Heritage-Luxury Experiences in Bhutan

Paro – Thimphu
Upon arrival in Paro, you will be welcomed by our representative, your tour guide, and transferred to Thimphu, the capital. The beautiful drive from Paro to Thimphu takes about one hour, following the Paro River to its confluence. After the confluence, the road continues along the Thimphu River valley to the capital. Check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the tallest seated Buddha statue, the Memorial Chorten, and Bhutan’s national animal, the Takin. Afterwards, visit CTAS (Choki Traditional Art School), located just north of the Bhutanese capital in the scenic mountain valley of Kabesa. Founded in 1999, the school trains underprivileged youth in traditional techniques such as drawing, thangka painting, weaving, embroidery, sculpture, and wood carving. The students live, study, learn trades for their livelihood, and work within the school, which is made up of traditional Bhutanese whitewashed buildings on a sunny hillside among farms and villages. Currently, 136 boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 25 attend the school. Students generally study for six years. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the students and learn one of these traditional arts. In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take part in a discussion on GNH (Gross National Happiness) with local experts. Free evening for a stroll in Thimphu.
Overnight in Thimphu (B/L/D).

Thimphu
After breakfast, depart for the excursion to Cheri Goemba Monastery. After about a 30-minute drive to the area of Dodena, you will begin a 45-minute hike along beautiful forest trails leading to Cheri Monastery, built in 1620. This excursion offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Himalayan environment, with the possibility of spotting numerous species of birds along the way. The trail winds through a lush and little-traveled forest. The hike, although steep, is relatively short, and the route is enriched by several sacred sites scattered among the trees. With a bit of luck, it is also possible to observe wild animals such as monkeys or deer. Cheri Monastery is one of Bhutan’s main spiritual retreat centers and an important pilgrimage site. It was founded by Ngawang Namgyal, the Rinpoche who unified Bhutan as a political and spiritual entity. Cheri Gompa serves as a retreat center for the Drukpa Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism. Inside, you can admire a beautiful painting of the Guru carved into the rock.
A packed lunch will be served along the riverbank near a wooden bridge. In the afternoon, return to the hotel and take time to care for body and mind by spending half a day in the hotel spa, with the opportunity to experience various treatments such as the traditional Tibetan Kuney massage, the Detox Tshampa (barley flour), and a purifying Bhutanese massage.
Overnight in Thimphu (B/L/D).

Thimpu
After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to meet one of the traditional Amchi doctors for a consultation in traditional Tibetan medicine. After the medical visit, you may explore the herbal tea garden and then learn more about Bhutanese traditional cuisine, customs, and etiquette. Traditional lunch will be served at the resort. In the afternoon, enjoy free time with the option to relax at the Spa and experience various traditional treatments.
Overnight in Thimphu (B/L/D)

Thimphu – Phobjikha
After breakfast, depart from Thimphu towards Phobjikha (approx. 5 hours and 30 minutes drive). Phobjikha is a scenic glacial valley shaped like a bowl, located on the western slopes of the Black Mountains and on the edge of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. This area is renowned as one of Bhutan’s most important nature reserves, as it welcomes a large flock of rare black-necked cranes every winter. These birds feed among the fields and alpine meadows of the valley before returning to Tibet.
Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and take some time to relax, followed by lunch. In the early afternoon, visit the Crane Information Centre, a facility offering insights into the behaviour of black-necked cranes and the conservation strategies implemented in collaboration with the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN). A short walk in the surrounding area allows you to overlook the wetlands where the cranes gather during the winter months.
Later, you may attend the evening prayer session at Gangtey Shedra (Buddhist College), located just a 5-minute walk from Gangtey Lodge. About 300 monks currently study in this spiritual centre. After the prayer (from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, except on Saturdays), you may be invited to accompany one of the lamas (Dharma masters) during their evening round, with the opportunity to engage in conversation with the monks. It is also possible to combine the 5:30 PM meditation session with the evening prayer.
Overnight in Phobjikha (B/L/D)

