Premium Bhutan

9 Days | Uncover the mysterious mountain kingdom of Bhutan

4.8 out of 5 based on 23 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
EUR €3,698
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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.

Trip overview

Map of Premium Bhutan including Bhutan
Start
Thimphu, Bhutan
Finish
Paro, Bhutan
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Bhutan
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Premium
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
HNPB
This trip generates 50 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.
Premium accommodation

Our best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service

Premium experiences

All must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium

Premium knowledge

Trips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders


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 Exclusive 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 an Exclusive Experience and learn about two subjects at heart of Bhutanese culture – Buddhism and happiness.
  • Unwind in your Feature Stay accommodation, conveniently located in the heart of the Paro Town and with views of the glorious surrounding valley.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Due to the high altitude of the places we visit some people can suffer altitude sickness, regardless of age, gender or fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
  • The hike to Tiger’s Nest can be strenuous. The trek can take up to 5 hours and reach an altitude of 3120 m.
  • 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

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Premium Bhutan including Bhutan

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights), Paro Feature Stay (2 nights)

Premium Inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Activities
  • Thimphu - Welcome dinner
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Thimphu - National Library
  • Thimphu - National Textile Museum
  • Thimphu - National Memorial Chorten
  • Thimphu - Takin Conservation Park
  • Thimphu - Voluntary Artists School
  • Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma
  • Thimpu - Simply Bhutan Heritage Museum
  • Punakha Valley - Chimi Lhakhang
  • Dochula Pass - Druk Wangyal Chortens
  • Thimphu - Simtokha Dzong
  • Punakha - Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten
  • Punakha - Punakha Dzong
  • Punakha - Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery
  • Phobjikha - Gangtoe Goemba
  • Phobjikha - Black Necked Crane Information Center
  • Phobjikha - Valley hiking
  • Paro - Kaja Throm Market Visit
  • Paro - Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery hike
  • Paro - Home-cooked dinner
  • Paro - Complimentary Departure Transfer
Add on activities
  • Paro - Hot Stone Bath - USD25

Dates and availability

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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. Bhutan's airlines are renowned for last minute changes to flight timetables into and out of Bhutan. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours transit time before and after your flights into and out of Bhutan. Timetables are available on the Druk Airlines and Air Bhutan websites.
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.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 23 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Wiebke · Traveled September 2024
What an amazing trip to Bhutan with Intrepid's Indra Hang Subba and Yoda. Despite being the oldest in the group, both made sure that I got to see all the temples, monasteries, nunnery and even got me to Taktshang Café with the stunning view of the monastery clinging to the rocks at 3,150 meters. What an awesome experience! Loved every moment!
Review submitted 27 Sep 2024

Fiona · Traveled September 2024
Bhutan was exotic as it was fascinating...amd Intrepid made a huge difference in the way we experienced this journey! THANK YOU Intrepid Tours for making my travel to Bhutan and Nepal, a memorable one.
Review submitted 26 Sep 2024

Andrew · Traveled September 2024
Bhutan is spectacular and this trip did not disappoint. So many truly special places and the people are just so lovely. Hang (our guide) and Yoda (our driver) were amazing and made the tour.
Review submitted 26 Sep 2024

Kathryn · Traveled September 2024
This was a fantastic trip! Bhutan is a beautiful country with magnificent mountains, valleys, and other flora and fauna. It is unlike any other place I have been. Through this trip, I was able to learn a lot about the country's history, culture, religion, and environment. Our group leader, Hang, was very knowledgeable and accommodating (he even went out of his way to source a birthday cake for one of the group members), and our driver, Yoda, was so fun and kept us feeling safe. I appreciate that this country is not over-touristed, so it feels clean, sustainable, and authentic. Highly recommend!
Review submitted 25 Sep 2024

Pamela · Traveled May 2024
This bucket list trip totally lived up to my expectations. From the flight into Paro to the Tigers Nest hike, I was in awe of this beautiful country that cares so much about its people. At 72, I was a bit concerned about making it to the top of Tigers Nest, but our driver Yoda stayed with me the entire time, anticipating my needs and was so patient. I will never forget the kindness and beauty of the Bhutanese people. I wept as we said farewell.
Review submitted 16 May 2024
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