14-Day Bhutan Itinerary: West to East Across the Kingdom

You will be received by a representative from Byways Tours and Travels at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

After lunch, visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower built in 1656, renovated in 1968, and converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. Then visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The Dzong currently houses the administrative offices of Paro District and a monastery. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive from Paro to Thimphu (approximately 1.5 hours), stopping en route at Tamchog Lhakhang, the 15th-century temple of the famed iron-bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo. On arrival, visit Buddha Dordenma, the tallest Buddha statue in the world at 51 meters. Then visit the Takin Preserve Center to see Bhutan's national animal, followed by the Nunnery and the School of 13 Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum), famous for traditional carving and freehand art. Here you will find students whose aptitude is more artistic than academic. Lunch will be served at a tourist restaurant in the city center.

After lunch, visit the authentic Bhutanese Craft Market. In the evening, stroll around Thimphu City for shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Punakha Valley via Dochula Pass (3,140m). We stop at the pass to admire the 108 memorial chortens, and if the weather is clear, you will enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges.

Upon reaching Punakha Valley, visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Temple of Fertility, built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (the Divine Madman) in the 15th century. Then visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, beautifully situated at the confluence of the Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, meaning Palace of Great Happiness. Punakha remains the winter residence of the Chief Abbot (Je Khenpo). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Phobjikha Valley (approximately 2 hours 30 minutes) via Wangduephodrang. Along the way, stop to photograph the reconstruction of Wangduephodrang Dzong, which was destroyed by fire in 2012.

In Phobjikha, visit Gangtey Gompa, founded in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. If interested, enjoy a beautiful 45-minute hike from Gangtey Gompa to the valley floor. Then visit the Black-Necked Crane Center, where you can observe these rare migratory birds through telescopes. Black-necked cranes winter in Bhutan and return to the Tibetan Plateau in summer. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa Museum (Ta Dzong), a former watchtower converted into a museum in 2008. Then visit Trongsa Dzong, built in 1643 by Chogyel Minjur Tempa. The official name is Chhoekhor Raptentse Dzong, also known as Choetse Dzong. Trongsa Dzong is the ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family. The first two hereditary kings ruled from here, and tradition dictates that the crown prince serve as Trongsa Penlop before ascending to the throne. The current king became Trongsa Penlop in 2004. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Bumthang. Visit Jakar Dzong (Castle of White Bird). Legend has it that when lamas assembled in 1549 to select a monastery site, a large white bird rose and settled on a hill spur. The current structure was built in 1667 with a circumference of over 1,500 meters.

Visit Jambay Lhakhang, believed to have been built in 659 AD by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. Continue to Kurjey Lhakhang, named after the body print of Guru Rinpoche (Kur means body, Jey means print).

After lunch, visit Tamshing Lhakhang, established in 1501 by the great saint Pema Lingpa. Also known as Tamshing Lhendup Chholing (Temple of Good Message), it is one of the most important Nyingma monasteries in the kingdom. Finally, visit the Burning Lake (Mebar Tsho). Stroll around the small town of Bumthang in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Mongar (193 km, approximately 9 hours). Stop at Ura Valley to enjoy the scenic views. Then continue via Thrumshingla Pass (3,750m), the gateway to eastern Bhutan.

Lunch will be served en route at Sengor, 22 km from Thrumshingla Pass. After lunch, continue driving to Mongar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, embark on an excursion to Lhuentse (63 km). Visit Lhuentse Dzong, dramatically perched above the Kuri Chhu river.

On the way back, visit Khoma Village, famous throughout Bhutan for its production of Kishuthara textiles. The origin of Kishuthara weaving traces back to a wealthy Tibetan merchant named Tshongpoen Norbu Zangpo, who gifted an intricately patterned cloth to a woman from Khoma named Yoesel Dema. She began weaving similar patterns using nettle fiber, naming the textile Kishuthara (Ki-shu for nettle fiber, Tha-ra for weave). Today, this textile remains the primary source of income for Khoma villagers.

Enjoy lunch at a farmhouse in Khoma Village. On the drive back to Mongar, visit the tallest statue of Guru Rinpoche at Takila Village. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Trashigang. Detour 18 km from the main road to visit Drametse Monastery, the biggest and most important Nyingma monastery in eastern Bhutan. About 60 gomchen (lay or married Nyingma monks) reside here. The monastery was founded in 1511 by Ani Chhoeten Zangmo, the great-granddaughter of Pema Lingpa, and her husband Yeshey Gyalpo, in a place she named Drametse, meaning The Peak Where There is No Enemy.

Continue to Trashigang. Lunch will be served at the hotel. After lunch, relax briefly before visiting Trashigang Dzong. Enjoy an evening stroll around the small town of Trashigang. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, embark on an excursion to Trashiyangtse (53 km, 2.5 hours). Visit Gom Kora, an extraordinarily picturesque temple. The correct name is Gomphu Kora. Gomphu denotes a sacred meditation site of Guru Rinpoche, and Kora means circumambulation. Guru Rinpoche meditated here and left a body impression on a rock, similar to Kurjey Lhakhang in Bumthang.

Continue to Trashiyangtse (28 km further) and visit Chorten Kora, built in 1740 by Lama Ngawang Loday in memory of his late uncle. The lama traveled to Nepal and brought back a model of Boudhanath Temple carved in a radish, copying the design so locals could visit here instead of making the arduous trip to Nepal.

Visit the New Trashiyangtse Dzong and the School of 13 Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum). Enjoy lunch near Chorten Kora or at a local restaurant. If time permits, visit the Old Trashiyangtse Dzong across the river. Drive back to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Early morning after breakfast, drive to Bumthang. Today is a long drive of 285 km, approximately 10 hours. Lunch will be served en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bumthang.

After breakfast, drive directly to Thimphu. Today's journey covers 267 km and takes approximately 8-9 hours. Lunch will be served en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Thimphu.

After an early breakfast, drive from Thimphu back to Paro (approximately 1.5 hours). Then embark on an excursion to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang). The total distance is 7.4 km (4.5 miles) round trip and takes a minimum of 5 hours. The elevation at the starting point is 2,600m, and the monastery sits at 3,100m above sea level.

A 25-minute drive from the main town of Paro takes you to Satsam Chorten, where the trail begins. The path climbs through beautiful pine forests, with many trees festooned with Spanish moss and occasional groves of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for rest and refreshments at Taktsang Cafeteria, then continue until we see Tiger's Nest Monastery clearly within reach. The history dates back to the 8th century when Guru Rinpoche, a tantric master, flew to this place on the back of a flying tigress and meditated in a cave nearby. The temple was built in the 17th century by Penlop Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer cliff that plunges 600 meters into the valley below.

After lunch, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest Buddhist temples, built in 659 AD by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. In the evening, celebrate the journey with a farewell dinner in Paro. Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning, drive to Paro International Airport for your departure. Bid farewell to the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Tashi Delek!