7-day Bhutan cultural tour from Paro: Private guide and all sites

A hike to Tiger's Nest ends an extended journey of valley drives and monastery visits across Bhutan's cultural heartland.

A 7-day private tour of Bhutan starting in Paro covers Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha Valley, Haa Valley and the hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), with an English-speaking guide, accommodation, all meals, transport and entry fees included. The itinerary moves through four valleys and two major cities, each at a different elevation, so you experience the range of Bhutanese landscape and settlement in one trip. Visa processing and the government sustainable development fee are handled before you arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Paro and sightseeing

• Fly to Paro
• Meet guide and transfer to hotel
• Visit Ta Dzong, Paro Rimpung Dzong
• Visit Kyichu Lhakhang and Drukgyal Dzong
• Overnight in Paro

Day 2: Travel to Punakha and explore

• Depart Thimphu for Punakha
• Visit Punakha Dzong
• Enjoy Punakha Valley scenery

Day 3: Punakha to Gangtey Valley

• Travel to Gangtey (Phobjikha Valley)
• Explore Phobjikha Valley landscapes
• Observe black-necked cranes habitat

Day 4: Return to Thimphu and sightseeing

• Drive back to Thimphu
• Visit cultural sites in Thimphu

Day 5: Day trip to Haa Valley and Paro

• Excursion to Haa Valley
• Visit monasteries in Haa Valley
• Immerse in local culture
• Return to Paro for overnight

Day 6: Hike to Taktsang Monastery

• Hike to Taktsang Monastery
• Enjoy views and spiritual site

Day 7: Departure from Paro

• Depart from Paro International Airport

The experience

You land at Paro airport and transfer to Thimphu the same day, then spend the next five days moving through the country's main cultural sites. Day two takes you down to Punakha and its historic dzong. Day three climbs into Phobjikha Valley, where the landscape opens into farmland and you may see black-necked cranes. Day four returns you to Thimphu for more sightseeing. Day five is a day excursion to Haa Valley (the highest point of the tour at 2,740 meters) before you return to Paro for the night. Your guide is with you throughout, speaking English and navigating the mountain roads. The driver handles the vehicle.

Day six is the hike to Taktsang Monastery, the tour's centerpiece. The monastery clings to a cliff face at 3,120 meters above Paro, and the hike is described as challenging but rewarding. You climb through forest and across open slopes to reach it. This is the physical peak of the week. Day seven is your departure from Paro.

The tour includes breakfast and dinner at your hotel each night and lunch at restaurants during the day. All monument entry fees, the English-speaking guide, private air-conditioned transport, and a three-star hotel on twin-sharing basis are part of the package. Bhutan's visa processing and the mandatory sustainable development fee (US $100 per person per night) are handled as part of the booking, so you don't arrange them separately.

What’s included

• Breakfast and dinner at your hotel each night.
• lunch at restaurants.
• all monument and site entry fees.
• private English-speaking guide for the full seven days.
• private air-conditioned transport with an experienced driver.
• three-star hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis.
• Bhutan visa processing and permits.
• the mandatory US $100 sustainable development fee per person per night.
• government royalty, tax and service charge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day38 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:15

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Royal Bhutan Travel

Is this one for you?Book this seven-day tour if you want to see Bhutan's main cultural sites and valleys in one trip and have time for the hike to Tiger's Nest. The fixed itinerary and private guide mean you move through the country at a set pace with all logistics arranged, so you spend your energy on the sites and the hike, not on planning transport or finding guides.

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Top questions

What is the hike to Taktsang Monastery like on day six?

Taktsang Monastery sits on a cliffside at 3,120 meters above Paro. The hike is challenging but rewarding, taking you through forest and across open slopes to reach the monastery perched on the cliff face. It is the physical highlight of the week and the tour's final major activity before your departure.

Do I need to arrange my Bhutan visa before booking this tour?

No. Bhutan visa processing and all permits are included in the tour package, so the operator handles it as part of your booking. You don't need to apply separately or pay visa fees on top of the tour price.

What valleys and cities does the seven-day itinerary cover?

The tour moves through Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey), and Haa Valley. Each sits at a different elevation, so you see a range of Bhutanese landscape (from river valleys to high mountain terrain), and visit monasteries and dzongs in each region.

Are meals included, and what about the sustainable development fee?

Breakfast and dinner are included at your hotel each night, and lunch is at restaurants during the day. The mandatory sustainable development fee (US $100 per person per night) is also included in the tour price, so there are no separate charges for it.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not an experienced hiker?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The hike to Taktsang Monastery on day six is the most strenuous part of the week and is described as challenging, but the rest of the itinerary involves driving and walking at a moderate pace through valleys and around cultural sites.