Bhutan Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

8 days

7 nights

Activity Levels 1-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Premiere Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

Bhutan Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

8 days

7 nights

Activity Levels 1-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Premiere Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

2024: Mar-Apr, Sep-Dec 2025: Feb-Apr, Sep-Dec

From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

Buddhist Culture, Himalayan Peaks & Tiger's Nest

Wonderfully exotic. Incredibly dramatic. From the rich Buddhist culture to its remote Himalaya setting, its magical essence can't be articulated. Here the people live hard but full lives, rooted in age-old tradition and guided by Gross National Happiness. Bhutan seems like a place that couldn't exist in today’s world. Join us on this one-of-a-kind hiking tour and feel the magic.

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Highlights

  • Hike to secluded temples and monasteries, including the famed Tiger's Nest, which clings to the side of a cliff
  • Meet our knowledgeable Bhutanese guides and friends who open doors normally closed to foreign travelers
  • Climb herders' trails to spectacular panoramic views framed by fluttering strings of colorful prayer flags
  • Exchange ideas with Buddhist monks—and receive a blessing—at a monastery where foreign groups are seldom received
Bhutan Walking & Hiking Tour map

Bhutan

Start/End Bangkok, Thailand

Airports & Travel details*

* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

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Itinerary

Day 1

Description

Welcome to Bhutan! Touch down in this adventure travel paradise and the self-proclaimed happiest country on Earth • Hike to Dzongdrakha, a seldom-visited cliffside temple complex set high above the valley • Admire the views of Paro—Bhutan's second largest city—as you pass nomads wandering into town from the high mountains.

Accommodations

Night 1

Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront
Paro
Premiere Hotel

This upscale resort is nestled between the Himalayan foothills and Paro Chhu River. (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 2-3

Description

At the top of Dochula Pass, take in a panorama of snowcapped Himalayan peaks • Hike a portion of the historic Trans Bhutan Trail • Sip tea while you learn the story of the 108 memorial chortens (or stupas) built along the pass • Pine forests line our path on a hiking adventure through Punakha Valley • Climb to Chorten Nebu, a 14th-century temple accessible only on foot • Backroads was one of the first foreign groups to be warmly welcomed at this monastery, which offers an authentic look at traditional Bhutanese culture.

Accommodations

Nights 2-3

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)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 4-5

Description

Ascend herders' trails to find valley views and colorful prayer flags • Raft down the Punakha's Pochu River on our way to the exquisite riverside Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's winter capital • Enjoy the valley views from the meticulously cared for Wangditse Monastery, built in 1715.

Accommodations
Pemako Thimphu

(2 nights)

Nights 4-5

Pemako Thimphu
Thimphu
Premiere Hotel

Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from Thimphu's lively central square. (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 6-8

Description

Visit a giant golden Buddha that houses 125,000 smaller figures inside • Stay at a remarkable luxury hotel that celebrates the colorful and ornate architecture of Bhutan • Hike to secluded monasteries and temples, including the otherworldly cliff-clinging Tiger's Nest • Walk trails with thousands of prayer flags flapping in the wind • Sip a hot brew 9,200 feet up at Taktsang teahouse • Practice your aim as you learn archery, Bhutan's national sport.

Accommodations
Zhiwa Ling

(2 nights)

Nights 6-7

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)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Accommodations

This trip includes two nights at the beautiful Dhensa Boutique Resort, a Casual Plus Hotel. 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 we visit 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 as part of the journey.

Traveling in Bhutan

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. Our itineraries and Trip Leaders remove as many obstacles and inconveniences as possible, but we can't remove haze and noise from the air, or replace a poorly maintained road or trail—it's all part of the experience here!

Two Leaders
We ordinarily staff our trips with three leaders: two leaders out on the trail offering support—allowing everyone to have the experience they want, whether it's an easygoing interpretative walk or a rigorous hike—while the third leader moves the van from trailhead to trail end. This trip is a little different in that our routes are a combination of loop hikes and out-and-back trails that begin and end in the same location. This means that you'll still have the same two leaders providing excellent trail support without the need for a third leader to move the van.
Flights
On this trip we travel into and out of Bhutan by plane. We'll be flying commercially with Druk Air (or Bhutan Airlines) aboard a narrow-body jet that seats 160 passengers.

Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more. It's the perfect tool to help you choose!

Request itinerary

From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

View Dates
Return

Hotels

World-Class Hotels

Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Night 1

Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront
Paro

Premiere Hotel

This upscale resort is nestled between the Himalayan foothills and Paro Chhu River. (pool, spa)

Nights 2-3

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)

Nights 4-5

Pemako Thimphu
Thimphu

Premiere Hotel

Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from Thimphu's lively central square. (pool, spa)

Nights 6-7

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)

From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

View Dates
Return

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From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

View Dates
Return

Dates & Prices

Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.

Your guest & room selections

1 adult

1 room, 1 bed

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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more. It's the perfect tool to help you choose!

Request itinerary

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Backroads provides flexible booking policies so that you can plan your vacation with complete peace of mind.

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From $7,499 - $8,149 /person

(+ additional fees)
Additional Fees

Internal air

$1,400

Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee - Nightly Tourist Tax

$700

View Dates