0117 Oct
Depart Kolkata by train
The group leaves Kolkata by train in the evening. Overnight on board.
The Land of Happiness
Serene Bhutan
Seven nights in the last Himalayan kingdom — Thimphu, Punakha and Paro, travelling out of Kolkata by train.
The Journey
A country that measures itself in happiness.
Bhutan does not do mass tourism, and that is precisely the point. This is a slow, seven-night route through the three valleys that matter — the capital, the old winter capital, and Paro, where the Tiger's Nest hangs off a cliff above the pines. We travel out by train from Kolkata and cross at Phuentsholing, so the mountains arrive gradually rather than all at once.
Day by day
0218 Oct
Arrive Hashimara → Thimphu
Arrive Hashimara early morning and transfer by Innova to Phuentsholing at the Bhutan border (20 km, about 50 minutes), then on to Thimphu (146 km, about 5 hours). We stop en route at the Tachogang Lhakhang iron-chain bridge.
- Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge
- National Memorial Chorten
- Folk Heritage Museum
- Institute of Traditional Art & Crafts
- National Library of Bhutan
- National Textile Museum
0319 Oct
Thimphu
A full day in the capital — a living museum, a temple, the national animal, a farmers' market and the great gilded Buddha looking down over the whole valley.
- Simply Bhutan
- Changangkha Temple
- Royal Takin Preserve
- Zilukha Nunnery
- Centenary Farmers' Market
- Changlimithang Archery Range
- Buddha Dordenma Statue
- Craft Bazaar
0420 Oct
Thimphu to Punakha
Over the Dochu La pass at 3,100 metres, where 108 chortens stand against the Himalayan skyline on a clear morning, and down into the warm Punakha valley.
- Dochu La Pass (3,100 m)
- Chimmi Lhakhang
- Punakha Dzong
- Punakha Suspension Bridge
- Pho Chhu & Mo Chhu rivers
0521 Oct
Punakha & Gangtey Valley
A day trip into the glacial Gangtey valley — wintering ground of the black-necked crane — with a gentle nature trail through the villages.
- Gangtey Valley
- Black-Necked Crane Centre
- Gangtey Monastery
- Nature Trail Hike
0622 Oct
Punakha to Paro
Roughly 160 km and four hours to Paro. The afternoon covers the fortress-monastery, the national museum above it, and Bhutan's oldest temple.
- Ta Dzong (National Museum)
- Rinpung Dzong
- Drugyal Dzong
- Kyichu Lhakhang
- Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck Temple
0723 Oct
Taktsang — the Tiger's Nest
The day everyone comes to Bhutan for. Taktsang Monastery clings to a cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley; the climb takes most of the morning and is worth every step.
- Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)
0824 Oct
Chele La Pass
Up to Chele La, the highest motorable point in Bhutan at 3,988 metres, on the ridge between the Haa and Paro valleys. Prayer flags, and on a clear day, Jomolhari.
- Chele La Pass (3,988 m)
0925 Oct
Paro → Phuentsholing → Kolkata
After breakfast, depart Paro for Phuentsholing and on to Alipurduar for the overnight train back to Kolkata.
Meals: BreakfastHotels on this route
Lemon Tree Resorts, Thimphu · Hotel River Valley, Punakha · Hotel Terma Linca, Paro. Or similar, subject to availability at the time of booking.
What's included
- 07 nights' accommodation with breakfast and dinner daily
- 2-tier train tickets, Kolkata – Hashimara – Kolkata
- Toyota Coaster luxury coach / 08-seater Toyota Hi-Roof van
- Innova transfer from Hashimara to Phuentsholing
- All inter-city transfers within Bhutan
- Bhutan permits and documentation
Not included
- Lunch throughout the tour
- Sightseeing entry tickets
- GST and TCS as per Government of India rules
- Personal expenses, and anything not listed under inclusions
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Ready When You Are
Let's get the dates on the calendar.
Tell us roughly where and roughly when. We will come back with a costed itinerary, not a brochure.