A 7-Day Safari to the Land of Happiness

Upon arrival at Paro airport, meet your representative and drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, for hotel check‑in.

If time permits, visit Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point) for panoramic views of Thimphu and the giant seated Buddha statue.

Alternatively, you may visit the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in memory of His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and dedicated to world peace, with paintings and statues illustrating Buddhist philosophy.

These activities are only possible if your flight lands before 14:00. If time permits around 18:00, you can also visit Changlimithang Archery Grounds to watch locals practice Bhutan’s national sport; tournaments are informal and subject to last‑minute changes.

After breakfast, drive to Sangay Gang View Point (2,685 m), where thousands of prayer flags flutter in the wind above the Thimphu Valley.

• Visit the National Institute for Traditional Medicine (weekday daytime opening hours; closed weekends and public holidays).
• Explore the Folk Heritage Museum in one of Thimphu’s oldest houses, showcasing rural life, tools, fabrics, and crafts from the Middle Ages to today.
• Visit the School of Arts (Zorig Chusum), where students study the 13 traditional Bhutanese art forms in 4‑ to 6‑year programs (weekday opening hours).
• Discover an authentic Bhutanese crafts market in traditional bamboo huts, supporting local artisans and small businesses.

In the late afternoon, visit Tashichho Dzong, the monastery‑fortress housing His Majesty’s throne room, government offices and the summer residence of the Chief Abbot.

Many institutions operate on limited hours and close on weekends or public holidays; your guide will time visits accordingly. This is designed as a busy, content‑rich day.

After breakfast, depart for Punakha via Dochu‑La Pass (3,088 m), where, on a clear day, you can see peaks such as Masagang, Tsendagang, Terigang and Gangkar Puensum, the highest in the region.

Continue down into Punakha and check in at your hotel before an afternoon walk to the Temple of the Divine Madman, Chimi Lhakhang.

Chimi Lhakhang is associated with the 15th‑century master Drukpa Kinley, the “Divine Madman”, whose legends explain the hilltop stupa and phallus symbol used to bless visitors seeking protection and children.

After breakfast, enjoy a countryside walk through fields of chillies, cabbages and rice along the river towards Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten.

Take in views of the Mo‑Chu River and surrounding villages before continuing to Punakha Dzong, dramatically set at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.

Built in 1637 by the first Shabdrung, this is considered Bhutan’s most beautiful dzong and has been carefully restored using traditional materials after fires, earthquakes and floods.

Later, explore the picturesque villages of Talo or Nobgang, ancestral home of Bhutan’s queen mothers, known for neat houses and the beauty of their surroundings.

After breakfast, drive to Paro (2,200 m), a fertile valley of terraced rice fields, myths and legends, protected by Mount Chomolhari.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel before visiting Ta Dzong, a 17th‑century circular watchtower now housing the National Museum’s thangkas, stamps, fabrics, weapons and artifacts.

Continue to Rinpung Dzong, the spiritual centre of the Paro region with richly painted wooden galleries illustrating Buddhist themes.

End the day at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred temples from the 7th century, followed by a stop at a typical farmhouse.

After breakfast, begin the hike to Taktsang Dzong, or Tiger’s Nest, a sacred monastery clinging to a cliff 900 m above the valley floor.

Legend holds that Guru Rinpoche, founder of Mahayana Buddhism in Bhutan, arrived here on the back of a tigress to meditate; the monastery was rebuilt after a 1998 fire and restored to its former glory.

Taktsang closes daily from 13:00 to 14:00. A cafeteria halfway up serves lunch, tea and snacks, and an early start helps avoid heat and crowds.

After the hike, stroll Paro’s streets and craft shops for Bhutanese handicrafts, or optionally share a simple meal with a local family to experience everyday life on a traditional farm.

This visit offers insight into Bhutan’s preserved culture and why the country is famed for its happiness and strong identity.

After breakfast, transfer to Paro Airport to catch your flight to the next destination, with a last glimpse of Bhutan’s valleys and peaks from the air.