Luxury Bhutan tour · 7 days, 6 nights

7 Day Amankora Journey: Thimphu, Punakha and Paro

A week through western Bhutan staying at three Amankora lodges, with a private guide, time for long walks and the Tiger’s Nest hike near the end.

Amankora lodges

7 days

6 nights in western Bhutan

3,120 m

Highest point, Tiger’s Nest

Private

Guide, car and driver

Trip overview

Three Amankora lodges, one easy loop

Amankora is a circuit of small Aman lodges spread across Bhutan’s valleys, and this trip strings three of them together: Thimphu in a pine forest at the top of the capital’s valley, Punakha across a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu, and Paro in blue pine forest near Drukgyel Dzong. Each one is quiet, low-rise and built from rammed earth and wood, so the change of lodge feels like part of the journey.

The days follow the same rhythm. One main visit in the morning, a walk or a long lunch, and the late afternoon back at the lodge. We save the Tiger’s Nest for day six, when you have had time to adjust to the altitude. Your guide and driver travel with you all week and adjust the plan to the weather and your energy.

Highlights

What makes this Amankora trip special

Amankora lodges

Rammed-earth walls, wood-burning stoves and valley views at every stop.

Tashichho Dzong

The seat of Bhutan's government and central monk body, visited in the late afternoon light.

Cheri Goemba

A forest walk to the monastery founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1620.

Punakha Dzong

The great 1637 fortress where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang, about 900 metres above the valley.

Living crafts

Hand-made Deh-sho paper, the Royal Textile Academy and weavers at work.

Itinerary at a glance

Seven days, three lodges

Two nights in each valley, so you unpack properly. Any day can be shortened or swapped.

Day 1: Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive an hour to Amankora Thimphu, gentle afternoon in the capital.

Day 2: Thimphu

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

Day 3: Over Dochula to Punakha

Cross Dochula at 3,100 metres and descend to Amankora Punakha.

Day 4: Punakha valley

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal, Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

Day 5: To Paro

Back over Dochula, Simtokha Dzong, then Rinpung Dzong and Amankora Paro.

Day 6: Tiger's Nest

The hike to Paro Taktsang, then Kyichu Lhakhang and a farewell dinner.

Day 7: Fly out

Short transfer to Paro airport, timed to your flight.

Day 1

Land in Paro and drive to Amankora Thimphu

Your guide meets you outside arrivals at Paro, and the drive to Thimphu takes about an hour along the Paro Chhu and Wang Chhu rivers. Amankora Thimphu sits in a pine forest at the northern end of the valley, near the royal residence, and it is a calm first stop after a long journey.

In the afternoon we keep things light. The National Memorial Chorten is a good first look at daily religious life: older people walk around it for hours, spinning prayer wheels and talking. If you have energy, the Royal Textile Academy shows the kira and gho cloth that Bhutanese wear every day, with weavers working on looms inside.

Day 2

A full day in Thimphu, from forest monastery to fortress

The morning starts with a walk. From the end of the valley road, a trail crosses a wooden bridge and climbs through forest to Cheri Goemba, the monastery founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1620. The climb takes about an hour, and monks in retreat live in the buildings above. Back in the valley we stop at Pangri Zampa, a 16th-century temple that is now a school for astrologers.

After lunch, a visit to the Jungshi paper factory shows how Deh-sho paper is made from the bark of the daphne shrub. Late in the afternoon, when government offices close, we visit Tashichho Dzong, which houses the throne room and the central monk body. The courtyards are at their best in the evening light.

Day 3

Over Dochula to the warm Punakha valley

The road east climbs to Dochula pass, at about 3,100 metres, where 108 chortens stand among prayer flags. On a clear morning, mostly between October and February, the high Himalaya lines the northern skyline. We stop for tea and a slow walk before the road drops through rhododendron and oak forest into the Punakha valley.

Punakha is about 1,200 metres lower than Thimphu and noticeably warmer, with rice fields, orange trees and wide rivers. Amankora Punakha is reached on foot across a suspension bridge over the Mo Chhu, and then by a short ride up through the orchard. It is one of the most peaceful places to stay in the country.

