Bhutan Cultural Journey

13 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
A unique combination of culture and walking without the commitment to extended trekking
From$6,650
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star

Highlights

    • Explore Paro and visit the famous Taktsang 'Tiger's Nest' Monastery
    • Cross high mountain passes to the Gangtey Valley, winter home to the Black Necked Crane and Trongsa
    • Witness the majesty of the Himalaya including the sacred Jomolhari peak (7326m)
    • Discover the ancient dzongs (fort-monasteries) and Lhakkhangs of central Bhutan on ancient trails
    • Traverse through the picturesque Haa Valley, Bumthang and Punakha
    • Learn about Bhutanese culture at Paro's National Museum

What's this trip about?

    A unique combination of culture and walking without the commitment to extended trekking

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityParo
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel

Destinations

Attractions

  • Gangtey
  • Paro
  • Punakha
  • Tibet

Activities

  • Culture

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • 13 breakfasts,12 lunches,13 dinners
    • English speaking local guide
    • good quality accommodation on a twinshare basis throughout
    • private internal transport throughout
    • all airport transfers
    • sightseeing & sight entry fees as listed
    • Bhutan visa

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join Paro (2200m)

After clearing customs and immigration in Paro, you'll be met by our group leader. There's time to freshen up and have lunch before heading out to hike to Zuri Dzong (2,600m). This scenic small hike to the Dzong will serve as an acclimitization walk as offer a glimpse...

Day 2 Drive to Haa Valley (70km; 3hrs)

After breakfast we drive towards the Haa valley via Chele La Pass, the highest motorable road in Bhutan. Before making it to Chelela, we visit Kila Gompa Nunnery, reputedly the oldest nunnery in Bhutan consisting of a series of buildings pressed against the cliffs. Ar...

Day 3 Drive to Gangtey (6hrs)

After breakfast we drive to Gangtey (approx. 6 hrs drive), which is a wide and beautiful valley the open grassland and thickets of dwarf bamboo, designated as conservation zone within the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National. It is a natural habitat for wildlife, including ...

Day 4 Explore Gangtey

After breakfast at leisure, drive up to visit the Gangtey Monastery on a forested hill overlooking the green expanse of the entire Phobjikha valley. Black neck cranes circle this monastery before landing in the valley and taking off for Tibet in February end for 110 k...

Day 5 Drive to Bumthang (68km, 4-5hrs)

Today we cross the Pele La pass (3,420m) on the Black Mountain range towards Trongsa. Enroute we pass the beautiful 18th century Chendebji Chorten, erected to subdue harmful, anti-religious demons. Upon arriving at Trongsa, the ancestral home of Bhutan's ruling dynast...

Day 6 Explore Bumthang

Legend has it that throughout the Buddhist Himalayas, valleys hidden from the outside world exist. Sheltered and protected, together these regions could become the last bastions of traditional Tibetan Buddhism. Shangri-La in James Hilton's Lost Horizons is based on t...

Day 7 Bumthang - Tang Valley

Tang is the most remote of Bumthang's valleys with not as much agriculture as the valley below, although in places where the soil is fertile and deep the Arcadian scenes are picture perfect. Terton Pema Lingpa the famous saint responsible for discovering many treasure...

Day 8 To Punakha (6hrs)

Today we will head to the warmer valley of Punakha. Visit the village of Lobesa where a short walk ends at Chimi Lhakhang, the auspicious fertility monastery built in 1499. We will also visit the impressive Punakha Dzong - a fortress monastery which acts as the winter...

Day 9 Drive to Thimphu

After breakfast we commence the drive towards Thimphu, the nation's capital. Thimphu is the largest city with a population of 1.2m and also without traffic lights! It is home to the Government, royal family and has an interesting mix of Himalayan and western influenc...

Day 10 Morning hike to Cheri Monastery

This morning, we will drive for 45 minutes to the start of the hike to Cheri Monastery (about 2hrs walk return). This monastery was established in 1620 and is now a major centre for the Drukapy Kagyud sect of Buddhism, the state religion. This significant site serves ...

Day 11 Drive to Paro

After a morning of exploring the town, we drive to Paro. In the evening head out to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, a contemporary of Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. Legend says that a giant demoness lays across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was obstructing the sp...

Day 12 In Paro, visit Tigers Nest Monastery

We drive to the foot of the Taktsang Monastery - the famous Tigers Nest Monastery (3120m) said to have been one of the divine resting places of the Guru Ringpoche. This Monastery was blessed and sanctified as one of Bhutan’s most sacred religious sites. It hangs on a ...

Day 13 Trip concludes

After breakfast our trip concludes with a transfer to the airport for onward arrangements.

meals : B

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,650
Price per day$512
Last Updated: 3/26/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
16 Sep 2025
28 Sep 2025
$6,650
24 Sep 2025
06 Oct 2025
$6,650
01 Nov 2025
13 Nov 2025
$6,650
09 Nov 2025
21 Nov 2025
$6,650
20 Jan 2026
01 Feb 2026
$7,330
23 Feb 2026
07 Mar 2026
$7,330
08 Mar 2026
20 Mar 2026
$7,330
20 Mar 2026
01 Apr 2026
$7,330
28 Mar 2026
09 Apr 2026
$7,330
07 Apr 2026
19 Apr 2026
$7,330

World Expeditions does not require single travellers to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. Please refer to our website for the additional cost.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with World Expeditions.

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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World Expeditions Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
1,618
Great
221
Average
8
Disappointing
1
Terrible
4
P

Peter Surtees

Nov 2022

Great guide; very knowledgeable, a font of great information ; and spoke very good English

Excellent driver. Modern very clean vehicle. Good accommodation and food.

M

Marilyn Surtees

Nov 2022

The Bhutan Cultural Journey was wonderful

Our guide Singye and driver Narwong were first class. Singye's knowledge of Bhutanese culture and religion was outstanding and he was always looking for ways to add ...

E

Eric Atkins

Nov 2022

An excellent trip in every way

Our guide and driver were exceptional and made our Bhutan experience so interesting and exciting.

E

Eric Atkins

Nov 2022

Excellent trip

Plenty of action with many and varied activities. ...

Write a Review

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An amazing adventure through Laos and Cambodia

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International flights & taxes
    • Bottled water
    • Aerated and alcoholic drinks
    • Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
    • Tips
    • Airport & departure taxes
    • Travel insurance

Accommodation

12 nights hotel
Requirements
This adventure tour involves remote travel at high altitude (up to 3750m altitude) where facilities are often basic. at least one night is in basic lodging (farmhouse style lodging). The tour involves long journeys on some rough roads. Sightseeing and optional day walks are included with some hiking above 3000m for up to 5 hours. Some sections of the walk up to Taktsang Monastery will not be suitable for sufferers of Vertigo. To enjoy this trip we recommend you are reasonably fit, healthy, have an active lifestyle and a positive attitude. Specialist gear required include walking boots/shoes and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).,
Travel Insurance
We require that you take out a personal travel insurance policy to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. A suggested policy is enclosed with these notes. If you take out an alternative policy, we need to be advised of the details. It is your responsibility to ensure any and all pre-existing medical conditions are adequately covered by your insurer. Please note: if you choose credit card cover, in our experience, this may not insure against high cost needs. For example; helicopter emergency evacuation. If you do decide to choose credit card coverage, please check all policy details thoroughly. You should always carry your travel insurance policy, emergency card and photocopies of your passport and cash cards with you during your trip.
Visa requirements
Yes*
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
worldexpeditions-BCC

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