12 Mar 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Escorted tour
Bhutan’s Paro Festival & the Tiger’s Nest – 11 Days
Masked dances at the Paro Festival, Punakha Dzong and the Tiger's Nest, with the Bhutan visa included.
11 days
From £5,080
Tour overview
This 11-day journey times a visit to Bhutan with the Paro Festival, one of the kingdom's largest religious celebrations. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen, and the Bhutanese visa is included. You stay ten nights in locally owned hotels and lodges, with breakfast daily and most lunches and dinners in Bhutan.
From Kathmandu you fly over the eastern Himalaya to Paro, then drive to the capital, Thimphu, for its giant Buddha, oldest dzong and weaving centre. Crossing the Dochula Pass with its 108 chortens, you spend two nights in the glacial Phobjikha Valley, walking through farmland and forest and visiting the black-necked crane centre.
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After Punakha Dzong and the village temple of Chimi Lhakhang, you return to Paro for a full day at the festival, among crowds in their finest national dress watching monks perform masked dances. The next day you hike to Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery clinging to a cliff high above the valley, before flying back to Kathmandu.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits culture lovers who want to see Bhutan at its most colourful.
Trip highlights
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A flight over the Himalaya (Day 2)
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The Dochula Pass (Day 4)
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The Phobjikha Valley (Day 5)
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Punakha Dzong (Day 6)
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The Paro Festival (Day 8)
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The Tiger's Nest hike (Day 9)
Your route
11 stops from Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Kathmandu Day 1
- Paro Day 2
- Thimphu Day 3
- Dochula Pass Day 4
- Wangdue Phodrang Day 4
- Gangtey Days 4–5
- Chimi Lhakhang Day 6
- Punakha Day 6
- Paro Days 7–9
- Tiger's Nest Day 9
- Kathmandu Days 10–11
Why choose this tour
A full day at one of Bhutan's great festivals. Bhutan visa and most meals included.
Best suited to
- Culture and festival lovers
- Photographers
- Active travellers
- Solo travellers and couples
Day-by-day itinerary
11 days from Kathmandu, Nepal to Kathmandu, Nepal
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Day 1 · Kathmandu Kathmandu
Arrive in Nepal.
- Hotel
- Royal Singi Hotel
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Day 2 · Paro, Rinpung Dzong Paro
Fly over the Himalaya.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Buddha Point, Simtokha Dzong, Thimphu Thimphu
The capital.
- Hotel
- Gakyil Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Dochula Pass, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Phobjikha Valley Gangtey
Over the pass.
- Hotel
- Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Gangtey Valley, Khewang Lhakhang Gangtey
A valley walk.
- Hotel
- Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Chimi Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong Punakha
A riverside fortress.
- Hotel
- Sonamgang Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Tachogang Bridge, Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro Paro
Back to Paro.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Paro Paro Festival
Masked dances.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Taktsang Monastery Tiger's Nest
A cliff-top monastery.
- Hotel
- Rema Resorts
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 · Kathmandu Kathmandu
Fly to Nepal.
- Hotel
- Royal Singi Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 11 · Kathmandu Kathmandu
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Kathmandu (1 night) Royal Singi Hotel
- Paro (1 night) Rema Resorts
- Thimphu (1 night) Gakyil Hotel
- Gangtey (2 nights) Phuntsho Yangkhil Lodge
- Punakha (1 night) Sonamgang Hotel
- Paro (3 nights) Rema Resorts
- Kathmandu (1 night) Royal Singi Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 10 nights in hotels and lodges
- Meals 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners
- Flights between Kathmandu and Paro
- Bhutanese visa
- Full day at the Paro Festival
- Tiger's Nest hike and dzong visits
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Meals not included 1 lunch and 2 dinners
- International flights
- Nepal visa
- Optional hot-stone bath
- Travel insurance, tips and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury hotels
- You have limited mobility
- You dislike winding mountain roads
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–11 · Lunch: Days 2–9 · Dinner: Days 2–9
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £5,080 per person, twin share, tour only. 1 upcoming departure.
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is the Bhutan visa included?
Yes, the Bhutanese visa is arranged and included.
Do I need a visa for Nepal?
Yes, UK citizens need a visa for Nepal, available on arrival or online.
How hard is the Tiger's Nest hike?
About 11km with around 900m of ascent; there is a cafe viewpoint for anyone who prefers to stop halfway.
When is the festival?
The trip runs on a single date timed for the Paro Festival in spring.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available on request.
How many people travel together?
Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary