Highlights
Hike to the iconic Tiger's Nest in Paro
Visit the giant statue of the Buddha on a hilltop in Thimphu
Enjoy spectacular views of the valley
See thee highlights of Thimpu and Paro
Itinerary
Short on time but eager to experience Bhutan’s magic? The 'Bhutan at a Glance' tour is a compact, yet comprehensive trip for young adults and experienced travelers. Explore the highlights of Thimphu, including the majestic Tashichho Dzong, Folk Heritage Museum, and the world’s tallest Buddha statue at Kuenselphodrang. In Paro Valley, hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery and soak in panoramic mountain views. The USP of this tour package is its ability to showcase Bhutan’s iconic spiritual and cultural sites in just a few days, making it perfect for those wanting an authentic taste of the kingdom in a short time frame.
day 1 - Arrive at Paro, drive towards Thimphu
Fly into Paro via Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines the only two airlines in the country at present. If the weather cooperates, you might have spectacular views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas, including peaks in Bhutan such as Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tsering Kang. After visa formalities at the Paro airport, we drive to Thimphu.
Stop at Tachoggang and visit the temple and the bridge built by handmade iron chains.
Visit the National Memorial Chorten: The building of this landmark was envisaged by the third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, as a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it is both a memorial to the Late King (”the father of modern Bhutan “) and a monument to world peace. The paintings and statues inside the monument provide a deep insight into Buddhist philosophy.
In the evening, visit Tashichho Dzong, the impressive fortress which houses the secretariat building, the throne room of His Majesty the King and various government offices. It is also the summer residence of the Chief Abbot and central monk body. Witness the Flag lowering ceremony before you enter the Dzong.
Overnight at Hotel in Thimphu.
day 2 - Sightseeing in Thimphu and head to Paro
Drive to Kuenselphodrang where the world’s tallest Buddha Statue (169 feet) sits overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Enjoy the spectacular view of Thimphu city.
Today we will also visit the zoo at Motithang to see takin, the National animal of Bhutan, the Folk Heritage Museum and the general post office where you can make a postage stamp with your own picture which can be posted within Bhutan.
Afterward, we will start our drive towards Paro. Once there, we will visit Ta Dzong, which in the past served as watchtower for Paro Dzong and now houses the National Museum and Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
In the evening you can enjoy some free time or you can visit the Paro town and the street of typical Bhutanese traditional buildings.
day 3 - Paro Taktshang Hike
Today we will see the famed Taktsang Monastery, or “Tiger’s Nest”.
You have the option of taking a steep 1.5-hour hike to a tea house, where you can enjoy a great view of the monastery, which is perched on a cliff 2,700 feet above the floor of the Paro Valley. Or, you can also choose to hire a pony to take you to the tea house. The hike/pony ride follows a steep switchback trail through the forest, and after a break with tea and cookies, you have the option to sit outside the cafe and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings or, if you feel energetic, to continue another thirty minutes to a closer viewpoint.
Taktshang Monastery is one of the holiest and the most beautiful sites of Bhutan. Taktshang, the tiger’s lair, acquires its name from the legend of its foundation, when in the 8th Century Guru Rimpoche, widely revered as the second Buddha, arrived from Tibet flying across the mountains on the back of a tigress.
Afterward, we will also visit Kyichu Lhakhang, built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo.
day 4 - Departure
Our team will drop you to the airport and see you off.
Altitude Map
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Customer Reviews
Read what other travelers have to say about Bhutan at a Glance
Jomolhari Loop Trek with the Vibrant Tshechu Festival Thimphu and Punakha Valley
Thanks to the very swift reply of Thinley and his team an easy booking of my 13 days of stay in Bhutan was complete in 3 days including flights to Paro and e-Visa. Thinley was always responsible to my needs during my stay. This local travel specialist does have excellent connections so that my trekking was led by an experienced mountain guide and a team, which made my trekking experience very safe. They do also have a wide variety of 3* to 5* hotels, which accommodate everybody’s need. As a trekker I chose 3* hotels and was very happy.
Incredible culture, people, food, value
My girlfriends and I had an outstanding experience with this local travel specialist. Among the tour options that we considered, this was the most well-suited to our tastes, well-reviewed, certified by the Bhutanese government and fairly priced. Thinley, our tour coordinator, was highly responsive from the very early planning stages and flexible with the itinerary. He made it a point to greet us in person in Thimphu. Our guide Lhab was truly incredible: he was friendly, patient and so informative. We genuinely felt like we had made a new friend. We also had wonderful drivers (Geym, Pema) throughout. We had great exposure to Bhutanese food and culture, saw numerous stunning temples and monasteries, as well as engaged in more adventurous activities like rafting, hiking and camping. Of note, following a last-minute request, Thinley and Lhab arranged for a poignant commemoration of a couple of recently departed loved ones of members of our travel group; I will cherish those memories and their kindness forever. A couple of us were so moved that we decided to extend our trip, and Thinley and Lhab facilitated this with great courtesy and helpfulness. Overall, this ranks among the favorite trips for everyone in our well-travelled group. I highly recommend using this agency for travel to Bhutan and can't wait to return to this stunning, peaceful country someday.
Perfect Intorduction to Bhutan
My wife and I tailored our trip to extend it by one extra night, and Mr. Thinley and the team tweaked the itinerary to suit our personal interests and plans. Each item on the itinerary was designed to give us the best possible experience and to maximise our time in Bhutan. On a personal note the team at this agency moved heaven and Earth for my wife and I when, due to an unforseen circumstance, we were unable to fly on the day of our flight. It was not their fault, yet they changed our flights, visas and pushed back the dates of our visit at no extra charge to us, just to ensure we were able to make this trip, which is beyond extraordinary service. The hotels they booked us into were always really good, with great staff and delicious food that they were often happy to tailor to our own preferences (my wife is vegetarian but still wished to try as much Bhutanese food as possible). Several even came with some of the best views I've ever had from a hotel. Our tour guides, Phurba and Pema were amazing. Always flexible with times and full of information about Bhutan and life there. They were very informative and great fun, it was a pleasure to spend 6 days with them and they ensured we always enjoyed ourselves and got the absolute most from our time in Bhutan.
Bhutan crane festival
Very well organized by Thinley. Namguey and kinley were the best guides and driver
Visit Bhutan with this agency
We have visited all 3 major places of west Bhutan, its so enjoyable and leaves deep impact in our lives
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