The golden triangle of Bhutan — Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha — sits in the country’s accessible western region, where the road distances genuinely suit a 6-day trip without rushing. Bumthang, by contrast, lies a further 200+ kilometres of mountain driving beyond Punakha, requiring either two to three additional overland days or a domestic flight strategy that doesn’t make sense for a trip this length. We have built this itinerary entirely around what 6 days can deliver properly, rather than compressing a longer route until it secretly skips its most significant stops.

What that means in practice: Tiger’s Nest — Paro Taktsang — is given a genuinely full, unhurried day. This is Bhutan’s single most iconic experience, the cliffside monastery built around the cave where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in the 8th century, sitting roughly 900 metres above the valley floor. Rather than rushing the hike to fit in additional sightseeing on the same day, we give it the time it deserves. Thimphu’s major sites — Tashichho Dzong, the National Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Dordenma statue — get a proper full day, and the crossing of Dochula Pass into the Punakha Valley, with its magnificent 1637 dzong, completes a genuinely satisfying introduction to the country.

Every international visitor to Bhutan, regardless of nationality (except India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives), pays a Sustainable Development Fee currently set at USD $100 per person per night — a rate fixed through August 2027 — plus a one-time, non-refundable visa fee of USD $40. From January 2026, a separate 5% Goods and Services Tax also applies to most tourism services, though not to the SDF itself. We build every cost into your quote transparently, with no hidden surprises discovered after booking.