The Best Things to Do in Bhutan

Tucked away in the Himalayas, Bhutan is a small, peaceful country known for jaw-dropping natural beauty imbued with ancient spirituality.  

You might recognize images of the Kingdom’s iconic, cliff-clinging Tiger’s Nest Monastery, but the names of Bhutan’s most-visited valleys and sacred sites aren’t mainstream knowledge. Travelers are simply more acquainted with neighbors like Nepal, India, and Tibet, better able to conjure their respective icons. By comparison, Bhutan receives a mere fraction of the visitors who arrive in the region. A combination of its far-flung location, single international airport, daily tourist tariff, and a policy that dissuades independent travel maintains its status as truly, off-the-beaten-path.  

This all means that planning a trip to Bhutan requires some deeper digging when it comes to where to go and what to do. Extraordinary Journeys travel specialists can help make sense of it all. From soaking in traditional hot stone bath to attending spirited costumed performances at a tschechu festival, we share 15 things to do in Bhutan that rank among our travelers’ favorite experiences.  

Things to Do in Bhutan

Attend a Tschechu (Buddhist Festival)

Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Hike Bhutan’s Himalaya Mountains & Glacial Lakes

Soak in a Traditional Hot Stone Bath

Visit a Bhutanese Dzong (Fortress)

Dine on Regional Specialties & Sip Bhutanese Beers

Try Bhutanese Archery & Darts

Explore Bhutan’s Contemporary Art Scene

 Fawn Over Bhutanese Textiles

Visit a Buddhist Nunnery

Bike around Bhutan

Flock to the Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey)

Hike to Bumthang’s Sacred Sites

Look For Rare Wildlife

Go Horseback Riding in Gangtey

Attend a Tschechu (Buddhist Festival) 

At Bhutan’s world-famous tshechus, masked dancers whirl to ritualistic music. The religious celebrations are typically multi-day annual affairs, often held in the courtyards of dzongs, and take place throughout the year. At some, a giant thangka painting known as a thongdrol (Tibetan for “liberation through seeing”) is unfurled to spiritually cleanse attendees. Locals don their finest ghos and kiras (Bhutanese national dress for men and women, respectively), and if you attend, dress up, too.  

The Thimphu and Paro Tschechus are the most popular.  
The Druk Wangyel Tshechu is performed by the Royal Bhutan Army, rather than monks.
For something different, consider the Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang, famous for its scantily clad fire dance. 

Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery 

Bhutan’s holiest and most iconic site, Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang), is a gravity-defying temple complex that clings to a cliff 2,950 feet above the Paro Valley. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, founder of Buddhism in Bhutan, flew from eastern Bhutan on a tigress, landing on the cliff and bringing Buddhist teachings and meditation. 

The half-day trek (~five hours return) can feel intense because of the sharp gain in altitude. Reward yourself with a meditation inside the temple, reflecting on your own (inner) journey—and the architectural feat itself.  
Save Tiger’s Nest Monastery for the end of your trip when you’re acclimated to the altitude. Plus, it’s a highlight that’s hard to top. 
Enter the Sacred Cave beneath the monastery where centuries of prayers have been whispered 

Hike Bhutan’s Himalaya Mountains & Glacial Lakes 

Hiking is the ultimate way to experience Bhutan’s pristine natural environment. Whether you’re looking for a strenuous challenge or an active afternoon outdoors, there are options for multi-night treks, day hikes, and gentle hour-long jaunts. 

Looking for a challenge? Traverse the new 248-mile Trans Bhutan Trail (you can do just a portion or undertake the entire cross-country trail) or tackle the 30-day Snowman Trek, considered to be the world’s hardest. Less of a commitment but still challenging, you can trek from Paro to the Haa Valley (three to six nights) or from Haa to the Tibetan border (five nights).
Remarkable, shorter hikes include Tiger’s Nest (Paro), sections of the Panorama Trail (Haa Valley), and the Gangtey Nature Trail (Phobjikha Valley) 
Stay at a wilderness Sangwa Camp in Gasa or the Haa Valley, using it as a base camp from which you can take guided hikes with a forest ranger. 
In the Gasa region, hike to the stunning Tshophu Lakes, set between steep slopes that frame Mount Jichu Drake.

