5 Day Discover Bhutan Itinerary - Paro, Tigers Nest, Thimphu
Dramatic landscapes from valleys to high mountains, enchanting Buddhist monasteries, prayer bells, and a sense of space, calmness, and spirituality are some of the things that come to mind when one dream about Bhutan! The “Last Shangrila” as it’s known, is a magical and enchanting Buddhist Kingdom, completely land-locked and located on the eastern edge of the Himalayas. Bhutan is an all-year destination. While the festival season in Spring through early Fall are the most popular seasons, we liked the fact that December to early January was a low season with comfortable cool weather (50 to ’60s) and little to no snow,
In this 5-Day itinerary, do the “Essential Bhutan” - discovering Paro Valley, your home base, and the capital city of Thimphu. If you are flying from Delhi, your experience starts on your DrukAir flight itself with some incredible views of Mt Everest and the exhilarating plane landing in Paro - which is considered to be the most dangerous maneuver in the world!
Start your trip by settling in your beautiful riverside Le Meridian Hotel and stroll along the riverside absorbing the vastness of Paro Valley! Grab a coffee or a cocktail before enjoying a bespoke dinner prepared by the chef. Next day, make it a cultural trip and enjoy the calm and serenity of the Buddhist monasteries. Wrap up the day with a spa and dinner at the hotel. On Day 3, get ready to hike to the famous and incredible cliffside monastery - “Paro Taktsang” (a.k.a Tigers Nest). Day 4, hit the road for a day trip to Thimphu visit the towering buddha statue overlooking the valley and enjoy the local food markets and views of the royal palace. Wrap up your trip on the final day with some artifacts shopping in Paro Town and also experience wearing traditional Bhutanese clothes for photo ops - trust me you will love it!
Trip Highlights
Duration - 5 Days 4 nights
Places - Paro, Tigers Nest, Thimphu
Best for - Family Adventure Vacation
Travel Pace - Active
Season - Winter (Dec 26th - 30th)
Experiences - Half Day Culture trip visiting Paro Monasteries, Hiking to Tigers Nest, Day trip to Thimphu, Shopping in Paro Town, Spa and Bespoke dinners at the Le Meridien Resort, Paro.
Trip Cost - $800-900/day/person including airfare. Cost includes a massive studio at a 4-star resort (we had 2 nights on loyalty points); Tour guide, visa, transportation and entrance fees to most major monasteries.
Trip Route
Day 1 ARRIVE IN PARO - WELCOME (TASHI DELEK!)
Day 2 EXPLORE BUDDHIST MONASTERIES + SPA EVENING
Day 3 HIKING TO TIGERS NEST (Paro Taktsang)
Day 4 DAY TRIP TO THIMPHU
Day 5 DEPARTURE - GOODBYE (Tong Ha Ha!)
Tip: Download Full Itinerary in Google Maps with PinsItinerary
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN PARO - WELCOME (TASHI DELEK!)
After an exhilarating landing at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your local tour guide with the traditional white cloth garland ceremony. A short 15-minute drive from the airport to your hotel will give you the first glimpse of the beautiful Paro Valley.
Most flights arrive mid-morning or early afternoon (we landed around 1 PM from Delhi), giving you a few hours of daylight before the winter sunsets around 4/4:30 PM! Check in to the beautiful Le Meridien Paro Riverfront Hotel and use the afternoon to simply explore the resorts riverside garden, and enjoy a game of chess in the lobby bar before grabbing dinner and getting a good night’s sleep in the gorgeous Bhutanese-styled super large rooms! (Read my review on TripAdvisor)
Tip: There is a beautiful dedicated Meditation Room in the hotel. Ask the front desk. For your wellness, spend 15minutes to unwind here daily! Duration: Flight time 1 hour (from Delhi). If coming from Singapore or Bangkok it could be over 5 hours
Good To Know: Ask the front desk to show you different room choices. December is low season, so lots of options!
How to get there: A tour guide will take you in a chauffeur-driven car - likely an SUV from the airport to the hotel
Morning
Flying over the Himalayas
If you can fly direct from Delhi to Paro you can enjoy the amazing views of Mt Everest! The landing at Paro Airport is in itself a heart-pumping experience!
1 Hour
Afternoon
Check-in at the Le Meridien Paro Riverfront Hotel
Check in the grand deluxe room - super spacious for a family of 3, with great views of the river and mountain, and a beautiful blend of modern Bhutanese design and style.
Tip: This a relatively new hotel and for those with SPG/Marriott membership, the benefits are amazing!they even gave us a few options of rooms to choose from!!
Book Direct with Le MeridienCheck-in after 2 PM
Evening
Riverfront walk, lobby dinner and meditation
Take a stroll alongside the riverfront, relax in the lobby with a coffee and a pastry, and before retiring to bed, try and visit the in-hotel meditation room for a few. It’s a nice way to immerse into Bhutanese culture.
Tip: some days of the week are "dry days" so hotel will not serve any alcohol!
DAY 2 CULTURE TRIP - EXPLORE BUDDHIST MONASTERIES + SPA EVENING
Start your day with an amazing choice of delicious breakfast at the hotel. From freshly baked pastries and made-to-order omelets to both Indian and Bhutanese-themed cuisines, while enjoying amazing views of the Himalayas and Paro River.
Your tour guide will promptly pick you up at the designated time. Today slowly acclimatize to the high altitude and go easy by spending the day doing walking tours of 3-4 of Paro’s ancient and beautiful Buddhist monasteries. Start with Drukgyel Dzong on the northern outskirts of Paro and make your way to Rinpung Dzong and wrap up the cultural trip at the National Museum of Bhutan. Head back to the hotel for an evening at the Explore Spa and then enjoy a bespoke dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Yes, the Chef literally came to our table and asked what we wanted even though there were plenty of choices on the buffet! Wind down with a brief visit to the meditation room. For us, it became a nice daily ritual.
Tip: Some monasteries like the Rinpung Dzong are beautifully lit at night, so if possible do a quick drive by. The town is very small, so if you miss some monasteries, you can always come back on Day 3 or 4 (before your departure flight)Duration: Half Day (4-5 hours)
Activity Level: Low
Good To Know: Most monasteries are free and open from 9-5 PM.
Morning
Breakfast @ Le Meridien Paro, Riverfront
Get a hearty breakfast to fuel you up through mid-afternoon. The buffet choices are eclectic - international, Indian, or Bhutanese-inspired. get a hot cappuccino or green tea, some pastries or Indian bread made to order omelets and some fruit, and try
Tip: The staff will overfeed :) so be careful on this first day as you also need to acclimatize to the high altitude. 1 Hour
Drukgyel Dzong
Make this your first stop in North Paro. Located on a hilltop, these 17th-century ruins were once a fortress & a Buddhist monastery. Serene and peaceful. Absorb the views of the valley from the backend of the fortress.
30 Minutes
Kyichu Lhakhang
The next stop as you head towards Paro Town, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bhutan, with ornate Bhutanese architecture, paintings, and enchanting prayer bells dotted along the entire perimeter of the temple courtyard. Also noticeable are the large prayer bells at the entrance of the temple.
45 Minutes
Afternoon
Nyamai Zam Footbridge
Enjoy the walk over the Paro River on this iconic footbridge that leads the way to Rinpung Dzong. You can start here or on your way out of the Dzong.
15 Minutes
Ringpung Dzong
This is Paro’s iconic Buddhist temple, also known as the Paro Dzong. Start your spiritual journey in Paro with a visit to this fortress temple, offering panoramic views of the valley and Paro Chu river. It’s free and open 9-5 PM.
Tip: In the evenings it is beautifully lit. In winter it gets dark by 4 PM so you can enjoy this experience before it closes or come back for an evening drive by1 Hour
National Museum of Bhutan
Cultural heritage museum in a 17th-century watchtower with Bhutanese paintings and art. Fabulous views of Paro Valley.
Tip: This a very large Museum, so you can spend several hours if you are a history buff1 Hour
Evening
Massage at the Explore Spa in Le Meridien
Nothing like wrapping up a full day of walking in the cool brisk weather, in the warmth of the hot sauna, and massage in the hotel’s beautiful Spa.
1-2 Hours
Bespoke Dinner at The Le Meridien
While there are several great options outside the hotel in town, in December winter it was just cozy and convenient to stay in. Order Asian-inspired tofu chowmein or request Indian lamb kebabs, black daal (lentils), and tandoori roti (delicious Indian bread). Warm food to comfort your soul!
1 Hour
Wind down with some meditation
As far as I know, every major hotel in Bhutan has a Meditation Room There is one here too. come find some peace and center yourself daily!
