Premium
Explorer
Premium Bhutan
9 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
43 reviews
9 days
Start
Thimphu, Bhutan
Finish
Paro, Bhutan
Trip Code
HNPB
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Paro Feature Stay (2 nights)
From £3,740(9 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
See Bhutan through the eyes of a local as you travel with a leader who will bring the country’s unique history, legends and traditions to life.
Get acquainted with rare and fascinating wildlife in the breathtaking Phobjika valley, including a visit to a protection and information centre for black-necked cranes – a Premium Exclusive Experience.
Climb to the teetering monastery of Taktsang (the Tiger's Nest) 900 m above Paro’s valley floor and take in once-in-a-lifetime views.
Visit the important monastery of Gangte Goemba during an Exclusive Experience and learn about two subjects at heart of Bhutanese culture – Buddhism and happiness.
Unwind in your Feature Stay accommodation, conveniently located in the heart of the Paro Town and with views of the glorious surrounding valley.
Is this trip right for you?
Due to the high altitude of the places we visit some people can suffer altitude sickness, regardless of age, gender or fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
The hike to Tiger’s Nest can be strenuous. The trek can take up to 5 hours and reach an altitude of 3120 m.
In Bhutan short distances can take much longer due to small, narrow roads and mountain passes. Motion sickness can be an issue on longer driving days on windy roads.
All meals are included due to the nature of travelling in Bhutan. This means there may be limited choices on some days.
Itinerary
Uncover the mysterious mountain kingdom of Bhutan
Discover a land of mysticism and proud tradition on this nine-day Premium adventure through the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. This country has a story tell and an experienced local leader will help you uncover Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage as you wind through forested valleys, fortified monasteries and sacred mountains. Discover the compelling history of Thimphu, hike the valleys of Punakha, learn about black-necked cranes in Phobjikha and climb to the legendary Tiger’s Nest in Paro. A journey through the astonishing beauty of the people, landscape and culture of Bhutan will leave your happiness levels off the scale.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Paro Feature Stay (2 nights)
Included activities
Thimphu - Welcome dinner
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Thimphu - National Library
Thimphu - National Textile Museum
Thimphu - National Memorial Chorten
Thimphu - Takin Conservation Park
Thimphu - Voluntary Artists School
Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma
Thimpu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum
Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang
Dochula Pass - Druk Wangyal Chortens
Thimphu - Simtokha Dzong
Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Punakha - Punakha Dzong
Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Phobjikha - Gangtoe Goemba
Phobjikha - Black Necked Crane Information Center
Phobjikha - Valley hiking
Paro - Kaja Throm Market Visit
Paro - Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery hike
Paro - Home-cooked dinner
Paro - Complimentary Departure Transfer
Optional activities
Paro - Hot Stone Bath - USD25
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. Complimentary airport arrival and departure transfers are included. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Entry to Bhutan is very strict and travellers can only enter Bhutan on a group visa as part of a tour. All travellers must arrive on Day 1 and depart on Day 9 to be eligible for a group visa. At time of booking, please provide your booking agent with a scanned colour copy of your passport, a scanned colour passport photo.
4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport). Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 60 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
5. All flights to and from Bhutan are operated by a Bhutanese national carrier which fly direct to several cities within Asia/Middle East. It is not uncommon for these airlines to make last minute changes to their flight timetables or be subject to delays. Therefore, it is recommended that you allow plenty of transit time both before your connecting flight to Bhutan, and after your flight from Bhutan ahead of your onward flight connection.
6. If you have booked additional accommodation and transfers in Kathmandu, please see the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for details regarding visas and arrival in Nepal.
7. The Sustainable Development Fee, charged by the government of Bhutan, is included in your trip price.
Reviews (42)
5 stars
40
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
Vanessa
Apr 30, 2025
A wonderful trip in Bhutan, land of the thunder dragon, with a mix of cultural activities and some moderate walking. We were in good hands with guide Bijay and driver Dorji and learnt a lot about this beautiful country. Bhutan is intriguing and we could have spent longer there.
Catherine
Apr 26, 2025
This is a fascinating trip to a country that has so much to offer - gorgeous scenery, impressive buildings, charming culture and friendly people. The level of care and service is outstanding and the people generous and kind. I highly recommend this trip.
Stave
Apr 23, 2025
A fantastic, interesting trip that was well worth doing.
Karen
Apr 22, 2025
Bhutan is a beautiful, serene country. The trip provided a great introduction to Bhutan, from impressive dzongs, stunning countryside, to beautiful temples, monasteries and nunneries. And of course Tiger’s Nest was one of (many) highlights. Our guide Sangay was exceptional, sharing his knowledge with much passion and a great sense of humour. In particular his knowledge of Buddhism was very insightful, and I have retuned from this trip feeling rather more zen. Our driver Yoda was also excellent, calm and always helpful, and both made sure that each of the group were taken care of.
Kim
Apr 12, 2025
If your brain needs a holiday as much as your heart wants an adventure, then this is the trip for you. Thank you to Pratap our guide for showing us the present, past and future Bhutan, and to my fellow 'Intrepiders' - I was absolutely fascinated (and had a ball!).
Jill
Mar 25, 2025
We very much enjoyed Bhutan - a fascinating country. Intrepid made the journey easy to navigate,
Esther
Jan 01, 2025
Highly recommend Bhutan for a nature getaway......trees and mountains. Cannot be beat. The Premium trip offered everything I wanted to see and do. The culture and history were an added bonus.
Veronica Anne
Dec 08, 2024
Bhutan is a beautiful, pristine country with lush mountains and clear running rivers. I visited in late November / early December when it was sunny every day and the weather not as cool as I expected with the onset of winter. I was fortunate to see the migrating black necked cranes in the wild during our stay in Phobjikha which was the main reason I had chosen the Premium Bhutan tour. Of course, a visit to Bhutan would not be complete without a hike to Takstang Monastery and at this time of year, was not crowded at all. I cannot say enough good things about the enthusiasm & knowledge of our tour leader, Sangay, and the safety I felt with our driver, Kezang, at the wheel taking us the many kilometres between destinations on the single lane national highway. One piece of advice however, is to book the flights to Paro yourself rather than through Intrepid and their local operator, as the 900.00 AUD mark up was unreasonable.
Jade
Nov 29, 2024
Fantastic trip, beautiful country and a mix of activities. Our team leader was great and made the trip fun and easy. Was a great mix of people. Thoroughly recommend this trip!
Ryan
Nov 27, 2024
Was a fantastic tour with Intrepid. Their professionalism and knowledge made for a fantastic trip in Bhutan. Highly recommend
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