Trip Name: Bhutan Cultural Tour
Trip Activities: Sightseeing and Hiking
Trip Grade: Easy
Best Season: All the round the year (autumn and spring are the best)
Bhutan cultural tour is one of the most fascinating journeys you can experience in the country. This cultural tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the country's rich traditions, art, ancient ornate Lhakhang, Dzongs, and Monasteries.
Bhutan is one of the world's famous travel destinations and the cultural heart of groundbreaking art, historic architectural culture, and enticing history.
Bhutan cultural experience is influenced by Buddhism, where the country preserves its heritage through majestic dzongs, monasteries, and sacred chortens, each holding historical and religious significance.
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) prioritizes cultural preservation and environmental sustainability. Bhutan exudes a fascinating and diverse cultural identity, which is evident in the extensive spectrum of trips available.
We offer a Bhutan cultural tour package that covers the Kingdom’s enthralling landscapes of art, literature, design, Thankas, paintings, music, and festivals.
Dream Bhutan offers a traditional Bhutan tour that is full of personal touches, class, and culture.
The cultural tour package is expertly planned with unique itineraries, luxury hotels, fine dining, and expert tour managers.
Our carefully planned Bhutan history and culture tour itinerary offers multiple exploration opportunities and allows you to discover wonderful places and cultures.
The cultural tour package includes sightseeing in Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha. During the tour, you will find the true spirit of the Bhutanese and explore a myriad of sacred sites, Dzongs, temples, landmarks, monasteries, markets, farmhouses, schools & museums.
This Best Bhutan cultural tour provides the country's unaffected Buddhist culture and highlights the symbiotic relationship between people and its culture.
The kingdom was able to retain its ancient culture while embracing global development. The limited foreign policy of the Kingdom has been able to protect its fragile culture and ecosystem. It is also known as the country of “The Last Shangri La.”
1) Enjoy the scenic, breathtaking mountain views, including Mt. Everest, on an exciting flight to Paro.
2) Explore Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, which offers a unique blend of modernity and tradition.
3) Memorial Chorten is a memorial for the third king of the country.
4) Buddha Dordenma is a giant Buddha statue with panoramic views of the Himalayas.
5) Changangkha Lhakhang, a 12th-century temple known for newborn blessing rituals.
6) Explore Motithang Takin Preserve, a sanctuary for the unique national animal, the Takin.
7) Visit the National Library and Institute for Zorig Chusum, home to Buddhist manuscripts and traditional arts training.
8) Explore the Textile Museum and Folk Heritage Museum, showcasing Bhutanese arts, crafts, and rural traditions.
9) Tashichho Dzong, fortresses of Glorious Religion.
10) Dochula Pass with stunning Himalayan Views
11) Visit Punakha Dzong for the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan.
12) Druk Wangyal Monastery, 108 memorial chortens built in honor of the 4th Druk Gyalpo.
13) Explore Bhutan cultural tour to Tiger’s Nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).
14) Explore Paro Valley, a picturesque valley with a rich cultural and religious heritage.
Dream Bhutan offers the best Bhutan cultural experience. We allow travelers to explore Bhutan’s rich cultural traditions and heritage sites. Our cultural sightseeing tour in Thimphu, Punakha, and Bumthang provides deep insights into Bhutanese culture, traditions, architecture, and way of life.
Travelers seeking a more authentic experience, we offer cultural treks and monastery tours covering Bhutan’s most sacred sites and heritage landmarks. You can explore a heritage tour in Haa Valley or the breathtaking Gangtey and Phobjikha regions, where nature and tradition blend seamlessly.
During the Bhutan Cultural Tour, travelers can also explore Bhutan’s vibrant festivals and folklore and experience the Bhutanese life ritual and communal aspects. We offer a Bhutan cultural homestay experience, where visitors can stay with a local family, enjoy local Bhutanese cuisine, participate in villagers' daily lives and an immersive cultural experience of Bhutan.
We also provide travelers with a licensed local guide, which ensures a deeper understanding of Bhutan’s unique traditions and customs and allows them to experience them like locals.
Book a Bhutanese Cultural tour or contact us today to start your adventure with Dream Bhutan and experience a Bhutanese Cultural tour!
Are you also interested in bird watching? Then explore our Bhutan Bird Watching Tour.
Day 01: Arrival at Paro via Airway and transfer to Thimphu (55 km/1.5 hours approx...)
The flight to Paro is one of the most exciting trans-Himalayan flights in the world. Whether flying along the Himalayan chain from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Kolkata, the air trip offers tantalizing views. You will quickly notice the clean, fresh mountain air when you leave your plane.
After all the visa formalities and immigration procedures, the Dream Bhutan airport representative will meet you out of the terminal hall and transfer you to Thimphu, the capital city of the Kingdom.
On the way, we stop at Chuzom - the juncture of the Thimphu and Paro rivers. Here, you will witness three types of stupa – Tibetan, Nepalese, and Bhutanese.
On arrival at Thimphu, you check into the hotel and rest well. Enjoy the evening time with an exploratory walk around the city.
Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 02: Sightseeing of Thimphu
After breakfast, we’ll drive to explore the Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 to honor the legendary Third King Jigme Dorje Wangchuk, also known as the father of modern Bhutan.
Then, we proceed toward Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). Here, we explore the largest Buddha statue in the country, towering 169 feet (51.5m), made of bronze and gilded in gold. You can also get a fascinating view of Thimphu Valley from this point.
Then we’ll visit Changangkha Lhakhang. The temple was built in the 12th century by Lama Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and is ideally located above central Thimphu. Locals visit these religious sites to get auspicious names for their newborns or blessings from the protector deity “Tamdrin.”
Next, we’ll drive to upper Motithang to explore the Takin Sanctuary. The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan. Locals believe that the animal was formed by the Buddhist Yogi Drukpa Kuenley and is found only in Bhutan and nearby areas.
After lunch, we will proceed to visit the National Library that protects the collection of priceless Buddhist manuscripts, the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the
painting school) where students take 6 years of training in 13 traditional arts and crafts, the Textile Museum, which offers a close peek at a distinct art form, and the Folk Heritage Museum, which displays Bhutanese tradition and rural history.
We conclude our day with a visit to Trashi Chhoe Dzong, also referred to as the fortress of the glorious region. It is one of the auspicious Dzong on the Thimphu River's right side. It was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who unified Bhutan. It was reconstructed by the third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, in 1962. This building serves as the Secretariat, the throne room of His Majesty, the King, and various government offices.
Explore the local crafts Bazaar in the evening to discover Bhutan's fine arts and architecture.
Overnight in Thimphu
Day 03: Thimphu – Dochula Pass – Punakha (95 km approx. 2- 3 hours drive)
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Dochu-La Pass (3,088m/10,130ft), to enjoy the magnificent Druk Wangyal Chortens, with colorful prayer flags surrounding the area. The Chortens were built to honor His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo and his people for their victory in the war fought in the southern region of Bhutan in 2003.
In clear weather, you can get the beautiful sight of Masgang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158m), Kangphugang (7,170m), Zong Huang (7,060m); a table mountain that dominates the isolated Lunana region and Gangkar Puensum (7,497m), the highest unclimbed mountain in Bhutan.
From the pass, we drive downhill through the forest rhododendron, fir, and hemlock and then pass through rick fields along the river banks to reach Punakha. After lunch, we‘ll visit Punakha Dzong, which was built between 1637 and 1638. It is the second oldest and the second largest Dzong in Bhutan.
Overnight in Punakha
Day 04: Punakha – Paro – 120km, 4 hour
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Paro Valley via DochuLa Pass. Here, we will explore the Druk Wangyal Monastery and the 108 memorial chortens built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest queen's mother. We continue our drive to Thimphu and stop there for lunch. Then we head for Paro.
Overnight in Paro
Day 05: Hike to Tiger Nest Monastery (3,180m/10,430ft)
The Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) is one of Bhutan's most popular religious and tourist spots. Even people on the short tour in Bhutan visit this site.
The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a small collection of buildings majestically located on a sheer rock face towering around 900m from the valley floor.
Today, we hiked to Takstang, which took 4 – 5 hours on a round trip. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery is located. After a brief exploration, we hike down to the valley floor and return to the hotel in Paro.
Overnight in Paro
Do you love exploring new cultures and traditions? Explore this package, the Paro Tsechu Festival Tour
Day 06: Final Departure
Your India to Bhutan overland tour adventure comes to an end today. The airport representative from Dream Bhutan will drive you to Paro International Airport at the scheduled time for your final departure.
What is the best time to visit Bhutan for a cultural tour?
The best time to visit Bhutan is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is favorable, and you can have authentic experiences of famous Bhutan festivals such as Paro Tsechu and Thimphu Tsechu.
How long is the Bhutan cultural tour?
The tour lasts 5 nights and 6 days, which covers historical and cultural sites in Bhutan. However, customized itineraries can be arranged based on preferences.
Do I need a visa to enter Bhutan?
Yes, all international travelers need a visa to Bhutan, which can be arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. But Indians, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian don’t need a visa to Bhutan.
Is a guide required for cultural tours in Bhutan?
Yes, every international traveler (except citizens of India, Bangladesh, and Maldives) requires a Bhutan visa, which can be obtained through your licensed Bhutan local tour operator, which also includes a professional guide.
What does a Bhutan cultural tour itinerary include?
A Bhutan cultural tour is approximately 5 nights and 6 days, covering must-visit cultural destinations such as Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. Visiting historic dzongs, monasteries, traditional arts and crafts schools, and significant landmarks like the Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang). The itinerary is designed to provide cultural insights into Bhutanese culture, history, and daily life.
Are Bhutan cultural tours suitable for families?
Yes, Bhutan cultural tours are family-friendly, and travelers of all ages can travel.
What should I Pack for a Bhutan cultural tour?
You should pack comfortable clothing suitable for varying temperatures, sturdy walking-in shoes, and essentials. It is recommended to pack modest attire, especially when visiting religious sites.
How can I book a Bhutan cultural tour?
You can contact Dream Bhutan for inquiries, bookings, and customized Bhutan cultural tour packages tailored to your preferences.
