Tour of Bhutan November 2025

 

Another wonderful tour of Bhutan! YEG to YVR to HKG to KTM, to PBH and back home!

 Departing KTM Friday, November 7 on Drukair to Paro, returning Friday, November 14, 2025

Did the amazing hike to Taktsang Monastery, the iconic location in Bhutan.

Accommodations are improving every year and the culinary improvements are amazing!

With visits to the National Museum, rebuilt after the earthquake of 2015 and then to the Paro Dzong.

A stop on the highway to Thimphu to visit the Tachog Lakhang and the Iron Bridge.

A real treat was dinner at the Simply Bhutan Restaurant! Great food, butter tea and cultural dancing, archery and a sip or two of ara (local brew).

I was so pleased we could tour the newly renovated and rebuilt Wangduphodrange Monastery that had a fire a few years ago. Well worth the morning stop. It is beautiful inside and felt special!

Lunch on the road is always in Nobding which now has an expanded restaurant for tourist buses and a good buffet lunch.

On the way to Phobjeka we had an early start from Thimphu to see sunrise on Dochu La, the high pass where the Queen Mother built a monument to honor soldiers killed in a skirmish with India years ago. It was still dark when we arrived but there was cloud and fog that hid the Himalayas to the north. 

A highlight of a visit to Bhutan is to see the Black Necked Crane Festival - always on November 11 in the area of Phobjeka. We stopped at the RSPN center for the cranes and then on to our Homestay. I have stayed at two others, but this one was absolutely the best! We had the best food and good sleeps! The next day was the annual festival at Gangtey Gompa the monastery where local dance, sing and show their ancient culture to honor the return of the Cranes from Tibet. 

On to Punhaka and the Dzong is always a treat. We got to feed the fishes from the bridge to the monastery and enjoyed a hike to the suspension bridge over the Mo Chu.

Back to Paro for a night, toured Kiyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. A bit of shopping, a latte, a traditional Hot Stone bath and a celebration dinner. Up early the next morning for a 4:30am checkin for our flight back to Kathmandu. The view from the plan was spectacular - even saw Mt Everest and Kangchenjunga!

Arriving back in Kathmandu, we drove to Pashupatinath temples, lunch on the rooftop in Boudhanath and then to Hotel Tibet for our last night and dinner before departures! Another amazing visit, I am so blessed!🙏

Tour of Bhutan 2022

A wonderful group joined me in Kathmandu to start their culture tour for a few days then flying on Royal Bhutan Airlines to Paro, Bhutan

 

"Tiger's Nest" - hike to the Taktsang Monastery

Rema Hotel, Paro - a great place to stay!

Our guide Karma with Jeroma tours

Tachog Lhakhang on the way to Thimphu

The Iron Bridge to Tachog Lhakhang

Dinner and Cultural tour at Simply Bhutan Museum 

The Dordenma Buddha - tallest in the world (near Thimphu)

Memorial Chortans, Dochu La pass at 3100 metres

Our guides - Karma and Karma

Punhaka Dzong 

Local Market near Punhaka

The amazing Black Necked Crane Festival in Phobjeka valley

Local Girls and boys ready for Crane Dance

A short walk to stretch the legs!

Tour of Bhutan 2018

Arriving for my 4th trip to Bhutan guiding another fun group!

The Bhutan national museum

Our guides Chimi and Tshering

Paro Dzong (half administration/half monastery)

A half day hike to the Taktsang Monastery - the Tiger's Nest is an amazing place 

The Dordenma Buddha near Thimphu

The Royal Palace, Thimphu

Bhutan known for its unique textiles. Ladies wear the Kira.

Textiles woven on hand looms

Panorama of the Himalayas from a high pass - Dochu La 3100 metres

High mountain roads, many passes over 3000m

A black Necked Crane

Site of the Black Necked Crane Festival each year on November 11

Masked dancers at the Tsechu (festival)

A very mountainous country!

Monument to honor soldiers who died in a skirmish with India in 2003

 Flight from Paro back to Kathmandu, Nepal over the world's highest mountains 

Bhutan 2017

Arrival in Paro International airport on Royal Bhutan Airlines -

With a wonderful group of travellers we flew to Kathmandu, recovered from a bit of jet lag and headed off on Druk Air to Paro, Bhutan. Our guide, Tshering, and his assistant Chimi met us at the airport after we cleared immigration. Warm sunshine greeted us and we loaded the bus and headed off to our hotel and lunch.

Mt. Jomolhari (7326m)

Eastern Himalayas

A Cold Druk beer

Chilies used in cuisine especially the chilly cheese called Ema Datshi

A cultural home stay in the traditional way!

A traditional 'hot stone bath at the homestay

Special Stupa in the center of Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan

West of Paro to Taktsang Monastery

The next day we hiked the 900 meters elevation gain over 2 hours to Taktsang monastery - the Tiger's Nest. 

Situated on a cliffside, we walked in bright sun through a forest and on up on narrow trails and stone steps. An amazing place and one of the iconic images representing Bhutan.

After lunch we visited the Paro Dzong (fortress - half monastery/half administration) and walked down the hill as the sun was setting to Paro Bridge. This medieval bridge was featured in the movie Little Buddha. We were able to return in the evening for the amazing lighting of the Dzong and bridge!

The country was on show and dressed in gold fabric, coloured flags and 3 days of celebrations declared for the 4th King's 60th Birthday! We arrived in the capital, Thimphu, at mid-day after a few hours on the bus from Paro. Following lunch we toured the city and the tallest Buddha statue in the world at 161 feet high.

Black Necked Cranes arrive in Phobjekha every year around November 11!

The highlight of the trip was to attend the annula Black Neck Crane festival. 

Black Necked Crane Festival at the Gangtey Gompa (monastery)

Dordenma Buddha near Thimphu

Land of the Thunder Dragon