Mountain Getaway: 5 Nights in Bhutan

A taste of Bhutan as an India or Nepal add-on

Connected by direct flights to neighbors Nepal and India, a highlight-hitting Bhutan extension is a memorable way to finish a trip to the Indian Subcontinent. After all, you’ve come so far.

Blessed with spectacular montane scenery, rivers, and Himalayan forest, tranquil Bhutan reverberates with spirituality. Prayer flags ripple in the wind, butter lamps softly illuminate temple walls, and costumed monks perform spirited dances during tsechus (religious festivals). A biodiversity hotspot, snow leopards, Bengal tigers, takin, red pandas, bears, deer, and black-neck cranes take refuge in the Kingdom's dense, protected forests.

On this five-night Mountain Getaway, you’ll visit the Kingdom’s best valleys, retreating to dreamy five-star lodges. You’ll also spend a night in nature at a fully staffed, exclusive-use wilderness camp in a secluded location. Luxurious Bhutan is the perfect complement to buzzy India and rugged Nepal.

Traveling by private vehicle, the journey is tailored to your interests, in total comfort. The journey is a gentle one. Brisk hikes are tempered by serene dzong and monastery visits, picnics in the fresh mountain air, and traditional wellness treatments steeped in ancient wisdom. Emerge from Bhutan, rested, recentered, and inspired.

Mountain Getaway: 5 Nights in Bhutan: 5 Nights / 6 Days

DAY 6:

Depart Paro for your international flight home or onward journey

Michael Marquand | MyBhutan

Mountain Getaway: 5 Nights in Bhutan Trip Highlights

Punakha: Blanketed by rice paddies, the lush, subtropical Punakha Valley is home to the postcard-pretty Punakha Dzong and Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge. Enjoy a riverside picnic, imbibing the valley views, and hike to the ornate Khamsum Yulley Monastery. Slumber in a safari-style tented suite at the inimitable andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, poised on the banks of the Mo Chu River. If you're looking for a bit of adventure, opt for a half-day of whitewater rafting (class 2-3 rapids) during your stay.

Gasa: Fewer than one percent of all Bhutan travelers venture as far as Gasa, but the region’s spectacular, raw Himalayan wilderness and steaming hot springs beckon to active travelers. You’ll stay at a private camp hidden in a forest, and configured just for your party size. Savor chef-cooked gourmet meals, sample Bhutanese whiskey at a bonfire, try your hand at darts and archery, and be treated to a special, traditional folk performance.

Thimphu: Thimphu is Bhutan’s quirky, high-elevation capital without a single traffic light. You won’t spend a lot of time here, but it’s worth wandering its “downtown” streets to get a feel for the Kingdom’s largest “city,” nipping into shops or cafés. Described as a “palace in the sky,” you'll overnight at Six Senses Thimphu. Dine next to the lodge's mountain-framed reflecting pools.

Paro: Your time in Bhutan wraps up in Paro with a quintessential experience: hiking to Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery.) Clinging to the side of a cliff perched thousands of feet above the floor of the Paro Valley, it's venerated as one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. A moderately challenging hike leads you to the monastery and rewards with spectacular views. Your day ends with a restorative herbal treatment with a wellness practitioner at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary. Spend your final evening at the luxurious Amankora Lodge Paro.