A Good Itinerary for a Bhutan Tour: How to make the most of your Days in Bhutan?

Bhutan is a country in the Himalayas that really cannot be generalized, so deciding on what constitutes a good itinerary for traveling to this beautiful kingdom is really up to you. The best itinerary is normally the one that makes you feel complete at the end of your trip. However, there are some easy hints and tips that can help you choose the best itinerary for you.

What is a Good Itinerary in Bhutan?

Cover the Must-sees in Bhutan

Any itinerary you decide on should cover the major must-see locations in Butan, which often include the main monasteries and most popular tourist attractions. Bhutan has so many things to see and do that you could not complete it all in just one trip, so it is usually best to select the best choices from the wealth of possibilities.

Match Your Own Interests

Secondly, you need to find the options that match what you are looking for when traveling to Bhutan. If you love the Dzongs and Lhakhangs, then these are the main focus of your trip. Or if you are a hiking fanatic, then the trekking trails should be high on your list of Bhutan tour priorities. Nobody wants to take a tour that sends them to places they do not want to visit, though there is so much beauty in Bhutan, you may find you want to see it all.

Be Relaxing but not Boring

Boredom normally strikes when you have seen enough of one thing, or when you have too little to do to keep you occupied and happy. The trick to a Bhutan tour is to make the trip as relaxing as possible without making it feel boring. Changing the route a little to give you different things to see all the time will stop you from feeling that you are seeing too much of the same thing, and keep you more interested, yet still relaxed and happy.

Must-sees for All Bhutan Tours

When you consider the Must-See destinations in Bhutan, there are several locations and sites that all travelers to Bhutan really should see before they leave. And while this is not a compulsory thing for tourists to the kingdom, you will most likely find that these sites are the most outstanding of them all, and well worth taking the time to visit.

The top destination in Bhutan, which is really no surprise, is the Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. Renowned for its location halfway up a sheer cliff face as much as for being the site of meditation for Padmasambhava when he first visited Bhutan riding on the back of a flying tigress, this stunning monastery, on its precarious perch, is the most amazing sight in the world.

Thimphu is the modern capital of Bhutan, and an amazing city, filled with wondrous sights and amazing culture. Similarly, Punakha, the ancient capital of the first unification of Bhutan, is a definite must-see when visiting Bhutan, and both cities have some of the most beautiful sights in the kingdom.

Popular Day Tours in Bhutan

If you are planning a trip to Bhutan, then you should work out the number of days that you will be spending in the country based on where you are going. While there is no maximum time you can travel to any place, there are a certain number of days that you will need for visiting certain areas of the kingdom.

5 Days Bhutan Tour to Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha

If you have 5 days in Bhutan, you can plan a trip to Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, which covers the main sites of interest in the three cities. Traveling between these cities is not as long as to other places in Bhutan, but you still need time to drive, and time to go sightseeing in each city, as well as spending time on other activities you may have in mind.

6 Days Bhutan Tour with Gangtey or Haa Valley

If you are planning an additional excursion to the Haa Valley or Phobjikha Valley in Gangtey, Wangdue Phodrang, then you should add at least another day. The drive to the destination takes a few hours, and you need to have enough time in the Haa or Phobjikha Valleys to make it worthwhile visiting. A 6 days Bhutan tour is an ideal travel plan to experience the most beautiful parts of west Bhutan casually.

8 to 10 Days Excursion to Bumthang and Trongsa in Central Bhutan

Bumthang and Trongsa Dzongkhags lie to the east of the main tourist region in the west of Bhutan and can be a long drive to get to. If your plans include a visit to either of these destinations, then you should plan on staying in Bhutan for at least 8 to 10 days, depending on what you are expecting to see there.

You can shorten this somewhat by taking a flight to central Bhutan, but the domestic flights in Bhutan are not as regular as the international flights. The flights from Paro to Bumthang do not run daily, so you would need to plan this excursion well in advance to allow for the flight schedules.

Over 15 Days Overland Tour to East Bhutan

Eastern Bhutan is a rarely-visited place by international tourists, but is the heart of most of the Bhutanese cultures and traditions. The eastern Dzongkhags of Trashigang, Mongar, and Lhuntse are areas that hold some of the oldest traditions of Bhutanese culture. However, the long drive to reach the eastern side of the kingdom means that you do need to look at a trip of at least 15 to 16 days to make it worthwhile to visit the region.

Recommended Personalized Activities to Make the Most of Your Days in Bhutan

In most classic Bhutan tours, there are usually only five to six hours of regular sightseeing per day. It leaves you lots of time to spend doing other things. For those that are not aware of the many activities that you can try in Bhutan, here are just a few to whet your appetite.

Meditation in Local Monastery

One of the most popular activities for those interested in learning more about the Tibetan Buddhist religion of Bhutan is to try their hand at meditation in the traditional Bhutanese monastery. Meditation retreats can be found all across Bhutan, usually close to the monasteries, and are a common practice amongst the Bhutanese Buddhist monks. You can choose a day of light meditation at the solitary retreats high in the hills to learn more about what it entails and the spiritual benefits, in a stunning natural setting. Alternatively, you can go the whole hog and take a serious meditation program, many of which last for several days. Whichever you choose, this is one of the most spiritual exercises in the world.

Light Hiking in the Town

Hiking is the main reason many people come to Bhutan, and while it may not be the hiking capital that Nepal has become, there are hundreds of great treks in the kingdom. For those that are not able to take on a multi-day trek, you can spend a few hours trekking in and around the small towns and villages you pass through as you tour the kingdom. Hiking brings you closer to nature, and there is nowhere that has more nature per mile than this last Shangri-La in the Himalayas.

Visit Handicraft Workshops

Another great activity in Bhutan is a visit to some of the amazing handicraft workshops that can be found around the country. Bhutan has 13 arts, all of which are listed as protected so as to be preserved, and in Paro and Thimphu you can find a good number of different workshops that show how the locals create their famous textiles, or how the sought-after paper of Bhutan is made, in the traditional ways, from tree bark.

Learn Traditional Bhutan Archery

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan, and the people take their archery seriously, despite often being very drunk when competing in the more local competitions. Every town and village has an archery team, and they compete regularly between counties, districts, and nationally. Thimphu’s archery stadium has archery lessons for visitors, where you can take a shot at the targets with a traditional Bhutanese bow.

Have a Bhutan Cuisine Cooking Class in a Local Family with Your Kids

If you love cooking, then a cooking class with a local family or selected restaurant is the best way to have some kitchen fun with your family and kids. You can choose to do this as an additional activity or as part of the homestay experience. During the class, you can learn how to make some of Bhutan’s classic traditional dishes, including the famous Ema Datshi, made from chilies and cheese. And then you can all enjoy tasting your tempting delicacies in the daily meals.

More Adventures in Bhutan for Outdoor Sports Enthusiasts

Outdoor sports are also popular, and you can try your hand at several adventure activities in Bhutan. White Water Rafting is best done in Punakha or Bumthang, where the rivers have better rapids to cross along. You can also find the best kayaking rivers on the Wang Chhu, the Puna Tsang Chhu, the Mangde Chhu, and the Dangme Chhu, which provide a variety of opportunities for kayakers to explore their courses through the Bhutanese wilderness.

Mountain biking is a popular activity in Bhutan, and you can find mountain biking trails all over the country, to give you the ultimate in biking experiences. You can also try your hand at paragliding in the Ura Valley, or fly fishing in Haa, Thimphu, Punakha, Bumthang, or Manas. Alternatively, try rock climbing on The Nose, the famous vertical climbing rock just outside Thimphu that has 13 different climbing routes up its sheer faces.

Tips for your Bhutan Itinerary Plan

Double Check the Bhutan Flight Schedule

If you are planning a travel to Bhutan, then you should watch the flight schedules very carefully. Flights to Bhutan are often heavily influenced by the weather, and if the weather around Paro is not favorable, the flight may be delayed by up to several days in the most extreme cases. You should also leave plenty of time for your transfer at your departure airport for Bhutan. It is normally best to be ready in the country from which you are flying to Bhutan at least the day before your flight.

Make Use of the First Day upon Your Arrival

Day One of the tours is always the day you arrive, so try and make full use of the rest of the day after you land. Since there is little time difference between Bhutan and the five countries with direct flights, you should not feel much jet-lag. You should make the most of all the time you have in Bhutan, as there is never enough time to see this great kingdom in all its glory properly.

Pay Attention to the Long Drive in Bhutan

Trips in Bhutan are often accompanied by long drives. It takes 50 minutes from Paro to Thimphu and three hours from Thimphu to Punakha. A long drive may leave you feeling a little tired. In addition, the farther east you go, and the more winding mountain roads there are, which may cause motion sickness. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is recommended to take the medicine in advance.

But on your Bhutan overland journey, while traveling through valleys and villages, you can enjoy different landscapes outside your car windows. Also, you will have the change to bump into many local animals, from the most common cattle and horses to wild monkeys and flying eagles in the mountain valley.

Bring Your Favorite Book with You

Bhutan is the ideal location for avid readers. The Peace and tranquility that you can find here, even in the busiest periods, is unrivaled anywhere in the world and can give you just the right atmosphere you need to make that special book even more special.

Feel Free to Ask Your Guide for Any Travel Suggestions

Your guide is there to give you all the help and information you need, so use him well and wisely. You can always ask him for suggestions on where to go and what to do, and they will be happy to introduce you to their beautiful homeland. Our guides are very proud of their country and bring out the best of Bhutan for all its visitors.