Trek · 7 days, 6 nights · 2 days on trail

7 Day Bhutan Tour with the Bumdra Trek

Thimphu and Punakha, then a two-day trek above Paro: one night camping beside Bumdra Monastery at about 3,800 metres, and a walk down to the Tiger’s Nest from above.

3,800 m

Bumdra camp, about

2 days

On trail

Night camping

Moderate

Trek grade

Trip overview

A short trek with a big view

The Bumdra trek is the best short trek in western Bhutan. It climbs from the Sang Choekor Buddhist college above Paro to Bumdra Monastery, a small temple on a high ridge whose name means the rock of a hundred thousand footprints. You camp in a meadow beside it, at about 3,800 metres, with views across the Himalaya at sunset and sunrise. The next morning you walk down a quiet forest trail that arrives at the Tiger’s Nest from above, a route most visitors never see.

Before the trek, the trip covers the classic sights of Thimphu and Punakha, which also helps you acclimatise. Our crew carries the tents, kitchen and bags up to camp, and the cook prepares a hot dinner. You only carry a day pack. It is a good choice for active travellers who want one night in the mountains without committing to a long trek.

Highlights

What you will see

Bumdra camp

A meadow beside a small monastery high above Paro.

Himalayan views

Jomolhari and the northern peaks on clear mornings.

Tiger's Nest from above

A quiet descent to Paro Taktsang.

Punakha Dzong

The 1637 fortress at the meeting of two rivers.

Thimphu

Buddha Dordenma, crafts and Tashichho Dzong.

Camp cooking

Hot meals from our trek cook at 3,800 metres.

Itinerary at a glance

Seven days, two on trail

The trek comes after four days of acclimatising in the valleys.

Day 1: Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, Memorial Chorten.

Day 2: Thimphu

Buddha Dordenma, takin, crafts, Tashichho Dzong.

Day 3: Dochula and Punakha

Dochula, Punakha Dzong, Khamsum Yulley Namgyal.

Day 4: To Paro

Drive to Paro, Rinpung Dzong, museum, gear check.

Day 5: Trek to Bumdra

Climb from Sang Choekor to Bumdra Monastery, camp.

Day 6: Down via Tiger's Nest

Sunrise, descend through forest to the Tiger’s Nest and Paro.

Day 7: Fly out

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive in Bhutan

Your guide meets you at Paro airport for the hour’s drive to Thimphu. After lunch we visit the National Memorial Chorten and walk through the city centre. The afternoon is kept easy for the altitude.

Day 2

A day in the capital

We visit Buddha Dordenma on the ridge above the city, the takin at the Motithang preserve, the Institute for Zorig Chusum where students learn the thirteen traditional arts, and Tashichho Dzong after office hours. If you like, a morning walk to Cheri Goemba makes a good warm-up for the trek.

Day 3

Over Dochula to Punakha

We cross Dochula, at about 3,100 metres, with its 108 chortens, and descend to Punakha. We visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, and walk up through rice terraces to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for a view of the valley. In the afternoon, a walk to Chimi Lhakhang.

Day 4

Back west to Paro

The drive back to Paro takes about four hours. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong, then check your gear for the trek. Pack a small overnight bag; the crew carries everything else.

Day 5

Trek day 1: up to Bumdra

We drive to the Sang Choekor Buddhist college, at about 2,800 metres, and start walking. The trail climbs steadily through blue pine and rhododendron forest for three to four hours, with views opening over the Paro valley. Bumdra Monastery sits on a ridge at about 3,800 metres, and our camp is in the meadow beside it. In the evening, if the sky is clear, the peaks to the north turn pink at sunset.

Day 6

Trek day 2: down to the Tiger's Nest

Watch the sunrise over the Himalaya, then visit the monastery before breakfast. The trail descends through quiet forest, past small temples and meditation retreats clinging to the cliffs, to arrive at Paro Taktsang from above. After visiting the monastery, you follow the main trail down to the valley. It is a long, steep descent, so trekking poles help.

Day 7

Farewell to Bhutan

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

Where you stay

Where you sleep

Hotels in the valleys, one night camping at Bumdra.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1 to 2	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Central
3	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel	Near the dzong
4	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Before the trek
5	Bumdra	Tents with mattresses, dining and toilet tents	Beside the monastery
6	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	After the trek

We can arrange a more comfortable glamping set-up at Bumdra on request.

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
Camping equipment, cook and crew for the Bumdra night

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
Sleeping bag (we can rent one)

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 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 and the camping set-up shape the price. Groups share the crew costs.

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 the Bumdra trek

About Bumdra Monastery

Bumdra is a small temple on a high ridge between the Paro valley and the Do Chhu valley. Its name refers to a rock said to carry the footprints of a hundred thousand dakinis, female spirits in Buddhist tradition, and pilgrims come here to make offerings and walk the circuit around it. A caretaker monk lives at the temple for much of the year. Nearby, small retreat houses are used by monks and nuns for long periods of meditation, so we keep our voices down near them and camp at a respectful distance.

The meadow at Bumdra is one of the best camping spots near Paro. On clear evenings you can see the peaks of the high Himalaya to the north turn pink, and on the way down the next morning you pass the cliffs above the Tiger’s Nest, which few visitors ever see from this side.

How hard is the Bumdra trek?

It is moderate: about 1,000 metres of climbing on day one and a long descent on day two. If you can manage a full day of hill walking at home, you will be fine. Nights at Bumdra are cold, even in spring and autumn, so bring warm layers.

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.

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.

Bumdra trek: questions

How much does the 7 day Bumdra trek 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.

Do I need trekking experience?

No, but you should be comfortable walking uphill for three to four hours.

What do I carry?

Only a day pack. The crew and pack animals carry the tents, food and your overnight bag.

Is the Tiger's Nest included?

Yes, on the way down from Bumdra on day six.

How cold is it at camp?

Often close to freezing at night in spring and autumn, colder in winter. We provide mattresses and can rent sleeping bags.

When is the best time?

March to May and late September to November.

When should we book?

Two to four months ahead.