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15- day Journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan

Immerse yourself in the deep-rooted spiritual and cultural traditions of the last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country in the world. Experience the ancestral magic, timeless mystery, and the spectacular Himalayan landscapes in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Option Thangka Painting in Thimphu
Optoin White Water Rafting in Punakha

Trip Details Highlights

  • 15 day Tour, Departs on Day 16 (*SDF for 15 days)
  • Visit to 6 major cities in Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Phobjikha
  • Attend the Domkhar Lama Dancing Festival in Bumthang, a 900 year old tradition dating back to the 9th century, during the time of Guru Padmasambhava-Guru Rinpoche.
  • Visit the Second Largest Seated Buddha Statue in the World-The Buddha Dordenma- Thimphu
  • Hike the legendary Tiger’s Nest in Paro (pictured), a 3.5 hour hike to a cliffside monastery
  • Short nature walks to temples, make offerings and light butter lamps for loved ones
  • Soak in the Medicinal Hot Stone Bath
  • Practice Meditation and yoga daily (optional)
  • Learn about Gross National Happiness, known as GNH
  • Options, Thangka Painting with master artist, and White Water Rafting in Punakha

Daily Itinerary

  • Day 1 April 30 Arrive Kathmandu at Paro International Airport overnight in Thimphu, Milarepa Cave, Buddha Dordenma.
  • Day 2 May 1 Thimphu Memorial Chorten, Pangri Zampa, (Astrology College and reading from the lamas), Buddha Point, after lunch, Thangka painting-make your own
  • Day 3 May 2 Thimphu hike to Tango-Cheri, Traditional Medicinal Institute
  • Day 4 May 3 Punakha Dochula Pass drive to Phobjikha (4 hours) Phobjikha Wilderness Center-hike a nature trail, Gangtey Monastery, overnight Phobjikha
  • Day 5 May 4 Drive to Trongsa, Tharpaling Monastery in Chumey, overnight Bumthang
  • Day 6 May 5 Bumthang Kurjey Lhakhang (Kurjey Drupchu-medicinal water) Jambay Lhakang, Guru Rinpoche Cave, Thamshing (Tonghang Gyalpo), overnight Bumthang
  • Day 7 May 6 Bumthang Membartsho, Tang Valley, Orgyen Choling,
  • Day 8 May 7 Bumthang Domkhar Festival,
  • Day 9 May 8 Drive to Trongsa, explore Trongsa, overnight Punakha
  • Day 10 May 9 Khamsum Valley, River rafting (option), overnight Punakha
  • Day 11 May 10 Punakha Dzong, Suspension Bridge, over night Punakha
  • Day 12 May 11 Drive to Paro, Dilgo Khentse Memorial House/Kyichu Lhakang
  • Day 13 May 12 hike to Dzongdraka Goemba : past Buddha’s relics, Guru Rinpoche, Paro Dzong, afternoon Paro town, market
  • Day 14 May 13 Hike to Paro Tiger’s Nest, Paro Takshang, Farmhouse Dinner, practice archery and soak in the hot stone bath Paro Nye,
  • Day 15 May 14 Visit to Lama G’s Village in Neyphu-secret valley, White Rock,
  • Day 16 May 15-Departure to Kathmandu

What’s Included in the Tour Cost?

Hotel Accommodations
Airport Transfer
Your guides and driver
Transportation
Museum Fees
Processing your Visa
All meals and non-alcoholic beverages
Airline bookings into/out of Bhutan

What’s not Included in the Tour Cost?

  • The Sustainable Development Fee **(SDF) is a $100 per day, per person fee, this is paid separately to the Royal Government of Bhutan and Immigration.
  • Your International Flight into Bhutan via Kathmandu, Bangkok or New Delhi but paid for separately. Approximate costs for Round Trip flights Bangkok ($920), Delhi ($600), and Kathmandu ($470)

Total Trip Costs -email us for 2026 costs

To Get Started: How to register for this trip?

  • Email us your Photo Page of Your Passport (send as a Jpeg), validity has to be for 6 months within travel time. Email is Cypresshimalaya@gmail.com
  • Tell us your Route into and out of Bhutan via Kathmandu, Bangkok or New Delhi
  • Once we know your route, we will email you the total payment due for the wire transfer
**What is the Sustainable Development Fee? Tourists visiting Bhutan will pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) directly to the Royal Government of Bhutan. The daily royalty of $100/night/person provides free education and healthcare for the citizens, it protects and nurtures the conservation of the environment, promotion of culture, and improved facilities for tourists in Bhutan. The SDF is to secure sustainable and responsible tourism known as “High value, Low volume”.

Visa and E-tickets

  • We will process your Visa through Immigration, we will email it to you to you one month before travel time, just print it and present it to the airlines ticket counter and Immigration at Paro International Airport
  • Your Airline E-ticket will also be emailed to you
  • You will be responsible for obtaining a Visa for any other countries you will be transiting on your way into Bhutan via Thailand, Nepal or India.

Accommodations

  • All rooms are Shared, Twin beds or Queen/King for couples.
  • A private room/single supplement is available for an extra charge, Let us know upon registration.
  • We only use exclusive resorts and hotels for this journey
  • There are hair dyers, hot water boilers and wifi in all the rooms
  • You can bring your own adapters, most hotels are already retro-fitted for your I-phones. Scroll down for the Bhutan Checklist for our itemized suggested list

Food/Meal Options

  • Breakfast will be a choice of continental, breads, pancakes, eggs, coffee and teas and juices
  • 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. 
  • For Tiger’s Nest hike, you can bring your favorite granola bars/energy bars and electrolytes.

Traditional Bhutanese foods

Please let us know your food sensitivities so we can plan ahead for you

  • 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 imported from India. 

Helpful Links and Resources about Bhutan

Detailed Itinerary-downloadable

15-Day-Journey-Spring-2025-2-5Download

Bhutan Checklist and General Information-Things to bring (downloadable)

Bhutan-Checklist-April_May-2Download

Cancellation must be approved by us in an email–these dates apply if you have already sent us your wire transfer plus an admin fee. The refund wire transfer charges are covered by the receiving beneficiary. This is in reference to your Cypress Himalaya Tour Cost, the SDF will be fully refunded by the Government of Bhutan at any point. Updated August 2024.

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.