Best Bhutan Travel Package: How to Plan a Best Bhutan Itinerary?

Traveling to Bhutan is an ideal trip of a lifetime, getting the chance to explore one of the most exclusive destinations in the world. Lying in the high southern Himalayas, this ancient Buddhist kingdom is known as the last true Shangri-La and the Land of the Thunder Dragon. With high mountains to the north, rolling hills in the central regions, and dense forests in the lowlands to the south, this unique and varied kingdom will take your breath away.

What is the most classic Bhutan tour package?

Most of the tourists to Bhutan tend to opt for a 5-day 4-night stay in the kingdom, which gives them the optimum chance to see the major highlights of Bhutan’s main tourist centers. All travelers come into Bhutan at the Paro International Airport, and the first part of the classic tour is held in Thimphu, the national capital. Located just a couple of hours drive to the east of the airport, the capital is normally the first couple of day stay, with at least two nights spent there.

Taktshang Monastery

The majority then travel on to Punakha, to the east of Thimphu, where the lower altitudes and deeper valleys make the climate warmer and more comfortable in the peaks months. One of the main trekking centers in Bhutan, Punakha is one of the most beautiful valley areas on the kingdom, with the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan on the banks of the Mo Chhu.

After traveling to Punakha, the next common stop is in Paro, back where you first came in. Most people spend at least 2 nights in Paro, not only because it is easier to get to the airport at the end of the tour. The main attraction of this Dzongkhag is the renowned Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest, which sits halfway up a cliff overlooking the Paro Valley. Perched on its narrow ledge, it is said to be the site where the Guru Rinpoche first landed in Bhutan, and the legends around the site abound. Paro’s climate is similar to that of Thimphu and is best visited in the spring and autumn seasons.

For most travelers to Bhutan, especially for those first-time visitors, the 5 days classic Bhutan tour is ideal to cover the main centers of tourism and the major attractions that they have to offer. Trekkers and those with a love of hiking often opt for a longer trip, to allow for the treks in the kingdom, which range from 2 days to a whole month.

It’s never been a Lifetime Bhutan Trip without Enjoying a Festival Feast!

What trip to Bhutan could possibly be complete without a visit to one of the 50+ festivals that are held throughout the year in this devoutly Buddhist kingdom? There is not a single month of the year when Bhutan does not have at least one festival happening, and the major festivals of the regions, known as Tsechus, occur at least once in each month.

Thimphu Tshechu festivals

Tsechus are the pinnacle of religious and social festivals in Bhutan, and combine the devout religious ceremonies and commemorations of the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), with the social interactions of the local and incoming people, many of whom come into the major cities only once a year for these amazing festivals. As much a social and cultural gathering as it is a religious event, a Tsechu is normally held for anything from three to seven days, and all the Tsechus are named as national holidays by the King, to allow everyone to attend.

The most popular of these, as well as the three largest, are the Paro Tsechu, the Punakha Tsechu, and the Thimphu Tsechu. Held in March, February, and September, respectively, these are just a couple of the Tsechus in Bhutan, and the country plays host to around 37 Tsechus throughout the year.

There are also another 30+ other festivals throughout Bhutan in any given year, and there is no better way to experience true Bhutanese culture than by attending, and sometimes even taking part, in the amazing festivals. Arranging a trip to Bhutan to coincide with one of the stunning festivals is easy, and we are happy to help you make the arrangements for the Bhutan festival tour of your choice.

Bhutan offers the variety of trekking, from 2 hours hike to above 30 days snowman trek, add one to your interest.

Trekking in Bhutan may not be as popular as trekking in Nepal yet, but it is a very different experience for anyone with a love of hiking through mountains and forests. Bhutan has a wide selection of treks that you can tackle, and has a trek for every time of the year, even in the depths of winter.

Snowman Trek in Bhutan

Treks range from short two-day hikes through stunning landscapes and scenery to a vast 30-day trekking marathon across the mountains of the Himalayas, known as the Snowman Trek. The hardest trek in the world, this is not for the faint-hearted, and it is said that more people have reached the summit of Everest than have completed the dreaded Snowman.

While the Snowman may be an unattainable goal, for now, there are plenty of treks that you can include on your tour of Bhutan. From the most popular Druk Path trek in Paro and Thimphu and the famous Jomolhari Trek to the base camp at Jangothang to the amazing Bumthang Owl trek (through woodlands filled with nocturnal owls) and the awesome Dagala Thousand Lakes trek, there is a trek in Bhutan for everyone. All you need to do is find yours, and come along and tackle it. There is no better feeling than that which you get once you have completed one of Bhutan’s outstanding treks.

>> Here we offer more than 20 Bhutan trekking tours with different physical demands.

Enjoy an Archery Competition during Bhutan Trip

Archery has a specific place in the hearts of the Bhutanese people. Since the days when the bow was the main weapon of defense in the kingdom, archery has been an integral part of the traditional Bhutanese way of life and has now been named as the kingdom’s national sport. Archery contests are a popular part of Bhutanese culture, and there is no festival or Tsechu that happens without an archery competition somewhere close by, sometimes even within the festival itself.

Bhutan Archery competition

Bhutan has contests outside these festivals as well, and every Dzongkhag, Gewog, and village has its own archery contest at some point within the year, and in many places, archery is an ongoing regular event with leagues and divisions, similar to football in the west. If the local contests are not enough to satisfy your thirst for archery, then the national competitions certainly will be. Held at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, national contests happen several times a year. And you can even try your hand at a few shots yourself, at the Changlimithang Archery Range and Workshops in the stadium.

Choose One Night to Stay Home and Take a Hot Stone Spa

Though there are kinds of hotels in Bhutan, even the top luxury 5-star hotels, it is suggested to stay at least one night in a local farmhouse to experience the local lifestyle in the homestay. Sleeping in a traditional wooden house, eating the authentic home-made Bhutanese dishes with the family...during your homestay, you will get closer to the real Bhutanese life.

Homestay in Local Farmhouse with the Bhutanese Family

Also, during your stay in Bhutan, you will not miss the Hot Stone Spa or Hot Stone Bath. It is a traditional method of medicine which has been turned into one of the most relaxing spa treatments in the world. Found in just about every hotel in Bhutan, from the small local lodges to the most luxurious five-star hotels in the kingdom, there is nothing like a traditional spa treatment to really make you feel relaxed.

Hot stone baths are unique to Bhutan, and come from traditional herbal medicines where river water is mixed with the local Artemisia leaves and then heated by dropping in lots of fire-roasted rocks. Usually a wooden tub these days, the bath is said to release large quantities of minerals in high concentrations from the water, the rocks, and the leaves. The leaves, which come from the plant known as Artemisia absinthium (also known as “wormwood” and the source of Absinthe, the alcoholic liquor), are said to have a somewhat meditative effect, and do not require a prescription to take one!

Enjoy the Bhutanese Dishes on the Road

Food is the heart of any culture, and there is no better way to learn more about a people than to sit and break bread with them. Bhutan has a wholly unique cuisine that is centered on the spicy Chili, which is often used as a vegetable, rather than just a condiment or spice. No journey to Bhutan would be complete without trying at least one of the traditional dishes of this amazing Himalayan kingdom.

Authentic Bhutanese cuisine

The problem with many tours to Bhutan is that the tourist-oriented hotels tend to provide meals that western visitors would be more familiar with, and often have few local dishes on offer. The best way to try out the delights of the spicy Bhutanese cuisine is to get your guide to recommend decent (and clean) local restaurants for you to sample the dishes in while you are traveling. Most tourists have breakfast and dinner in their hotel and eat at various recommended and suitable restaurants for lunch. Talk to your guide, and you can get to eat at the places where the authentic Bhutanese cuisine can be found.

Conclusion of Arranging the Best Bhutan Travel Package

If you are looking for a decent tour to Bhutan, the best option is to take a trip that can give you the most of the best of Bhutan’s religion, people, culture, landscapes, and architecture. A trip of around 6 days is recommended to make the most of a trip to Bhutan, and you should at least visit the three main centers, Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, as well as the amazing Tiger’s Nest.