The Bhutan Tour Package with Punakha is a 4-day, 3-night trip to Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, priced from $740 to $960 per person. It starts in Kathmandu and ends in Paro, with an open departure. It’s the longer version of our standard Bhutan add-on, adding Punakha’s valley and dzong.
The extra day crosses Dochula Pass at 3,100m, lined with 108 chortens, with Himalayan views on clear days. From there the road drops to Punakha, a lower, warmer valley at 1,242m.
Paro and Thimphu sit at 2,200 to 2,320m. That’s well above Kathmandu (1,400m), but not high enough to need acclimatisation days. The highest point you reach on foot is Tiger’s Nest, at 3,120m. Spending spare days in Nepal? Our non-trekking activities guide covers Kathmandu options.
We’re Mountain Hike Nepal, a Kathmandu-based operator. Your Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee are included, not billed separately. Prefer the shorter version? See our standard 3-day Bhutan Tour Package. See pricing, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates.
| Duration | 4 Days, 3 Nights (starts in Kathmandu; ends in Paro, with departure back to Kathmandu or onward) |
| Destinations | Paro, Thimphu, Punakha |
| 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 | 3,120m (Tiger’s Nest, on foot); 3,100m at Dochula Pass by road |
| Group Size | Private trip, any group size |
| Accommodation | 3-star hotels in Bhutan (private room for Solo; twin-sharing for groups), full board |
| 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 (March–May) and autumn (September–November) give the clearest views |
Kathmandu → Paro → Thimphu → Punakha → Paro → Kathmandu (or onward)
This trip covers the same Paro and Thimphu sights as our 3-day tour, then adds a full day in Punakha. After crossing Dochula Pass, the road drops into a warmer, lower valley. Rice is the main crop along its rivers, and it feels noticeably different from the cooler valleys of Paro and Thimphu.
The main reason to add the extra day is Punakha Dzong. Built in 1637–38, it’s the second-oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan. It stands where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet. Punakha was also Bhutan’s capital until 1955, when the seat of government moved to Thimphu.
The trade-off is pace. Day 3 combines the drive back to Paro with the Tiger’s Nest hike, so it’s a long day. If you only have three days, or want an easier schedule, our 3-day Bhutan Tour Package covers Paro, Thimphu and Tiger’s Nest without Punakha.
This is not a demanding trip, but Day 3 is long. You drive from Punakha back through Thimphu to Paro, then hike to Tiger’s Nest, which takes 4–5 hours round trip and climbs about 900m. The trail is steep in places and reaches 3,120m. You can usually hire a horse at the trailhead for part of the way up, or skip the hike. If you can walk uphill for a few hours at a steady pace, you’ll manage it.
$960 per person
$770 per person
$750 per person
$740 per person
Altitude: 2,320m (Thimphu) | Flight: ~1 hr (Kathmandu–Paro) | Drive: ~1.5 hrs (Paro–Thimphu) | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Hotel, Thimphu
We transfer you from your Kathmandu hotel to the airport for the flight to Paro. At Paro, you clear immigration with the visa clearance letter we arranged in advance. Your guide and driver meet you outside and drive you to Thimphu. In the afternoon, visit the Memorial Chorten and the large Buddha Dordenma statue on the hill above the valley. Then see Tashichho Dzong, which houses the king’s throne room and offices. If there’s time, walk through central Thimphu in the evening.
Altitude: 1,242m (Punakha) | Drive: ~2.5–3 hrs with stops (Thimphu–Punakha) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Hotel, Punakha
The road climbs out of Thimphu to Dochula Pass at 3,100m, where 108 chortens stand beside the road. On a clear morning you can see the Himalaya along the northern skyline. From the pass, the road drops steadily into the Punakha valley, which is lower and noticeably warmer. On the way down, stop at Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility temple founded in 1499, a short walk through the fields. In the afternoon, visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637–38 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet. Then cross the Punakha Suspension Bridge on foot.
Altitude: 3,120m (Tiger’s Nest); overnight 2,200m (Paro) | Drive: ~4 hrs (Punakha–Paro, via Thimphu) | Hike: 4–5 hrs round trip | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Hotel, Paro
This is the long day, so we leave Punakha early. The drive back over Dochula and through Thimphu to Paro takes about four hours. After an early lunch, start the hike to Tiger’s Nest. The trail climbs about 900m to the monastery, set into a cliff at 3,120m. The monastery closes over lunch and reopens at 2 pm, so the timing is planned around the afternoon opening. You can hire a horse at the trailhead for part of the way up. Back in Paro by late afternoon.
Altitude: 2,200m (Paro) | Flight: ~1 hr (Paro–Kathmandu) | Meals: Breakfast | Stay: N/A
After breakfast, your guide drives you to Paro International Airport for your flight. If you’re flying back to Kathmandu, we meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. If you’re flying somewhere else from Paro, tell us when you book. We’ll check that your connection leaves enough time.
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. The trail is steep in places, so it’s a real hike, not a stroll. Take it slowly and it’s manageable for most reasonably fit people. If you’d rather not walk the whole way up, see the horse hire answer below.
No, the flight is booked separately from the package price. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines both fly the route, and the flight takes about an hour. 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. It’s a short trip, so it fits before or after an Everest or Annapurna trek. You fly Kathmandu to Paro and back, with no separate international journey, and we can plan both on one booking.
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.
Travel insurance isn’t included in the package price, and we recommend arranging your own before you travel. Choose a policy that covers medical treatment and evacuation, since Bhutan’s larger hospitals are in Thimphu.
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 price is $690 per person and includes a private hotel room, rather than the twin-sharing 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.
