Region Overviews: Bhutan Travel Guide: Overview
Known as the “Last Shangri-La.", Bhutan's culture is deeply influenced by a unique form of Buddhism and rich with traditions of spirituality, art, music, dance and food.
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Bhutan Family Multi-Adventure Tour - 20s & Beyond
Rich Buddhist Culture & Sacred Himalayan Peaks
The proud nation of Bhutan sits on the roof of the world, isolated as much by choice as by its own geography. As prayer flags flutter in the wind and Buddhist monks tread millennia-old footpaths, we stride over high mountain passes, bike in verdant valleys, venture into remote monasteries and enjoy the incomparable warmth of the Bhutanese people.
THIS ITINERARY: 8 days, 7 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels*
FROM:
$7,199 pp dbl occ
Plus $1,180 internal air
($1,500 for sgl occ)
Bike
Walk/Hike
Raft
Bhutan Map
Bhutan
Start/End Bangkok, Thailand
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Interact with Buddhist monks between their meditations to have a chat, exchange ideas and even receive a blessing
- Bike and hike in an ancient landscape that's often been inaccessible to foreign travelers, where life's daily rituals remain sacred
- Hike to secluded Buddhist temples and atmospheric monasteries, including 17th-century Tango Monastery and the famed Tiger's Nest
- Discover Bhutan's culturally and scenically rich valleys by foot and by bicycle—an off-the-beaten-path experience
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Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
8 Days Premiere Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Experience how our Bhutanese guides open doors normally closed to foreigners | Hike above Paro to a seldom-visited temple | Visit Dzongdrakha Monastery and learn about the depth and importance of Bhutanese folklore in daily life.
Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront
Paro
| Premiere Hotel This upscale resort is nestled between the Himalayan foothills and Paro Chhu River. (pool, spa)
Days 2-3
Families engage with monks in between their meditation | Bike amid breathtaking valleys brimming with history and culture | Dochula Pass dazzles with panoramas of snowcapped Himalayan peaks | Ethereal villages and rice paddies enliven your ride to Punakha Valley | Hike to Chorten Nebu, a remote 14th-century temple accessible only by foot and rarely visited by international travelers.
Dhensa Boutique Resort
Punakha
| *Casual Plus Hotel Surrounded by thick pine forests in the heart of the Punakha Valley, this secluded contemporary hotel is perched above lush rice fields and the Punakha River. (spa)
Days 4-5
Raft with your family down Punakha's Po Chhu to exquisite riverside Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's 300-year-old lofty winter capital | Immerse yourself in an ancient landscape with daily rituals steeped in spirituality | Vibrant Bhutanese painting, sculpture and textile arts are a feast for your eyes in Thimphu, the capital city | Enjoy views overlooking the valley from the stunningly well-preserved Wangditse Monastery, built in 1715.
Taj Tashi
Thimphu
| Premiere Hotel Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from Thimphu's lively central square. (pool, spa)
Days 6-8
Hike beneath a rainbow of prayer flags to otherworldly Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger's Nest, the holiest site in Bhutan | Trek an ancient path to the Taktsang teahouse, situated at 9,200 feet and offering superb views of the valley and cliff-hanging monastery | Practice your aim as you learn archery, Bhutan's national sport.
Zhiwa Ling
Upper Paro Valley
| Premiere Hotel With impressive masonry and elaborate hand-carved cornices, this hotel is set on a verdant mountainside and combines Bhutanese hospitality with modern conveniences. (spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
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Activity Level: 1-3
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. LEARN MORE.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations
The accommodations on this trip are quite comfortable and are becoming more luxurious every year. Several new hotels are in various stages of completion, and we've taken advantage of them as they've opened their doors.
This trip includes two nights at a Casual Plus Hotel, the relatively new Dhensa Boutique Resort. While we expect great things from this beautiful hotel, it may take a few seasons for their amenities and services to be fully operating at a Premiere Hotel level. We've chosen it because of its proximity to our favorite routes, its friendly hospitality, strong cultural character and the tremendous view from the deck.
Some hotels and restaurants on our itinerary see few Western travelers and therefore lack many Western-style services. The leisurely service found in neighborhood restaurants and the limited supply of beer can all be appreciated when you keep a sense of humor and see patience as a traveler's virtue.
Traveling in Bhutan
Your journey through Bhutan will be unlike any other travel experience. Bhutan is a remote corner of the world where ancient culture, traditions and religion are still the deep-rooted cornerstones of everyday life. That said, modern Bhutan is not always the Shangri-La depicted in glossy travel magazines. Rather, it's a developing country, where the scenes of poverty, trash and pollution can be jarring. And yet, the beauty of the people, the culture and the landscape shine through, making for an amazing exotic experience that's unforgettable and completely worthwhile. Though not a paradise, there simply isn't any other country like Bhutan. Our itineraries and Trip Leaders remove as many obstacles and inconveniences as possible, making your next extraordinary encounter always within reach. Of course, even all the efforts of our amazing leaders can't remove haze and noise from the air, or replace a poorly maintained road or trail, so it's a good idea to be aware of the ways that travel in Bhutan can be challenging. If you can be flexible and approach the region with a curious mind and good humor, you'll enjoy your trip to the fullest!
Flights
On this trip we travel into and out of Bhutan by plane. We'll be flying commercially with Druk Air aboard a narrow-body jet that seats 160 passengers.
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