Glimpses of Bhutan Tours

How does our glimpses of Bhutan tour start?

The Glimpse of Bhutan tour starts with a flight from Nepal, Kathmandu, to Bhutan, Paro. Fun fact: there are only 4 airports in the whole country of Bhutan out of which Paro International Airport is the one and only international airport. This airport is the only way out of the country unless you would entertain the idea of bus travel from Bhutan to Nepal.

From Paro, we will get on a ride to Thimphu where our first day of sightseeing begins. Visiting places such as the Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma Statue, National Memorial Chorten, and more we will end the 1st day of the 5 days Bhutan tour.

Difficulty

The only slightly difficult day of the Bhutan tour is the 4th day when you have to hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery which can get you out of breath but is it very doable. A pony service that transports you halfway through the hike is also available for those who are physically strained easily. Other than that the 5 days Bhutan tour is really easy as you will be traveling by road on a car/jeep for the most part.

Best seasons

There are a couple of options for the best season for the Bhutan tour, we will cover them all. Among the most popular choices is the season of spring which lasts from March to May in Bhutan. This season is one of the best options of all because of the blooming flowers and festive season. The Rhododendron forests dominating the hill slopes turn bright red during the blooming season making it a beautiful sight to remember.

The spring season is also chosen for its average temperature and clear visibility. The air quality remains top-notch throughout the season which is great for enjoying expansive scenes from viewpoints. In addition, festivals like Paro and Punakha Tshechu make the city more lively while offering visitors a peek into their traditions.

Autumn is generally considered equal to spring since they both have similar pros but autumn is much less likely to experience rain than spring. The air quality is as great as spring, the visibility is sharp, and a few festivals occur during this season. If you can not make it in spring, autumn is a perfectly viable option, or vice versa.

Summer season, on the other hand, is a second option for the 5 days Bhutan tour when neither autumn nor spring is on the menu. The views are great, the hills are lush, the birds and animals are active, there are considerably fewer tourists in the country but the temp will get hot and the chances of rain are high. Hiking or traveling during the hot summer is not a pleasant experience but it is manageable.

Winter is the least preferred season of them all as the views are not as great and the days are mostly gloomy which contrasts the exciting nature of the 5 days Bhutan tour. However, the weather in high altitudes remains clear most of the time during this season.

Can a beginner join this trip?

Yes, our Bhutan tour itinerary is meant for people of most ages, and beginners can join this trek without any doubts. For the most part of the 5 days Bhutan tour, you will travel by road to different destinations within the country, you don’t have to walk that much during the sightseeing days. But on the 4th day of the tour, you will have to hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery which is about 500 meters of ascent over 3 hours.

The hiking day is going to be a tough day for most people and to make sure everyone is well rested throughout the hike, we will stop frequently to take a breather. We don’t want you to rush or hike up all huffy and puffy, we want you to enjoy the Bhutan tour as much as possible. Our tour guide will set a pace that everyone is comfortable with, including the beginners.

Altitude Sickness

The 5 days Bhutan tour reaches a maximum altitude of 3988 meters above sea level at Chele La Pass which is an optional destination. Counting it out from the equation, we are left with th highest altitude destination being Tiger’s Nest Monastery at 3120 meters. Altitude sickness is not an issue at such elevation, you are very unlikely to get altitude sickness at all.

Even if you do get altitude sickness it will be a trivial matter and you can just go down a hundred meters or so to get rid of the effects.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

The standard accommodations during our Bhutan tour are at 3-star hotels which are fairly luxurious but if you want to go all the way, you can stay in 4 or 5 star hotels and we will arrange it for you. Red Rice, buckwheat, and maize are the staple crops in Bhutan and you are sure to find dishes incorporating these ingredients all throughout the tour. Some regions that can not grow red rice depend on the other staple options.

Ema Datshi is a dish you will find anywhere you go since it is the national dish of the country. It’s basically a stew made of two main ingredients, hot chili peppers, and cheese, both of which are very preferred by the Bhutanese locals. Jasha Maru is another dish that you should try out, made from minced chicken, a bunch of spices, and tomatoes, this dish is among the favorites of the locals.

For pork/bacon lovers, Phaksha Paa is one you should not miss out on. This dish’s main ingredient is dried pork meat, a whole lot of spices, vegetables, and, of course, hot chili peppers. A kind of dumpling named Hoentay is also on the menu for the most part of the Bhutan tour. The dumpling is made from buckwheat and the fillings are different from one region to another, basically, you can expect it to be filled with spices, and greens like spinach, and cheese and served with a side of spicy sauce.