Day 4

Temples and rice fields in Punakha

A morning walk through rice terraces leads up to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, built by the Queen Mother and consecrated in 1999. Its rooftop looks down the length of the valley, and the walk takes about an hour up and 40 minutes down.

After lunch we visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. It was the capital of Bhutan until the 1950s, and the monk body still moves here for the winter. Late in the day a short walk through fields brings you to Chimi Lhakhang, the 15th-century temple of Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, which couples visit for blessings.

Day 5

Back to Paro and its fortress on a heap of jewels

The drive back to Paro takes most of the morning. We break the journey at Simtokha Dzong, built in 1629 at the entrance to the Thimphu valley and one of the oldest dzongs in Bhutan. If the weather stayed cloudy on the way out, Dochula often gives a second chance at the mountain view.

In the afternoon you visit Rinpung Dzong in Paro, built in the 1640s and still used by monks and the district administration, then cross the river on Nyamai Zam, the covered wooden bridge below it. Amankora Paro stands in blue pine forest at the head of the valley, close to the old Drukgyel Dzong, and the evening is yours.

Day 6

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

We set off early for Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, which clings to a cliff about 900 metres above the valley at around 3,120 metres. The path climbs through pine forest to a café viewpoint in about 1.5 hours, then continues for another hour to the monastery, past a waterfall and down and up a long stairway. 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 the country, said to date from the 7th century. The last evening is at the lodge, with dinner by the fire or a hot stone bath arranged in a farmhouse nearby.

Day 7

Farewell to Bhutan

After breakfast, your guide and driver take you to Paro airport, about 20 minutes from Amankora Paro. Morning flights out of Paro are the most reliable, so we time your departure and leave a buffer at your hub city.

Amankora also has lodges in the Phobjikha valley and in Bumthang, so the trip extends easily into central Bhutan. Ask us and we will add the nights and send a revised price.

Where you stay

Two nights at each Amankora lodge

Amankora lodges are small, so we hold rooms as soon as you confirm your dates.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1 to 2	Thimphu	Amankora Thimphu	In a pine forest at the head of the valley, near the royal residence
3 to 4	Punakha	Amankora Punakha	Reached over a suspension bridge, in orchards above the Mo Chhu
5 to 6	Paro	Amankora Paro	Blue pine forest near Drukgyel Dzong, close to the Tiger's Nest trail

If Amankora is full on your dates, we suggest Six Senses or COMO Uma 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

We don’t publish one price for Amankora trips, because suites, seasons and group sizes change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will check lodge 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 are priced per night and vary by season. We can also combine Amankora with Six Senses or COMO Uma to fit 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 your Amankora week

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. Amankora lodges are comfortable in every season, with wood-burning stoves for the cold months. See our month-by-month guide.

Altitude and fitness

Thimphu is at about 2,300 metres, Paro at 2,200 and Punakha at about 1,200. The Tiger’s Nest is the only hard day, steep and reaching about 3,120 metres. The Cheri Goemba walk on day two is a good test of how you feel. Read our Tiger’s Nest hike 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 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.

7 Day Amankora Journey: questions

How much does a 7 day Amankora trip in Bhutan cost?

It depends on your dates, suite type and group size. Tell 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.

Which Amankora lodges does this trip use?

Amankora Thimphu, Amankora Punakha and Amankora Paro, two nights at each.

Can we add Amankora Gangtey or Bumthang?

Yes. Adding two nights in the Phobjikha valley or Bumthang turns this into a 9 to 11 day trip.

Are meals included at Amankora?

On our trips, yes: breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Drinks from the bar and spa treatments are extra.

Is the Tiger's Nest hike included?

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

When should we book?

For spring and autumn, three to six months ahead. Amankora lodges have few suites.

Can children come on this trip?

Yes. Children under 6 pay no SDF and those aged 6 to 11 pay half. We adjust walks for younger travellers.

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Price on request

Ask for your best price

Tell us your dates, who is travelling and your budget. We will check Amankora availability and reply within 24 hours with our best price.

Free trip planning enquiry

Let's plan your Bhutan journey

Tell us a little about your trip. Our team in Thimphu will reply with ideas, a day-by-day plan and a full price.

We’ll reply within 24 hours. No booking fees, and no obligation to book.