Premium
Explorer
Premium Bhutan
9 Days | Uncover the mysterious mountain kingdom of Bhutan
4.9
Excellent
65 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 £3,213(9 days)
Trip Informations
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.
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 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 a Premium Experience and learn about two subjects at the heart of Bhutanese culture – Buddhism and happiness.
Unwind in your Feature Stay accommodation, with views of the glorious surrounding valley, swimming pool and spa and wellness centre.
Is this trip right for you?
This is trip spends time at altitude; you should refer to the Medical & Health Information for this trip to understand the risks.
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
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
Thimphu - Complimentary arrival transfer
Thimphu - National Library
Thimphu - National Textile Museum
Thimphu - Takin Conservation Park
Thimphu - Voluntary Artists School
Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma (Buddha Point)
Thimphu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum
Dochula Pass - Druk Wangyal Chortens
Thimphu - Simtokha Dzong
Thimhpu - Desho Paper Factory
Phobjikha - Gangtoe Goemba
Phobjikha - Valley hiking
Phobjikha - Black Necked Crane Information Center
Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang
Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
Punakha - Punakha Dzong
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
Starting
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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 (63)
5 stars
60
4 stars
1
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
Steven
Oct 06, 2026
This is an excellent trip. Bhutan is a beautiful country and this tour captures the highlights. Our guide, Kencho, was terrific and a real gem, always helpful, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. If Bhutan is on your bucket list (and it should be!) this tour will cover much of what Bhutan has to offer and provides a varied itinerary of this mountainous country. Our transport was spacious, our driver was careful and very safe on the mountainous roads and our hotel stays were always excellent. Recommend strongly.
Valerie
Oct 06, 2026
Fabulous tour of Nepal and Bhutan, with the best guides.
Alison
Oct 04, 2026
Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to go to one of the most interesting places on the planet!
Tamsin
Sep 26, 2026
Bhutan is a magical country and definitely worth a visit . The happy, gentle nature of the people of Bhutan , the beautiful environment and the lovely culture leaves you feeling very privileged to have experienced. I cannot recommend this trip enough
Michelle
Sep 22, 2026
A wonderful trip and a great insight into Bhutanese culture and landscape. Highly recommend
Mark
May 20, 2026
Bhutan is a wonderful place to visit, we were very lucky with the weather and it was significantly warmer than the forecast every day . The meals are a challenge- perhaps pack some protein bars in your luggage
John
May 10, 2026
In April 2026, my partner and I, both in our mid sixties, completed the 9 day Premium Bhutan Tour. We felt we were visiting Bhutan at a watershed moment. What was most apparent was the sense that this ancient kingdom was facing unprecedented growth in tourism and all that comes with an embrace of the modern. In 2026 we learnt of many young Bhutanese leaving for opportunities overseas and the efforts of the King and advisors to chart a sustainable future for the citizens. The walks in the paddy fields, observing the rhythms of daily life set against snow capped mountains and fresh running streams with the wild flowers and birds was a constant joy. The trek to the Tigers nest on our last day was amongst my most memorable travel adventures ( along with a Grand Canyon trek and the Walk of the gods in southern Italy ). To explore budhism visiting the temples, led by our passionate, caring and thoughtful tour guide, Sangay Dubjur, was an engaging and unhurried experience. All the accomodation exceeded our expectations. The 12 on our tour had a very comfortable and air- conditioned bus and much thought had been given to the pacing of our daily activities. I would urge people to visit Bhutan now. Thank you Intrepid.
Suzanne
May 07, 2026
Premium Bhutan was an incredible experience! It is a stunning natural wonder. It was a joy to learn about Bhutanese culture with the support of our kind and generous guide, Sangay, and his incredibly skilled driver, Shubosh. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ross
May 06, 2026
Bhutan is at a crossroads in its development. Loved this opportunity to be able to experience this beautiful country, its culture, people and environment as it pushes for its own development.
Stephanie
May 06, 2026
This trip was an absolute dream, from learning about Bhutanese culture to seeing the expansive landscapes. Our trip leader Kencho shared so much knowledge of his beautiful country, really making our time in Bhutan special. The hike to Tigers Nest was my favourite day on the trip, it brought so many tears to my eyes. All accomodation on this trip is wonderful and you're well looked after. If you're looking at visiting Bhutan, definitely book this trip!
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