Search this site

Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions | We are Bhutan Travel Specialists Sharing Bhutan's Happiness since 1999 | Detailed Itineraries, Expertly Curated & Hand-crafted Journeys, with insider tips, feature articles, cultural insights, and more. Bhutan In-depth We offer meaningful hand-crafted travel adventures and cultural journeys in the last Himalayan kingdom and beyond. See our Signature Journeys Culture Curators We are your friends and guides through the rich mountain culture of Bhutan, each of our journeys led by insightful, indigenous local guides with deep ties of kinship across the kingdom. Start a conversation | PLAN YOUR BHUTAN TRIP Browse our small group adventures for 2026 & beyond | TRAVEL STORIES Some fun reads to whet your appetite | RECCOMMENDED READS What we're talking about Featured In the New York Times Read the NY Times article of the journey Recalculating Happiness in a Himalayan Kingdom by Seth Mydans See our journey designed to share the secrets of Bhutan's National Happiness policy at Heart of Happiness: Journey to Discover Bhutan's Gross National Happiness. We had the pleasure of arranging travel, research and interviews in Bhutan for NY Times Correspondent Seth Mydans & Times videographer Mariko Takayasu. Following the trip, Mariko produced a video with Christopher Flavelle of the New York Times called Measuring Happiness that appeared on the Times' website. The Raven Crown Royal Emblem of Bhutanese Kings — read about the significance of the Bhutanese crown, taken from a 2009 lecture at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum by Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Travel Coordinator, Karma Dorji PART-I : 13:59 PART-II : 9:00 See all posts See all stories In-depth cultural exploration of Bhutan Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes The pristine high trek to Treasure Lake See all journeys Bhutan’s Wild Wild East: A fascinating temple whose walls preserve a painful history of migration Hatching in the Himalaya: How the brown trout, a native of the British Isles, found a home in Bhutan’s lakes and rivers Traveling to learn about Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness policy The people and the landscape of Bhutan’s Mountain Goddess: a Photo Essay The King’s Speech Top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2020 _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Previews List Four Valleys One Happiness I'm a paragraph. I'm connected to your collection through a dataset. Click Preview to see my content. To update me, go to the Data Manager. Start Now

Bhutan and Beyond: Our travel extensions in the region Bhutan & Beyond: Our travel extensions in the region Laid-back Laos: Where echoes of a French-colonial past lingers in the unhurried east DURATION 09 days Read More Triple gems of Cambodia DURATION 09 days Read More If you’re looking to make the most of your time in the region and venture beyond Bhutan, these regional extensions combine well with a journey to Bhutan. We work with reliable partners vetted and certified by their national tourism boards. We don’t offer every permutation of every regional trip here. Just what we’ve found to be rich in terms of travel experiences in each of these countries. If you’d like us to explore and put together an idea of yours please don't hesitate to contact us with your wishlist or a short description and we’ll put together a private journey for you, backed up by the depth, local insights, and expertise of our local partners. “ _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's Warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Our spotlight on all things Bhutanese we're excited to share with you. Swipe left above for more Spotlight on all things Bhutan we're excited to share! Artist at play The COMO Metropolitan in Bangkok Bhutan: Hidden Lands of Happiness View all journeys _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Latest News Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. In Bhutan, a Bank App Widens the Door to Cashless Travel Oct 22, 2025 With new email-based registration and global card support, GoBoB’s digital wallet aims to make shopping in Bhutan as easy as tapping a screen. Read More News Title 02 Feb 28, 2023 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Read More News Title 03 Feb 28, 2023 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Read More News Title 04 Feb 28, 2023 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Read More News Title 05 Feb 28, 2023 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Read More News Title 06 Feb 28, 2023 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Read More

Get to know who we are; meet some of the heartwarming humans who power our trips; the Bhutan Himalaya Difference; and what our travelers say. | About us Opening the doors to Bhutan since 1999 A TEAM OF well-connected guides and trip leaders, with operations in Bhutan and the U.S., we offer in-depth, intimate, and authentic journeys across the transformational landscape of Bhutan, with travel extensions in the region. Read More Our Heartwarming humans AT BHUTAN HIMALAYA Expeditions, we believe the people who power our trips are our most valuable assets. We guarantee you will fall in love with our singular, caring, and thoughtful individuals. Say hello to some of the fabulous, heartwarming people behind our journeys. Read More Our Newest Team Members THIS MONTH WE welcome a former director of the national airline as our Chief Operations Officer, and a Bhutanese birding expert to our broaden our team. Our remarkable people are at the heart of what we do, and we're proud to introduce them to you! Read More The Bhutan Himalaya Difference AS A LONGTIME travel outfitter specializing in journeys to the Kingdom of Bhutan, we offer culturally enriching, physically active and intellectually stimulating private and small group adventures across our beautiful corner of the Himalayas. A few reasons why we think you'll like us: Read More What other travelers say about us “A FEW WORDS from good friends are worth more than gold,” goes an old Bhutanese saying. We could blow our horn, or we could let our guests—many of whom continue to refer us to their friends and family—speak for us. We prefer the latter. So we can focus on what we do best: putting together the top-notch experiences that create sentiments like these: Read More _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

A luxe spiritual sojourn in Bhutan Ancient Kathmandu and hidden Trisuli with optional Chitwan National Park Bhutan Abundance Bhutan conservation, culture, mythology & overland from western to central highlands Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons Blessings of Bhutan Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes Celebrating 40 Years of Bhutan Foundation with a 10-day cultural journey Celebrating 40 Years of Bhutan Foundation with an in-depth cultural journey Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival Conservation, culture and the grand Trongsa Festival Travel Choose one of our scheduled signature journeys below, featuring the best experiences from our decades-long experience running tours and expeditions in Bhutan, or mix and match to create your own*. Our signature journeys *Additional fees for groups smaller than four travelers WELLNESS ● SPIRITUAL A luxe spiritual sojourn in Bhutan A peaceful sanctuary to rejuvenate body & mind, based on Bhutan's ancient wellness traditions A peaceful sanctuary to rejuvenate body & mind, based on Bhutan's ancient wellness traditions ACTIVE ● CULTURE Ancient Kathmandu and hidden Trisuli with optional Chitwan National Park UNESCO Heritage Durbar Square, historic Pashupatinath, awe-inspiring Boudhanath stupa, ancient Patan, and a tranquil river lodge overlooking the Trisuli, with an excursion to Chitwan National Park UNESCO Heritage Durbar Square, historic Pashupatinath, awe-inspiring Boudhanath stupa, ancient Patan, and a tranquil river lodge overlooking the Trisuli, with an excursion to Chitwan National Park ACTIVE ● CULTURE ● VOLUNTEER Bhutan Abundance Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season ACTIVE ● CULTURE Bhutan conservation, culture, mythology & overland from western to central highlands Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys ACTIVE ● CULTURE Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons Discover Bhutan's cultural centers during the stunning rhododendron season Discover Bhutan's cultural centers during the stunning rhododendron season ACTIVE ● CULTURE Blessings of Bhutan Explore the spiritual heart of Bhutan, its scenic trails, temples & vibrant Buddhist culture Explore the spiritual heart of Bhutan, its scenic trails, temples & vibrant Buddhist culture ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes On the Wings of Prayer: The annual return of Bhutan's rare Black-necked Cranes On the Wings of Prayer: The annual return of Bhutan's rare Black-necked Cranes ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 Years of Bhutan Foundation with a 10-day cultural journey A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 Years of Bhutan Foundation with an in-depth cultural journey A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Conservation, culture and the grand Trongsa Festival Rare Black-necked Cranes, Bhutan's oldest wildlife conservation park, and the Grand Trongsa Tshechu Mask Dance Festival Rare Black-necked Cranes, Bhutan's oldest wildlife conservation park, and the Grand Trongsa Tshechu Mask Dance Festival View all journeys _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

My Items Blessings of Bhutan: A celebration of Eliza's 60th turn around the sun This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Start Now I am a title 02 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Start Now I am a title 03 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Start Now I am a title 04 This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content from the connected collection. Start Now

Browse our series of articles about Bhutanese culture anad travel in Bhutan A temple that preserves the story of regional migration Hatching in the Himalaya Stories EVENTS A royal legacy reborn in the central highlands of Bhutan TIME MAGAZINE NOTABLE: Central Bhutan's newly restored Wangduechhoeling Palace brings the monarchy's story vividly to life. TIME MAGAZINE NOTABLE: Central Bhutan's newly restored Wangduechhoeling Palace brings the monarchy's story vividly to life. EVENTS Bhutan Honored with Murie Spirit of Conservation Award Bhutan receives the Murie Spirit of Conservation Award, recognition for a small Himalayan kingdom safeguarding a living landscape for the planet’s future Bhutan receives the Murie Spirit of Conservation Award, recognition for a small Himalayan kingdom safeguarding a living landscape for the planet’s future FIELD REPORT Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary: Hidden gem in a hidden land Tucked away in Bhutan’s secluded Neyphu Valley, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary combines stillness, traditional healing, and quiet luxury Tucked away in Bhutan’s secluded Neyphu Valley, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary combines stillness, traditional healing, and quiet luxury IN FOCUS Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park: Crown Jewel of the Eastern Himalayas Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park: Tigers, elephants, and rare birds in one of Earth’s richest biodiversity corridors Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park: Tigers, elephants, and rare birds in one of Earth’s richest biodiversity corridors FIELD NOTES Bhutan’s Wild Wild East: A fascinating temple whose walls preserve a painful history of migration Bhutanese travel blogger and writer Pema Choden Tenzin recounts her visit to a temple in far-eastern Bhutan that memorializes a painful history of exodus and renewal. Bhutanese travel blogger and writer Pema Choden Tenzin recounts her visit to a temple in far-eastern Bhutan that memorializes a painful history of exodus and renewal. REVIEW COMO Metropolitan Bangkok: A modern oasis in Thailand's bustling capital In the heart of frenetic Bangkok, the COMO Metropolitan, a place that feels like an exhale, moments from the city’s glittering chaos In the heart of frenetic Bangkok, the COMO Metropolitan, a place that feels like an exhale, moments from the city’s glittering chaos OUTDOORS Hatching in the Himalaya: How the brown trout, a native of the British Isles, found a home in Bhutan’s lakes and rivers In 1941, before a trout ever flashed in Bhutan’s rivers, a Himalayan relay was underway. The unlikely story of how a Scottish native, routed through Kashmir, became a Bhutanese native In 1941, before a trout ever flashed in Bhutan’s rivers, a Himalayan relay was underway. The unlikely story of how a Scottish native, routed through Kashmir, became a Bhutanese native INSIDE INFO Hiking the Dochula to Lunchutse trail From Dochula’s 108 chortens to Lungchutse’s summit, a hike that threads through misty rhododendron forests to a 360-degree panorama of Bhutan’s highest peaks From Dochula’s 108 chortens to Lungchutse’s summit, a hike that threads through misty rhododendron forests to a 360-degree panorama of Bhutan’s highest peaks INSIDE INFO Hiking to the Punakha Khamsum Yuelley stupa Cross a prayer-flag-draped bridge, weave through rice terraces, and climb to a hilltop stupa for a gentle hike that turns into a quiet spiritual escape Cross a prayer-flag-draped bridge, weave through rice terraces, and climb to a hilltop stupa for a gentle hike that turns into a quiet spiritual escape INSIDE INFO Hot Tub Time Machine: Bhutan's ancient practice of mineral baths offer a new experience for travelers In Bhutanese farmhouses age-old, healing, ritual baths offer new experiences for the curious traveler In Bhutanese farmhouses age-old, healing, ritual baths offer new experiences for the curious traveler FIELD REPORT In the Realm of Mountain Gods: The Trek to Magnificent Mount Gangkhar Puensum On the long, wild approach to Gangkhar Puensum—Earth’s highest unclimbed peak—horses, hermits, cordyceps hunters, and mountain gods share the trail, turning a remote Himalayan trek into a deeply human, quietly mystical odyssey On the long, wild approach to Gangkhar Puensum—Earth’s highest unclimbed peak—horses, hermits, cordyceps hunters, and mountain gods share the trail, turning a remote Himalayan trek into a deeply human, quietly mystical odyssey CULTURE Momos on the mind: an ode to the delicious dumplings of Bhutan In steamy market shacks and family kitchens across Bhutan, plump momos—pleated like tiny yak horns and dragged through fiery ezay—carry nostalgia, comfort, and an entire Himalayan homeland in every juicy bite In steamy market shacks and family kitchens across Bhutan, plump momos—pleated like tiny yak horns and dragged through fiery ezay—carry nostalgia, comfort, and an entire Himalayan homeland in every juicy bite View all stories _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Our featured lodges : From understated luxury to local charm Six Senses Punakha The Flying Farmhouse: Punakha's Six Senses Lodge Read More Six Senses Gangtey A sensitively designed Six Senses property in Bhutan's 'Valley of the Cranes' Read More Six Senses Thimphu The 'Palace in the Sky' Read More Haa Valley Camp Haa Valley Camp: Great spot for glamping in Bhutan’s lush western frontier Read More The Three-Bedroom Villa, Six Senses Paro Paro Valley's exclusive three-bedroom villa Read More Six Senses Paro The historic 'stone ruins' above Paro Read More Chimi Farmhouse in Gasa A warm authentic homestay in farflung Gasa Read More Khuru Punakha A place that's conveniently located across Punakha town Read More Bhutan Jungle Lodge The Bhutan Jungle Lodge in Punakha Read More Taj Gangtey Lodge Asia's glittering luxury brand enters Bhutan's Gangtey-Phobjikha Valley Read More Willing Trongsa Resort Deeply rooted in its remote location, a Bhutanese lodge reaches high Read More The Thimphu Le Meridien Marriott's palatial hotel in the heart of Bhutan's capital Read More Home Tale Laya A boutique home in the heart of Laya Read More The Thimphu Druk Hotel A storied old establishment with a modern facelift at the center of Bhutan’s bustling capital Read More Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary Where Bhutan's ancient healing practices take center stage Read More Trongsa Yangkhil Lodge The Trongsa Yangkhil Lodge: Striking valley views across the historic Trongsa Dzong Read More andBeyond Punakha AndBeyond River