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The Tiger's Nest monastery on its cliff with mist in the valley

Bhutan · Eastern Himalaya

Bhutan

Prayer flags, cliff-edge monasteries and some of the highest unclimbed peaks on Earth: Bhutan's mountains are explored slowly, along temple trails and high passes.

Best months
Mar–May · Sep–Nov
Signature peak
Gangkhar Puensum, 7,570 m
Fly into
Paro (PBH)
Destinations
12
Explore Bhutan Best time to visit

Destinations in Bhutan

Where to go in Bhutan

12 of 12 destinations · Main season Mar–May · Sep–Nov

The Tiger's Nest monastery clinging to a cliff above a pine forest Best Mar–May · Sep–Nov

Paro District, western Bhutan

Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang)

A Buddhist monastery clinging to a cliff about 900 m above the Paro valley, reached by a steep half-day hike.

3,120 m · Mar–May · Sep–Nov · Moderate

Good for: Villages & culture · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Chortens on a grassy hill with mountains beyond, at Dochula Pass Best Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov

Thimphu & Punakha districts

Dochula Pass & Punakha

A mountain pass lined with 108 memorial chortens, with Himalayan views on clear days and a grand dzong below.

3,100 m · Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Tashichho Dzong in the Thimphu valley below forested hills Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Thimphu District

Thimphu

A small capital of traditional wooden architecture and no traffic lights, set in a high valley.

2,320 m · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Jakar Dzong on a hillside above the Bumthang valley Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Bumthang District

Bumthang

A cluster of four high valleys with some of the oldest temples and monasteries in the country, set among meadows and forests.

2,600 m · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
The wide glacial Phobjikha valley with a village and mountains beyond Best Nov–Mar, Sep–Oct

Wangdue Phodrang

Phobjikha and Gangtey

A wide, glacier-carved valley where black-necked cranes spend the winter, below the Gangtey Monastery.

3,000 m · Nov–Mar, Sep–Oct · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A bridge and a forested peak in the Haa Valley Best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

Haa District

Haa Valley

A quiet valley west of Paro that opened to visitors only in 2002, with temples, meadows and the Chele La pass.

2,700 m · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Prayer flags on the ridge at Chele La Pass above Paro Best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov

Paro and Haa

Chele La Pass

A high road pass hung with prayer flags, with views of Jomolhari and the Haa Valley on clear days.

3,988 m · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
Snow-covered Jomolhari above brown ridges in western Bhutan Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Paro District

Jomolhari Trek

A multi-day trek beneath Jomolhari, a 7,326 m peak sacred in Bhutan, through yak pastures and remote valleys.

4,930 m · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · Challenging

Good for: Trekking · Scenic views · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours
Trongsa Dzong on a ridge above forested slopes in central Bhutan Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Trongsa District

Trongsa

A huge dzong on a ridge above the Mangde Chhu gorge, the ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family.

2,200 m · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Gasa Dzong on a hilltop below snow peaks in northern Bhutan Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Gasa District

Gasa and Gasa Tshachu

A remote northern district with a hilltop dzong and well-known hot springs, close to the start of the Snowman Trek.

2,800 m · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Moderate

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A glacial lake below rocky peaks on the Dagala trail Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Thimphu District

Dagala Thousand Lakes

A short trek to a high plateau of glacial lakes, with views of the Himalayan range, close to Thimphu.

4,720 m · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · Challenging

Good for: Trekking · Lakes · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Trashigang Dzong on a ridge above the Gamri river valley in eastern Bhutan Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Trashigang District

Trashigang

A hill town in eastern Bhutan with a large dzong above the Gamri river, a base for the remote east.

1,100 m · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours

About Bhutan

Bhutan at a glance

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom of high passes, cliff-edge monasteries and fortress-like dzongs. Tourism is carefully managed, and the country's highest peak, Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m), is one of the highest unclimbed mountains in the world.

Most visits focus on the western valleys of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, where roads link monasteries, passes and villages. Travel is slow and cultural rather than technical, but the altitude and winding mountain roads still reward careful planning.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons, with clear skies and festivals. Summer is monsoon season, and winter is cold at altitude. Most international visitors need a visa and pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee, and the rules have changed several times, so check the official site.

Getting there

Paro (PBH) is Bhutan's only international airport, with flights on Bhutanese airlines from a small number of regional hubs, including Delhi, Kathmandu and Bangkok. The approach is spectacular, with mountain views on clear days. From Paro, roads lead to Thimphu in about an hour and on to Punakha.

Getting around

Most travellers use a private vehicle with a driver, arranged through a licensed tour operator. Roads are winding and often slow, so distances take longer than they look on a map, and internal flights are limited.

Entry and safety

Most nationalities need a visa and must pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee, and travel is generally arranged through licensed operators. Citizens of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives have separate arrangements. Check bhutan.travel and its visa page for current rules.

Bhutan is generally considered safe, but mountain roads are narrow and weather can disrupt flights and journeys. Altitude affects some visitors above 3,000 m, so allow time to adjust. Carry insurance that covers medical evacuation, and check your government's travel advice.

Official sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Bhutan

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