Bumthang Valley Cultural Trek
- Trip length
- 12 days • 11 nights
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Departures
- 2026: Nov–Dec · 2027: Jan–May, Sep–Nov
From Nu. 126,000/person
Includes guide, transport, hotels and the daily SDF
Overview
A gentler trek through Bumthang's sacred valleys and remote farming villages, bookended by the western circuit.
A gentler trek through Bumthang's sacred valleys and remote farming villages, bookended by the western circuit. This 12-day journey is led by Bhutanese guides who know the places and the people. Day by day: Arrival in Paro; Tiger's Nest hike; Drive to Thimphu; Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula; Punakha to Bumthang via Trongsa; Bumthang temple circuit; and more across 12 days. The full itinerary with each day's details is on this page. This is a trekking journey. You walk with a guide, cook and pack animals or porters, camp or stay in simple lodges, and see parts of Bhutan that no road reaches. Your guide carries a first-aid kit and sets the pace for the group. The difficulty is moderate. You should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven ground and at altitude, but no technical experience is needed. Every Droelma Tours & Travels journey is arranged with a licensed Bhutanese guide, a private vehicle and driver where roads allow, and accommodation planned in advance, and we help with your Bhutan visa and permits. Departure dates and group size can be adjusted — send us an enquiry and we will tailor the itinerary to your dates and interests.
Highlights
- Airport pickup
- Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
- Thimphu Dzong
- Dochula Pass
- Punakha Dzong
- Trongsa Dzong
Bhutan
Start / end Paro
Day by day
What each day looks like. Timings shift with the weather and the festival calendar — your guide will tell you the night before.
Day1Arrival in ParoParo
Arrive at Paro International Airport and settle in for the night.
What you'll do
- Airport pickup
Day2Tiger's Nest hikeParo
Acclimatize with Bhutan's signature hike before the trek ahead.
What you'll do
- Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
Day3Drive to ThimphuThimphu
A short transfer to the capital for sightseeing.
What you'll do
- Thimphu Dzong
Day4Thimphu to Punakha via DochulaPunakha
Cross the pass and settle into Bhutan's former winter capital.
What you'll do
- Dochula Pass
- Punakha Dzong
Day5Punakha to Bumthang via TrongsaBumthang
The long central-Bhutan drive, with a stop at the royal family's ancestral dzong.
What you'll do
- Trongsa Dzong
Day6Bumthang temple circuitBumthang
The valley's founding-era temples and a Swiss-run dairy farm.
What you'll do
- Jakar Dzong
- Tamshing Monastery
- Kurjey Lhakhang
- Jambay Lhakhang
- Swiss Farm
Day7Trek to Ngang LhakhangBumthang
A five-to-six-hour walk to a quiet valley temple, well off the road network.
What you'll do
- Ngang Lhakhang
Day8Trek to UgyenchholingBumthang
A longer day over a ridge to a village built around a 16th-century noble estate.
What you'll do
- Ugyenchholing village
Day9Trek back to JakarBumthang
The final trekking day, returning to the valley floor.
What you'll do
- Bumthang farmland
Day10Drive to PunakhaPunakha
Retrace the mountain road west.
What you'll do
- Trongsa Dzong
Day11Punakha to Paro via DochulaParo
The final drive back over Dochula Pass.
What you'll do
- Dochula Pass
Day12DepartureParo
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
What you'll do
- Departure transfer
Where you'll stay
We haven't published the property list for this trip yet. Accommodation is included throughout, and we confirm each hotel in writing before you pay anything — ask us and we'll tell you exactly where this itinerary stays.
Gallery
Photographs from this trip. Tap any of them to see it full size.
What's included
Included in the price
- Licensed guide & trek crew
- Camping equipment
- Pack animals for gear
- All meals during the trek
- Hotel accommodation on non-trek nights
Not included
- International flights
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
- Visa fee
- Personal expenses
Traveler reviews
Nobody has reviewed this trip on the site yet. Reviews here are written by travellers after they return, so they only appear once a departure has run — ask us and we can put you in touch with someone who has travelled with us.
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