Nepal Bhutan 6 Days Tour With Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Your adventure starts early morning at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. From there you’ll board either Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines, the only carriers authorized to navigate Paro’s mountainous region.

Our flight departs at around 9:10 am, and by taking some of the best aerial mountain views, we will reach Bhutan in the next 65 minutes.

Pro Tip: Try to sit on the right side of the aircraft to see the best view of the Himalayas.

By 10:30 am, you will descend into Paro International Airport at 2,235 meters. While you grasp the views of terraced agricultural fields and Bhutanese architecture, our guide will greet you and help you through the immigration process.

After getting your visa stamped, we will head to Rinpung Dzong, the massive fortress that sits at 2,364 meters.

While exploring this building, you will realize that it was constructed entirely without nails or architectural plans. Fascinating, right?

Next, we visit Bhutan’s National Museum, also called Ta Dzong. Built in 1656, this circular eight-story structure houses more than 3000 artifacts.

Then, we will spend an evening in Paro exploring the local markets. The market features Bhutan’s Thirteen Traditional Arts, also known as Zorig Chusum.

Furthermore, you can also find traditional artifacts, such as Thangka paintings, traditional masks, prayer wheels, miniature stupas, and handwoven textiles, throughout the market.

But wait, the day doesn’t end here! Before heading for the night, you will get your first experience of Bhutanese cuisine. For dinner, we will be having Ema Datshi, a spicy, creamy stew that combines chillies with yak or cow cheese.

Our Day 2 starts early in the morning with the scenic 1.5 to 2 hours drive from Paro to Thimphu covering around 65 kilometers. 

During this drive, we’ll make some photography stops at scenic viewpoints to capture traditional farmhouses, and terraced agricultural fields. 

After reaching Thimpu, we’ll visit Tasichho Dzong, the fortress that serves as the seat for government ministries and the Central Monastic Body. 

Then, we’ll move towards visiting the Buddha Dordenma statue. 

Standing 51.5 meters (169 ft tall), this bronze statue is gilded in gold and houses 125,000 smaller Buddha statues within its structure. That’s right! 125,000 individual Buddha statues inside one massive statue. 

After visiting this marvelous monument, we will end our day 2 by praying in the National Memorial Chorten.  This white stupa represents traditional Bhutanese Buddhist architecture, offering insight into contemporary spiritual practices in Bhutan. 

In fact, prayer wheels surrounding the structures contain thousands of printed mantras. 

Day 3 is all about diving deeper into Thimphu’s cultural and spiritual treasures.

We start the morning with a 1 to 1.5 hour hike to Wangditse Monastery. This trek takes you through pine forests, apple orchards, and traditional farmhouses before reaching the monastery at 2,800 meters elevation.

From the monastery, you’ll enjoy truly mesmerizing views of the Buddha Dordenma statue, Tashichho Dzong, and the entire Thimphu Valley. Pretty spectacular, right?

After descending, we’ll visit the Institute for Zorig Chusum, or School of Arts and Crafts. Here, students learn the thirteen traditional arts, which include carpentry, painting, weaving, and embroidery.

Next, we explore the Textile Museum and Royal Textile Academy, which showcases Bhutan’s world-renowned textile traditions and houses royal robes from each of Bhutan’s five kings.

The afternoon offers time for shopping at the Weekend Market, National Handicrafts Emporium, and various textile shops where you can purchase authentic Bhutanese crafts.

Day four takes you to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan, covering 75 kilometers each way.

The journey crosses Dochula Pass at 3,100 meters, featuring 108 chortens and spectacular 360-degree Himalayan views. On clear days, you can see Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest mountain at 7,570 meters.

After reaching Punakha, we’ll visit Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness.” Built between 1637 and 1638, this magnificent structure stands where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers converge.

Fun fact: The architect received divine inspiration through a dream vision that guided the construction of this fortress.

Next, we’ll visit Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility. Built in 1499 to honor Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, this temple attracts couples worldwide seeking fertility blessings.

The 30-minute walk through rice fields to reach the temple offers scenic views and cultural immersion.

Optional: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add white water rafting on the Mo Chu River with Class II to III rapids.

After exploring Punakha Valley, we’ll drive back to Thimphu in the evening.

This is it. The day you’ve been waiting for. The highlight of your entire Bhutan journey.

The morning starts with a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Thimphu to Paro, giving you time to mentally prepare for the challenging hike ahead.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, or Paro Taktsang, sits at 3,120 meters on a dramatic cliff face. The hike takes 3 to 4 hours to ascend and 2 hours to descend, with a total round-trip distance of approximately 6.4 kilometers.

The trail starts at 2,600 meters and climbs through pine forests decorated with prayer flags. At the halfway point, you’ll reach Taktsang Cafeteria at 2,900 meters for rest and refreshments.

From there, the trail continues to the viewing platform offering the most iconic Tiger’s Nest photographs. The final approach involves descending stone steps, crossing a bridge over a waterfall, then climbing to the monastery entrance.

Important: At 3,120 meters elevation, oxygen levels drop to 70 percent of sea level. Make sure to stay hydrated, walk slowly, and inform your guide if you feel any altitude sickness symptoms like headaches or dizziness.

The monastery complex consists of four main temples built around the sacred meditation cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, and three days in the 8th century.

Inside, you’ll see ancient Buddhist murals, thangka paintings, Buddha statues, and sacred relics. 

However, you need to note that taking photos inside temples is strictly prohibited. Before visiting the temple, you must hand your cameras to a security professional. 

And this marks the end of our hike, and we start returning to Paro.

Today is the time to bid your farewell to Bhutan. This day also provides you the opportunity to buy souvenirs that you can take back. 

Before leaving, you can also visit Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple that dates back to the 7th century. 

Your final morning in Paro provides opportunities for last-minute shopping at local markets or visiting Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples dating to the 7th century.

The return flight to Kathmandu departs late morning or early afternoon, offering final aerial views of the Himalayas during the 65-minute journey.

By the time you land back in Kathmandu, you’ll carry memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.