learn of this rare bird. We’ll enjoy a short hike through the valley before visiting Gantey Goemba, or the Temple on the Hilltop. This monastery, one of the largest in Bhutan, contains a monastic school and houses the ninth reincarnation of the Gangtey Tulku. Every year on the 11th of November, villagers from all over the valley gather in the courtyard here to celebrate the Black Necked Crane Festival. Our evening will be spent at leisure with an optional walk through the village where you’ll have the opportunity to see how the locals live in this remote area of Bhutan before having dinner as a group.

April 18, Day 9 - OvernightHotel Drukgyal Twin Tower - B, L, D

Today we’ll make our way back to Thimpu, making a few stops along the way. We’ll begin with a visit to the Gangtey Institution of Buddhist Studies, the premier center for Nyingma Buddhism, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. After lunch we'll arrive back into Thimpu and visit the covered market and experience where the locals buy their fruits, vegetables and other products. Upon checking into the hotel we'll enjoy dinner as a group. 

April 19, Day 10 - Overnight Shomu Chuki Resort - B, L, D

Today we’ll make our way back to Paro where we’ll visit the National Museum to learn more about the history of Bhutan and how the Royal Family fits in with its demoratic constitutional monarchy type of government. We’ll visit the Paro Dzong, sitting above the town before having some free time in town to shop for souvenirs. The evening will be spent at a local farmhouse where we’ll learn to make a few Bhutanese dishes and enjoy dinner with the family.

April 20 - Day 11 - Overnight Shomu Chuki Resort or Glamping at Bundra - B, L, D

Today you have a choice of two options

Group A: EXCURSION TO CHELE LA PASS – HIGHEST DRIVABLE PASS

You’ll drive to Chele La Pass at 3988 m/13084 ft, visit the Jangchub Chorte, also known as the Stupa of Enlightenment and a sacred Buddhist monument that symbolizes the Buddha’s awakening under the Bodhi tree. Here on the pass, you will have the opportunity to hoist prayer flags yourself. Primarily used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom, Tibetans and Himalayan Buddhists do not use the flags to carry prayers to gods; rather, they believe the wind disperses the mantras and blessings printed on the cloth into all-pervading space, benefiting all sentient beings. After your time on the pass, you’ll visit the Dzongdrakha Temple and enjoy some free time at the farmer’s market. Lunch and Dinner are included durig the day.

Group B: HIKE TO BUMDRA (9 km, 5-6 hours, Maximum altitude 4000m)

You’ll start with an early morning drive to Sang Chhokor, a Buddhist University before beginning the 2-hour hike up to Chhoe Tse Lhakhang, a remote, 17th-century Buddhist temple and shrine nested on a mountainside above the Paro Valley. Next you’ll reach a wide meadow as you climb through some ruins and fluttering prayer flags where you’ll stop for a hot picnic lunch. After reaching Bumbdra we’ll climb a bit farther to 4000m/13,123 ft. in order to get the best views. We’ll return to our glamping site where we’ll enjoy a much-deserved rest followed by dinner cooked by our hosts.

April 21 - Overnight Shomu Chuki Resort - B, L, D

Group A: After breakfast we’ll hike up to the famous Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan’s most iconic and sacred Buddhist monastery. Perched precariously on a sheer cliff face 3,120 meters (10,240 ft) above the Paro Valley, it is only reachable via a steep, 4.5-mile round-trip hike requiring a roughly 500-meter (2,270 ft) elevation gain. It’s a must-do pilgrimage when visiting Bhutan. Here you’ll meet Group B and visit the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). Here, at one of the most sacred areas in Bhutan, we’ll take some time to relax and meditate before heading back down where we'll stop half ay for lunch. 

Group B: After breakfast and enjoying more of the magnificent views of the Himalayas, we’ll visit the Bumdra Monastery and the Cave of a Thousand Prayers. Next we’ll begin our descent into the ancient pine and Rhododendron forest on the monk’s zig zag trail and down to the Gardens of Zangtopelri - also known as Heaven on Earth. We’ll then ascend to the Tiger’s Nest where we’ll meet Group A and visit the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). Here, at one of the most sacred areas in Bhutan, we’ll take some time to relax and meditate before heading back down where we'll stop half ay for lunch. 

Our last evening in Bhutan will be spent enjoying a farewell cocktail dinner along with a private performance of local dancers. It’s sure to be a highlight of our time in the country.

April 22 - B

Today after breakfast, we’lll be transferred to the Paro airport to catch our flight to New Delhi. Then you will catch your flight back to the US. NOTE: the current flight chedule for Spring 2027 departs Paro at 11:55 am and arrives Delhi at 1:45 pm, however, this is subject to change. Once the schedule is finalized, Two Dog Travel will let you know so that you can plan your return flight accordingly.

Note: The itinerary is descriptive, not definitive and is subject to change. In particular our actual itinerary will depend on the ferry and flight schedules, which vary from year to year. There also may be modifications due to weather and availability of local activities and guides.