10 Days in Bhutan – 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
With 10 days to spend in Bhutan, your options are plentiful. Explore the country’s top attractions, from fortresses to mountain trails, on a highlights tour, or focus more exclusively on outdoor adventure with a trekking itinerary around Bhutan’s dramatic landscapes. Bird lovers might opt for a guided adventure around Bhutan’s top bird habitats, while travelers with children will love a family-oriented tour that includes whitewater rafting, archery, and hiking. Read on to learn more about the best 10-day itineraries through Bhutan.
Itinerary #1: Highlights of Bhutan
On this 10-day tour around Bhutan’s highlights, you’ll see top attractions, like the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery, as well as lesser-known temples, palaces, and hiking trails leading to quiet valleys.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paro & Sightsee | Paro |
| Day 2 | Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery | Paro |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Bumthang | Bumthang |
| Day 4 | Visit Historic Sites in Bumthang | Bumthang |
| Day 5 | Tour Trongsa Dzong & Watch Tower | Phobjikha |
| Day 6 | Explore the Phobjika Valley | Phobjikha |
| Day 7 | See the Famous Punakha Dzong | Punakha |
| Day 8 | Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Monastery | Thimphu |
| Day 9 | Discover Thimphu’s Cultural Sites | Thimphu |
| Day 10 | Depart |
Welcome to Bhutan! The trip starts in Paro with some cultural sightseeing, followed by a hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Catch a domestic flight to Bumthang, where you’ll visit the temples and temple complexes of Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, and Kenchogsum. Enjoy sweeping views from Jakar Dzong, literally meaning “castle of the white bird”—it’s one of the largest fortresses in Bhutan.
Midway through the trip, you’ll spend a few days in the Phobjika Valley, visiting Trongsa Dzong and the nearby Watch Tower. Transfer to Punakha to see another incredible fortress, Punakha Dzong, before continuing on a quiet hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Monastery. You’ll spend the night in the capital city of Thimphu on Day 8 and spend the rest of the trip exploring Bhutan’s capital city. Learn more
Itinerary #2: Bhutan Trekking Adventure
Explore the Dagala Trek, nicknamed “the thousand lakes trek,” as well as cultural highlights in Thimphu, Paro, and the Punakha Valley, on this active itinerary around Bhutan.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bhutan & Drive to Thimphu | Thimphu |
| Day 2 | Sightsee in Thimphu | Punakha |
| Day 3 | Explore the Punakha Valley | Punakha |
| Day 4 | Begin the Dagala Trek | Gur |
| Day 5 | Hike from Gur to Lambatama | Lambatama |
| Day 6 | Rest for the Day in the Mountains | Lambatama |
| Day 7 | Trek from Lambatama to Panka | Panka |
| Day 8 | Continue from Pankha to Chamgang | Paro |
| Day 9 | Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery | Paro |
| Day 10 | Depart |
Begin the journey in Thimphu. You’ll have some time for sightseeing in the capital before heading off into the wilderness, driving through the Dochu La Pass, and hiking through birch, hemlock, and rhododendron trees to Lungchutse Temple. Spend a day exploring the Punakha Valley before beginning the Dagala Trek on Day 4. You’ll hike from Gur to Lambatama the following day, camping by the lake in Uthso Tsho.
Midway through the trip, take a day to rest in the valley. There are several gorgeous lakes nearby that make for easy day hikes. Then continue on your way to Panka on Day 7, the trail revealing views of Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. Admire blue poppies along the trail the following day as the trek leads down to Chamgang. A car will transport you to the Paro Valley for a few days of cultural sightseeing—including the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery—before the trip comes to an end. Learn more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Itinerary #3: Bhutan Birding Trip
You’ll spot an incredible array of birds on this 10-day tour around Bhutan’s top avian habitats, including the banks of the Paro River and the valleys of Phobjika, Thimphu, and Punakha.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Thimphu | Thimphu |
| Day 2 | Explore Bird Habitats in the Thimphu Valley | Thimphu |
| Day 3 | Sightsee in Thimphu | Thimphu |
| Day 4 | Take a Scenic Drive to the Punakha Valley | Punakha |
| Day 5 | Search for Birds in the Punakha Valley | Punakha |
| Day 6 | Drive from Punakha to Phobjika | Phobjika |
| Day 7 | Go Birding on the Way to the Paro Valley | Paro |
| Day 8 | Visit Bhutan’s Oldest Temple | Paro |
| Day 9 | Hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery | Paro |
| Day 10 | Depart |
The itinerary begins in Thimphu. Drop your bags at your hotel in the city, then head out to the suburbs of Cheri, Doedena, and Begana to start birding. You’ll explore more bird habitats in the surrounding valley on Day 2, then take some time to do some cultural sightseeing in Thimphu before a scenic drive to the Punakha Valley. Hike along the Dochu La Pass, with breathtaking vistas of the Himalayas and forests filled with birds like the spotted nutcracker and Darjeeling woodpecker.
The birding adventure continues as you drive to Phobjika, looking for birds along a river channel and making a stop at the Black-Neck Crane Center to learn about the species. Continue east to Pele La Pas for an early morning excursion to spot the area’s most beloved birds, including the blood pheasant, yellow-billed Magpie, and ultramarine flycatcher. Enjoy a leisurely drive (with birding stops along the way) to Paro. You’ll finish the trip with a sunrise hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery and birding along the banks of the Paro River. Learn more
Itinerary #4: Family Adventure in Western Bhutan
Bring the whole family along for this action-packed 10-day itinerary through Bhutan that features hiking, whitewater rafting, archery classes, and cultural sightseeing.
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Paro & Drive to Thimphu | Thimphu |
| Day 2 | Sightsee in Thimphu | Thimphu |
| Day 3 | Explore the Phobjikha Valley | Phobjikha |
| Day 4 | Visit the Temple of a “Divine Madman” | Punakha |
| Day 5 | Hike & Raft in the Punakha Valley | Punakha |
| Day 6 | Picnic in the Hills | Ha |
| Day 7 | Go Hiking in the Ha Valley | Ha |
| Day 8 | Discover the Paro Valley | Paro |
| Day 9 | Trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery | Paro |
| Day 10 | Depart Bhutan |
Kick off the adventure in the capital city of Thimphu. You’ll get oriented in Bhutan and do some sightseeing on the first two days of the trip, including a stop at the Takin Preserve to see the Bhutan takin, a quirky-looking animal related to the goat and the antelope. Then move on to the Phobjikha Valley for a scenic drive and a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Center to learn about birds. Stop by a fertility temple, then overnight in Punakha.
Day 5 offers several adventures as you explore the hiking trails and rivers of the Punakha Valley. An easy whitewater rafting trip is fun for all ages and skill levels. You’ll take a picnic to Lungchutse Lhakhang and visit several monasteries the following day, continuing onward to a hike in the Ha Valley. Spend the night in an authentic Bhutanese farmhouse. You’ll finish the trip with a tour of the Paro Valley and a trek to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Learn more
More Great Bhutan Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Bhutan? Check out these other Bhutan itineraries, with trekking adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.
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