Venture to the remote kingdom of Bhutan to discover Himalayan villages, historic monasteries and dzongs, and a rich culture that has remained largely unchanged over the centuries.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary Request Itinerary or Ask Us A Question or Call 855-215-8690
 Tiger's Nest Monastery, Bhutan
Tiger's Nest Monastery, Bhutan
 Cliff-side Taktsang Monastery with prayer flags, Bhutan
Cliff-side Taktsang Monastery with prayer flags, Bhutan
 Thimphu Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan
Thimphu Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan
 Paro Valley, Bhutan
Paro Valley, Bhutan
 Chorten Stupa, Bhutan
Chorten Stupa, Bhutan
 Punakha Dzong, Bhutan
Punakha Dzong, Bhutan
 Prayer flags at Dochu La pass, Bhutan
Prayer flags at Dochu La pass, Bhutan
 Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest, near Paro, Bhutan
Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest, near Paro, Bhutan
 Punakha Monastery Buddhist Painting
Punakha Monastery Buddhist Painting

Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan: A Tailor-Made Journey

8 days from $4,995

Venture to the remote kingdom of Bhutan to discover Himalayan villages, historic monasteries and dzongs, and a rich culture that has remained largely unchanged over the centuries.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690
Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Namgay Heritage Hotel

Thimphu, Bhutan

Located a short walk from Thimpu’s center, the Namgay Heritage is a welcoming blend of traditional Bhutanese architecture and modern amenities. Each comfortable room and suite is decorated with Bhutanese art and textiles while offering all the expected modern comforts. The hotel features a bar and restaurant, a boutique selling local handicrafts, a fitness center and swimming pool, and a spa with sauna and steam room.

Hotel Lobesa

Punakha, Bhutan

Commanding sweeping views of the Punakha Valley and the surrounding mountains, Hotel Lobesa is a small and comfortable hotel with simple, spacious rooms. Most rooms have balconies with beautiful views. The hotel features a bar and lounge, as well as a restaurant that serves traditional Bhutanese cuisine.

Gangtey Palace

Paro, Bhutan

Gangtey Palace is located about 10 minutes from the center of Paro on the valley slopes, overlooking the impressive dzong fortress. It is set in a traditional wooden Bhutanese palace, with a small courtyard in the center. The 19 rooms, dining room and bar all offer delightful views over the valley. Be sure to take advantage of a hot stone bath after a long day of sightseeing to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Gift Membership – Friends of Smithsonian

When you travel on a tailor-made journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership*. Benefits include:

  • A Smithsonian annual engagement calendar with full-color images of exceptional art and artifacts, mailed in the fall.
  • Subscription to Smithsonian, the award-winning magazine of the arts, sciences, and history. Early access to Smithsonian magazine produced events.
  • Invitations to four exclusive virtual programs for Friends of the Smithsonian members with Smithsonian experts.
  • 10% discount in Smithsonian Museum Stores (good on purchases up to $200); 10% discount with the SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Recognition in the Friends of the Smithsonian Honor Roll, displayed electronically on the National Mall in the Membership Reception Center
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian’s IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium.
  • Free admission to the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
  • A complimentary copy of the annual Smithsonian museum guidebook.
  • Invitation to a special welcome event for new members at a Smithsonian venue.

*Offer only available for first-time Smithsonian members. 

Reading List

Highly Recommended

Bhutan: The Land of Serenity
By: Ricard, Matthieu
The History of Bhutan
By: Karma Phuntsho
Lonely Planet Bhutan 7 (Travel Guide)
By: Mayhew, Bradley, Bindloss, Joe, Brown, Lindsay
The Blessings of Bhutan (A Latitude 20 Book)
By: Russ Carpenter, Blyth Carpenter

Also Recommended

Bhutan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture (124)
By: Culture Smart!, Choden BA, Karma, Wangchuk MBA, Dorji
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan
By: Zeppa, Jamie
Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said I Do, and Found Bliss
By: Leaming, Linda
Radio Shangri-La: What I Discovered on my Accidental Journey to the Happiest Kingdom on Earth
By: Napoli, Lisa
Chilli and Cheese: Food and Society in Bhutan
By: Choden, Kunzang
Divine Messengers: The Untold Story of Bhutan's Female Shamans
By: Guyer-Stevens, Pommaret, Francoise
So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas
By: Crossette, Barbara
Birds of Bhutan and the Eastern Himalayas (Helm Field Guides)
By: Inskipp, Carol, Grimmett, Richard, Inskipp, Tim, Sherub
24x36 World Wall Map by Smithsonian Journeys - Tan Oceans Special Edition (24x36 Laminated)

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.

Related Tours