10N / 11DBhutanBhutan Tour Packages
The last Himalayan kingdom of dzongs and Gross National Happiness.
Why Bhutan
Holidays in Bhutan, planned by people who travel there
Bhutan travels at its own pace — fortress dzongs, the Tiger's Nest climb, chilli-and-cheese feasts and clean mountain air. Turopia arranges permits, licensed guides and comfortable Himalayan drives.
Thimphu
Paro
Punakha
Tiger's Nest
Dochula Pass
Packages
Bhutan tour packages
9 curated itineraries — every one of them customizable on dates, hotels and pace.
In depth
Bhutan — The Last Shangri-La
Bhutan measures progress in Gross National Happiness, keeps more than seventy percent of its land under forest, and is the world's only carbon-negative country. Isolation preserved what visitors come for: fortress dzongs above river confluences, monks in kira and gho as everyday dress, and valleys where the loudest sound is a prayer wheel turning.
Most Turopia journeys enter overland at Phuentsholing after a Bagdogra or NJP arrival, or fly Druk Air into Paro. The core circuit is Thimphu, Punakha over the Dochu La pass, and Paro with the climb to Taktsang — the Tiger's Nest — clinging to a cliff 900 metres above the valley floor. Longer trips continue east to Trongsa, Bumthang and the Phobjikha valley of the black-necked cranes.
Must-visit places
Places worth your days
Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery
Bhutan's defining image, built in 1692 around the cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated after arriving on a flying tigress. The hike from the Paro valley floor climbs about 900 metres in 4 to 6 hours return, with a cafeteria at the halfway viewpoint and ponies available for the first section. Start by 8 am and carry water.
Punakha Dzong
The most beautiful dzong in Bhutan, standing at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, built in 1637 and still the winter seat of the monk body. Jacaranda blooms lilac around it in April. Nearby, the suspension bridge over the Pho Chhu and the Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple complete the day.
Thimphu
The world's only capital without traffic lights: the 51-metre Buddha Dordenma at Kuensel Phodrang, Tashichho Dzong housing the throne room, the Memorial Chorten, the Folk Heritage Museum, the School of Arts and Crafts, the Takin preserve at Motithang and the Centenary Farmers' Market at weekends.
Dochu La Pass
At 3,100 metres between Thimphu and Punakha, marked by 108 memorial chortens and, on a clear winter morning, a full panorama of the eastern Himalaya including Gangkhar Puensum, the world's highest unclimbed peak.
Phobjikha and Gangtey
A glacial valley where black-necked cranes winter from late October to February, overlooked by the 17th-century Gangtey Goenpa. The Gangtey Nature Trail is an easy, beautiful 90-minute walk.
Bumthang and Trongsa
Bhutan's spiritual heartland of four valleys — Jakar Dzong, Kurjey and Jambay Lhakhang, the Burning Lake — and, on the way, the vast Trongsa Dzong from which the royal family rose to power.
Best time to visit
Best overall · March – May
Rhododendron and jacaranda in bloom, warm days, clear valleys and the Paro Tshechu festival.
Festival and clarity · September – November
Post-monsoon skies, the Thimphu Tshechu and Punakha festivals, and the cranes arriving at Phobjikha from late October.
Winter · December – February
Cold but clear, with the best Himalayan views from Dochu La and much lower crowds. Some high passes can see snow.
How to reach
- By air
- Paro International Airport (PBH) is served by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines from Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Bangkok, Kathmandu and Singapore.
- By rail
- Hasimara and New Alipurduar are the closest Indian railheads to the Phuentsholing land border; NJP is the common long-distance option.
- By road
- Overland entry at Phuentsholing, 4 hours from Bagdogra. Phuentsholing to Thimphu is around 6 hours; Thimphu to Punakha 3, Thimphu to Paro 1.5.
Travel tips
- Indian nationals need a voter ID or passport (passport for anyone under 18) and an entry permit issued at Phuentsholing or Paro; Turopia processes these for you.
- A Sustainable Development Fee applies per person per night — currently a concessional rate for Indian nationals and a higher rate for other nationalities. We quote it transparently in every package.
- Bhutan is cash-friendly with INR accepted at par (notes of ₹500 and above have restrictions); carry smaller denominations.
- For Tiger's Nest, wear broken-in shoes and start early; ponies go only as far as the cafeteria and not on the descent.
- Smoking in public is banned and tobacco imports are heavily restricted.
What to eat: Ema datshi — chillies in yak cheese — is the national dish, alongside kewa datshi, phaksha paa, red rice, momos and butter tea (suja).
FAQs
Questions travellers ask about Bhutan
Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?
No visa, but an entry permit is required along with a valid passport or voter ID. Turopia arranges the permit and the route permits for Punakha and beyond.
What is the SDF?
The Sustainable Development Fee is a per-night government levy that funds free healthcare, education and conservation. Rates differ for Indian and other nationalities and are included in our quotes.
How difficult is the Tiger's Nest hike?
Moderate to challenging: 900 metres of ascent over roughly 4 km each way, taking 4 to 6 hours return. Reasonably fit travellers of all ages complete it daily.
How many days for Bhutan?
Five nights covers Thimphu, Punakha and Paro properly. Seven to ten opens Phobjikha, Trongsa and Bumthang.
Plan your Bhutan holiday
Share your dates and we'll build the itinerary, book the stays and handle every permit.