A warm Bhutanese welcome
Step off the plane and into the Land of the Thunder Dragon, where your guide and driver await with a friendly smile. As you breathe in the crisp mountain air, you’ll be greeted with a traditional khadar (white silk scarf) — symbolising purity, good fortune, and a safe journey ahead. This heartfelt gesture sets the tone for an enriching experience from the very first moment.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Scenic drive from Paro to Thimphu: wind through river valleys, pine forests, and charming villages, with stops at Tachogang Lhakhang’s iron bridge and the Chuzom confluence.

• Relax & rejuvenate: check into your hotel and take time to rest, refresh, and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.

• Echoes of enlightenment: join a Bhutanese thought leader for a private talk on the country’s history and the profound influence of Buddhism, offering insight into Gross National Happiness and spiritual heritage.

• Dinner at your hotel: savour a leisurely evening with local and international flavours.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Thimphu at Norkhil Boutique Hotel & Spa (4*) – Deluxe Double Room – Half Board

A day of culture, craft, and connection
Immerse yourself in Bhutan’s living traditions — from sacred arts to vibrant textiles — as you discover the creative heart of Thimphu. Today blends cultural depth with authentic encounters, giving you a richer appreciation of Bhutanese artistry and everyday life.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Breakfast at leisure: start your morning with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel.

• Choki Traditional Arts School: watch students practise Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts, from thangka painting to wood carving, while supporting a school dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth.

• Lunch: savour authentic Bhutanese flavours prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

• Threads of tradition: visit a local weaver’s home to witness the intricate process of hand-dyed textiles and backstrap loom weaving — every thread telling a story of heritage and patience.

• Stroll through Thimphu town: wander the capital at your own pace — explore handicraft shops, art galleries, or simply soak in the gentle buzz of cafés and streets.

• Dinner at your hotel: end the day with a warm and welcoming dinner on-site.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Thimphu at Norkhil Boutique Hotel & Spa (4*) – Deluxe Double Room – Half Board

Prayer of Liberation at a Nunnery
Begin your day in quiet devotion, joining the nuns of a Bhutanese nunnery for a deeply moving Prayer of Liberation. Surrounded by incense, temple bells, and melodic chants, you’ll witness—or partake in—a sacred ritual dedicated to compassion and the release of all beings from suffering. Whether you observe in silence or join the prayerful voices, the atmosphere is powerful, intimate, and transformative.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Scenic transfer to Phobjikha Valley: travel from Thimphu into a glacial valley home to the rare black-necked cranes, passing villages, forests, and sweeping mountain landscapes.

• Dochula Pass (3,100m): pause to take in panoramic views of the Himalayas, framed by 108 white chortens built in memory of Bhutanese soldiers. If time allows, visit Druk Wangyal Lhakhang, a temple blending traditional and modern Bhutanese art. Warm yourself with a cup of butter tea as you reflect on this tranquil spot.

• Lunch: enjoy authentic Bhutanese dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

• Phobjikha Valley exploration: walk through pine forests and open meadows, discover traditional villages, and observe wildlife in this pristine valley. In winter, watch for the black-necked cranes that migrate here.

• Check-in & relax: arrive at your hotel, where warm Bhutanese hospitality and serene valley views invite you to rest and rejuvenate.

• Dinner at your hotel: round off the day with a relaxed dinner in the comfort of your lodge.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Phobjikha Valley at Gangtey Tent (4*) – Tent (Double Room) – Half Board

Sacred calm at Gangtey Goempa
Begin your day at the hilltop Gangtey Goempa, where sweeping valley views meet the quiet rhythm of monastic life. Step inside this centuries-old monastery, take a moment to reflect, and observe the monks as they carry forward Bhutan’s profound spiritual traditions.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Breakfast at leisure: enjoy a relaxed start to your morning with breakfast at your hotel.

• Nature’s trail: take a gentle 45-minute walk (or optional horseback ride) through pine-framed meadows and farmland, passing grazing yaks, prayer flags, and rustic farmhouses. A serene way to connect with Bhutan’s countryside.

• Traditional homestay lunch: share an authentic meal with a Bhutanese family, savouring fresh, seasonal dishes while experiencing the warmth of local hospitality.

• Black-necked Crane Centre: learn about conservation efforts for Bhutan’s revered cranes through interactive exhibits and telescopic viewing. Discover the valley’s role as both a sanctuary for wildlife and a cradle of cultural heritage.

• Evening at leisure: return to your lodge and unwind in the tranquil valley setting — whether over herbal tea, a wellness treatment, or simply soaking in the mountain air.

• Dinner at your hotel: enjoy a relaxed evening meal with a mix of local and international dishes.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Phobjikha Valley at Gangtey Tent (4*)– Tent (Double Room) – Half Board

Scenic transfer to Punakha
Leave behind the stillness of Phobjikha Valley and journey toward the lush, subtropical landscapes of Punakha. This two-hour drive weaves through forests, valleys, and traditional villages — with chances to pause for photos or enjoy a warm cup of tea at a local café.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Breakfast at leisure: begin your day with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel.

• Chimi Lhakhang — the Temple of Fertility: walk through rice fields and village paths to reach this revered temple dedicated to the Divine Madman, Lama Drukpa Kunley. Learn of its unique blessings, spiritual protection, and the hopeful couples who journey here seeking fertility. Explore the nearby village for local handicrafts, including the symbolic hand-carved phalluses tied to the temple’s legends.

• Lunch: savour seasonal Bhutanese dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients.

