Self-Launched Festivals of Bhutan – Trongsa

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). No activities planned — settle in, rest, and explore the Thamel neighbourhood at your own pace. Kathmandu is a great place to stock up on any last-minute trekking gear before Bhutan.

🚌Airport taxi to Thamel (~£5-8, negotiate in advance or use a pre-paid taxi counter)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel/guesthouse in Thamel (~£10-15/night)

• →Explore Thamel neighbourhood on foot
• →Visit a local dal bhat restaurant for dinner (~£4-6)
• →Confirm Bhutan visa and SDF payment with your pre-booked licensed Bhutanese operator

Board a morning flight from Kathmandu to Paro (approx. 1 hour) — one of the world's most dramatic landings, with views of Everest, Lhotse and Kanchenjunga on a clear day. Your pre-arranged licensed Bhutanese operator will meet you at Paro Airport (a legal requirement). In the afternoon, visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong in Paro before the short 1-hour drive east to Thimphu.

🚌Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines flight KTM–PBH (~£180-220); airport-Thimphu in operator vehicle included in ground package

🛏Gakyil Hotel or similar mid-range guesthouse in Thimphu (~£30-45/night, meals not included)

• →Scenic Himalayan flight Kathmandu–Paro with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines (~£180-220 one way)
• →Visit National Museum of Bhutan (Paro), entry ~£5
• →Walk around Rinpung Dzong and the riverside trail (~free)
• →Drive to Thimphu with local operator transport (~1 hour)

Spend the day exploring Bhutan's compact, traffic-light-free capital. Visit the giant Buddha Dordenma statue at Kuensel Phodrang for panoramic valley views, then head to Simtokha Dzong — the oldest fortress in Bhutan, built in 1629. In the afternoon, drive about 3 hours southwest to Punakha, the former capital, passing over the flower-lined Dochu La pass (3,050m) with stunning Himalayan views.

🚌Operator vehicle Thimphu–Dochu La–Punakha (~3 hours, included in ground package)

🛏Sonamgang Hotel or similar guesthouse in Punakha (~£30-45/night)

• →Visit Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang) — free entry
• →Explore Simtokha Dzong (oldest dzong in Bhutan, 1629) — entry included in SDF
• →Drive over Dochu La pass (3,050m) and visit the 108 chortens
• →Visit Chimi Lhakhang — the fertility temple of the Divine Madman, short walk through rice fields

Morning visit to the breathtaking Punakha Dzong, dramatically positioned at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Then set off on a 6-hour scenic drive east to Trongsa, passing Wangdiphodrang Dzong perched on a hilltop and stopping at the whitewashed Chendebji Chorten — modelled on Boudhanath in Nepal. Arrive in Trongsa in the late afternoon and visit the fortress viewpoint at sunset.

🚌Operator vehicle Punakha–Trongsa (~6 hours, included in ground package)

🛏Tendrel Resorts or similar guesthouse in Trongsa (~£30-45/night)

• →Walk suspension bridge to Punakha Dzong — entry included in SDF
• →Roadside stop at Wangdiphodrang Dzong viewpoint
• →Stop at Chendebji Chorten (~free)
• →Sunset viewpoint over Trongsa Dzong — the largest in Bhutan

Full day at the Trongsa Tshechu — one of Bhutan's most vibrant and authentic festivals, held at the vast Trongsa Dzong. Watch sacred Cham mask dances performed by monks dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, with locals dressed in traditional Bhutanese silk. Visit the Taa Dzong Museum (Tower of Trongsa) in the afternoon — originally built in 1652 as a watchtower, now housing royal artefacts and relics. Festival access is included in the SDF.

🚌Walking distance to dzong from hotel

🛏Tendrel Resorts or similar guesthouse in Trongsa (~£30-45/night)

• →Full day at Trongsa Tshechu — sacred mask dances at Trongsa Dzong (included in SDF)
• →Visit Taa Dzong Museum (Tower of Trongsa) — entry ~£5
• →Photograph locals in traditional kira and gho dress
• →Evening stroll around Trongsa town

A scenic 3-4 hour drive northwest to the glacial Phobjikha Valley (also called Gangtey), sitting at around 3,000m. This wide U-shaped valley is one of Bhutan's most beautiful — and in winter, home to the endangered black-necked cranes that migrate from the Tibetan Plateau. Visit the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) Black-Necked Crane Information Centre and explore Gangtey Goenpa monastery.

🚌Operator vehicle Trongsa–Gangtey (~3-4 hours, included in ground package)

🛏Phuntso Yangkhil Lodge or similar guesthouse in Gangtey (~£30-45/night)

• →Visit Gangtey Goenpa monastery — free/donation
• →RSPN Black-Necked Crane Information Centre — small entry fee (~£2)
• →Walk the Gangtey Nature Trail through the valley floor (~2km loop, free)
• →Spot black-necked cranes in the fields (November–March)

Morning hike (~5km, 2-3 hours) through the valley floor and up to the monastery ridge — about 500m ascent with sweeping views of the crane habitat below. After lunch, drive 4 hours north and east back to Thimphu via the Dochula Pass, stopping again for views if weather permits.

🚌Operator vehicle Gangtey–Dochula Pass–Thimphu (~4 hours, included in ground package)

🛏Gakyil Hotel or similar guesthouse in Thimphu (~£30-45/night)

• →Gangtey Valley loop hike — monastery ascent ~500m (~free)
• →Birdwatching for black-necked cranes at dawn
• →Dochula Pass stop on drive back to Thimphu
• →Evening explore Thimphu's clock tower square and local restaurants

Morning drive west to Paro (~3 hours), making memorable stops en route. First, the 600-year-old Tachogang Lhakhang Iron Chain Bridge over the Paro Chhu, built by the legendary bridge-builder Thangtong Gyalpo in the 1400s. Then visit Dzongdrakha Goemba (Mini Taktsang) — four shrines on a cliffside above Bondey village, largely missed by tourists. End with Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred temples, founded in the 7th century.

🚌Operator vehicle Thimphu–Paro via Tachogang (~3 hours, included in ground package)

🛏Rema Resorts or similar guesthouse in Paro (~£30-45/night)

• →Walk the 600-year-old Tachogang Lhakhang Iron Chain Bridge (~free)
• →Visit Dzongdrakha Goemba (Mini Taktsang) — cliffside shrines above Bondey (~free)
• →Kyichu Lhakhang — 7th-century temple, one of Bhutan's oldest (~free/donation)
• →Wander Paro town and browse local craft shops

The highlight of any Bhutan trip — an 11km round-trip hike to Taktsang Monastery, the Tiger's Nest, dramatically perched on a 900m cliff above the Paro Valley. Allow 4-5 hours total. The trail through pine forest to the cafeteria viewpoint takes about 2 hours; a further 2 hours brings you to the monastery itself with its series of temples clinging to the rock face. Bring a trekking pole (or buy a wooden stick at the car park for ~£1). Horses are available to the cafeteria (~£15) for those who prefer. Afternoon free to explore Paro town.

🚌Short drive from hotel to Tiger's Nest car park (operator vehicle)

🛏Rema Resorts or similar guesthouse in Paro (~£30-45/night)

• →Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery — ~11km round trip, ~915m ascent (entry ~£8, included in SDF for some visitors)
• →Cafeteria viewpoint lunch stop with monastery views (~£5-8)
• →Explore the monastery's four main temples (no photography inside)
• →Evening wander around Paro Rinpung Dzong and Nyamai Zampa bridge

Morning transfer to Paro Airport for your flight back to Kathmandu (~1 hour). The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing in the Nepali capital. Top options: UNESCO-listed Boudhanath Stupa (the world's largest Buddhist stupa, entry ~£2), the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath (~£10 for non-Hindus to view from outside), the monkey temple at Swayambhunath (~£2), or a taxi to medieval Bhaktapur (~£5 entry).

🚌Operator vehicle to Paro Airport; Kathmandu airport taxi to Thamel (~£5-8)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel in Thamel (~£10-15/night)

• →Paro–Kathmandu flight with Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines (~£150-200)
• →Visit Boudhanath Stupa — UNESCO World Heritage Site, entry ~£2
• →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — hilltop stupa with city views, entry ~£2
• →Explore Thamel for last-minute souvenirs and a farewell dinner

Your journey ends in Kathmandu after breakfast. If time allows before your onward flight, visit Durbar Square in the old city (entry ~£8) — a UNESCO-listed complex of palaces, courtyards and temples. Alternatively, hire a taxi for a half-day trip to Bhaktapur (~£5-8 entry), one of Nepal's best-preserved medieval cities with its own Durbar Square and 55 Window Palace.

🚌Hotel-to-airport taxi (~£5-8)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed if departing today

• →Kathmandu Durbar Square — UNESCO World Heritage Site, entry ~£8
• →Optional half-day trip to Bhaktapur by local taxi (~£8-12 return, £5-8 entry)
• →Final dal bhat lunch in Thamel (~£4-6)
• →Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport