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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $5,998
    To $6,298 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$1,660 for sgl. occ.)
  • Internal Flights: From $1,020
    To $1,130

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Bangkok, Thailand

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Geological Wonders, Mountain Bike, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Spa

My Backroads

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Bhutan Multisport Tour

Bhutan Walking

A Secluded Himalayan Kingdom

Nestled between India and Tibet, the mountain kingdom of Bhutan has been isolated and protected for centuries by mighty Himalayan peaks. Tradition and Buddhism infuse every facet of life from the jingling brass bells of prayer wheels to ornate monasteries perched high above terraced rice paddies. Change is coming to Bhutan, but the country isn’t blindly adopting modern western culture. This trip provides a unique opportunity to see how the Bhutanese balance development and tradition, and you’ll meet experienced local trekking guides who proudly share their culture with us.

View other trips in Asia & the Pacific

Days 1-2 Paro Valley

Meet in Bangkok, Thailand, and fly to Paro, Bhutan  Hike on a hillside covered in prayer flags to Kyichu Lhakhang Monastery  Investigate the massive fortress of Paro Dzong, a hub for spiritual life and community events.

Days 3-4 Thimphu

In the capital city of Thimphu, visit a painting school to see examples of the traditional thangka style of painting, embroidery and other crafts  From the village of Dodina, ascend on foot to Cheri Goemba Monastery  Stroll through the Thimphu Valley  Meet takins, rare Himalayan creatures that are Bhutan's national animal Join a Buddhist historian for an insightful discussion of local life.

Days 5-6 Punakha

Shuttle to Dochu La mountain pass and take in panoramic views of snowcapped Himalayan peaks Walk through pine forests to our hotel in the Punakha Valley Hike to Chorten Nebu, a 14th-century temple accessible only by foot.

Days 7-9 Paro

Explore areas of Punakha Dzong, the winter capital of Bhutan for more than 300 years Explore the shops of Paro for exotic and unique goods  Follow an ancient path to the Taktshang teahouse, situated at 9,200 feet and offering superb views of the Taktshang Monastery and surrounding valley  Fly to Bangkok.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

Bhutan is simply an amazing place, straight out of the pages of National Geographic. I feel honored to be a guest in this extraordinary country every time I visit - the Buddhist culture & architecture make it feel like one of the last isolated kingdoms on the planet. Shangri-La is a myth, but no other country for me has such a magical allure, and exploring it on foot is truly a remarkable experience.
Christian Chumbley - Regional Manager Asia & the East Coast

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Bhutan tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Asia & the Pacific, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Asia & the Pacific walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific multisport tours click here.

Bhutan Walking

VALLEY VIEWS: Premiere Inns*

Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Paro Valley (2 nights): With impressive masonry and elaborate hand-carved cornices, this hotel on a verdant mountainside combines traditional Bhutanese warmth and hospitality with modern conveniences, including a spa, fitness center and gourmet restaurant.

Taj Tashi Hotel

Thimphu (2 nights): Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, this service-oriented hotel is located in the heart of Thimpu, just steps away from cultural sites, shopping and the market.

Meri Puensum Resort

Punakha (2 nights): Sitting high above the Punakha Valley and the Puna Tsang River, this simple hotel offers great views over rice fields and orange trees that can’t be beat.

* With 2 Casual Inn nights

Uma Paro

Paro (2 nights): This recently opened five-star hotel features luxurious guest rooms, gourmet dining and a spa with treatments, including traditional Bhutanese hot stone and herbal baths.

Bhutan Walking Bhutan Walking

Uma Paro

Bhutan Walking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Walking 2.8 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Level 1  2 Route Options Available
  • Walking 1, 3.7 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 2  2 Route Option Available
  • Walking 1 hour
  • Hiking 3.7 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 2  2 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 2, 3.2 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Level 2   1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 4.8 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • Walking 3.3, 4.7 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Level 1  1 Route Option Available
  • Walking 2 hours
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Levels 3 to 4 2 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 3.3, 6.1 miles
  • 1500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 9
  • Conclusion of Trip
Bhutan Walking Bhutan Walking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles