“Walk slowly, mindfully and experience this remote Himalayan Kingdom in deeply transformative ways. Bhutan is a country devoted to its Buddhist tradition. Every day is an invitation to practice. The rituals and iconography of the Vajrayana tradition (also known as Tibetan Buddhism) are woven into every aspect of Bhutanese culture. Simple community here seems to soften the jagged edges of an independent Western mindset” Consider the 19 day pilgrimage-Group 1, beginning traveling East, or the 14 days tour, Group 2 where we will meet up in Bumthang. Both itineraries are outlined below.
Please reach out directly to Cypress Himalaya or Ruth with your questions. …In Ruth’s words
Highlights
Welcome to Ruth’s 2025 East meets West tour of Bhutan. The charts below show the Daily Routes with Group 1 starting their tour traveling to the Northeast Dzongkhag (districts) in Eastern Bhutan of Lhuentse and Mongar. Both of these Dzongkhags are truly, “the road less travelled”. These districts are two of the remotest districts of Bhutan, and known as the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. Alongside the sacred sites of pilgrimage, Lhuentse weavers are famous for creating the most exquisite women’s Kira’s in the country, known as Kishuthara. This famed and treasured textile is exclusively handwoven in the small village of Khoma. (pictured below).
Group 2 will meet up with Group 1 on Day 8 in Bumthang, to begin a 14 day tour incredible journey together, crossing over the Central Highlands into the subtropical zone of Punakha end our tour in Western Bhutan, and towards the capital of Thimphu and the valley of Paro.
| Group 1 (19 nights ) Dates: Oct.1st-Oct.20-Scroll down for Detailed Itinerary | Group 2 (14 nights) Dates: Oct. 6th-Oct.20-Scroll down for Detailed Itinerary | |||
| Oct. 1. Day 1 Eastern Tour | Paro arrival Wednesday, overnight Paro | |||
| Oct. 2 Day 2 Eastern | 25 min Bumthang Drukair Flight on Thursday, Drive to Yongkola, overnight Eco-park, place of world class bird watching | |||
| Oct. 3 Day 3 Eastern | Drive Lhuntse, overnight Takila,-home of Guru Rinpoche seated bronze statue. | |||
| Oct.4 Day 4 Eastern | Drive to Lhuntse- Vist to Takila , Lhuntse-Largest Statue of Guru Rinpoche in the world, | |||
| Oct. 5 Day 5 Eastern | Lhuntse-Khoma Village-home of the Kishuthara weavers, | |||
| Oct. 6 Day 6 Eastern | Drive to Mongar-Day visit to nunnery, practice meditation/ teachings with the nuns. Visit to Ghelpozhing (ancient ruins) | Group 2, Arrive in Paro Bhutan on Monday Oct 6 Day 1 | ||
| Oct. 7 Day 7 | Mongar to Bumthang, drive 4 hours, meet Group 2 -Afternoon Thangbi Lama Dancing Festival | Tuesday Group 2 Day 2-Paro Drukair flight to Bumthang-Meet Group 1, Afternoon-Thangbi Lama Dancing Festival | ||
| Oct. 8 Day 8 | Bumthang , Thangbi Lama Dancing Festival | Day 3 Lama Dancing Festival | ||
| Oct. 9 Day 9 | Bumthang Bumthang Kurjey, Jambay Lhakhang, | Day 4 same as Group 1 | ||
| Oct.10 Day10 | Bumthang medicinal water Membartsho, Tharpaling Monastery | Day 5 same as Group 1 | ||
| Oct.11 Day 11 | Trongsa, overnight Phobjikha | Day 6 continue with Group 1 | ||
| Oct.12 Day 12 | Phobjikha nature hike, visit to Black Neck Crane Nature Center, overnight Punakha | Day 7 | ||
| Oct.13 Day 13 | Punakha Khamsum Yulley Chorten, afternoon river raft *option, Punakha Dzong | Day 8 | ||
| Oct.14 Day 14 | Drive to Thimphu, Buddha Dordenma-2nd Largest Seated Buddha in the world, meditate in temple. Farmhouse lunch, Afternoon, Thangka Painting with master artist at studio option* | Day 9 | ||
| Oct.15 Day 15 | Thimphu, hike to Tango Buddhist College, receive some teachings, fternoon Pangri Zampa Astrology College and Monastery | Day 10 | ||
| Oct.16 Day 16 | Thimphu-local sightseeing, | Day 11 | ||
| Oct.17 Day 17 | Paro Dzongdraka, Paro Dzong | Day 12 | ||
| Oct.18 Day 18 | Paro Hike to Tiger’s Nest and Farmhouse Hot Stone Bath and dinner | Day 13 | ||
| Oc.t19 Day 19 | Paro souvenir Shopping, evening cocktail party, art show | Day 14 | ||
| Oct.20 Day 20 | Depart to Bangkok, Delhi or Kathmandu | Day 15 Departure Day |
19 Day Itinerary
14 Day Itinerary
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“As rugged as the Himalayan foothills are; as distinctive as the festivals and villages, it is the sincere goodness of the Bhutanese that have touched my heart.”-Ruth
What’s included in the Trip Cost?
What’s not included in the tour cost?
- The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is not included in the Tour Price, the $100 USD per day per person is paid separately to the Government of Bhutan, Immigration.