Soak in a Traditional Hot Stone Bath 

After trekking, there’s no better way to relax than in a hot stone bath, a centuries-old tradition rooted in Tibetan medicine and Ayurvedic traditions. In this soothing experience, river stones are heated until red hot and then placed in the bathwater, which is infused with medicinal herbs such as lemongrass and artemisia.  

Visit a Bhutanese Dzong (Fortress) 

Whether sitting atop craggy peaks or folded within valley walls, Bhutan’s dzong fortresses are visually captivating. With imposing whitewashed walls and golden accents, dzongs exude an aura of grandeur and spirituality. Wander through large wooden gates to find beautifully adorned courtyards, vibrant murals depicting Buddhist tales, and serene temples resonating with prayers. Tip: Dress appropriately and prepare to receive blessings.  

Cradled by the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, the Punakha Dzong is considered one of Bhutan’s prettiest and is a winter residence for monks.
The Trongsa Dzong is Bhutan’s largest dzong.
Experience a tschechu at a dzong—Paro or Thimphu dzongs host large festivals. 
Receive a private welcome blessing and a spiritual cleansing from a high lama at Rinpung Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most sacred spaces.  

Dine on Regional Specialties & Sip Bhutanese Beers 

Despite its small size, Bhutan contains some 22 different languages and subcultures. Specialty dishes can vary from valley to valley, and peckish travelers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to explore Bhutanese culture through food.

A rich stew of spicy chilies (ema) and cheese (datshi), ema datshi is recognized as Bhutan’s national dish.
For seasonal flavors, dine with a local family at their farm house or take a hands-on cooking class.  
Seek out buckwheat delicacies like hoentey in Haa
In Bumthang, savor pancakes, noodles, and unique treats such as honey, apple juice, Swiss-style cheese, and schnaps. The valleyis a haven for food lovers, and home to acclaimed novelist and food author Kunzang Choden (“Chilli and Cheese”) who runs a charming guesthouse and museum.  
Don’t miss Thimphu’s weekend market (Thursday through Sunday), Bhutan’s largest, offering a wide array of rice, chilies, dried fish, doma, and incense. 
Bhutan has a burgeoning craft beer scene, and produces some stiff homegrown spirits, such as Himalayan-blended whiskeys (K5, named after the Fifth King, is even exported), Swiss-inspired schnaps, and Bhutanese-style moonshine, ara. Grab a pint of red rice lager before your flight home at Namgay Artisanal Brewery, a gastro brewery overlooking Paro International Airport. In Thimphu, pay a visit to Ser Bhum Brewery.
Ambitions to cultivate grapes are underway in Bhutan. Productive vineyards could be producing wines by 2030.

Try Bhutanese Archery & Darts

Bhutan’s national sport since 1971, dha or archery is beloved by all, with three archers eyeing the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Unlike Olympic archery, Bhutan uses traditional bamboo bows over longer ranges. Tournaments are social events with singing, dancing, and playful taunting. Cheer (and “jeer”) on athletes or test your aim firsthand—experience the heart of Bhutanese culture, one arrow at a time.   

Explore Bhutan’s Contemporary Art Scene 

While most guides focus on traditional Buddhist art found in dzongs and monasteries, there’s a nascent contemporary art scene that’s little-known to travelers.  

Thimphu boasts VAST Bhutan, a contemporary art collective, which, at the King’s request, transformed Paro International Airport into an art gallery during its pandemic closure. (Two VAST artists feature in the Rubin Museum’s “Reimagine Himalayan Art Now” exhibit in New York, through October 6, 2024.)  

Aside from galleries, experience public art like riverside sculptures in Thimphu and hotel-commissioned murals.  

Fawn Over Bhutanese Textiles 

Thimphu’s Royal Textile Museum will give you a kaleidoscopic look into Bhutanese textiles and their timeless significance (national dress has remained unchanged since the Kingdom’s establishment in 1907).  

Shop for a custom gho or kira to wear at a tshechu festival, or as a souvenir. For inspiration, check out Bhutan Street Fashion, and visit CHIMMI House of Design, who dressed Princess Kate on her 2016 visit.
While machine-made options are tempting, hand-loomed fabrics from fine natural materials like silk offer a lasting investment in exquisite craftsmanship while supporting women weavers.  
For a hand-loomed souvenir, browse Bumthang’s iconic textiles. Yathra, a geometric-woven fabric made of yak wool, looks beautiful displayed in the home.  

