Punakha Dzong in Bhutan seen across the clear green river, autumn trees in front of its whitewashed walls

Bhutan Tour from KathmanduFrom Kathmandu to the Land of the Thunder Dragon

Ten days that start and end in Kathmandu and fly to Paro across the Himalaya. Thimphu, the Dochula Pass, Punakha Dzong, the glacial valley of Phobjikha, and the Tiger’s Nest on its cliff, with the flights, the visa and Bhutan’s daily fee already paid.

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3,120 mTiger’s Nest

Journey at a Glance

Max Altitude: 3,120 mTiger’s Nest
Duration: 10 Days6 nights in Bhutan
Group Size: 2 or more
Difficulty: EasyModerate hike to Tiger’s Nest
Best Season: Mar to May, Sep to Dec
Start and End: Kathmandu

Package Cost

USD1,830

per person

(Group of 12 or more)

2 to 5 travellers: $2,175
6 to 11 travellers: $1,950
12 and above: $1,830

Last updated 16 October 2026

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Overview

Bhutan, With Nepal at Either End

This tour begins and ends in Kathmandu, and flies to Paro across the Himalaya in between. In Kathmandu you see the World Heritage monuments of the valley; in Bhutan you spend six nights moving from the capital to the valleys of the west.

In Thimphu you visit Tashichho Dzong, the great seated Buddha Dordenma and the Folk Heritage Museum. The road east crosses the Dochula Pass at 3,100 metres, where 108 memorial chortens stand against the mountains, to Punakha Dzong at the meeting of two rivers and the temple of Chimi Lhakhang. In the Phobjikha valley you visit Gangtey Monastery and learn about the black-necked cranes that winter there.

The tour ends in Paro with the hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, built into a cliff 900 metres above the valley at 3,120 metres, and with Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country. Bhutan’s visa and its daily Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night are both included in the price.

Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest monastery in Bhutan, seen through prayer flags in the foreground, its gilded roofs against the dark cliff

“Six nights in Bhutan, with the flights and the fee already paid.”

Journey Highlights

Tiger’s Nest hike
Dochula Pass, 3,100 m
Punakha Dzong
Visa and daily fee included

Detailed Itinerary

10 DaysKathmandu, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha, Paro

The 10 days at a glance
Day	Route	Overnight	Travel
Day 01	Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)	Kathmandu, 1,400 m	Airport pickup
Day 02	Kathmandu sightseeing, fly to Paro, transfer to Thimphu (2,334 m)	Thimphu, 2,334 m	Flight to Paro, then by road
Day 03	Thimphu sightseeing	Thimphu	Sightseeing in Thimphu
Day 04	Thimphu to Punakha over the Dochula Pass (3,100 m)	Punakha	By road over the Dochula Pass (3,100 m)
Day 05	Punakha to the Phobjikha valley (2,900 m)	Phobjikha valley, 2,900 m	By road
Day 06	Phobjikha to Paro (2,200 m)	Paro, 2,200 m	A long drive west
Day 07	Hike to the Tiger’s Nest (3,120 m)	Paro	Hike to the Tiger’s Nest (3,120 m)
Day 08	Paro, then fly to Kathmandu	Kathmandu	Flight from Paro
Day 09	Kathmandu, a free day	Kathmandu	A free day
Day 10	Departure	Departure	Airport transfer

Day 01Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
You are met at Tribhuvan International Airport and taken to your hotel. The evening is free to explore Thamel.
Day 02Kathmandu sightseeing, fly to Paro, transfer to Thimphu (2,334 m)
Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley, then the flight across the Himalaya to Paro and the drive to Thimphu.
Day 03Thimphu sightseeing
Tashichho Dzong, the Buddha Dordenma, the Folk Heritage Museum and, at the weekend, the market.
Day 04Thimphu to Punakha over the Dochula Pass (3,100 m)
Over the pass and its 108 chortens to Punakha Dzong and the temple of Chimi Lhakhang.
Day 05Punakha to the Phobjikha valley (2,900 m)
Up to the glacial valley of Phobjikha and Gangtey Monastery, winter home of the black-necked crane.
Day 06Phobjikha to Paro (2,200 m)
The long drive west to Paro.
Day 07Hike to the Tiger’s Nest (3,120 m)
The hike to Paro Taktsang, built into a cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley.
Day 08Paro, then fly to Kathmandu
Kyichu Lhakhang and the National Museum in Paro, then the flight back to Kathmandu.
Day 09Kathmandu, a free day
A day for more of the valley or for shopping, and a farewell dinner.
Day 10Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

What's Included

Airport pickup and drop-off
Flights from Kathmandu to Paro and back
Three nights in a Kathmandu hotel
Six nights in 4-star hotels in Bhutan
All meals in Bhutan, with a bottle of water a day
Bhutan visa fee (USD 40) and travel permits
Bhutan’s daily Sustainable Development Fee, USD 100 per person per night
Entrance and monument fees in Bhutan
Air-conditioned private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing
English-speaking guide in Bhutan, with their meals, salary and insurance
Kathmandu sightseeing
Farewell dinner

What's Not Included

Meals in Kathmandu, apart from the farewell dinner
Temple entrance fees in Kathmandu
Drinks of any kind
Tips for guides and drivers
Personal expenses

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

Do I need a visa to visit Bhutan?

Yes. Every international visitor needs a Bhutan visa except nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives. On this tour the visa is arranged for you and its USD 40 fee is included.

Is Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee included?

Yes. Bhutan’s daily Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per person per night is included in the price of the 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu, for all six nights in Bhutan.

Are flights from Kathmandu to Bhutan included?

Yes. The flights from Kathmandu to Paro and back are included.

When is the best time to visit Bhutan?

Spring, from March to May, and autumn and early winter, from September to December, give the clearest weather for sightseeing and the Tiger’s Nest hike, and many of Bhutan’s festivals fall in these months. The black-necked cranes are in the Phobjikha valley in winter.

What accommodation is used in Bhutan?

The tour uses 4-star hotels for all six nights in Bhutan, and a hotel in Kathmandu for three nights.

How much does the 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu cost?

It costs USD 2,175 per person for 2 to 5 travellers, USD 1,950 for 6 to 11 and USD 1,830 for 12 or more, including flights, the visa and the daily fee. A single traveller is quoted on request.

How many nights does the 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu spend in Bhutan?

The 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu spends six nights in Bhutan, in Thimphu, Punakha, the Phobjikha valley and Paro, and three nights in Kathmandu.

How difficult is the Tiger’s Nest hike on the 10-day Bhutan Tour?

The hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, on day 7 is moderate. The monastery is built into a cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley at 3,120 metres. The rest of the 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu is by private vehicle.

Which meals are included in the 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu?

All meals in Bhutan are included, with a bottle of water a day. In Kathmandu only the farewell dinner is included, and drinks of any kind are not.

Will I see the black-necked cranes in the Phobjikha valley?

The black-necked cranes spend the winter in the Phobjikha valley. The 10-day Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu visits the valley and Gangtey Monastery on day 5 and learns about the cranes there; seeing them depends on travelling in winter.

What is the booking and cancellation policy for the Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu, 10 Days?

Sama Yatra takes a 30% deposit to confirm a booking for the Bhutan Tour from Kathmandu, 10 Days. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost.