9N/10D Samdrup Jongkhar and Eastern Bhutan - The East First, and the West After

Day by day

Distances and drive times are the ones our own drivers record, not map estimates.

1. 1
   Day 1

   Arrival and transfer to Samdrup Jongkhar

   Arrive at Guwahati Airport, India, with road entry at Darranga. Clear immigration and baggage, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel in Samdrup Jongkhar — a 110 km, three-hour drive north from Guwahati. The south-eastern border town where the eastern road meets the Assam plain. The rest of the day is free to settle in. Overnight in Samdrup Jongkhar.

   Overnight Samdrup Jongkhar Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
2. 2
   Day 2

   Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang

   Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Leave for Trashigang — a 180 km, six-hour descent to the Assam plain. The largest town of the east, above the Drangme Chhu, and the junction for Merak, Sakteng and the Indian border. Check in on arrival and, as the day allows, the Trashigang Dzong on its cliff above the river. Overnight in Trashigang.

   Overnight Trashigang Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
3. 3
   Day 3

   Trashigang: Gom Kora temple and its sacred rock

   Breakfast at the hotel. A full day in Trashigang — the Gom Kora temple and its sacred rock; the Rangjung monastery and the Radhi weaving village; and the Trashigang Dzong on its cliff above the river. The evening is free for dinner and a walk on your own. Overnight in Trashigang.

   Overnight Trashigang Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
4. 4
   Day 4

   Trashigang to Mongar

   Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Leave for Mongar — a 90 km, three-hour drive east. The first town of the east, on a hillside reached by one of the more spectacular road descents in the Himalaya. Check in on arrival and, as the day allows, the Mongar Dzong, built in the 1930s in the old manner. Overnight in Mongar.

   Overnight Mongar Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
5. 5
   Day 5

   Mongar to Bumthang

   Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Leave for Bumthang — a 190 km, seven-hour drive over the Thrumshingla pass. Four valleys that hold the oldest temples in Bhutan, the country buckwheat and its only brewery. Check in on arrival and, as the day allows, the Jambay Lhakhang and the Kurjey Lhakhang. Overnight in Bumthang.

   Overnight Bumthang Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
6. 6
   Day 6

   Bumthang: Jakar Dzong, the castle of the white bird

   Breakfast at the hotel. A full day in Bumthang — the Jakar Dzong, the castle of the white bird; the Tamshing Lhakhang and the Mebar Tsho burning lake; and the Ura valley drive and a cheese and beer tasting at Swiss Farm. The evening is free for dinner and a walk on your own. Overnight in Bumthang.

   Overnight Bumthang Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
7. 7
   Day 7

   Bumthang to Punakha

   Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Leave for Punakha — a 200 km, six-hour drive over the Yotong and Pele passes. The old winter capital at 1,200 m, warm enough for rice and oranges, with the finest dzong in the country at the meeting of two rivers. Check in on arrival and, as the day allows, the Punakha Dzong at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. Overnight in Punakha.

   Overnight Punakha Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
8. 8
   Day 8

   Punakha to Paro

   Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Leave for Paro — a 125 km, four-hour drive back over the Dochula pass. The valley the only international airport sits in — a fortress over the river, the oldest temple in Bhutan and the Tiger Nest on the cliff above. Check in on arrival and, as the day allows, the Taktsang Tiger Nest monastery, a five-hour return climb. Overnight in Paro.

   Overnight Paro Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
9. 9
   Day 9

   Paro: Rinpung Dzong and its cantilever bridge

   Breakfast at the hotel. A full day in Paro — the Rinpung Dzong and its cantilever bridge; the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan; and the National Museum in the old watchtower. The evening is free for dinner and a walk on your own. Overnight in Paro.

   Overnight Paro Meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
10. 10
    Day 10

    Paro — departure

    Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Time for any last shopping before your transfer to Paro International Airport for the onward flight. The tour ends here, and we hope it is not your last visit to Bhutan.

    Meals Breakfast

Where you sleep

We name every property before you pay — not “4-star or similar” afterwards.

The named properties for each grade go out with your quotation, so you can look every one of them up before anything is paid. Ask for the hotel list →

What the price covers

Printed together on purpose. A list of inclusions without its exclusions is a quote you cannot check.