30 Minutes
DAY 3 HIKING TO TIGERS NEST (Paro Taktsang)
No trip to Bhutan is complete without a day hike to Paro Taktsang, an iconic, scared Buddhist Monastery perched on a cliff-side at 10,000 feet. Popularly known as the “Tigers Nest”, it is known for its legendary meditation caves and awe-inspiring architecture. From the starting point of the trail to the monastery’s main entrance, its dotted with beautiful prayer flags, running streams, waterfalls, and of course the several scenic viewpoints of Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
Start your day with some power breakfast - keep it healthy and light! Take a small bag pack, a water bottle, ginger chews (if you feel dizzy from the climb), and a snack bar. The drive from the hotel is about 20 minutes depending upon the traffic on the single-lane river overbridge crossing! The hike will start from Takstang Trail starting point - near the car park and will take you about 2 hours one way to reach the monastery, depending upon how times you will stop to take pictures! The halfway point has an incredible cafeteria, that serves tea, coffee, and hot food. It’s a great stopping point to rest and admire the monastery from a distance. Upon arriving at your destination, you will get a glimpse of Buddhist Monks clad in saffron robes, the smell of glowing butter candles, serenity, and an incredible feeling of calm and accomplishment
Tip: 1) There is a small fee to enter the monastery 2) You will need to put your bag packs, cameras and shoes in a locker 3) No Photography inside the monastery 3) Okay for young kids though you may need to carry them occasionally!Duration: Full Day 5-7 Hours. Start around 9 AM.
Activity Level: Moderate
Good To Know: The trail is moderately uphill except towards the final stretch you have to go down a flight of steps and then climb up some steps to the entrance to the monastery. So plan your pace accordingly and use sticks (for purchase at the trail entrance) for assistance. If you have young kids, then plan to carry them in
Morning
Taktsang Trail
The trail starts next to a car park surrounded by a small souvenir market and a cafe. It’s mostly a dirt trail, moderate climb (but high altitude). Start slow and enjoy the hike, making stops to enjoy nature’s beauty.
Tip: You can hire ponies if you are unable to do the climb, but it takes you only to the half way point. After that you have to walk.
Taktsang Cafeteria - Halfway point
After an hour you will arrive at this beautiful, rustic clean, cafeteria at the halfway point. Grab a seat outside, some delicious hot lunch, coffee, or tea with sugar cookies, sit back and enjoy the first views of Tigers Nest!
Tip: Lunch s basic vegetarian and just appropriate for this hike. Staff is great! Appreciate the fact they climb up this way everyday to make this hot food available!20-30 Minutes
Tigers Nest View Point
The remaining hike from the cafeteria is just speckled with amazing views of not only Tiger’s Nest but also the cloud-lined mountains and valleys down below in Paro.
This viewpoint is a narrow and very popular spot to take family pics, with the monastery in the backdrop.
Find a spot to sit if tired and enjoy the views for a few
10 Minutes
Tigers Nest Waterfall
On this final bend, you will cross a small bridge and get a glimpse of Taktsang Waterfall a place of worship. It’s a beautiful spot to pause and admire.
Tip: As far as I know, there is know easy for hikers to go up to this place.
Final Stretch - Steps down and up
In your final stretch, you will make a decent down flight of steps and before climbing up again to reach the Monastery.
Tip: Its steep climbing back up here. SO if you are a bit challenged, make sure you have some walking sticks for support.
Paro Takstang (Tigers Nest) Monastery
Pause, and take a deep breath as you arrive at the footsteps of this iconic and holy monastery. It is enchanting and surreal, to say the least.
After depositing your cameras, shoes, and backpacks in the locker, take a walk in the courtyard, head to the edge of the monastery to absorb the beautiful views, and finally, find your way into the narrow cave - yes the Tigers Nest where the great Guru Rinpoche, meditated.
From here your hike back is the same path as your tour guide but will take considerably less time. Wrap up the thrilling day back at the hotel and get a good night’s sleep for the day trip to h the next day!
Tip: You can also read my Tripadvisor review from the 2012 trip
1 Hour
DAY 4 DAY TRIP TO THIMPHU
Today is packed with a full-day trip to Thimphu, the Kingdom’s capital city. Home to the Royal Palace and a small yet bustling township.
The day starts with a 1-hour drive to Thimphu. The first stop is the Buddha Dordenma Statue located in the Keunselphodrang Nature Park. It’s hard to miss as your approach Thimphu. It’s the largest Buddha statue, perched on top of a hilltop. There is a lot to see here and highly recommend spending at least 1 hour there. By mid-day, it’s time for an authentic Bhutanese lunch, in a restaurant selected by your guide. Spend some time in town and then wrap up the day back in Paro, shopping for some souvenirs and dressing up in traditional Bhutanese costumes!
Duration: Full Day
Activity Level: Low
Good To Know: If you decide to stay overnight in Thimphu, you will need to make those arrangements with your guide ahead of time.
Morning
Buddha Dordenma Statue
After a hearty breakfast, your local guide will drive you to Thimphu, the nation’s capital city to see perhaps the largest buddha statue in the world.
Perched on top of the hilltop above a temple, this enormous gold and bronze statue is yet another architectural masterpiece in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Inside the temple is filled with beautiful art, paintings, and exhibits. Walk around in the massive courtyard and enjoy a 360-degree view of Thimphu Valley.
Tip: Its free... 1 Hour
View of the Dechencholing Palace (Royal Palace)
On your drive down from Buddha Dordenma status, stop at this incredible viewpoint to get an expansive view of the Royal Palace. While we did not drive up close to it, it is known to be the very simple and humble place - not like other overly ornate palaces around the world!
Afternoon
Lunch in Thimphu Town
The next stop is the busy town of Thimphu. Your local guide would have picked a designated authentic Bhutanese restaurant. Enjoy red rice, chili potatoes, lentils, salad, and of course hot butter tea!
Spend a few in town before heading back to Paro before evening as we have one more stop on this last day.
Explore Paro Town
The drive back from Thimphu is about an hour and you will likely arrive back in Paro around 3 PM. Indulge in dressing up in traditional Bhutanese costumes for some photo ops at the nearby Ringpung Dzong.
1 Hour
Wrap up the day with some souvenir shopping in Paro Town.
Tip: I bought some incredible buddha heads and ancient scriptures wooden boards and prayer bells for my desk!DAY 5 DEPARTURE - GOODBYE (Tong Ha Ha!)
Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to this enchanting Himalayan kingdom. But hopefully, this is not your last trip (I traveled first in 2012 and then again in 2017..and hoping to be back here soon in summer this time!
Your flight back to Delhi (in our case) is likely mid-morning but it’s only a short 15-minute drive from the hotel. So grab some breakfast and say Tong Ha Ha (Goodbye in Bhutanese) to your local guides!
Before You Go
Arrange for Visas and entrance fees - As of September 2022, some new rules are in place. Traveling to Bhutan requires visas and a daily SDF (sustainable development fee) of $200 per person per night. Transport, guides, meals, accommodations, taxes, and place interest fees are not included and you must make arrangements yourself or work with a local travel operator to make life simpler. For more details get in touch with a Bhutan travel operator — Click Here
Tour operators - Working to arrange your travel with an authorized tour operator will be very helpful. Arranging for treks, transport, and local guides not only adds to the experience but also helps the local economy. I recommend Druk Asia, (Bhutan and Singapore based) it has great options for multi-day treks and tours, arrangements with luxury hotels, and is also a Royal Druk Air representative. Besides them, I have had good experiences with both Happiness Drukyal Holiday and Norbu Travel Pvt Limited.
Gear - December is mild winter but can get snow in higher altitudes and even in Paro! Since we stayed only in Paro and Thimphu area, I packed only a micro puff jacket, one fleece, a beanie, hiking shoes, merino wool socks, day use a backpack, and a hydro flask water bottle.
Recommended Alternatives
Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap on this itinerary. Note: in the Winter months (low season), there is little to know trekking. So the suggestions below are for alternate times of the year.
Winter - You can add a day or overnight visit to Punukha Dzong via Dochula pass or Gangtey Monastery. Drive from Thimphu is about 2-3 hours each way. Check out this list of the Top 40 places to visit and things to do in Bhutan (courtesy DrukAsia)
Festival/Cultural/Trekking/Luxury/Bespoke - Ideal in spring and summer when you can trek to the high mountains and enjoy the festivals and spring blooms. Druk Asia has a nice list of cultural, luxury, and trekking tour packages, that include great options to stay in 4 to 5-star lodging. Note: these are on my bucket list - I have yet to experience them!
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Plan Your Trip
Take this itinerary as is or if you like to make some tweaks you can consider swapping it with the recommendation additions above. If you have less time, then pick and choose from the plan above to personalize your trip. If you have questions about planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.
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