Visit a Buddhist Nunnery 

While monasteries are financially supported by the Kingdom, nunneries rely on donations from foundations and individuals to sustain themselves. Perched on a cliff overlooking several temples and retreat huts for nuns, Kila Goenpa near the Paro–Haa border, is often likened to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery and can be reached by trail. Established as a meditation site in the ninth century, it is believed to be Bhutan’s oldest nunnery. Bring a small cash offering to support the pink-robed nuns, and you may be rewarded with a blessing. 

Bike Around Bhutan 

Cycling is one of the best ways to experience and navigate Bhutan, particularly on its winding mountain roads where cars rarely exceed 20 miles an hour. From the saddle, you get unfettered, front-row access to stunning Himalayan vistas, and the freedom to stop and go as you please. It’s also the Fourth King’s preferred form of transportation—so keep an eye out for royalty zipping by.  

Bhutan’s valleys are crowd-pleasers, satisfying those who want gentle touring between villages and gearheads seeking flowy single-track. 
Thanks to its dramatic terrain, Bhutan boasts outstanding descents. Thrill seekers might consider a 25-mile ride from Dochula Mountain Pass to the floor of the Punakha Valley. 
The Haa Valley: This less frequently visited valley in Bhutan features a narrow, picturesque valley floor braced by steep mountain walls. Explore its many charming villages using pedal power. Faster than hiking and more embodied than driving, you’ll get a broader sense of Haa when rolling along with the joyful ease that cycling affords.  
Cycle Gangtey‘s gentle and uninhabited valley floor, where wild horses cross streams and serenity reverberates.
Ride valley to valley, from Thimphu to Punakha, a satisfying adventure that can be done in a single day.
For enthusiasts, Bhutan hosts one of the world’s toughest single-day mountain bike races every September: the 158-mile Tour of the Dragon. 

Flock to Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey) 

Bhutan is a haven for birders, boasting more than 678 recorded species, including 14 that are globally threatened.  

For a chance to see the world’s rarest heron, try rafting down the Punakha River, where—if you’re really, really, really lucky—you might just spot the critically endangered, white-bellied heron perched on the riverbank. (There are thought to be 200 left in the world today, and only 30 in Bhutan.) 
For a more guaranteed avian encounter, visit the Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey), the best place in Bhutan to view black-necked cranes, which migrate seasonally from Tibet each fall. 
Attend the Black Neck Crane Festival, held annually in Gangtey on November 11.  

Hike to Sacred Sites in Bumthang 

Dubbed Bhutan’s cultural heartland, Bumthang is comprised of four distinct mountain valleys that are laced with trails. Temples and sacred sites pepper this almost mystic landscape where traditional architecture contrasts against the dense forest. Follow meandering trails not only to imbibe panoramic valley views, but to imbue your time outdoors with cultural interest. Several options exist, from one and two-hour walks to half-day hikes to multi-day treks, not limited to:  

Kunzangdra Monastery: A steep, ~one-hour ascent to reach this cliffside monastery that consists of three temples. Built in 1488 by Pemba Lingpa (Bhutan’s greatest Treasure revealer), you’ll find many sacred objects inside, and you’re rewarded with superb views of the Tang Valley.  
Draphe Dzong & Ngang Lhakhang: A gentle three-hour hike that skirts a river and brings you to a fifteenth-century temple.  
Padtselling Monastery Hike: A challenging, three-hour hike that tours steeply through forest and then through a flowering meadow; enjoy Choekhor Valley views.  

Look for Rare Wildlife 

More than half of Bhutan’s land is protected, and some 70 per cent of the Kingdom is covered by forest. A haven for biodiversity, travelers will encounter all manner of native flora and fauna, resident and migratory birdlife. Conservation efforts aim to protect larger rare species such as tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, and elephants. Travelers keen on wildlife might spend some time in Royal Manas National Park, a Bengal tiger sanctuary; snow leopards are partial to the region of Gasa.  

Go Horseback Riding in Gangtey 

Gangtey’s broad valley floor, pine forests, rolling hills, and lush meadows are ideal terrain for a guided trail ride. Saddle up to experience Gangtey’s serene valley vistas and woodsy tranquility on horseback at a laid-back pace. From this unique vantage point, possibly spy black-neck cranes, pass villages and monasteries, and wave to locals. Experienced riders and beginners alike are welcome; you’ll be paired with a horse to match your ability.  

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