Lodge, Punakha: A luxe riverside retreat in Bhutan's old capital Read More Pemako Punakha The mythologically-inspired Pemako Read More Six Senses Bumthang: A Serene Forest Retreat in Bhutan's Spiritual Heartland The Six Senses Bumthang: A 'Forest within a Forest' Read More Gangtey Tent Resort A new glamping Experience in Bhutan's high alpine region Read More Mendegang Heritage Homestay Mendegang: A Graceful Ancestral Homestay in Bhutan's Ancient Capital Read More Happiness Fields Homestay Gatshothang Homestay: Rustic Charm Beside the River in Punakha Read More Ama Om's Homestay The Endearing Spirit of Bhutanese Hospitality: Ama Om’s Homestay Read More The Happiness Farm The Happiness Farm in Paro: Innovative Agri-tourism Read More Ogyen Choling Manor and Museum History, culture, serenity, and one of the most unique stays in the kingdom Read More The Swiss Guest House A storied reminder of the Swiss Alps in the Bhutan Himalayas Read More Two-Bedroom Villa Six Senses The Two-Bedroom Villas at the Six Senses Bhutan Read More One Bedroom Villa Six Senses The One-Bedroom Villas at the Six Senses Bhutan Read More Upper Lodge Suite Six Senses The Upper Level Suites at the Six Senses Bhutan Read More Ground Suite Six Senses Ground Level Lodge Suites at the Six Senses Bhutan Read More The Pema by Realm A watering hole near the capital's Motithang neighborhood Read More Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Camps Sleep in weather-sealed Mountain Hardwear tents and sleeping bags amid Bhutan's majestic mountains Read More The Capital Hotel A smart and stylish new address in the downtown area of Bhutan's capital Read More The Dhumra Farm Resort A lovely agro-tourism property run by a local writer and his family Read More The Zhiwa Ling Heritage The Zhiwa Ling Heritage: Traditional grandeur in Bhutan’s gateway valley Read More Zhingkham Punakha's Zhingkham: "Resort" may be a stretch, but the views are real Read More Norkhil Boutique Hotel Thimphu's Norkhil Boutique Hotel: an affordable cut above the rest Read More Dhensa Punakha's Dhensa Resort: An elegant retreat hidden among pines above the Mo-Chhu river valley Read More The Thimphu Pemako The Pemako, Thimphu: Saffron fortress in the city Read More COMO Uma Paro COMO Uma Paro: Award-winning retreat in a pine forest Read More Gangtey Lodge Gangtey Lodge: an award-winning property in Bhutan's panoramic 'Valley of the Cranes.' Read More Six Senses Bhutan The Six Senses Lodges, Bhutan: Superlatives "Beyond Sky & Earth" Read More Amankora Bhutan's Amankora Lodges: Stratospheric luxury in understated style Read More COMO Uma Punakha The COMO Uma Punakha: An earthy brown gem set amid a lush, emerald backdrop Read More Zingkha Haa's Zingkha Heritage Lodge: A place that scores high on traditional charm Read More City Hotel Thimphu The City Hotel: A centrally located hotel in the commercial heart of Thimphu Read More Gangtey Dewachen Lodge The Gangtey Dewachen Lodge: A traditional property high on local charm–with panoramic views Read More The Mountain Resort-Bumthang The Mountain Resort: Where family-run hospitality & regional architecture take center stage Read More The Zhiwa Ling Ascent The Zhiwa Ling Ascent: A boutique oasis in the capital with a soothing, zen aesthetic Read More Tiger's Nest Camp Tiger's Nest Camp: High-end glamping arrives in Bhutan Read More Paro Village Lodge The Village Lodge in Paro: a locally-owned property bordered by rice fields Read More Nemjo Heritage Lodge The Nemjo Heritage, Paro: an ancient farmhouse reborn as a modern lodge Read More Olathang The historic cottages at Paro Olathang, Grande dame of Bhutanese lodges Read More At the tail-end of the 1990s when we started introducing a hardy set of travelers to Bhutan, the kingdom was considered something of a "hardship destination," the idea being that one would give up one's creature comforts to experience what is still the enormously transformative power of Bhutan. Not anymore. A new distinctive set of luxury properties seeks to position Bhutan in the upper reaches of the luxury travel market while local mom-and-pop and family-run lodges high on charm, kindness and unpretentious warmth, still provide visitors a taste of the old ways of Bhutan. Here are a few of the ones we use, and some others not listed here, to suit according to taste. If you'd like to remix lodges on on an itinerary because of pricing concerns of just out of personal preference, please browse the list below and let us know which ones you'd like to stay at during your custom trip, or feel free to ask us for recommendations on those not listed here. LOAD MORE LODGES _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024

Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US YOUR TAILORMADE JOURNEY Four Valleys One Happiness LEARN MORE TRIP TYPE Private DURATION 12 days SEASON October (Festival season) FROM $28,850/per person (including taxes and fees; airfares additional) RESERVE TRIP Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN (248826) Your trip at a glance JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS The Bhutan Foundation turns 40! Celebrate the partners and the projects that have made such positive impacts all across Bhutan! Home to Bhutan's first two kings, the historic Wangduechhoeling Palace , now a world-class museum, open to the public and special events — a private walkthrough led by the museum's Executive Director and head of renovations to explore and explain the future of this crown property. Her Majesty the Queen Mother's Zangdopelri Project at Goen Shari: A rare opportunity to visit and experience one of Bhutan's most personal royal initiatives, in the lush mountains above Punakha Snow Leopard Sisters screening: An exclusive evening presented with the Snow Leopard Foundation — conservation and cinema meeting at altitude in the Thimphu hills. SHOW ME MORE ↓ 14 October | Delhi to Paro The descent into Paro is itself a kind of theater — the plane threading between ridgelines so close that farmhouses seem near enough to touch, before the valley opens and the runway appears, impossibly small, along the river. On arrival, transfer directly to Paro COMO Uma's private one bedroom villa, set among pine trees. Settle in with an early check-in, and let the first afternoon be an unhurried one — lunch at the restaurant, Bukhari, or in the privacy of your vill's sitting room, with nothing more urgent than adjusting to the thin, bright air of Paro. Your Bhutan Airlines B3 774 flight departs at 1:00 pm from Delhi, Indira Gandhi Airport and lands in Paro at 03:50 pm, Bhutan Time. 15 October | Rest Day, Paro A day held open — the traveler's privilege of a full stop before the itinerary begins in earnest. If you're inclined to fill the stillness rather than surrender to it, Paro offers quiet diversions close to the lodge. Or, take a guided walk on the lodge's own loop trail through pine forests to dramatic Dzongdrakha, steep forty-five minute climb up a trail that rewards the effort with birds-eye views of Paro. Later, the Shambhala spa's hot stone bath may make a fitting close to that rarest of rarities, a quiet day spent reconnecting with yourself. 16 October | Paro to Bumthang The morning stays unhurried — a last wander of Paro's town, perhaps, or a visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, a seventh-century sanctuary said to guard two orange trees that fruit year-round regardless of season, one of the oldest religious structures standing in the kingdom. By late afternoon, transfer to the airstrip for a 5pm charter flight east to Bumthang, the kingdom's spiritual heartland, arriving after dark into the forest-clad hush of the Jakar Valley. Six Senses Bumthang calls itself a "forest within a forest," ringed by blue pine and set beside the rushing Chamkhar Chhu — a fitting name for a lodge that feels, on arrival, like a clearing found rather than built. Dinner awaits at Tongtshang, the lodge's signature restaurant, before an early rest. 17 October | Bumthang — Wangduechhoeling Palace Bumthang was Bhutan's original seat of power, and nowhere is that history more palpable than at Wangduechhoeling Palace, home to the kingdom's first two monarchs before the royal court moved to Punakha. Its white stone walls and richly carved timberwork — a textbook example of nineteenth-century Bhutanese architecture — are now under careful restoration with support from the Bhutan Foundation, and this private walkthrough, led by the project's head of renovations, offers a rare look at a historic building just opening up to the world. Time and energy permitting, extend the day along Bumthang's pilgrim's route: Jambay Lhakhang, one of the kingdom's oldest temples, dating to the seventh century; Jakar Dzong, "the Fortress of the White Bird," whose ramparts once defended the entire valley. Dine again at Tongtshang, with the valley settling into darkness outside, or join the group dinner in town. 18 October | Bumthang to Thimphu A short flight returns the group to Paro, from where the road climbs west into Thimphu Valley and the capital proper. The Zhiwa Ling Ascent sits in a pine forest near the Takin Zoo and within walking distance of hiking trails around the capital. 19 October | Thimphu — Institute Visits & Partners' Dinner The morning turns toward purpose: The Dagala Cheese Processing Project is a livelihood and value-addition initiative for yak-herding families in Dagala Gewog, the highland area southwest of Thimphu in Thimphu Dzongkhag. It is helping the Dagala Yak Cooperative move beyond traditional butter and dried or cottage cheese into hygienically produced, higher-value yak cheeses—particularly French-style Tomme ( Serja ) and Gumdel ( Serjom )—for wider commercial markets. Later, make some time to visit RADA, the proposed Royal Institute of Design and Art—a design-and-arts academy conceived to develop Bhutanese creative talent while grounding contemporary practice in the country’s visual traditions, crafts, and cultural identity. It was planned under the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), initially operating from a temporary Thimphu location while recognition and a permanent campus are being pursued. 20 October | Thimphu — Board Meeting & Snow Leopard Screening The morning and early afternoon are given over to the Board Meetings for the Advisory Board, while the others visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, where centuries of Himalayan herbal knowledge are preserved and practiced. In the afternoon, the mood turns celebratory with a screening of Snow Leopard Sisters , presented by the Snow Leopard Foundation in collaboration with the Bhutan Foundation followed by a formal Board and Partners' Dinner that gathers the trip's collaborators and hosts, a fitting bridge between the morning's fieldwork and the governance to come . 21 October | Thimphu to Punakha The road to Punakha is one of Bhutan's great drives, climbing over Dochula Pass — weather permitting, a curtain of prayer flags and, on clear days, a full chain of Himalayan peaks — before descending into the subtropical warmth of the valley below. At 5,140 feet, Six Senses Punakha is the lodge chain's lowest and, many say, its coziest: the "Flying Farmhouse," a cantilevered wooden lounge overlooking a pool set amid rice paddies just beginning to turn gold with the season. Time and light permitting, an afternoon hike climbs alongside the river through terraced paddies to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten, a temple raised by the Queen Mother for world peace, its views back down the valley reward enough for the fifty-minute ascent. Dinner at Ari, the lodge's rustic-chic dining room, set to the sound of the Punakha's braided rivers. 22 October | Punakha — Goen Shari & the Zangdopelri Project The day turns toward Goen Shari and a visit to Her Majesty the Gyalyum's Zangdopelri project — a rare window into one of the more personal royal initiatives shaping the valley's landscape and future, and among the journey's more privileged appointments. 23 October | Punakha — College of Natural Resources & Punakha Dzong The morning turns academic and agrarian with a visit to the College of Natural Resources, before the afternoon delivers what many consider Bhutan's single most beautiful building: Punakha Dzong, the Pungtang Dechen Photrang, "Palace of Great Happiness," rising six stories at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Its courtyards and prayer halls hold some of the kingdom's most sacred relics; behind the dzong, the country's longest suspension bridge, strung with prayer flags, offers a last, unhurried walk among locals crossing home at day's end. October 24 — The return to Paro A final drive returns the group to Paro for one last night at COMO Uma Paro . An evening at leisure — dinner at Bukhari , perhaps a last visit to the spa — offers a chance to sit with eleven nights' worth of impressions. October 25 — Farewell & Departing Flight Your Bhutan Airlines Flight B3 773 departs at 10:20 am and lands 12:00 (noon) at Delhi, Indira Gandhi Airport. SHOW ME MORE ↓ Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Preview: BHUTAN FOUNDATION 40TH ANNIVERSARY JOURNEY OVERVIEW Four decades ago, the Bhutan Foundation was founded on a proposition that seemed, at the time, almost radical: that a small Himalayan kingdom guided by its own philosophy of Gross National Happiness deserved partners who would support its vision on its own terms, rather than impose one from outside. What began as a modest bridge between Bhutan and the wider world has grown, over forty years, into one of the most enduring and trusted network of donors and partnerships the kingdom maintains — spanning conservation of the snow leopard's high-altitude range, restoration of architectural treasures like the Wangduechhoeling Palace, expansion of traditional medicine and special education, and countless quieter investments in the people and landscapes of Bhutan's valleys. This twelve-day journey is not simply a tour through that legacy — it is a homecoming through it. Every stop on the itinerary threads back to four decades of work: the private walkthrough of Wangduechhoeling's restoration is a chance to stand inside a project the Foundation helped inspire; the visit to the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and the special-education program in Thimphu offers a direct look at community investment sustained over a generation; the screening of Snow Leopard Sisters honors a conservation partnership that has quietly protected one of the world's most elusive cats for years. And the Board and Partners' dinner is more than an evening of hospitality — it is a gathering of the very people, Bhutanese, American, Canadian, Australian, European, who have carried this relationship forward decade after decade, many of whom have watched the Foundation's mission mature alongside their own participation in Bhutan’s future as donors, partners and advisors. To celebrate forty years in Bhutan is to celebrate a rare kind of patience — the recognition that the deepest change in a place like this does not arrive quickly, and is not measured the way progress is measured elsewhere. It is measured in heritage properties preserved rather than lost, in species protected rather than diminished, in children educated and traditions kept alive. This journey, moving as it does through Paro, Bumthang, Thimphu and Punakha, is designed to let a small circle of the Foundation's closest partners see that patience made visible — not as an abstraction in an annual report, but as a living, breathing kingdom that has, for forty years, trusted the Foundation to walk beside it. ACCOMMODATIONS Paro Uma Villa (3 nights), Six Senses Bumthang (2 nights), Thimphu Zhiwa Ling Ascent (3 nights), Punakha Six Senses (3 nights) This journey features 3 distinctive stays, each reflecting a different facet of the kingdom’s contemporary hospitality. Begin in Paro at COMO Uma Paro , where a private One-Bedroom Villa offers three restorative nights amid pine-clad hills and Himalayan views. Continue to Bumthang for two nights at Six Senses Bumthang 's Forest within a Forest Lodge, a secluded retreat designed for deep immersion in the valley’s quiet forests, temples, and pastoral rhythms. In Thimphu, spend three nights in the Zhiwa Ling Ascent Premium Suite , combining generous contemporary comfort with locally rooted design and convenient access to the capital’s cultural life. The journey concludes with three nights in the Six Senses Punakha , Flying Farmhouse, an elevated, farmhouse-inspired sanctuary overlooking Punakha’s fertile valley before a final return to the Paro Villa at COMO Uma Paro.

Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: a summer journey JOURNEYS Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan’s Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha’s Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What Our Travelers Say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US YOUR TAILORMADE JOURNEY Four Valleys One Happiness LEARN MORE TRIP TYPE Private DURATION 12 days SEASON October (Festival season) FROM $28,850/per person (including taxes and fees; airfares additional) RESERVE TRIP Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN (248826) Your trip at a glance JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS The Bhutan Foundation turns 40! Celebrate the partners and the projects that have made such positive impacts all across Bhutan! Home to Bhutan's first two kings, the historic Wangduechhoeling Palace , now a world-class museum, open to the public and special events — a private walkthrough led by the museum's Executive Director and head of renovations to explore and explain the future of this crown property. Her Majesty the Queen Mother's Zangdopelri Project at Goen Shari: A rare opportunity to visit and experience one of Bhutan's most personal royal initiatives, in the lush mountains above Punakha Snow Leopard Sisters screening: An exclusive evening presented with the Snow Leopard Foundation — conservation and cinema meeting at altitude in the Thimphu hills. SHOW ME MORE ↓ 14 October | Delhi to Paro The descent into Paro is itself a kind of theater — the plane threading between ridgelines so close that farmhouses seem near enough to touch, before the valley opens and the runway appears, impossibly small, along the river. On arrival, transfer directly to Paro COMO Uma's private one bedroom villa, set among pine trees. Settle in with an early check-in, and let the first afternoon be an unhurried one — lunch at the restaurant, Bukhari, or in the privacy of your vill's sitting room, with nothing more urgent than adjusting to the thin, bright air of Paro. Your Bhutan Airlines B3 774 flight departs at 1:00 pm from Delhi, Indira Gandhi Airport and lands in Paro at 03:50 pm, Bhutan Time. 15 October | Rest Day, Paro A day held open — the traveler's privilege of a full stop before the itinerary begins in earnest. If you're inclined to fill the stillness rather than surrender to it, Paro offers quiet diversions close to the lodge. Or, take a guided walk on the lodge's own loop trail through pine forests to dramatic Dzongdrakha, steep forty-five minute climb up a trail that rewards the effort with birds-eye views of Paro. Later, the Shambhala spa's hot stone bath may make a fitting close to that rarest of rarities, a quiet day spent reconnecting with yourself. 16 October | Paro to Bumthang The morning stays unhurried — a last wander of Paro's town, perhaps, or a visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, a seventh-century sanctuary said to guard two orange trees that fruit year-round regardless of season, one of the oldest religious structures standing in the kingdom. By late afternoon, transfer to the airstrip for a 5pm charter flight east to Bumthang, the kingdom's spiritual heartland, arriving after dark into the forest-clad hush of the Jakar Valley. Six Senses Bumthang calls itself a "forest within a forest," ringed by blue pine and set beside the rushing Chamkhar Chhu — a fitting name for a lodge that feels, on arrival, like a clearing found rather than built. Dinner awaits at Tongtshang, the lodge's signature restaurant, before an early rest. 17 October | Bumthang — Wangduechhoeling Palace Bumthang was Bhutan's original seat of power, and nowhere is that history more palpable than at Wangduechhoeling Palace, home to the kingdom's first two monarchs before the royal court moved to Punakha. Its white stone walls and richly carved timberwork — a textbook example of nineteenth-century Bhutanese architecture — are now under careful restoration with support from the Bhutan Foundation, and this private walkthrough, led by the project's head of renovations, offers a rare look at a historic building just opening up to the world. Time and energy permitting, extend the day along Bumthang's pilgrim's route: Jambay Lhakhang, one of the kingdom's oldest temples, dating to the seventh century; Jakar Dzong, "the Fortress of the White Bird," whose ramparts once defended the entire valley. Dine again at Tongtshang, with the valley settling into darkness outside, or join the group dinner in town. 18 October | Bumthang to Thimphu A short flight returns the group to Paro, from where the road climbs west into Thimphu Valley and the capital proper. The Zhiwa Ling Ascent sits in a pine forest near the Takin Zoo and within walking distance of hiking trails around the capital. 19 October | Thimphu — Institute Visits & Partners' Dinner The morning turns toward purpose: The Dagala Cheese Processing Project is a livelihood and value-addition initiative for yak-herding families in Dagala Gewog, the highland area southwest of Thimphu in Thimphu Dzongkhag. It is helping the Dagala Yak Cooperative move beyond traditional butter and dried or cottage cheese into hygienically produced, higher-value yak cheeses—particularly French-style Tomme ( Serja ) and Gumdel ( Serjom )—for wider commercial markets. Later, make some time to visit RADA, the proposed Royal Institute of Design and Art—a design-and-arts academy conceived to develop Bhutanese creative talent while grounding contemporary practice in the country’s visual traditions, crafts, and cultural identity. It was planned under the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF), initially operating from a temporary Thimphu location while recognition and a permanent campus are being pursued. 20 October | Thimphu — Board Meeting & Snow Leopard Screening The morning and early afternoon are given over to the Board Meetings for the Advisory Board, while the others visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, where centuries of Himalayan herbal knowledge are preserved and practiced. In the afternoon, the mood turns celebratory with a screening of Snow Leopard Sisters , presented by the Snow Leopard Foundation in collaboration with the Bhutan Foundation followed by a formal Board and Partners' Dinner that gathers the trip's collaborators and hosts, a fitting bridge between the morning's fieldwork and the governance to come . 