Western Bhutan with Haa

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Paro, drive to Thimphu

   Your guide meets you as you clear the terminal at Paro and the drive east begins along the Pa Chhu and then the Wang Chhu. You stop at Tamchog Lhakhang, the private temple of the iron-chain bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo, reached across a footbridge hung with chains, before continuing to Thimphu for the night.

   • Tamchog Lhakhang
   • Overnight in Thimphu · 1 night · 3-star hotel in Thimphu
   ↓Private car · 1h 30m
2. Day 2

   Thimphu sightseeing, then back to Paro

   A full day in the capital. The 51.5-metre Buddha Dordenma looks down over the valley from Kuenselphodrang; the National Memorial Chorten, built for the third king, is circled all day by Thimphu residents counting their rounds. You meet the takin — Bhutan's odd, national animal — at the Motithang preserve, and end at Tashichho Dzong, which houses both the throne room and the central monk body. In the late afternoon you return west to Paro.

   • Buddha Dordenma
   • National Memorial Chorten
   • Motithang Takin Preserve
   • Tashichho Dzong
   • Overnight in Paro · 1 night · 3-star hotel in Paro
   ↓Private car · 1h 30m
3. Day 3

   Taktsang, and the temples of the Paro valley

   The walk up to Taktsang — the Tiger's Nest — climbs through blue pine to a monastery welded to a cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and takes most of the morning up and back. Afterwards, Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country, and Rinpung Dzong on its spur above the river.

   • Taktsang Hike
   • Paro Taktsang
   • Kyichu Lhakhang
   • Rinpung Dzong
   • Overnight in Paro · 1 night · 3-star hotel in Paro
   ↓Private car · 5h
4. Day 4

   Over Chele La to the Haa valley

   Chele La, at about 3,988 metres, is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan and on a clear morning shows Jomolhari to the north. Beyond it the Haa valley is narrow, quiet and only recently open to visitors: the paired temples Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo — the white and the black — sit at its head. You return over the pass, stopping at the cliff shrines of Dzongdrakha, and spend the night in Paro.

   • Chele La
   • Haa Valley
   • Lhakhang Karpo
   • Lhakhang Nagpo
   • Dzongdrakha
   • Overnight in Paro · 1 night · 3-star hotel in Paro
5. Day 5

   Depart from Paro

   A last breakfast, then the short transfer to the airport for your flight out.

   • Transfer to Paro airport

This trip runs on request: Shambala Travels sets the dates with you rather than publishing a departure list.