• Destinations
  • Tours
  • Travel Agents
  • Interests
  • Activities
  • Join Us
Menu
  • Destinations
  • Tours
  • Travel Agents
  • Interests
  • Activities
  • Join Us
Search
Close

Bhutan

Home / Destinations / Bhutan

Climbing Icon

Climbing

Trekking Icon

Trekking

Hiking Icon

Hiking

Sustainable Travel Icon

Sustainable

Local Travel Icon

Local

Photography Travel Icon

Photography

Adventure Travel Icon

Adventure

  • Highlights
  • Best Time
  • Tours
  • Travel Agents
  • Travel Guide

Welcome to Bhutan

Bhutan is a land wrapped in a blanket of spirituality and positivity and decorated in colorful flags. Somewhat hidden between India and China, this small Himalayan kingdom is a beautiful place waiting to be discovered. Its location in the majestic Himalayas alone will give you plenty of opportunities to marvel at some of the most beautiful scenic panorama views in the world. And the cultural highlights are just as impressive. Traveling through Bhutan means traveling through a completely different world.

Happiness is a place

In Bhutan, material things have not much value. Former King Wanchuk coined the term Gross National Happiness to measure the collective happiness of the people of Bhutan and this principle guides the government. Factors such as sustainable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of local cultural values and the natural environment are all taken into account. Prosperity here is measured by the happiness of its people. And this friendly happiness is then transferred over to visitors of Bhutan. Tradition reigns supreme in Bhutan and you’ll see this in the infrastructure, local towns, picturesque streets, and in the many local festivals.

Bhutan Information

  • Capital: Thimphu
  • Official Language(s): Dzongkha
  • Currency: Ngultrum

Bhutan Highlights

Paro Taktsang

The jewel of Bhutan, the Tibetan Buddhist Taktsang monastery, which is also known as the Tiger’s nest, is not the most accessible place, but a must when visiting this country. You’ll going to have to make a physical effort to reach this magical place, but it will be worth it and you’ll be rewarded with incredible views. You can only reach the Taktsang monastery by foot or by donkey. This old Buddhist complex is build on a rocky outcrop and balances over nine hundred meters above the ground. The complex has seven temples to explore and the views from the mountain are unforgettable. It’s nickname, the Tiger’s Nest, refers to how a Buddhist teacher named Guru Padmasambhava arrived here, on the back of a tiger.

Festivals in Bhutan

Each year, many religious festivals take place in Bhutan with spectacular backdrops. The main purpose of these festivals is to ward off evil and bring prosperity through traditional music, dance and rituals. Participating brings good karma, but they also act as important social events. Each festival has its own religious and historic significance and is performed by festively dressed monks. Monks transform themselves into figures of ancient myths and legends and characters from Buddhist history. For visitors, this is a great opportunity to experience traditional culture up close. The biggest festivals have their dates set on a calendar, so you can plan your visit around them. But smaller festivals can arise spontaneously and are celebrated all over the country.

Himalayan Trekking

With the help of local sherpas and guides it is possible to visit one of the most undiscovered locations in the world, the Himalayas. You’ll walk along old paths that wind through this mountainous area. These paths were used as trade routes for centuries. Along the way you’ll see traditional Bhutan villages, Buddhist monasteries, waterfalls, glaciers, and bamboo forests. At all times the peaks of the Himalayas tower above. There are various scenic treks available, each with a different length and difficulty level. Some take over a month and guide you over many mountain passes. The average elevation is about 4000 meters above sea level. Shorter treks only take a few days and while you won’t walk as far, the views are equally incredible.

Best time to visit Bhutan

  • High Season: March, April, May, September, October, November
  • Shoulder Season: January, February, December
  • Low Season: January, February, June, July, August, December

Bhutan tours

See all Bhutan Tours

Travel Agents Specialized in Bhutan

See all Bhutan Travel Agents

More of Asia

himalayas nepal
flag nepal
Nepal
taiwan travel mask
taiwan flag
Taiwan
Japan Travel Agent Platform
Japanese Flag
Japan
More Asia

Top things to do in Bhutan

Bhutanese Cuisine

The food and drinks in Bhutan are simple, but are quite unique when it comes to taste. Food can be pretty spicy with hot peppers. The national dish of Bhutan is called ema datshi and is a stew of yak cheese and lots of spicy peppers and is eaten with rice. Rice is a staple in the diet of the Bhutanese people and the local variety has a reddish colour. Cheese is also very popular here. It’s the ideal food for live on high altitudes. In Bhutan, you must try their special butter tea drink. Butter and salt are added to produce a delicious warm drink which is perfect for during active and fresh day in the mountains. It is a drink that is very common in Bhutan and on the menu for many people on a daily basis.

Punakha Dzong

The majestic Punakha Dzong palace is the showpiece of the Punakha valley. This is a picturesque location in Bhutan which you can reach after a walk through the valley. The green slopes that surround this valley are a beautiful sight, especially in the morning when they are covered with a layer of mist. Hiking here, you’ll pass rice paddies where the famous red rice is grown, rivers, and small villages. The Punakha Dzong is a complex of 108 temples and the spot where two rivers meet. It’s traditional Bhutanese architecture will catch your eye from afar. Inside the palace complex, Buddhist paintings, decorations, and artwork can be seen.

Thimphu

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. It is surrounded greenery and mountains, wedged in between the Himalayas. The inhabitants of this small city are not so concerned with all the modern developments around them that can be found in other Asian capitals. You’ll find no towering shopping malls nor huge traffic jams here. The people prefer to walk around the city instead of using cars. The religious city center is also a popular place for pedestrians. A stupa is built in the center and locals walk around it 108 times as a form of Buddhist prayer. Its wheels turn endlessly and its golden roof shimmers in the sun. During the weekends it’s also a good idea to visit the markets on the Wang Chu River. You can see all kinds of traditional produce on display, from vegetables to woven carpets. A visit to the National Folk Museum can be educational as well to learn more about the country, its people and the interesting culture they share.

Merak Sakteng trekking

The remote Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary was, until recently, closed to foreign visitors. Nowadays it has opened up and there you can get access to one of the most beautiful cultural and natural trekking routes in the world. It is a hard to reach location, but well worth the effort. This region is inhabited by the nomadic Brokpas people and they have a unique culture that is visible in their traditional villages and clothing. Most make their living as yak herders and the locally produced yak cheese might be something to try. The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary has a diverse ecosystem where snow leopards, red pandas, bears and red foxes make their home. Walking along this region you’ll pass see spectacular scenery colorful prayer flags flying at the peaks. But beware, this area is also known as one of the regions where the mythical yeti has been spotted.

Archery

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and is practiced by the young and old. It’s a fun skill to learn while on a holiday in Bhutan and you can learn it from the local people. The Bhutanese shoot with traditional bamboo bows and with the more common compound bows. The sport is usually practiced while wearing traditional clothing. And if the bull’s eye is hit then it is celebrated with a little traditional dance that mimics a crane, Bhutan’s national bird. In the city of Thimphu you can also visit an archery stadium and competitions are often held there.

See you in Bhutan!
Looking for Accessible Travel in Bhutan?

Check out Accessible Travel Platform

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news and special offers from our Travel Agents

Travel Agent Platform Logo
Facebook Instagram Youtube
  • All Destinations
  • North America
  • Central America
  • South America
  • Europe
  • Antarctica
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Middle East
  • Oceania
  • Caribbean
  • Activities
  • Travel Interests
  • Pricing
  • Tours
  • Travel Agents
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

2021 Travel Agent Platform

Sitemap
Privacy Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT