Bhutan, undoubtedly the most mysterious country in the world and a traveler’s paradise, is no ordinary place. The last great Himalayan kingdom, mystical and magical, a tours to Bhutan is a journey into a different reality. Often referred to as the last Shangri-la, it is a land of tranquility with spectacular landscapes, vibrant cultural heritage, remarkable scenery and friendly people.
The Top 6 Enthralling Tours of Bhutan are marvelous tours in the Himalayas in the mystical land of Bhutan, combining nature, culture and adventure in a nutshell. Whether you are seeking for an adventure vacation or a family holiday, whether you are spotting takins (national animal of Bhutan) or blue poppies, trekking peaks or strolling across hillsides ablaze with rhododendron blooms, these tours help you in making your Bhutan tour a memorable experience to cherish.
The 6 Most Enthralling Tours enhance you to discover the traditions, festivals, culture and natural wonders of Bhutan. Holding many surprises, this is a country where rice is red and chillies are not just a seasoning, but the main dish. The moment you walk through the ancient streets filled with pagoda architecture of temples, you experience a truly mountain culture. Visiting the countryside, you encounter rich coniferous forests, glacial lakes, innocent people and beautiful passes which offer amazing views of snow-clad mountain peaks.
Here are the Top 6 Enthralling Tours of Bhutan:
1. Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon Tour
Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon Tour is a special cultural tour that introduces you to the mystical and unspoiled cultural and natural grandeur of Bhutan. Filled with rugged terrain and steep mountain valleys, Bhutan is sandwiched between Tibet and India. This tour traverses through various dzongs namely Punakha dzong in Punakha, Rinpung dzong and Drugya dzong in Paro. You will explore beautiful landmarks, monastic sites and religious legends in the cities of Punakha, Paro and Thimpu, that provides you an opportunity to get acquainted with Bhutan’s rich culture and landscapes.
On this tour, you will also visit Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple of Bhutan and Taktsang monastery, the Tiger’s nest. You will drive through the Dochu La pass to constantly enjoy the amazing Bhutanese landscape. Other highlights of this tour include Memorial Chorten, nunnery temple, folk heritage museum and national institute of traditional medicine. Predominantly a Buddhist country, Bhutan deliberately preserves its unique way of life, culture and flora and fauna.
2. Bhutan The Last Shangri-La Tour
Bhutan – the last Shangri La Tour introduces you to the rich cultural heritage, imposing Dzongs or temple fortresses, that are intrinsic to the Bhutanese cultural ways of life. Your cultural tours begin from Paro, the most beautiful valley in Bhutan. The masterpieces of Paro like Tiger’s Nest Monastery, 8th century Kichu Monastery, and the national museum will be the prime attractions of this tour.
Furthermore, following north along the Thimphu river, you will arrive Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan which is a potpourri of traditional and modern culture. After making an excursion of Thimphu, you drive to Punakha valley across the picturesque Dochula Pass for great views of Himalayan ranges. Beyond exploring the Punakha valley, you walk for the Dzong- Chimi Lhakhang, the famous fertility temple in the region.
3. Paro to Phuentsholing Tour
Druk Yul or the country of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan is a country blessed with a varied landscape and a rich vibrant culture. This Paro to Phuentsholing tour takes you to some of the best places of Bhutan namely Paro, Thimpu, Punakha and Phuentsholing, providing best opportunities to experience the Bhutanese lifestyle and diverse landscape. Starting in the scenic Paro valley with a visit to Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lhakhang temple, the oldest monastery in Bhutan, this tour ends in a border town, Phuentsholing.
At Paro, you will hike up the infamous Taktsang monastery, better known by the term Tiger’s Nest, which is Bhutan’s one of the most iconic places. At Thimpu, the capital city, you will visit the notable landmarks such as the King Memorial Chorten, nunnery temple, mini zoo, the folk heritage museum, national institute of traditional medicine and the majestic Tashichho Dzong. You will then drive through the striking Dochu La Pass to the subtropical valleys of Punakha, once a capital of Bhutan. Touring the beautiful Gangtey village, you will visit the Gangtey monastery. From here you drive to Phuentsholing which marks the end of your amazing tour.
