A 6 day itinerary to Bhutan!

I recently took a trip to Bhutan. It is a lovely country. Here is my itinerary and some of the things to know before you travel to Bhutan. Everything listed here is valid only if you are a citizen of Indian, Bangladesh, Maldives.

Please visit this website to learn about additional information relevant to your visit if you are a citizen from a country other than the ones listed above.

Travel Tips

Do check your flight time a day in advance – There are only two airlines that go to Bhutan – Druk Airways and Bhutan Airlines. Our flight with Bhutan Airlines was moved early by 3 hours without clear communication which resulted in 18 passengers missing their flight from Delhi. The only other flight going to Bhutan, that day, was with Druk which was completely booked. Hence, we were sent to Kolkata to take the flight next day. Although Bhutan Airlines representatives were very helpful – they booked us with AirAsia till Kolkata, arranged for taxi, meals and a hotel – it did create frustration among the travelers. We lost a day as well as our resort booking for that night.

Self-driving/car rental is not an option in Bhutan – We wanted to rent a car and drive around by ourselves. After asking around in Thimphu, we found we will need an additional permit from transport corporation office in order to drive in Bhutan. Also, there aren’t many car rental options either. The most reliable option is to rent a car with a driver. It is easy to find a car with a driver. We were able to find one just by talking to our server at the restaurant in Taj Tashi.

You need a permit to travel anywhere other than Paro and Thimphu – We had planned to visit Punakha and Gangtey. So we required an internal permit. Getting the permit was fairly simple. We applied for it at the immigration office in Thimphu early in the day and received it within a couple of hours. However, this does mean that you need to make a stop at Thimphu. Go to the office before lunch and you can typically get your permit on the same day. The office is closed on weekends and holidays so plan accordingly.

Credit card is not accepted everywhere – Cards are accepted in the larger hotels and restaurants and that’s pretty much it. Indian currency works perfectly fine but people are sometimes reluctant to accept notes of Rs 500 and higher denominations.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Paro to Thimphu

We flew in to Paro airport. After going through immigration, we took a taxi to Thimphu. It costs between Rs. 1,000 to 1,500. On the way to Thimphu, we stopped at a store to get a local sim card. It just took 15 minutes and saved us from using international roaming. In Thimphu, we were booked at Terma Linca resort. It is a beautiful riverside resort, a little away from the main city. They have complementary fun activities like archery, bonfire.

Day 2 –  Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula pass

Before heading to Punakha, we applied for internal permit at Immigration office in Thimphu. It got done while we ate lunch at Taj Tashi. Definitely recommend Taj Tashi for Masala Chai which had a very unique earl grey flavor. Food is fairly good too.

After collecting our permit, we headed to Punakha around 3 pm. It is around 2.5 hours drive from Thimphu. Dochula pass is on the way. We stopped to click pictures. It was extremely cold there due to high altitude.

Dochula Pass

View from Dochula Pass

We reached our hotel in Punakha  – KRPO Green Resort – around 5:30 pm. I highly recommend this resort – Beautiful location, great room, great service, friendly staff, good food, value for money. We stayed here for three nights.

Day 3  – In and around Punakha

We started our sightseeing with the suspension bridge. Then we headed to Khamsum Yulley temple for a short, moderate hike. The trail has beautiful views of the farms.

The next stop was Punakha Dzong. It is the second oldest and one of the most beautiful monasteries in Bhutan. It is located at the confluence of two rivers.

Young lama at Punakha Dzong

Inside view of the Dzong

Day 4  – Gangtey Gonpa and Phobjika Valley

We started around 9 am for Gangtey. The road is still under construction in some parts so it took us 2.5 hours to reach Gantey Gonpa. Gangtey Gonpa is an old charming monastery built in 1700s. There were no tourists which made us like this place even more. You can see beautiful views of Phobjika Valley from here.

Gangtey Gonpa

View of Phobjika valley from Gangtey Gonpa

From there we went to Gangtey Logde, which is a boutique luxury hotel overlooking the valley, for lunch. The view from their restaurant is great too. We sat outside near the fireplace to enjoy some drinks. They give you blanket and neck warmer to get you as comfortable as possible.

After lunch, we started driving to Phobjika valley where there were still some migratory Black Cranes left. We were lucky enough to spot a few.

Phobjika Valley

We headed back to Punakha in the evening and reached before it was dark.

Day 5 – Chimmi Lhakhang and Punakha to Paro via Buddha point

Before heading back towards Paro, we decided to stop at the famous fertility temple (Chimmi Lhakhang). This temple was created in honor of ‘Divine Madman’ whose teachings supported all kinds of indulgence. It is worth a visit.

On the way back to Paro, we stopped at Buddha point. It is a gigantic statue of Buddha. On the way you also see some great views of Thimphu. Be prepared with Warm clothes as it can be pretty windy and cold up there.

In Paro, we stayed in Le Meridian. Not a great value for money. Feel free to explore other options.

Day 6 – Tiger’s Nest

Tiger’s Nest is the highlight of Bhutan. It is a monastery at 13,000 ft elevation. The hike is quite steep so take your time and enjoy the views on the way. You can find plenty of resources online if you need more information on this hike.