21 October | Thimphu to Punakha The road to Punakha is one of Bhutan's great drives, climbing over Dochula Pass — weather permitting, a curtain of prayer flags and, on clear days, a full chain of Himalayan peaks — before descending into the subtropical warmth of the valley below. At 5,140 feet, Six Senses Punakha is the lodge chain's lowest and, many say, its coziest: the "Flying Farmhouse," a cantilevered wooden lounge overlooking a pool set amid rice paddies just beginning to turn gold with the season. Time and light permitting, an afternoon hike climbs alongside the river through terraced paddies to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten, a temple raised by the Queen Mother for world peace, its views back down the valley reward enough for the fifty-minute ascent. Dinner at Ari, the lodge's rustic-chic dining room, set to the sound of the Punakha's braided rivers. 22 October | Punakha — Goen Shari & the Zangdopelri Project The day turns toward Goen Shari and a visit to Her Majesty the Gyalyum's Zangdopelri project — a rare window into one of the more personal royal initiatives shaping the valley's landscape and future, and among the journey's more privileged appointments. 23 October | Punakha — College of Natural Resources & Punakha Dzong The morning turns academic and agrarian with a visit to the College of Natural Resources, before the afternoon delivers what many consider Bhutan's single most beautiful building: Punakha Dzong, the Pungtang Dechen Photrang, "Palace of Great Happiness," rising six stories at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Its courtyards and prayer halls hold some of the kingdom's most sacred relics; behind the dzong, the country's longest suspension bridge, strung with prayer flags, offers a last, unhurried walk among locals crossing home at day's end. October 24 — The return to Paro A final drive returns the group to Paro for one last night at COMO Uma Paro . An evening at leisure — dinner at Bukhari , perhaps a last visit to the spa — offers a chance to sit with eleven nights' worth of impressions. October 25 — Farewell & Departing Flight Your Bhutan Airlines Flight B3 773 departs at 10:20 am and lands 12:00 (noon) at Delhi, Indira Gandhi Airport. SHOW ME MORE ↓ Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Afternoon sunrays over Paro. The Six Senses Paro lodge with its signature 'Stone Ruins' in the distance, framed by the middle Himalayan range. Staff preparing the terrace for evening service at the Six Senses Thimphu's 'Palace in the Sky'. Drukair's ATR landing in Jakar Valley, Bumthang's district center. A cottage at the pine forested Six Senses lodge in Bumthang. Bucolic Tang Valley in Bumthang. The impeccable grounds of the historic Wangduechholing Palace Views of the surrounding mountains in Thimphu. Thimphu's giant Buddha Dordenma. Punakha rice-fields, upriver along the Mochu valley. Punakha Dzong's striking cantilever bridge Preview: BHUTAN FOUNDATION 40TH ANNIVERSARY JOURNEY OVERVIEW Four decades ago, the Bhutan Foundation was founded on a proposition that seemed, at the time, almost radical: that a small Himalayan kingdom guided by its own philosophy of Gross National Happiness deserved partners who would support its vision on its own terms, rather than impose one from outside. What began as a modest bridge between Bhutan and the wider world has grown, over forty years, into one of the most enduring and trusted network of donors and partnerships the kingdom maintains — spanning conservation of the snow leopard's high-altitude range, restoration of architectural treasures like the Wangduechhoeling Palace, expansion of traditional medicine and special education, and countless quieter investments in the people and landscapes of Bhutan's valleys. This twelve-day journey is not simply a tour through that legacy — it is a homecoming through it. Every stop on the itinerary threads back to four decades of work: the private walkthrough of Wangduechhoeling's restoration is a chance to stand inside a project the Foundation helped inspire; the visit to the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and the special-education program in Thimphu offers a direct look at community investment sustained over a generation; the screening of Snow Leopard Sisters honors a conservation partnership that has quietly protected one of the world's most elusive cats for years. And the Board and Partners' dinner is more than an evening of hospitality — it is a gathering of the very people, Bhutanese, American, Canadian, Australian, European, who have carried this relationship forward decade after decade, many of whom have watched the Foundation's mission mature alongside their own participation in Bhutan’s future as donors, partners and advisors. To celebrate forty years in Bhutan is to celebrate a rare kind of patience — the recognition that the deepest change in a place like this does not arrive quickly, and is not measured the way progress is measured elsewhere. It is measured in heritage properties preserved rather than lost, in species protected rather than diminished, in children educated and traditions kept alive. This journey, moving as it does through Paro, Bumthang, Thimphu and Punakha, is designed to let a small circle of the Foundation's closest partners see that patience made visible — not as an abstraction in an annual report, but as a living, breathing kingdom that has, for forty years, trusted the Foundation to walk beside it. ACCOMMODATIONS Paro Uma Villa (3 nights), Six Senses Bumthang (2 nights), Thimphu Zhiwa Ling Ascent (3 nights), Punakha Six Senses (3 nights) This journey features 3 distinctive stays, each reflecting a different facet of the kingdom’s contemporary hospitality. Begin in Paro at COMO Uma Paro , where a private One-Bedroom Villa offers three restorative nights amid pine-clad hills and Himalayan views. Continue to Bumthang for two nights at Six Senses Bumthang 's Forest within a Forest Lodge, a secluded retreat designed for deep immersion in the valley’s quiet forests, temples, and pastoral rhythms. In Thimphu, spend three nights in the Zhiwa Ling Ascent Premium Suite , combining generous contemporary comfort with locally rooted design and convenient access to the capital’s cultural life. The journey concludes with three nights in the Six Senses Punakha , Flying Farmhouse, an elevated, farmhouse-inspired sanctuary overlooking Punakha’s fertile valley before a final return to the Paro Villa at COMO Uma Paro.