Cultural tour · 5 days, 4 nights

5 Day Bhutan Tour: Thimphu, Punakha and the Tiger's Nest

A short trip for travellers with limited time: the capital, Dochula pass, Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang and the Tiger’s Nest hike in five well-paced days.

5 days

4 nights, three valleys

3,120 m

Highest point, Tiger’s Nest

1637

Year Punakha Dzong was built

Private

Guide, car and driver

Trip overview

The best of western Bhutan in five days

Five days is the shortest trip we recommend, and it works well if you plan it carefully. The trick is to avoid backtracking. You arrive in Paro, spend the first afternoon and evening in Thimphu, cross Dochula to Punakha for a night, then come back to Paro for the Tiger’s Nest before you fly out.

The plan fits a long weekend from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu or Singapore, where most flights to Paro start. Because the Sustainable Development Fee is charged per night, a short trip also keeps the fixed government costs low. You will not see everything, but you will leave with a real sense of the country: its fortresses, its farming valleys and the calm that most visitors notice on the first day.

Highlights

What you will see

Punakha Dzong

Bhutan's most beautiful fortress, at the meeting of two rivers.

Dochula pass

108 chortens and, on clear days, the high Himalaya.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang.

Chimi Lhakhang

The 15th-century temple of the Divine Madman.

Buddha Dordenma

The giant bronze Buddha above Thimphu.

Rinpung Dzong

Paro's 17th-century fortress and its covered bridge.

Itinerary at a glance

Five days, three valleys

Short and calm. We can add a day in Phobjikha or Haa if you have time.

Day 1: Arrive, Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, Buddha Dordenma and Tashichho Dzong.

Day 2: Dochula to Punakha

Dochula pass, Punakha Dzong, the suspension bridge.

Day 3: Chimi Lhakhang, to Paro

Walk to Chimi Lhakhang, drive to Paro, Rinpung Dzong.

Day 4: Tiger's Nest

Hike to Paro Taktsang, then Kyichu Lhakhang.

Day 5: Fly out

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive and see Thimphu

Your guide meets you at Paro airport for the hour’s drive to Thimphu. After lunch we drive up to Buddha Dordenma, the bronze Buddha on the ridge above the city, and visit the National Memorial Chorten, where older people circle and spin prayer wheels all day.

Late in the afternoon, after office hours, we visit Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the government and the central monk body. In the evening you can walk along Norzin Lam, the main street, where a policeman still directs traffic by hand at the central crossing.

Day 2

Over Dochula to Punakha

We leave after breakfast for Dochula pass, at about 3,100 metres. The 108 chortens were built in 2004, and on clear mornings, mostly from October to February, you can see the high peaks along the northern border. The road then drops into the warm Punakha valley.

Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers and served as the capital until 1955. Inside you will see the main courtyard, the tall central tower and the assembly hall. Later we walk across the long suspension bridge upriver, hung with prayer flags.

Day 3

Chimi Lhakhang and the drive to Paro

A morning walk through rice fields takes you to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, a 15th-century saint known for his unusual way of teaching. Couples come to be blessed, and the village on the way is known for its colourful painted walls.

We drive back over Dochula to Paro, about four hours. In the afternoon we visit Rinpung Dzong, cross the covered wooden bridge below it, and, if time allows, stop at the National Museum in the old watchtower above town.

Day 4

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

The highlight of most trips to Bhutan. The path to Paro Taktsang climbs through pine forest to a café viewpoint in about 1.5 hours, then continues for another hour to the monastery on its cliff at about 3,120 metres. Phones and cameras stay at the entrance, which makes the visit inside feel calm. Most guests take 4 to 6 hours for the round trip, and horses can carry you to the café.

On the way back we stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, said to date from the 7th century. The evening is free, or you can visit a farmhouse for dinner and a hot stone bath.

Day 5

Farewell to Bhutan

Your guide and driver take you to Paro airport, about 10 minutes away, in time for your flight. Morning departures are the most reliable.

If you can stay longer, two more days let you add the Phobjikha valley, home to black-necked cranes in winter, or the quiet Haa valley over Chele La.

Where you stay

Three hotels in four nights, each chosen for location.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel in the city	Walkable to the main street
2	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel above the valley	Close to the dzong
3 to 4	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel, or a luxury lodge	Close to the Tiger's Nest trail and airport

Any night can be upgraded to 4-star or a luxury lodge.

What the price covers

Included and not included

Included

Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
A licensed English-speaking guide for the whole trip
Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
Bottled water in the car

Not included

International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Drinks, laundry and other personal costs
Tips for your guide and driver
Anything not listed under included

Price on request

Tell us your budget and we will send our best price

We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this 5 day trip.

How we price

What decides the cost of this trip

Government fees

The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.

Hotels you choose

Hotel style is the biggest factor. We suggest the best value for your budget.

Season and dates

Spring and autumn are peak season. Winter and summer dates are often easier to price well.

Group size

Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.

We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.

Good to know

Planning notes for a short trip

Making the most of five days

Arrive on the first flight of the day if you can, so you have a full afternoon in Thimphu. Pack light, as you move hotels three times. Wear comfortable shoes from day one: the walk to Chimi Lhakhang and the Tiger’s Nest are both on dirt paths. And leave space in your bag, because Bhutanese textiles, incense and hand-made paper are hard to resist.

Is five days enough?

For Thimphu, Punakha and the Tiger’s Nest, yes. You will not have time for central Bhutan, which needs at least nine or ten days. If you can, add one day and spend it in Paro, so the Tiger’s Nest is not followed straight by a flight. Our Paro vs Thimphu vs Punakha guide helps you choose where to spend extra time.

Best time to go

March to May brings rhododendrons and warm valley days. October and November have the clearest skies and the best mountain views. December to February is cold, bright and quiet, with cranes in Phobjikha. June to August is the monsoon: green and peaceful, with rain most afternoons. Our month-by-month guide has more detail.

Altitude

Paro sits at about 2,200 metres and Thimphu at about 2,300. Most people feel fine after a slow first day. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol at first, and tell your guide about headaches or poor sleep. The Tiger’s Nest, at about 3,120 metres, comes later in the trip for this reason.

Temple etiquette

Cover shoulders and knees in dzongs and temples, take off hats, and walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels. Photography is not allowed inside shrine rooms. Your guide explains each place before you go in. Read more in our Bhutan travel rules guide.

Visa, SDF and guide rules

Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.

Flying into Paro

Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.

What to pack

Layers, a warm jacket for mornings and evenings, good walking shoes, sunscreen and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for dzongs and temples. See our Bhutan packing list.

5 day Bhutan tour: questions

How much does the 5 day Bhutan tour cost?

It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.

Is 5 days enough for Bhutan?

Yes, for the western highlights. For central Bhutan you need 9 to 10 days.

Can we fly in from Bangkok on a Friday and leave on Tuesday?

Usually yes. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly Bangkok to Paro daily, and we fit the plan around your flights.

Is the Tiger's Nest included?

Yes, on day four. It is optional, and horses can take you to the halfway café.

Do we need a visa?

Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40. We apply for it once you confirm.

Can we add a festival?

Yes, if the dates fit. See our 2027 festival calendar.

What should we wear?

Comfortable layers and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temples.