Darjeeling and Bhutan

An early alarm takes you up Tiger Hill to watch the sun rise over the Kanchenjunga range, if the sky is clear. Visit the old monastery at Ghum and the gardens of the Batasia Loop on the way down. After a late breakfast and some rest, explore the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the steep market lanes with your guide.

Overnight: Darjeeling · Meals: Breakfast

Walk through a tea estate on the slopes below town and see how freshly picked leaf becomes the tea in your cup, finishing with a tasting. Later, take a short ride on the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, recognised by UNESCO, from town to Ghum and back. The rest of the day is free for a slow look around the shops or a book on a terrace.

Overnight: Darjeeling · Meals: Breakfast

Drop out of the hills to the plains and follow the road east past tea gardens and rivers to Jaigaon, on the Indian side of the border, about five to six hours in all. Your Bhutanese guide meets you here and helps with exit and entry formalities. Walk through the ornate gate into Phuentsholing, a busy border town, and notice how quickly the pace changes.

Overnight: Phuentsholing · Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The road from Phuentsholing climbs steeply out of the lowland heat through thick forest, waterfalls and ridges hung with prayer flags, rising to the high valleys about five to six hours later. Stop for lunch on the way and for views where your guide suggests. Arrive in Thimphu, the capital, at around 2,300 metres, in time for a short evening walk.

Overnight: Thimphu · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join the local people walking around the Memorial Chorten in the morning, then drive up to Buddha Dordenma, the giant seated statue above the valley. Watch students at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum learning painting, carving and embroidery, and visit the takin, Bhutan’s national animal. Late in the day, see Tashichho Dzong, the seat of government, as access allows.

Overnight: Thimphu · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive east to the Dochula pass, at around 3,100 metres, where 108 small chortens stand among the prayer flags and, on clear days, a line of snow peaks rises to the north. Then descend through forest into the warm Punakha valley, about three hours in all from Thimphu. In the afternoon, walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman.

Overnight: Punakha · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Punakha Dzong, built in the 17th century where two rivers meet, and enter across its wooden cantilever bridge into courtyards of whitewashed walls and gilded carving. Walk across the long suspension bridge upstream, then hike up through terraces to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for views along the valley. Gentle rafting is possible when the river allows.

Overnight: Punakha · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return over the Dochula pass and continue west to the Paro valley, about four to five hours in all, with a stop for lunch. Paro is a wide valley of rice fields and farmhouses with painted windows. In the late afternoon, stroll along the main street of wooden shopfronts or visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Overnight: Paro · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk across a covered wooden bridge to Rinpung Dzong, a fortress-monastery that still houses monks and district offices. Above it, the round watchtower of Ta Dzong holds the National Museum, a good overview of Bhutanese art and history. Later, drive up the valley to the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, which once guarded the route to Tibet, and perhaps share tea in a farmhouse.

Overnight: Paro · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the hike to Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, the monastery built into a cliff high above the valley. The trail climbs steadily through pine forest, with a café partway that looks straight across to the temple; most people take four to six hours for the round trip. Go at your own pace, and celebrate in the evening with a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Paro · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your guide and driver take you to Paro airport for your onward flight. Flights in and out of Paro depend on the weather in the mountains, so we leave a sensible gap before any long-haul connection. Say goodbye to your guide at the terminal, with the valley and its prayer flags behind you. End of your trip.

Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast

You cross on foot from Jaigaon in India into Phuentsholing, where entry formalities for Bhutan are completed. Visits to Bhutan are arranged through licensed tour operators, and your licensed guide meets you at the border and stays with you. Rules on the daily Sustainable Development Fee and on entry change from time to time, so we confirm the current ones when we book.

The road journey shows you how the landscape changes from the tea plains to the high valleys, and it pairs naturally with Darjeeling. It does add two long road days, so if you prefer, we can plan a version with a flight into Paro instead.

Most days involve gentle walking. The Tiger’s Nest hike is the hardest part: a steady climb at altitude that takes most people four to six hours there and back. You can stop at the halfway café if you prefer.

Yes. Many travellers start with a few days in Delhi or Varanasi before flying to Bagdogra. Tell us how long you have and we will plan the connection.