The Bhutan Tour Package is a 3-day, 2-night trip to Paro and Thimphu, starting and ending in Kathmandu, priced from $525 to $690 per person — a short cultural add-on, not a standalone holiday, usually taken before or after a Nepal trek.
The drive between Paro and Thimphu takes about ninety minutes through pine-forested mountains hung with prayer flags. Both towns are small enough to explore on foot, leaving evenings free for local markets.
Paro and Thimphu sit around 2,200 to 2,320 m, similar to Kathmandu, so no altitude adjustment is needed. Combining this with a Nepal trek? See our non-trekking activities guide for extra days in Kathmandu.
We’re Mountain Hike Nepal, a Kathmandu-based operator. Your Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee are included, not billed separately. Our Bhutan Tour Package with Punakha adds a fourth day for Dochula Pass and Punakha Dzong. See pricing, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates.
| Duration | 3 Days, 2 Nights (starts in Kathmandu; ends in Paro, with departure back to Kathmandu or onward) |
| Destinations | Paro, Thimphu |
| Trip Style | Cultural and sightseeing, with one optional hike (Tiger’s Nest, ~900m climb) — no trekking experience needed for the rest of the trip |
| Max Elevation | ~2,320 m (Thimphu) — no altitude concern |
| Group Size | Private trip, any group size |
| Accommodation | 3-star hotels, full board (twin-sharing; private room for Solo tier) |
| Transport | Private vehicle (SUV for 1–3 people; van or coaster bus for larger groups) |
| Guide | Licensed Bhutanese guide, English-speaking, throughout |
| Flights | Kathmandu–Paro round-trip, booked separately |
| Best Season | Year-round; spring and autumn give the clearest mountain views |
Kathmandu → Paro → Thimphu → Paro → Kathmandu
The Bhutan Tour Package packs Bhutan’s two main valleys into three days built to sit alongside a Nepal trip rather than replace one. From Paro, the road climbs through pine forest to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, before returning to Paro for the hike up to Tiger’s Nest monastery, perched on a cliff face above the valley floor.
Paro and Thimphu both sit around 2,200 to 2,320 metres, close enough to Kathmandu’s own elevation that no separate acclimatisation is needed before or after a trek.
Most standalone Bhutan holidays run a week or more and need their own dedicated international arrangements. This package is built the other way round — a short add-on using the Kathmandu–Paro flight, for travellers who want to see Bhutan without turning it into a second full trip.
The one physically active part of this trip is the hike to Tiger’s Nest, which climbs roughly 900 metres above the Paro Valley on a well-maintained trail. It’s a genuine hike, not a stroll — plan on 4 to 5 hours round trip with breaks — but it’s optional, and a horse ride partway up is usually available for anyone who’d rather not walk the whole thing.
$690 per person
Recommended
$555 per person
$535 per person
Best Value
$525 per person
Altitude: 2,320m (Thimphu) | Flight: ~1 hr (Kathmandu–Paro) | Drive: ~1.5 hrs (Paro–Thimphu) | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Hotel, Thimphu
Fly from Kathmandu into Paro. Clear customs and immigration with your pre-arranged visa clearance letter, then meet your guide and driver for the transfer to Thimphu. In the afternoon, visit the Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Dordenma statue above the valley, and Tashichho Dzong, the fortress that houses Bhutan’s government offices. If time allows, take an evening walk through central Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.
Altitude: 2,200m (Paro) | Drive: ~1.5 hrs (Thimphu–Paro) | Hike: 4–5 hrs round trip (Tiger’s Nest) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Hotel, Paro
Drive back to Paro through the Himalayan foothills. The main event today is the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan’s most photographed site, built into a cliff face 900 metres above the valley floor. Afterward, visit the National Museum of Bhutan and Rinpung Dzong. A farmhouse visit is possible if time allows. Overnight in Paro.
Altitude: 2,200m (Paro) | Flight: ~ (depends on destination) | Meals: Breakfast | Stay: N/A
After breakfast, transfer to Paro International Airport for your departure flight — back to Kathmandu, or on to your next destination if you’ve booked a different routing. If you have an onward international flight the same day, let us know when booking so we can check the connection has enough buffer.
It’s a 3-day, 2-night trip to Paro and Thimphu, run as a short cultural add-on for travelers already in Kathmandu. It includes a licensed Bhutanese guide, private transport, 3-star hotels on full board, and covers Bhutan’s visa clearance and Sustainable Development Fee.
Yes, but you won’t handle the paperwork yourself. We arrange your visa clearance letter before you travel, and you’ll need to have it with you at Paro immigration.
It climbs about 900 metres above the Paro Valley to 3,120m, and usually takes 4 to 5 hours round trip. It’s a genuine hike, not a stroll, but a horse can carry you up as far as the cafeteria, roughly two-thirds of the way, if you’d rather not walk the whole ascent — everyone walks back down.
No, the flight is booked separately from the package price. We can advise on flight timing when you book.
It runs from $525 to $690 per person, depending on group size — $690 for a solo traveler with a private room, down to $525 per person for a group of 8 to 12. The Kathmandu–Paro flight and travel insurance are the main costs on top of that.
Yes — that’s what it’s built for. Most travelers book it directly before or after an Everest Base Camp Trek or Annapurna Base Camp Trek, using the Kathmandu–Paro flight rather than a separate international journey.
March to May and September to November, the same spring and autumn windows that suit Nepal trekking. Skies are clearer and conditions are more comfortable than during the June-to-August monsoon or the colder winter months.
It’s not included in the package price, and we recommend arranging your own before you travel. Medical facilities in Paro and Thimphu are more limited than in Kathmandu, so cover that includes medical evacuation is worth having.
Yes. Bhutan’s Department of Immigration requires your passport to have at least six months of validity remaining from your intended departure date from Bhutan. Check this before booking your Kathmandu–Paro flight.
Yes. The Solo Trekker tier is priced at $690 per person and includes a private hotel room rather than the twin-sharing basis used for groups of two or more.
It’s one-way only, up to the cafeteria — everyone walks the descent. Recent rates run roughly Nu 700 to 1,000, paid locally to the handler, not to us. Rates shift, so treat this as a guide rather than a fixed price.