• Check-in & relax: settle into your Punakha lodge, surrounded by serene scenery and Bhutanese hospitality.

• Evening at leisure: sip herbal tea, indulge in a wellness treatment, or simply breathe in the crisp air as you unwind in the valley.

• Dinner at your hotel: enjoy a comforting evening meal in the inviting setting of your lodge.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Punakha at Dhensa Boutique Resort (4*)– Suite Double Room – Half Board

Breakfast at leisure
Enjoy a relaxed start to your day with breakfast at your hotel.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Monastic school visit (2 hrs): witness the daily rhythm of young monks dedicated to prayer, study, and discipline. A rare glimpse into a life shaped by mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy.

• Village experience & homestay lunch: connect with Bhutan’s rural heart in a Punakha village. Learn to make ara (traditional rice spirit), try rice-pounding, join early-morning cow milking, and cook ema datsi, the country’s beloved chilli-and-cheese dish. Share tea and stories with your host family for a heartfelt cultural exchange.

• Punakha Dzong: step inside one of Bhutan’s most magnificent fortresses — a sacred site of immense historical and spiritual significance, where royal weddings and key moments of Bhutanese history have taken place.

• Afternoon at leisure: pause and unwind — whether in the spa, exploring nearby villages, or journalling with Himalayan views.

• Sundowners by the river: toast the evening with cocktails or herbal teas as the sun sets behind the mountains, accompanied by the sound of flowing water.

• Dinner at your hotel: enjoy a relaxed evening meal, blending Bhutanese and international flavours.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Punakha at Dhensa Boutique Resort (4*)– Suite Double Room – Half Board

Breakfast at leisure
Begin your morning with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Scenic transfer to Paro (4.5–5 hrs): enjoy a picturesque drive through valleys, forests, and traditional villages as you journey from Punakha to the historic town of Paro.

• Simtokha Dzong (1 hr): visit Bhutan’s oldest fortress, built in 1629, where intricate murals, sacred relics, and a monastic school preserve centuries of Buddhist heritage. Explore serene courtyards, admire the ornate architecture, and take in sweeping views over the valley.

• Lunch: savour a delicious Bhutanese meal prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

• Check-in & relax: settle into your Paro hotel and take time to rest, rejuvenate, and enjoy the mountain views.

• Afternoon at leisure: unwind at your own pace — indulge in a spa treatment, stroll nearby, or journal with the Himalayan backdrop.

• Astrology session (1 hr): meet a Bhutanese tsip (astrologer) for an intimate reading based on ancient astrological practices, offering guidance on health, relationships, and spiritual well-being.

• Paro town stroll (2 hrs): wander through Paro’s charming streets, lined with cafés, handicraft shops, and riverside views — where traditional Bhutan meets the rhythms of modern life.

• Dinner at your hotel: enjoy a relaxed evening meal with Bhutanese hospitality.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Paro at COMO Uma Paro (5*) – Valley View Room – Half Board

Breakfast at leisure
Ease into the day with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Meditation at a fortress: reconnect with your inner self during a guided meditation in a serene Bhutanese setting — temple, forest clearing, or mountaintop — where Himalayan stillness brings clarity and calm.

• Farmhouse lunch in Paro: savour an authentic Bhutanese meal in a rustic farmhouse, made with organic, homegrown ingredients. Share stories with your hosts and gain insight into rural family life.

• Tree planting for a greener Bhutan: contribute to Bhutan’s commitment to Gross National Happiness by planting native saplings alongside locals — a simple, meaningful way to give back to the land.

• Impermanence experience: join monks in completing a mandala, followed by a soulful prayer ceremony. In a moving ritual, release the mandala into a flowing stream, embracing the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.

• Astrology session (1 hr): meet with a traditional tsip astrologer for a personalised reading of your life path, rooted in ancient Bhutanese wisdom.

• Dinner at your hotel: enjoy a warm and relaxing dinner to close the day.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Paro at COMO Uma Paro (5*) – Valley View Room – Half Board

Packed breakfast for the trail
Start early with a nourishing packed breakfast — eggs, fresh fruit, cheese sandwiches, and energy bars — fueling your climb into Bhutan’s high places of legend.

Your Experiences with Jane

• Choose your hike:

  • Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Monastery): embark on Bhutan’s most iconic pilgrimage trail — a 2–3 hour ascent through forests and prayer flags, culminating at the cliffside monastery that has inspired awe for centuries.

  • Zuri Hike: a gentler 45-minute trail offering sweeping views over Paro, peaceful meadows, and ancient meditation caves once used by Guru Rinpoche.

• Kyichu Lhakhang (1 hr): explore one of Bhutan’s oldest temples and take part in the ritual of lighting butter lamps for blessings and well-being.

• Hot stone bath with lunch (1 hr): soothe body and spirit with a traditional Bhutanese herbal hot stone bath, followed by a wholesome local lunch overlooking the valley.

• Evening at leisure: relax at your lodge with tea, meditation, or wellness treatments before tonight’s festivities.

• Folk & mask dance with dinner: celebrate Bhutanese culture with an evening of vibrant performances — folk songs, sacred mask dances, and a specially curated dinner under the stars.

Your Hotel
Overnight in Paro at COMO Uma Paro (5*) – Valley View Room – Half Board

Breakfast at leisure
Enjoy your final Bhutanese breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Paro Airport
Your guide will escort you to Paro International Airport for your departure. As your plane lifts over the Himalayas, bid farewell to Bhutan — carrying memories of sacred rituals, untouched valleys, and heartfelt encounters that will resonate long after the journey ends.