Momo (standard dumplings) and Khabzey (sweet dried fritters made from sugar, flour, and water) are the two primary snacks of the country. In Thimphu, you will find a blend of traditional and international cuisines while in Paro and Punakha traditional cuisines are more prevalent with ingredients being locally sourced. We recommend you try different traditional dishes as much as you can during your 5 days Bhutan tour.

When it comes to drinks you should try a kind of butter tea named Suja and the locally brewers rice wine named Ara. But don’t go heavy on it, make sure that you are able to wake up fully energized not with a heavy head. Note that, beverages are not a part of our Bhutan tour package.

Transportation

Transportation costs including the flight expenses from Nepal to Paro at the beginning of the tour and from Paro to Nepal on the last day of the tour is a part of the 5 days Bhutan tour package. The road transportation throughout the tour is also a part of the Bhutan tour package. Anything outside of that will not be covered by the tour package.

Permit

The only permit that you require is a tourist visa. Visitors must apply for a visa through an authorized travel agency which will be responsible for applying your visa application. The Tourism Board of Bhutan does not simply deal with individual tourist visa applications, it must be from an authorized travel agency of Bhutan. Visitors can solo travel this country but you will still have to apply through an authorized agency, there is no way around it.

Visitors are also required to pay a $100 fee as a Sustainable Development Fee for the betterment of the tourist destinations.

Trip preparation and fitness

Since our 5 days Bhutan tour is primarily done by land transportation, you do not have to extensively train for the tour but since we will be walking around quite a bit, checking out the different attractions, your legs will be tired nonetheless. So, to make sure you are able to go throughout the day, you should at least try to jog a little or walk for a couple of miles, every day for a week.

You will also be hiking up for over 500 meters which can be taxing on your legs; having good stamina helps you a lot to enjoy the Bhutan tour much more. Overall, you must be somewhat fit (average physicality) to do this tour.

Alternative routes

There are a lot of alternative routes to choose from but these are the viable ones that you can try.

Cultural Bhutan Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Paro

Day 2: Sightseeing in Paro (visiting monasteries, museums, and local weekend markets)

Day 3: Sightseeing in Thimphu Valley (Tashichho Dzong, Buddha Dordenma Statue, National Memorial Chorten, and more)

Day 4: Ride to Chele La Pass and hike to Kila Goemba

Day 5: Depart from Paro to Nepal

 Western Trans Bhutan Tour

Day 1: Paro Airport to Haa Valley

Day 2: Katsho Village to Ngopa Village

Day 3: Ngopa Village to Damchenang Village

Day 4: Paro City to Thimphu City

Day 5: Thimphu City to Dochula to Toeb Chandhana Village

Day 6: Toeb Chandhana Village to Punakha Dzong

Day 7: Punakha Valley to Paro City

Day 8: Paro City to Tiger’s Nest

Day 9: Depart from Paro Airport to Nepal

7-day Trans Bhutan Route (For those who love trekking the Himalayan scene)

Day 1: Arrive in Paro Airport

Day 2: Hike from Tsendona to Damchona

Day 3: Hike from Damchona to Tsaluna

Day 4: Hike from Tsaluna to “Buddha Point”

Day 5: Hike from Dochula to Simtokha

Day 6: Tiger’s Nest hike

Day 7: Departure from Paro to Kathmandu

Cost & Budget

Our Bhutan tour is priced at USD ______ per head. Since this package covers most of your expenses along the tour, it is a reasonable price, to say the least. Expenses like transportation costs (flight and car or jeep travel), breakfast, lunch, and dinner, accommodation expenses, SDF fees, and more are covered by our tour package.

Gadgets charging & Internet

Gadgets charging & Internet will not be an issue throughout the tour unless there is a power outage which is unlikely to happen.

Things to Remember Before Trekking Bhutan Tour Trek

• Make sure that you are dressed modestly while visiting monasteries and other religious sites. Cover your knees and shoulders as much as possible. Respecting the social norms of the country is the best way to be a guest.
• Treat the locals respectfully and don’t touch the monks unless they are offering you a handshake or some other form of physical touch.
• Loudly talking and discussing things are not appreciated in the calming Buddhist country of Bhutan. It might be tolerable in the busy city streets but in villages, you will stand out and be frowned upon.
• Since we will be visiting a bunch of religious sites, you might want to carry some loose change or a small amount of notes since these sites run on donations and offerings made by the visitors.
• Most of the religious sites allow visitors to take pictures of the outer architecture but most of them do not allow taking pictures inside the building.