- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Luxury wellness retreat · 7 days, 6 nights
7 Day Luxury Retreat in Bhutan: Rest, Walk and Restore
A slower week in Thimphu, Punakha and Paro, built around good sleep, spa time, gentle walks, a meditation session with a monk and the Tiger’s Nest hike.
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Thimphu, Punakha, Paro
- Spa, hot stone baths and meditation
7 days
6 nights, three valleys
2
Hot stone baths and spa sessions
3,120 m
Highest point, Tiger’s Nest
Private
Guide, car and driver
Trip overview
A retreat, not a race
Most Bhutan itineraries try to fit in every dzong. This one doesn’t. It is planned for people who want to come home rested: late starts most days, one or two visits instead of five, spa time at the hotel, and walks chosen for their quiet as much as their views. You still see the highlights of western Bhutan, including Punakha Dzong and the Tiger’s Nest.
We build in three things that make Bhutan feel different from a beach retreat. A guided meditation session with a monk in Thimphu, a traditional hot stone bath, called menchu, in a farmhouse, and time simply to sit on a hillside and listen to prayer flags. You choose the hotels, whether Six Senses lodges or smaller boutique properties, and we fit the pace around you.
- Late starts and short drives
- Meditation with a monk and a farmhouse hot stone bath
- Six Senses, COMO Uma or boutique hotels
Highlights
What this retreat includes
Spa time every day
Free afternoons at lodges with spas, steam rooms and treatment rooms.
Meditation with a monk
A guided session in Thimphu, with time to ask questions about Buddhist practice.
Hot stone bath
A menchu soak in a wooden tub heated with river stones, in a Paro farmhouse.
Gentle walks
Forest trails, rice-field paths and a riverside walk in Punakha.
Punakha Dzong
The 1637 fortress at the river confluence, visited at a quiet hour.
Tiger's Nest
The cliff-top monastery near the end of the week, at your own pace.
Itinerary at a glance
Seven slow days
The plan below is a starting point. Tell us what restores you and we will shape the days around it.
Day 1: Arrive, to Thimphu
Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, sunset at Buddha Dordenma.
Day 2: Thimphu
Meditation with a monk, Memorial Chorten, the weekend market and the spa.
Day 3: To Punakha
Over Dochula pass to the warm Punakha valley.
Day 4: Punakha valley
Punakha Dzong at a quiet hour, Chimi Lhakhang and an optional river float.
Day 5: To Paro
Back to Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang and a farmhouse hot stone bath.
Day 6: Tiger's Nest
The hike to Paro Taktsang at your own pace, then a massage.
Day 7: Fly out
Transfer to Paro airport for your onward flight.
Day 1
Arrive in Paro, settle in Thimphu
Your guide meets you at Paro airport, at about 2,200 metres, and the drive to Thimphu takes about an hour. We go straight to your hotel so you can rest; the first afternoon at altitude is best spent drinking water and walking slowly.
Late in the day, we drive up to Buddha Dordenma, the giant bronze Buddha that looks over the capital. The terrace is quiet at sunset, and the view down the valley gives you a sense of the place. Dinner is at your hotel, with an early night.
- Overnight: Six Senses Thimphu, or Le Méridien or Pemako Thimphu
- Drive: about 1 hour
- Meals: lunch and dinner
Day 2
Meditation, prayer wheels and an afternoon off
The morning begins with a guided meditation session led by a monk, followed by tea and time for questions. It is gentle and suitable for complete beginners. Afterwards we walk around the National Memorial Chorten with the older people who come here every day, spinning prayer wheels as they go.
If it is a Friday to Sunday, the Centenary Farmers’ Market is a colourful stop, with chillies, cheese and incense laid out in rows. The afternoon is free for the spa. In the early evening, Tashichho Dzong, the seat of government and the central monk body, is open to visitors after office hours and is beautiful in the low light.
- Overnight: Thimphu
- Walking: about 1 hour, easy
- Afternoon: free time and spa
Day 3
Through the prayer flags of Dochula to Punakha
A late breakfast, then the road east to Dochula, about 3,100 metres, where 108 chortens stand on the pass. We take a slow walk through the prayer flags, and on clear mornings you can see the high Himalaya to the north. The road then winds down through forest for about 1,800 metres of descent into the Punakha valley.
Punakha is warm, green and much lower than Thimphu, with rice fields and orange trees. Your lodge sits above the river, and the afternoon is yours: a treatment, a swim if your hotel has a pool, or a walk along the fields.
- Overnight: Six Senses Punakha, COMO Uma Punakha or Dhensa
- Drive: about 3 hours with stops
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4
A soft day in the Punakha valley
We visit Punakha Dzong mid-morning, after the early visitors have left. Built in 1637 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Bhutan, and in spring the jacaranda trees around it turn purple. Inside, monks hold the winter seat of the central monk body.
After lunch, a short walk through rice fields leads to Chimi Lhakhang, the 15th-century temple of Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman. If you would like something gentle and fun, a guided river float on the Mo Chhu drifts past the dzong. The rest of the day is free.
- Overnight: Punakha
- Walking: about 1.5 hours, easy
- Optional: river float on the Mo Chhu
Day 5
Back to Paro and a farmhouse hot stone bath
The drive back to Paro takes about four hours with stops. In the afternoon we visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, said to date from the 7th century, where the late-afternoon light falls across the prayer wheels and an old orange tree in the courtyard.
In the evening you visit a farming family for a menchu, the traditional hot stone bath. River stones are heated in a fire and dropped into a wooden tub of water, often with artemisia leaves, until it steams. It is very relaxing after a week of travel. Dinner follows in the farmhouse kitchen.
- Overnight: Six Senses Paro, COMO Uma Paro or Zhiwa Ling Heritage
- Drive: about 4 hours with stops
- Evening: hot stone bath and farmhouse dinner
Day 6
Tiger's Nest at your own pace
We start early, when the trail is cool and quiet. 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, which sits on a cliff at about 3,120 metres. Your guide sets the pace to suit you, and horses can take you up to the café if you prefer.
Inside the monastery, phones and cameras stay at the entrance, which makes the visit feel calmer. Most people are back at the trailhead after 4 to 6 hours. A massage in the afternoon is the natural way to end the week.
- Overnight: Paro
- Hike: 4 to 6 hours return, moderate
- Afternoon: spa
Day 7
Farewell to Bhutan
After a slow breakfast, your guide and driver take you to Paro airport, timed to your flight. Morning flights are the most reliable, so we usually book an early departure and keep a buffer at your hub city.
If you want more time to rest, two more nights in the Phobjikha valley or a stay at a Six Senses lodge in Bumthang turns this into a 9 or 10 day retreat. Ask us for a revised price.
- Transfer: about 10 to 20 minutes
- Meals: breakfast
- Extensions: Phobjikha or Bumthang
Where you stay
Hotels chosen for rest
Pick one of three styles. We price each so you can compare.
| Nights | Place | Where you stay | Why we chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Thimphu | Six Senses Thimphu, or Le Méridien or Pemako Thimphu | Quiet rooms, good spas and easy access to the valley |
| 3 to 4 | Punakha | Six Senses Punakha, COMO Uma Punakha or Dhensa | Above the river, with gardens and pools at some lodges |
| 5 to 6 | Paro | Six Senses Paro, COMO Uma Paro or Zhiwa Ling Heritage | Close to the Tiger's Nest trail, with spas for after the hike |
Hotel choice is the biggest factor in the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest the right mix.
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
- A guided meditation session with a monk in Thimphu
- A traditional hot stone bath in a Paro farmhouse
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
A retreat in Six Senses lodges costs very differently from one in boutique hotels, so we don’t publish a single price. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and your budget. We will suggest the right hotels 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
Six Senses, COMO Uma and boutique hotels sit at very different prices. A mix often gives the best value.
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 retreat in Bhutan
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. For a retreat, late autumn and spring are ideal: clear, mild and calm. See our month-by-month guide.
Altitude and rest
Paro and Thimphu sit at about 2,200 to 2,300 metres. You may sleep lightly for the first night or two. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol at first, and keep the first afternoon free. The Tiger’s Nest comes on day six for that reason.
Temple etiquette
Cover shoulders and knees in dzongs and temples, remove hats, and walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels. Photography is not allowed inside temples. Your guide will explain each place before you enter. 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.
7 Day Luxury Retreat in Bhutan: questions
It depends mostly on the hotels you choose, your dates and group size. Send us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.
No. It is a gentle introduction led by a monk, and complete beginners are welcome.
A menchu: river stones heated in a fire and placed in a wooden tub of water, often with medicinal leaves. It is a Bhutanese tradition for easing aches.
Yes. You can take a horse to the halfway café, stop at the viewpoint, or swap the day for a spa day and a short valley walk.
Yes. Bhutan is very safe, and a private guide travels with you all week. Read our guide for solo female travellers on the blog.
Yes. Several lodges offer yoga and longer wellness programmes. Tell us what you would like and we will build it in.
Three to six months ahead for spring and autumn. Six Senses and COMO lodges fill early.
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Price on request
Ask for your best price
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the kind of rest you are looking for. We will reply within 24 hours with hotel options and our best price.
- Share your budget, we shape the trip around it
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
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.