Bhutan Holidays

Brimming with spiritual traditions, majestic mountain scenery and colourful festivals, Bhutan offers a wealth of unique adventures. High on the list of things to do in Bhutan is the Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. This magnificent monastery clings to the cliffs that rise 3,000m above sea level and is a sacred Buddhist temple in the Himalayas. Each year, there are several vibrant festivals that take place throughout Bhutan, and if you want to learn about the culture and history of the country, they offer an exciting immersive experience. Other unmissable things to do include trekking through the Phobjika Valley and visiting the dzongs of Trongsa.

There are so many beautiful places to visit in Bhutan that it’s difficult to narrow them down to just one. Thimpu is both beguiling and beautiful with its Himalayan backdrop, the Memorial Chorten and Buddha Point, where a huge statue of Buddha overlooks the town. However, the Paro Valley is also considered by many as the most beautiful part of Bhutan owing to its lush, forested hills and paddy fields studded with old farmhouses and dzong. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is another site that possesses a unique charm with its dizzying cliffside setting that looks out over the Paro Valley.

No matter how long you spend in Bhutan, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. While you can visit for just several days and see some of the main sights, we recommend a minimum of 11 days if you want to really scratch beneath the surface of the scenery, culture and history of this incredible country. You could easily spend two weeks exploring the mountains, monasteries and dongs. Combining Bhutan tours with one of the festivals is a great way to really immerse yourself in the culture as well as visiting many of the attractions.

When you travel to Bhutan will all depend on what you want to see and experience whilst you’re there. If you want to go trekking in the Himalayas, the best times to visit are in the spring and autumn when there is less rainfall, and the temperatures aren’t too hot for walking. If you want to experience one of the festivals on your trip, then the dates you travel will obviously need to coincide with those of the festival.

Festivals in Bhutan, known as tshechu, are an important part of the country’s culture and offer a wonderful insight into local life in the Himalaya. Filled with music, dancing and extravagant costumes, these colourful celebrations illuminate the streets each year. There are several festivals in Bhutan, including Punakha Dromache and Tshechu, Gangtey Drubchen and Jambay Lakhang Drup. But the most significant and biggest of them all are Paro Tshechu and Thimpu Tshechu. In Paro, the festival runs over four days and starts out from the Dzong courtyard. On the ultimate day, the sacred Thanka painting is unveiled before dawn. Thimpu Tshechu is also held over four days on the 10^th day of the 8^th month in the Bhutanese lunar calendar.

At Exodus we rate the Druk Path trek as moderate to challenging. Our tour includes five days of walking, reaching a maximum altitude of 4235m. While the trek isn’t technically difficult and the distances aren’t particularly challenging, managing the altitudes can be tough on the body so we ensure a slow pace. On the routes we follow, parts of the trails can be narrow and rocky, and rain can make them quite slippery in places. There are opportunities to rest and soak up the incredible views. If you’re unsure whether this trek is suitable for your level of fitness, please read our Walking & Trekking Fitness Training Guide.

Depending on what you want to experience, there are several factors you might want to take into consideration when choosing between Paro or Thimpu. While Paro is great for nature and history lovers and can be explored in several days, Thimpu takes you deeper into the Bhutanese culture and you’ll need longer to see everything. If you want to witness the magnificent Tiger’s Nest Monastery and the Dzong Fortress and explore natural landscapes, head to Paro. But if you want to enjoy the vibrant nightlife then Thimpu is your best option, although there are still plenty of temples and monasteries to discover here.