7-day Bhutan Honeymoon Tour from Paro: Tiger's Nest & Dzongs

A week in Bhutan means you hike to the holiest sites instead of viewing them from a distance.

A 7-day guided honeymoon tour in Paro, Bhutan combining mountain hikes, fortress visits and river valleys with accommodation in certified 3-star hotels and a live English-speaking guide. The week-long itinerary reaches Tiger's Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong, and Gangtey's Black-Necked Crane valley: places that demand time to walk and absorb rather than pass through. Government fees, visa and all internal taxes are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Thimphu to Paro sightseeing

• Stop at Tachoggang iron bridge
• Visit Semtokha Dzong fortress
• Evening visit to Tashichho Dzong

Day 2: Thimphu city sightseeing

• Drive to Kuensel Phodrang Buddha
• Visit National Memorial Chorten
• Explore General Post Office
• Hike to Wangdi Tse temple

Day 3: Thimphu to Punakha journey

• Drive to Dochu-la pass for sunrise
• Hike to Chemi Lhakhang temple
• Visit Shengchen Lhendrup nunnery
• Optional white water rafting adventure

Day 4: Punakha sightseeing and drive to Gangtey

• Visit Punakha Dzong fortress
• Walk Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge
• Hike to Khamsum Yulley temple
• Drive to Gangtey and relax

Day 5: Gangtey sightseeing and return to Paro

• Hike Gangtey Nature Trail
• Visit Namgay Artisanary brewery

Day 6: Paro Taktsang hike and sightseeing

• Hike to Taktshang Monastery
• Evening visit to Paro Dzong
• Visit ancient monastery from 7th century

Day 7: Departure day activities

• Optional visit to Drugyal Dzong
• Watch sunrise over Jumolhari mountain

The experience

You arrive in Paro and spend the first two days in Thimphu, the capital, visiting Tashichho Dzong at the flag-lowering ceremony, standing before the world's largest sitting Buddha at Kuensel Phodrang, and walking through the pine forest to Wangdi Tse temple. The route then climbs to Dochu-la pass at 10,130 feet to watch the sunrise over the Himalayan peaks: on clear mornings you can see Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan's highest mountain at 7,497 meters. A hike through rice fields and farmhouses leads to Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility temple built in 1499, where you can participate in incense and butter lamp offerings if you choose.

Days four and five take you through Punakha, where the massive dzong sits at the junction of two rivers and still serves as the winter home of the central monk body. You walk the 160-meter Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge for views across the valley, then hike to Khamsum Yulley through paddy fields. The route continues to Gangtey in Phobjikha Valley, known for its winter Black-Necked Cranes (visible November through March) and the Gangtey Goenpa monastery overlooking the valley. A nature trail hike through pine forest and bamboo takes about 90 minutes and shows the valley from angles most visitors miss.

Day six is the Tiger's Nest hike: a 4- to 6-hour walk to Taktshang Monastery, one of Bhutan's holiest sites, perched on a cliff above the Paro Valley. The evening brings you to Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), built in 1646, to watch the sunset. On your final morning, if your flight departs after lunch, you can visit Drukyal Dzong, built in 1649 as a defense fortress, and catch the sunrise over Jumolhari mountain if weather allows. The tour includes a certified guide who speaks English, accommodation at 3-star hotels each night, government fees, your Bhutan visa, and all internal taxes and charges.

What’s included

• Certified guide in English.
• accommodation at 3-star hotels for all seven nights.
• government Sustainable Development Fees.
• Bhutan visa.
• all internal taxes and charges.
• entry to Tashichho Dzong, Kuensel Phodrang, National Memorial Chorten, Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang, Gangtey Goenpa, Taktshang Monastery and Paro Dzong.
• nature trail hike in Phobjikha Valley.
• visit to Namgay Artisanary brewery with local beer tasting.
• optional white-water rafting and incense offerings.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 to 82 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Hindi and Japanese

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bhutan Best InBound Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this seven-day version if you want to hike to Tiger's Nest and walk mountain trails at your own pace. Pick the shorter tour if you prefer vehicle-based dzong visits with less physical demand.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hindi, Japanese and Chinese.

What is Tiger's Nest Monastery and why does it take a full day to visit?

Taktshang Monastery, known as Tiger's Nest, is one of Bhutan's holiest sites, built on a cliff in the 8th century after the legend of Guru Rimpoche arriving on the back of a tigress. The hike takes 4 to 6 hours round-trip, which is why it occupies an entire day and why the 7-day tour reaches it instead of a shorter itinerary that would only pass it by.

Can I see the Black-Necked Cranes during this tour?

The Black-Necked Cranes migrate to Phobjikha Valley from the Tibetan plateau and can be observed from early November through the end of March. The tour includes a day in Gangtey during this season, and a nature trail hike through the valley where the birds winter, so you have the chance to see them if you travel during those months.

What happens at Dochu-la pass and why is the sunrise visit worth an early start?

Dochu-la pass sits at 10,130 feet and is decorated with 108 chortens, mani walls and prayer flags. On clear mornings, the high Himalayan peaks appear to the northeast, including Gangkar Puensum at 7,497 meters, Bhutan's highest mountain. The early start ensures you arrive before clouds obscure the view, which is why this stop is timed for sunrise.

Does the tour include activities beyond hiking and sightseeing?

Yes. The itinerary includes a visit to Namgay Artisanary brewery where you can try different flavors of local beer in an authentic Bhutanese setting, optional white-water rafting in Punakha, and the chance to participate in incense and butter lamp offerings at Chimi Lhakhang temple. You can also dress in Bhutanese costume and have your picture taken as a memory.

What is included in the tour price and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes government Sustainable Development Fees (USD 100 per person per night), a certified English-speaking guide, accommodation at 3-star hotels throughout, your Bhutan visa, and all internal taxes and charges. Travel insurance and international or domestic flights are not included and must be arranged separately.