Luxury Bhutan tour · 5 days, 4 nights

5 Day Amankora Journey: Thimphu and Paro

A short luxury trip for travellers with limited time: two nights at Amankora Thimphu, two at Amankora Paro, the capital’s dzong and the Tiger’s Nest.

5 days

4 nights, two lodges

1 hr

Longest drive

3,120 m

Highest point, Tiger’s Nest

Private

Guide, car and driver

Trip overview

The essentials of Bhutan in five unhurried days

Five days is enough for a real first visit if you don’t try to do too much. This trip stays in two valleys only, Thimphu and Paro, which are an hour apart. That means no long drives, two nights in each lodge and time each afternoon to rest, read or walk in the forest around the lodge.

You see the capital’s main sights, including Tashichho Dzong and the Cheri Goemba forest walk, then move to Paro for its dzong, museum and the Tiger’s Nest hike. It suits a long weekend from Bangkok, Delhi or Singapore, or a short stop before or after a trip to India or Nepal.

Highlights

What you will see

Two Amankora lodges

Thimphu in a pine forest, Paro near the old Drukgyel Dzong.

Tashichho Dzong

The seat of government and the central monk body, in the evening light.

Cheri Goemba

A forest walk to Bhutan's first monastic community, founded in 1620.

National Museum

Bhutan's art and history in the Ta Dzong watchtower above Paro.

Nyamai Zam

The covered wooden bridge below Rinpung Dzong.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang.

Itinerary at a glance

Five days, two valleys

Short and calm, with the hike on day four. We can add a day in Punakha if you have time.

Day 1: Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Amankora Thimphu, Memorial Chorten and the textile academy.

Day 2: Thimphu

Cheri Goemba walk, paper making, Pangri Zampa and Tashichho Dzong.

Day 3: To Paro

Drive to Paro, National Museum, Rinpung Dzong and Nyamai Zam.

Day 4: Tiger's Nest

The hike to Paro Taktsang and Kyichu Lhakhang on the way back.

Day 5: Fly out

Transfer to Paro airport, timed to your flight.

Day 1

Land in Paro and settle at Amankora Thimphu

Your guide meets you at Paro airport for the hour’s drive to Thimphu along the river. Amankora Thimphu sits in a pine forest at the top of the valley, and we give you time to settle in before going out.

In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten, where the city’s older people walk and pray all day, and the Royal Textile Academy, which shows the cloth and weaving that are central to Bhutanese dress. A short walk along the main street before dinner gives you a feel for the smallest capital you are likely to see.

Day 2

Thimphu's monastery walk and fortress

A morning walk up through forest to Cheri Goemba, founded in 1620 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, takes about an hour from the bridge at the end of the road. On the way back we stop at Pangri Zampa, a 16th-century temple used as a school for astrology.

After lunch, the Jungshi paper factory shows how Deh-sho paper is made by hand from daphne bark, and you can try it yourself. Late in the afternoon, after office hours, we visit Tashichho Dzong, home to the throne room and the central monk body, when its courtyards are quiet and golden.

Day 3

To Paro: museum, fortress and bridge

The drive back to Paro takes about an hour. We start at the National Museum in the Ta Dzong, a round watchtower above town, where masks, thangka paintings and old weapons tell the story of Bhutan. From there it is a short walk down to Rinpung Dzong, built in the 1640s, with monks and district officials sharing its courtyards.

You leave the dzong across Nyamai Zam, the covered wooden bridge over the Paro Chhu. Amankora Paro stands in blue pine forest at the head of the valley, near the old Drukgyel Dzong, and the evening is free.

Day 4

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

We leave early for the trailhead, about 20 minutes from the lodge. The path climbs through pine forest to a café viewpoint in about 1.5 hours, then another hour takes you to Paro Taktsang itself, built around a cave on a cliff at about 3,120 metres. Most guests take 4 to 6 hours for the round trip, and horses can carry you to the café if you prefer.

On the way back we stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. The last evening is at the lodge, with a farewell dinner or a hot stone bath in a farmhouse if you would like one.

Day 5

Farewell to Bhutan

After breakfast your guide and driver take you to Paro airport, about 20 minutes away. Morning departures are the most reliable, and we leave a buffer for your onward connection.

With two more days, we can add Punakha and its great dzong between Thimphu and Paro. Ask us and we will send a revised price for a 7 day version.

Where you stay

Two Amankora lodges, two nights each

Amankora lodges are small and quiet, with few suites.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1 to 2	Thimphu	Amankora Thimphu	In pine forest at the head of the valley
3 to 4	Paro	Amankora Paro	In blue pine forest near Drukgyel Dzong

If Amankora is full, we suggest Six Senses or COMO Uma Paro in the same valleys.

What the price covers

Included and not included

Included

Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
Hotels as listed, or similar if one is full, in the room type you choose
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, museums and the Tiger's Nest
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
Spa treatments, drinks from the bar and room service
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

Amankora prices change with the season and suite type, so we don’t publish one figure. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and your budget. We will check availability and reply within 24 hours with our best price.

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

Amankora suites vary by season. Swapping one valley to Six Senses or COMO Uma can lower the total.

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 Amankora trip

Best time to go

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

Is five days enough?

For Thimphu, Paro and the Tiger’s Nest, yes. If you want Punakha too, add two days. Our Paro vs Thimphu vs Punakha guide helps you decide.

Adding a night or two

The most common change is one extra night. Some guests add it in Paro, so the Tiger’s Nest day is not followed straight by a flight. Others add Punakha, with its dzong at the river confluence and the warm valley floor, which turns this into our 7 day Amankora journey. A night in the Haa valley over Chele La is a quieter option that few visitors see.

Food at Amankora

Meals at the lodges mix Bhutanese dishes, such as ema datshi (chilli and cheese), red rice and buckwheat pancakes, with lighter international cooking. Tell us about allergies or diets when you book and the kitchens will plan around them. Outside the lodges, your guide can arrange lunch in a farmhouse, which most guests remember as a highlight.

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 and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for dzongs and temples. Lodges provide robes and slippers, so you can travel light. Our packing list has the full details.

5 Day Amankora Journey: questions

How much does a 5 day Amankora trip cost?

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

Is five days enough for Bhutan?

Yes, for Thimphu, Paro and the Tiger’s Nest. Add two days for Punakha.

Which Amankora lodges are used?

Amankora Thimphu and Amankora Paro, two nights each.

Can we fly in and out the same week from Bangkok?

Yes. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly Bangkok to Paro daily, and this trip fits a long weekend plus two days.

Is the Tiger's Nest hike suitable for everyone?

It is steep but not technical. Most reasonably fit people manage it in 4 to 6 hours, and horses can take you halfway.

Can we visit during a festival?

Yes. The Paro Tshechu is expected on 18 to 22 March 2027 and fits this trip well, but Amankora Paro fills early for those dates.

When should we book?

Three to six months ahead for spring and autumn.