Classic Bhutan

Classic Bhutan is a west-to-central drift through the country’s best-loved valleys, done at a calm, steady pace. You begin in Paro, then Thimphu, where the first dzongs, hillside monasteries, and small city lanes ease you into Bhutanese life. From the capital, the road climbs to Dochula Pass, with its band of white chortens, before dropping into the softer air and river terraces of Punakha.

Turning east, you reach the wide bowl of Phobjikha, a glacial valley of farmhouses and marshland where black-necked cranes gather in winter. Beyond lies Trongsa, once the key to controlling both east and west, and then Bumthang, a gentler landscape of orchards, temples, and long, storied tales. A short domestic flight returns you to Paro for the walk up to Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, bringing the route full circle.