Phobjikha – Trongsa
At dawn, you will take part in the Thrusel ritual at the valley’s Shedra—an ancient purification ceremony using sacred fumigation and blessed water. The monks burn dried herbs in ritual braziers, releasing restless spirits and hidden desires into the air, while holy water (thrue-chhu) is gently poured over the head as a sign of auspiciousness. It is a silent and powerful gesture, aligning body, mind, and the universe.
After breakfast, depart towards Trongsa (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes drive). The road winds through coniferous forests, remote villages, and pastures dotted with prayer flags, until reaching the historical heart of central Bhutan.
Upon arrival in Trongsa, check-in at the hotel and take time to relax, enjoying the mountain stillness and the crisp air scented with pine and incense.
In the afternoon, visit the village of Yuling, a place suspended in time, where the memory of ancient lineages still lingers. Here stands Yuling Lhakhang, once a defensive outpost of Trongsa Dzong against rebel incursions, now transformed into the National Museum of Bhutan. Within its shadowed halls are preserved priceless treasures of the Wangchuck dynasty: sacred diamonds, sculptures of tantric deities, ancient manuscripts, and royal symbols that narrate the birth of modern Bhutan. Each object holds a fragment of eternity.
Later, you will have the opportunity to participate in an intimate and meaningful ceremony: the Prayer Hoisting Ceremony at Willing Lhakhang. Together with monks and the local community, you will raise lung-ta—Tibetan prayer flags—into the wind. As the chants blend with the rustle of pine trees and the sound of bells, each flag releases prayers for peace, health, and prosperity, carried by the wind to the four corners of the world.

Overnight in Trongsa (B/L/D)

Trongsa – Punakha
Right after breakfast, depart from Trongsa towards Punakha (approx. 5 hours and 30 minutes drive). Along the way, stop at the scenic Dochula Pass to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Himalayan mountains, weather permitting. Here you can also take a walk among the famous 108 chortens, built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in honor of fallen soldiers.
Continue towards Punakha and, before checking in at the hotel, enjoy a pleasant walk through the rice paddies to the Temple of Fertility, Chimmi Lhakhang, dedicated to the revered “Divine Madman” Drukpa Kunley—an eccentric and spiritual figure of Bhutanese Buddhism.
After check-in and lunch at the hotel, visit the historic village of Ritsha, known as the “model village” for rice cultivation in western Bhutan. Ritsha is located on fertile alluvial land between the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, and is known for the production of red and white rice, as well as its traditional mud-and-stone houses surrounded by orchards and organic gardens.
Overnight in Punakha (B/L/D)

Punakha
After breakfast, you will begin exploring the culture and traditions of the Punakha Valley. We will drive to the village of Nubgange. Here, you can take part in typical farming activities such as playing darts, archery, and seasonal work in the fields. You will also have the opportunity to observe a cooking demonstration during the preparation of lunch.
Afterwards, you will visit the majestic Punakha Dzong. Built in 1637–38, this sacred monastery is the second oldest and largest dzong in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. It was constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche. Nestled among picturesque mountain peaks, Punakha Dzong is one of the sites soon to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bhutan. It is a six-story structure with a central tower, measuring 180 meters in length and 72 meters in width, and features three distinct “dochey” (courtyards).
At the end of the visit, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Punakha Dzong. Later, you may relax with a traditional hot stone bath (optional).
Overnight in Punakha (B/L/D)

Paro
Early in the morning, you will have the opportunity to take part in the Thrusel morning ritual, an ancient spiritual purification ceremony still practiced daily in many Bhutanese monasteries. During this auspicious ritual, sacred herbs are burned for fumigation, and holy water (thrue-chhu) is poured over the head of the participants to drive away negative influences and honour the protective spirits of the place.
After the ritual, departure from Punakha towards Paro (approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes by road). On the way, stop at Dochula Pass to admire a spectacular view of the Himalayas and enjoy a quiet moment among the 108 chorten. Here, you will also have the chance to hang your prayer flags according to Bhutanese tradition.
Arrival in Paro in the late morning, check-in at the hotel and lunch.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy an immersion into Bhutan’s cultural and recreational traditions: you can attend a demonstration of archery and darts, try your hand at these traditional games, and learn about the Bhutanese national dress, such as the gho and kira.
Afterwards, you may enjoy a moment of complete relaxation at the Jiva Spa, where holistic treatments inspired by traditional medicine will offer a regenerating experience for mind, body and spirit.
Overnight in Paro (B/L/D)

Paro
After breakfast, start the day with a short drive to the upper valley of Paro. On a clear day, you can enjoy an unforgettable view of Mount Chomolhari, the “Goddess”, which rises to 23,640 feet. Then, a brief transfer to the starting point of the Taktsang trail. Hike to Taktsang Monastery, the most famous in Bhutan. Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest”, so called because it is said that Guru Rinpoche flew to this place on the back of a flying tigress in the late 7th century. Surrounded by blue pines and a clear sky, the monastery rises miraculously on a cliff nearly 2,700 feet above the Paro valley floor. Here, you can offer a butter lamp.
Lunch at Taktsang Café. Afterwards, visit a farmhouse where you can observe various traditional Bhutanese methods for making rice wine, preparing Zaw and Suja (butter tea), and learn the traditional games of archery and Degor (a game played with stones). In the evening, enjoy a traditional hot stone bath. Return to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Overnight in Paro (B/L/D)

Paro
Transfer to the airport and departure on your international flight. We hope you will carry this noble country in your heart: may it bring you peace.