Best Natural Scenery of Bhutan to Expect: the Himalayas, Stunning Valleys, Rice Fields and More

Renowned as one of the most beautiful places on the planet, Bhutan is a spectacular country set high in the southern Himalayas. Noted to be the most exclusive tourist destination in the world, this unique kingdom is filled with stunning mountain landscapes, outstanding natural scenery, and more forests for its size than anywhere else in the world.

High mountains give way to beautiful lush green valleys, vast tracts of local farmland with rice terraces set into the hillsides, amazing sparkling alpine lakes, and awesome rivers that range from tranquil streams to raging rapids for the adventure seekers. The diversity of the countryside is vast, and you can expect to see some of the world’s most wondrous sights on a tour of this Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Top 1: Splendid Views of Himalaya Ranges

Located as it is in the lower edge of the Tibetan plateau and the southern Himalayas, Bhutan is renowned for its outstanding mountain scenery. Bordering Tibet to the north, the Himalayas run across the entire northern half of the country, with the south being filled with the Himalayan foothills and the lowland plains and jungles. With such a unique location, it is easy to find places to view the stunning Himalayan mountain ranges that run across the north of the country.

On the Flights to Bhutan

And while you can see the mountains from just about anywhere in the country, there are certain places where you can get a better, more unobstructed view of the high mountains that fringe the northern borders of this last Himalayan kingdom. The first of these is normally on your flight to Bhutan, many of which turn to land over the lower mountains. If you look out of the windows on clear days, you get an unobstructed view of the Himalayas for miles in all directions. This is one of the best views of this massive mountain range that you can have.

Dochula Pass and Chele La Pass

There are also ground-based locations where you get a great view of the Himalayas, less obstructed than in most of the cities and villages. The Dochula Pass, located on the road between Thimphu and Punakha, is one of the best destinations in Bhutan for the great Himalayan views. While it may only be 3,100 meters above sea level, the lower altitudes of the landscapes to the immediate north make it the ideal place to get some great shots of the higher Himalayan peaks. Chele La Pass, on the road to Haa, is also a great place for spotting the mountain peaks, and is the highest road pass in Bhutan at 3,988 meters.

Jomolhari Mountain Trek and Snowman Trek

You can also get some great mountain views of the northern Himalayas from several of Bhutan trekking tours, especially the Jomolhari Mountain Trek, which takes you to the base camp at Jangothang Halt, and the massive 30-day Snowman Trek across the northern border of the kingdom.

Top 2: Stunning Valleys in Bhutan

A country filled with lush beautiful valleys, landlocked Bhutan has most of its human inhabitants living in these stunning valleys all across the kingdom. And with most of the towns and villages located in the valleys between mountain ridges and peaks, exploring the beauty of the Bhutanese valleys is easy.

Beautiful Valleys in West Bhutan

Also known as Gangtey Valley, Phobjikha Valley is a beautiful glacial valley in the heart of Bhutan, in Wangdue Phodrang. A natural bowl-shaped valley, the natural beauty of this spectacular destination shines the whole year round. With the 108 chortens marking the entrance to the stunning Punakha Valley, the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu flow through it, converging at the kingdom’s most beautiful Dzong. The Paro Valley lies at the junction of the Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu, and the flat valley floor makes it one of the broadest and most beautiful valleys in the kingdom. Loaded with rice fields and surrounded by high mountains, the Haa Valley, just 30km from Paro, is considered one of the greatest and most spectacular valleys in Bhutan.

Bumthang Valley in Central Bhutan

Home to four mountain valleys, Bumthang is unique in its reputation as one of the most notable destinations in Bhutan, the views often being known as the “Switzerland of the East”. The amazing Thimphu Valley, the location of the national capital, combines small-town charm with natural beauty in a unique way. And as the capital, you can find more to see and do than anywhere else.

