Day 1Thimphu2,320 m1 hour 15 mins drive
Arrival in Paro and transfer to Thimphu
Gentle arrival day in Thimphu with evening stroll along Norzin Lam craft stalls.
Meals: Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Unhurried arrival
Wellness & Slow Travel8 Days / 7 NightsGentle valley meadow trails
Unrushed Phobjikha & Punakha Farmsteads
Eight slow days strictly built on two-night valley stays across Thimphu, Phobjikha, Punakha, and Paro
- Best season
- October to May
- Group style
- Private departure for 1 to 8 guests
- Entry point
- Paro International Airport (PBH)
- Route
- Paro · Thimphu · Phobjikha (2 nights) · Punakha (2 nights) · Paro (2 nights)
Why We Pace This Route This Way
Phobjikha is magic when day-trippers drive out at three in the afternoon and woodsmoke settles over the open marsh. Spending two full nights at 2,900 metres lets you wake naturally with a mug of tea watching frost melt off dwarf bamboo without packing your suitcase after breakfast. We pair Phobjikha with warm Punakha orchards and two closing nights in Paro for a rhythm that feels human.
Who This Journey Fits Best
Writers, slow walkers, older travellers, and couples celebrating an anniversary quietly
Day-by-Day Itinerary (8 Days)
- Day 2Phobjikha2,900 m4 hours 30 mins drive
Drive over Dochula and Lawa La into Phobjikha glacial bowl
Scenic pass drive with picnic stop along the way, checking in for two quiet nights overlooking the Phobjikha marsh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Arrival in wire-free Phobjikha valley - Day 3Phobjikha2,900 mZero car hours · gentle walking
Full unhurried day in Phobjikha: Gangtey Goemba, Khewang Lhakhang & hearth tea
Leave the vehicle parked all day: walk pine paths from Gangtey Goemba across open meadows to Khewang Lhakhang and share afternoon butter tea in a potato farmhouse.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Car-free walking day in Phobjikha - Day 4Punakha1,250 m2 hours 30 mins drive
Descend into warm Punakha orchards for two nights
Short morning drive down to low warm Punakha, visiting Punakha Dzong and resting in riverside gardens.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Dropping from alpine frost into warm citrus air - Day 5Punakha1,250 m3 hours gentle walk
Punakha village paths, suspension bridge, and riverside picnic
Walk along the Mo Chhu to Khamsum Yuelley and enjoy a cooked riverside picnic lunch on smooth river shingle.
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Cooked hot lunch beside the Mo Chhu - Day 6Paro2,250 m3 hours 30 mins drive
Return over Dochula to Paro home valley
Morning drive back to Paro with afternoon visit to Ta Dzong and Rinpung Dzong.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Paro wooden bridge walk - Day 7Paro3,120 m4 to 5 hours walk
Morning Taktsang walk and evening farmhouse dinner in Lamgong
Walk up toward Taktsang at your own pace and celebrate your last night in Tshendona.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerField highlight: Home dinner in Lamgong Gewog - Day 8Departure2,250 m15 mins drive
Paro Airport departure
Morning departure transfer.
Meals: BreakfastField highlight: Departure
Included in Your Package
- Government Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD $700 per person (USD $100 per night for 7 nights)
- One-time Bhutan Tourist Visa clearance fee of USD $40 per person filed with the Department of Immigration
- All nights in Department of Tourism accredited 3-star superior hotels and vetted family farmstays (4-star boutique upgrades available)
- Full-board meals every day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) including one home-cooked village dinner in Paro or Bumthang
- Full-time Department of Tourism licensed Bhutanese cultural or trekking guide from arrival to departure
- Private mountain SUV or Toyota Hiace with experienced hill driver, fuel, and road tolls
- All dzong, monastery, museum, and monument entry fees plus route permits
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle and afternoon tea stops along mountain passes
Not Included / Optional
- International flights into and out of Paro International Airport (we quote and issue Drukair or Bhutan Airlines tickets at exact airline fare on request)
- Personal travel and medical evacuation insurance (strongly recommended for all mountain travel)
- Alcoholic beverages, espresso bar drinks, laundry, and personal gratuities for guide and driver
- Single room supplement when travelling solo or requesting separate bedrooms
Travel & Mountain Evacuation Insurance Note
Travel insurance strongly recommended: cover mountain medical care, altitude evacuation, and Paro weather flight delays. Read the travel insurance note
Valleys Visited on This Route
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