- You send us your SDF fee in your wire transfer and we send it to Immigration for Visa processing (send a 2×2 passport size photo for the Visa) We email your Visa to you.
- Your International Flight into Bhutan via the 3 hubs: Your choices are Kathmandu, Bangkok or New Delhi
- Domestic Flight from Bumthang to Paro is booked by us
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Suggested Tips for Guide and Driver (read more in the Bhutan Checklist)
All Inclusive Trip Costs for 2025
Scroll up to see what is included in the Trip Cost-Please Email us for Total Costs
More about the SDF on our Homepage: https://cypresshimalaya.com/
Visa Details, E-tickets
- Cypress Himalaya will process your Visa through Immigration
- We will send your E-ticket and your Visa to you one month before travel time
- You will be responsible for obtaining a Visa for any other countries you will be transiting on your way into Bhutan
- Please plan to arrive in the transiting country at the minimum of 1 day before your flight into Bhutan, this will help you to acclimate to the Asia time zone. International flights are often being delayed, so try not to book your flight to BKK, DEL or KTM too close to our travel day, as there is only 1 flight per day into Bhutan.
Accommodations
- All Tour prices are based on shared rooms are standard, shared. Couples get Double/King Size bed.
- If you are staying in a private room, single room (single supplement) there is an extra charge -$500 USD for 14 days.
- We only use exclusive resorts and hotels for this journey
Food/Meal Options
- Breakfast will be a choice of continental, breads, pancakes ,eggs, coffee and teas.
- Lunch and dinners consist of freshly cooked organic vegetables, a meat dish and either Bhutanese red rice or white rice, and a noodle dish.
- Veg and Non Veg options at each meal, sometimes influenced by the cuisine of India, Nepal, chefs will try to incorporate traditional dishes of Bhutan.
- None of the main dishes are spicy.
Traditional Bhutanese foods
- Bhutan is almost 100 percent organic, we will visit some incredible market places in Paro and Thimphu if time permits.
- Red Rice is by far the most popular exported grain, (pictured)
- The main dish for the Bhutanese is a chili cheese dish called Ema Datshi, and also momo’s which are a dumpling influenced from Tibet and Nepal.
- Beef, chicken and pork are the most popular meats, there is no butchery in Bhutan, it’s exported from India.
Cypress Himalaya Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063646683461: Journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan with Ruth Williamson- October 2025-Living by Vow
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines Flight times/Airport Codes-Bangkok (BKK), Delhi (DEL), Kathmandu (KTM)
Your Round Trip from Bangkok to Paro Flight information(timing)
Airport Codes: (BKK) is Suvarnabhumi Airport, PBH is Paro International Airport
It is advised to arrive at the airport for international flights 3 hours in advance, people will be lined up at 2am for the Bangkok to Paro route, that is why we advise to get a hotel close to the airport, within 10 min drive.
Bangkok Route (Group 1)
1 Flight number KB153 Y(Econ) Oct1 Depart Bangkok at 5:00am, arrives Paro at 7:15a
2 Flight number KB150 Y(Econ) Oct 20 departs Paro at 8:00am arrives Bangkok at 12:10 pm
Kathmandu Route (Group 1)
1 Flight number KB401 Y(Econ) Oct 1 Depart Kathmandu at 9:10am, arrives Paro at 10:30a
2 Flight number KB400Y(Econ) Oct 20 departs Paro at 7:10pm, arrives Bangkok at 8:10pm
Click for Details on Baggage Allowance from Drukair
https://www.drukair.com.bt/Travel-Information/Baggage/Baggage-Allowance
Baggage Allowance- You are allowed one handbag and one carry on (11 pds/5kg) and 1 checked bag (66pds/30kg) included. On board, I usually bring one purse and one carry-on luggage, just to keep it light. You can pack the heavier items in the checked baggage. But for instance, do not try to bring a med size backpack and a carry on…try to stick to a purse/small handbag and carry on.
Bhutan Checklist: What to bring? (download)
Helpful Links and Resources about Bhutan
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery– Paro Taktsang, the most famous destination in Bhutan and in the Buddhist world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang
- About Bhutan-The Land of the Thunder Dragon. Editorial Highlights, Monarchy, Heritage, Policies and more https://bhutan.travel/about
- History of Gross National Happiness (GNH) https://www.gnhcentrebhutan.org/history-of-gnh/
- Buddha Dordenma-2nd Largest Seated Buddha in the world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Dordenma_statue
- Bhutanese favorite pastimes, Hot Stone Baths: https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/hot-stone-baths-the-bath-culture-of-bhutan
Cancellation Policy -Updated May 2024
To confirm your Bhutan trip booking, full tour payment has to be made prior to your arrival in Bhutan. In the event of Bhutan tour booked and subsequently cancelled by you, your full tour cost will be refunded to you after deducting the following scale of charges depending on when the notification of your tour cancellation is received, and in addition admin fees for tour and airlines.
a) If notification of your tour cancellation is received within 45 days prior to arrival in Bhutan, 25% of your Bhutan tour cost shall be deducted as cancellation charges.
b) If notification of your tour cancellation is received within 30 days before your arrival in Bhutan, 50% of your Bhutan tour cost shall be deducted as cancellation charges.
c) If notification of your tour cancellation is received from 29 -0 days before your arrival in Bhutan, there is no cash refund for the tour cancellation, however change date is permitted. Admin fee applied.