4. Bhutan Tour with Day Hikes
Bhutan Tour with Day Hikes is a carefully designed tour package which presents perfect opportunities to experience the pristine culture and wide range of biodiversity. Besides sightseeing tour of Thimpu, Punakha and Paro, you will hike to Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest), Lungchutse monastery and Khansum Yulley Namgyel Chorten.
These hikes will allow a wonderful opportunity to enjoy superb architectures of dzongs and monasteries, matchless lifestyle of the Bhutanese people, typical Buddhist cultures, green beautiful valleys, tropical forests, surreal views and glorious mountain vistas of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous peaks including Jumolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake. Combined with the cultural and the natural grandeur of Bhutan, this tour will let you make the most out of it in the shortest possible time. Experience the cultural vivacity and natural grandeur inherent in Bhutan, while on Bhutan Tour with Day Hikes. This trip is perfect for a single traveler, family vacation with children and elderly, group travelers or even cultural enthusiasts.
5. Bhutan Black-Necked Crane Festival Tour
Bhutan Black-Necked Crane Festival Tour is a stimulating trip that covers the major towns of Bhutan which includes Thimpu, Paro and Punakha. This invigorating tour lets you participate in the celebration of the Black Necked Crane Festival in Gangtey, home of the historic Gangtey monastery and Phobjikha Sanctuary. To the villagers, the annual arrival of the cranes, is an event that holds great significance. The celebration takes place in the courtyard of the Gangtey monastery where local people rejoice and celebrate the arrival of this majestic bird. It is believed that the carnival is organized to generate awareness about the endangered black-necked cranes. This is done in a fun way with a lot of folk-song singing, crane themed dancing and masked dancing.
Attend the unique festival together with the locals, while you discover the rich cultures of Bhutan. Other highlights of this trip include traversing beautiful landscapes of lush valleys, dense forests and rushing streams, exploring Bhutan’s central valleys, rich with ancient historical and sacred Buddhist sites. Hiking up to Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest) in Paro, visiting many cultural attractions that include medieval fortresses (Dzongs), markets and museums and marveling at the elaborate wall paintings and carvings in Dzongs and temples are integral parts of your festival tour program.
6. Paro Tsechu Festival Tour
The Paro Tsechu Festival Tour will immerse you in the cultural perspectives of one of the biggest festivals of Bhutan celebrated in honor of Guru Padmasambhava. Beginning the tour with sightseeing of Dzongs and temples in Paro, you will participate in the celebration of the festival. A yearly social gathering where people come together to rejoice dressed and adorned in their finest, the main highlight of this festival is the unfurling of a silk Thangka so large, that it covers the face of an entire building. The people of Bhutan consider it as one of the most sacred blessings in the entire country with a belief that they will get their sins washed away. There will be a series of mask dances, folk singing mainly by the monks. The dances represent the creatures that you can expect to meet after death.
After the celebration of dances, many rituals and unique cultural events, you will continue the tour by driving to Thimpu and visit prominent landmarks of the capital. Then, you will drive to Punakha via the Dochu La Pass and tour some significant cultural landmarks. You will also visit the townships of Bumthang and Wangdue for a remarkable sightseeing tour before you embark for your onward destination from Paro airport. You will end the festival tour with a hike up to the wonderful Taktsang monastery, better known as the tiger’s nest.
The mystical land of Bhutan will give you intoxicating pleasures unique to this last Shangri La. The peaceful and slow paced tours in Bhutan is perfect for you and your loved ones to blow off steam of the day-to-day mundane schedule. Our adventure travel expert will help prepare a tailor-made trip to Bhutan suitable for you.
