Essential Bhutan

7 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews  
97%
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Group Tour
The Land of the Thunder Dragon. The Hidden Kingdom. The Roof of the World. No travel destination on earth is more remote—or more beautiful—than Bhutan. Nestled in the high Himalayas, this tiny kingdom fiercely protects its traditional ways of life, and guards its isolation like no other country (Bhutan had no roads until 1962, and no television until 1999). T...
From$3,595
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Be one of the lucky few to visit this uniquely isolated kingdom!
    • Visit timeless traditional villages tucked away in pristine mountain landscapes
    • Explore ancient monasteries and experience Buddhist culture in its most ancient, unadulterated form

What's this trip about?

    The Land of the Thunder Dragon. The Hidden Kingdom. The Roof of the World. No travel destination on earth is more remote—or more beautiful—than Bhutan. Nestled in the high Himalayas, this tiny kingdom fiercely protects its traditional ways of life, and guards its isolation like no other country (Bhutan had no roads until 1962, and no television until 1999). This unique tour offers the rare chance to discover a secret world, explore ancient monasteries, and experience pristine Buddhist culture as it has existed since time immemorial. Unadulterated by modernity, the Bhutanese landscape consists of dense forests, shimmering glaciers, and crystalline rivers flowing through lush green meadows. If you've always wanted to journey to the ends of the earth, there can be no doubt that Bhutan is that place.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityParo
End CityParo

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 2

Trip includes

    • Expert leadership
    • Accommodations as noted in itinerary (or similar)
    • If applicable, tent or safari accommodations and all arrangements in the field, including camp and cook staffs,
    • Comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment
    • Meals as noted in the itinerary
    • Airport transfers
    • Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation
    • Additional guides and porters where necessary
    • Tips for lodge, hotel, or camp staff
    • Entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
    • Basic medical and evacuation insurance

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Paro (7,500)

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Druk Hotel

Fly to Paro, Bhutan. If you get a seat on the left side of the plane and the weather cooperates, you may have spectacular views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalaya, including Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhots...

Day 2: Thimphu (7,600')

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Druk Hotel

After breakfast, drive to the trailhead where we set out on our hike: a steep, hour-long climb to Tango Goemba, a Buddhist institute originally founded in the 12th century (the present building...

Day 3: Thimphu (7,600') - Punakha (4,100')

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Damchen Resort Hotel

This morning's tour will include a visit to the School of Arts and Crafts (or "painting school"), where Bhutanese children follow a six-year program in traditional arts, such as drawi...

Day 4: Punakha (4,100')

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Damchen Resort Hotel

In the morning, you will visit the ancient Punakha Dzong (a dzong is a fortress-monastery) which dates back to the 17th century, spectacularly situated at the confluence of the Mo and...

Day 5: Punakha (4,100') - Paro (7,600')

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Morning drive to Paro. In the afternoon, you'll visit the National Museum, housed in an old watchtower above the Paro Dzong. The museum's collections include displays of spectacular thang...

Day 6: Hike to Taktsang Monastery or Dzongdrakha Monastery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Today you have the option of taking a steep, 1½-hour hike to a teahouse, where you can enjoy a great view of Taktsang Monastery (its name means "tiger's nest"), perched on a cliff 2,700 f...

Day 7: Departure

Meals:

Breakfast

Today we'll have a very early morning transfer to the Paro Airport for departure on your Druk Air flight.  Trip ends with your transfer to the airport.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,595
Price per day$514
Single supplement (single occupancy)$600
Last Updated: 9/17/2018

Tier Pricing

Adventure travel works best with a small group of people. In order to operate these small groups, our trips are priced according to the number of full-price passengers on the trip. (Mountain Travel Sobek staff, trip doctors, and other discounted travelers are excluded from the count for this purpose.) We initially invoice you at the highest tier level price (the smallest group size we can operate). If the price drops due to an increase in group size, you will be refunded the difference.

 

$940 internal airfare – Bangkok/Paro/Bangkok - subject to change (we can help you book your air from Bangkok or elsewhere to Paro on Druk Air)

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
Excellent
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Terrible
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Other MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews

T

Tish

Aug 2023

Written on

Recommend Japan hikes but not with Mt Sobek

First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfor...

A

Anne

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Spectacular scenery

Spectacular scenery, great hiking, and fascinating conversations with...

A

Andrea

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Truly enjoyable

Thanks to MT Sobek this trip was seamless and truly enjoyable. The accommodations, logistics, and guides were all excellent. I always felt safe, cared for, and well ...

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Meals not noted on itinerary
    • Insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance
    • Optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff
    • Excess baggage charges
    • Airport taxes (international—varies by location)
    • Cost of medical immunizations
    • Items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Accommodation

Damchen Resort Hotel — Punakha, Bhutan

This charming hotel on the banks of the Punakha River offers a pleasant stay in a serene atmosphere. Spacious rooms combine modern design with traditional Bhutanese architecture. Surrounded by pine forests but a mere 5-minute walk from town, the Damchen Resort is a convenient oasis.

 

Druk Hotel — Thimphu, Bhutan

Experience the legendary hospitality of the Bhutanese people at this fine accommodation in the midst of the Himalayas. Located in the heart of the capital city, the hotel is close to shopping, culture, and the bubbling Thimphu River. Pleasant rooms are outfitted with comfortable beds, tiled bathrooms, soaking tubs and modern amenities, while the spa rounds out the offering here at Druk Hotel Thimphu.

 

Zhiwa Ling Hotel — Paro, Bhutan

The Zhiwa Ling is a luxurious retreat that combines the sensibilities of a fine Bhutanese guesthouse with the best of modern comforts. The exquisite hand-carved wooden cornices, extensive stonework and manicured gardens create an authentic and inviting atmosphere. Guest rooms are spread out on the 10 acres of pristine land that make up this breathtaking property, and feature modern amenities and comfortable furnishings. Guests can enjoy a traditional outdoor hot-stone bath, tea at the Tea House, a Meditation House, and two restaurants specializing in both contemporary international and classic Bhutanese cuisine.

Transportation & flights

Air Travel Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their “frequent flyer” miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets. We need to verify your arrival and departure schedule and ensure we have enough participants to operate the trip.
Cancellation policy
  • If written cancellation is received 90 days prior to departure, Cancellation fee will be $150
  • If written cancellation is received 89 to 61 days prior to departure, Cancellation fee will be $400
  • If written cancellation is received 60 to 46 days prior to departure, Cancellation fee will be 50% of Land/Cruise Cost
  • If written cancellation is received 45 to 0 days prior to departure, Cancellation fee will be 100% of Land/Cruise Cost
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
mtsobe-EssBhuMou

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