Valley Scenery Varies in Different Seasons

One thing to remember when traveling to the valleys of Bhutan is that the scenery in the valleys is not only unique in each destination, but in every season as well. The beauty of the valleys is unchanged by seasons, even while the actual scenery changes dramatically from one season to the next. From snowy wilderness to brilliant spring blooms, to lush summer landscapes, to the myriad of color that is autumn in Bhutan, you never get the same view twice.

Top 3: Terraced Rice Fields in Bhutan

Rice terraces are a necessity for your Bhutan travel, as there are not enough flat lands to grow all the rice that is needed for consumption. Built by hand over the course of thousands of years, these amazing terraces of paddy fields can be found all over the kingdom, often being worked by local farmers. Carved out of the very hillsides of the valleys, the rice terraces in Bhutan are one of the most amazing sights in the world.

And even the rice fields are hugely affected by the time of year. While the terraces are lush and green in the summer months, with rice growing green in the watery paddies, in the winter months they are brown and often empty. The higher altitude means that the fields must be left fallow in the winter months, and the green steps in the hillsides are brown and rustic, much like the season itself. But you can often see the women singing in the fields around February, as they begin the planting for the new season crops of the coming summer.

Top 4: Amazing Lakes in Bhutan

Bhutan has hundreds of natural and glacial lakes spread across the country. From lowland lakes under 2,000 meters, of which there are only four, to the high lakes of the alpine meadows. These amazing natural formations are some of the best destinations in Bhutan to reach, and many are only accessible by trekking.

The best trek for this is the aptly-named Dagala Thousand Lakes trek, which takes you through the largest concentration of alpine lakes in the country. The trek is located in the southern part of the Thimphu Valley, in an area adorned with a multitude of crystal clear pristine lakes.

Top 5: Crystal Clear Rivers in Bhutan

Being a country in the Himalayas, glacial run-off forms hundreds of small rivers across the kingdom. Bhutan actually has four major rivers that run through the kingdom, known as Chhu, which is the Dzongkha for river. The main rivers include the Drangme Chhu, the Mo Chhu, the Wang Chhu, and the Torsa Chhu, which are divided into smaller rivers from their sources and tributaries.

For many travelers, the main reason for visiting the rivers is for kayaking and white-water rafting, both of which are becoming increasingly popular during their Bhutan tours. One of the best locations is the Mo Chhu, and its tributary, the Pho Chhu, which have a combined 20+ areas of rapids that range from Class 1 to Class 4.

Top 6: Rich Flora and Fauna in Bhutan

A land where 70 percent of the country is covered with forests, Bhutan has a massive diversity of flora and fauna. The wildlife of this unique kingdom includes Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, and snow leopards, as well as red pandas, the unique Takin or gnu goat, and elephants, rhinos, and crocodiles. And there are more than a thousand species of local and migrant birds. From rare hornbills that are most often found in lowland jungles to the rarer black-necked cranes from northern Tibet.

The forests are just as diverse as the animals and birds, with a variety of trees from rhododendrons and blue pines to juniper, cypress, and oak. And just as varied are the plants and flowers, including magnolias, Daphne, giant rhubarb, a dozen varieties of orchids, gentian, and the national flower of the Blue poppy.

What is the best time for natural scenery of Bhutan?

The best time for the flora and fauna and natural scenery of Bhutan depends on what you are expecting to see. Each season has a different range of attractions, from the spring blooming of the rhododendron bushes and the meadow flowers to the summer blooms across the grasslands and valley sides and the winter landscape of bare trees and snowy scenery. Summer is mostly known for its lush green vegetation and myriad of flying insects and birds. Winter is stark and intense, while spring is the best time for blooms and new growth and autumn is the time of colors and the falling leaves. You can choose between the varieties of seasons depending on what you want to see.

Conclusion

The amazing natural scenery of Bhutan is a wonder to see, and for many of the visitors to this isolated and landlocked kingdom in the Himalayas, the landscape and scenery is the main reason for coming. Knowing what to expect for your tour in Bhutan is a great way to plan your trip, to makes sure that you get there at the right time of year to visit the things you want to see most.