Begin the day with a gentle walk from Changyul, crossing Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge and following the Po Chhu River through a sanctuary for the endangered white-bellied heron. Stop for a picnic lunch along the riverbank before setting off on a float trip downstream, drifting past Punakha Dzong and the confluence of the rivers to a sandy beach where your vehicle will be waiting.

If time permits, visit nearby Chorten Nibu Monastery, where young monks share colorful legends of witches, the Divine Madman, and the monastery’s sacred tree. The remainder of the afternoon is free, with the option to set out on a bike ride or a hike to the King’s Lake.

This morning you will continue eastward, stopping in Wangdue to visit its hilltop dzong and a workshop where sacred incense is made. From here, travel deep into the Black Mountains, crossing the Lawa La Pass (3,360 m) and pausing for a picnic before reaching the trailhead for the Longtey Lomey Hike. This 3–4 hour walk through yak pastures is a beautiful way to enter the Beyul, or “hidden sacred valley,” of Gangtey.

On arrival, you will be warmly welcomed at your lodge, with the chance to join evening prayers at either the local Buddhist college or Gangtey Goemba monastery. The valley is also the seasonal home of the black-necked cranes, who migrate here from Tibet each winter. End the day with a traditional hot stone bath at a farmhouse—a soothing Bhutanese ritual and a memorable way to close your first evening in Gangtey.

Begin the day with the option to join morning prayers at Gangtey Monastery, an experience that offers both spiritual insight and sweeping views across the valley’s wetlands dotted with small temples. Gangtey lies within a conservation area supported by the Bhutanese government and the World Wildlife Fund, and is home to the 16th-century Gangtey Goemba, which includes a school, meditation facilities, and monastic quarters.

Later, set out on foot or by bike toward Kewa Lhakhang, following a trail that winds through villages, farmland, and temples. Along the way, keep an eye out for yaks grazing in the fields and, in season, the revered black-necked cranes that migrate to the valley each winter.

Set out early today for a drive to Paro. Pause at Pele La Pass and the Royal Botanical Gardens before crossing Dochula Pass, where, if skies are clear, the Himalayas stretch dramatically across the horizon. At Chunzom, the confluence of two rivers, you’ll see three shrines built in Nepali, Tibetan, and Bhutanese styles, believed to ward off lingering spirits.

Arriving in Paro Valley, take a walk past Ugyen Pelri Palace and the main archery grounds, then cross the traditional covered bridge of Nyami Zam to reach Rinpung Dzong. Continue on to Ta Dzong, the former watchtower now housing Bhutan’s National Museum, and hike further up to Zurig Dzong for sweeping views across the valley. On your return, stop at Drukchoding Lhakhang, where a local elder will show you how to block-print blessings onto colorful fabric to create windhorses, or prayer flags. You may keep them as a keepsake or hang them in a meaningful spot with your guide’s assistance.

This morning you will drive up to Chele La, Bhutan’s highest road pass at 3,988 m, where prayer flags ripple against sweeping views of western Bhutan, the Haa Valley, and the snow peaks of Jhomolhari. From here, set out on a 2–3 hour hike through blue pine and rhododendron forest into open highlands grazed by yaks and dotted with wildflowers such as azaleas, edelweiss, and, in season, the rare blue poppy. Your destination is Kila Goemba, a cliffside nunnery that has served as a meditation retreat since the 9th century and today is home to about 30 nuns. After paying your respects and making offerings, descend into the valley to meet your vehicle. Strong hikers may opt for a longer 5-hour ridge walk to a sky burial site before circling down to the nunnery.

In the evening, you will join a Bhutanese family in their home for a hands-on cooking class. As you prepare traditional dishes together, you’ll also gain insight into daily life and the strong culinary traditions that are central to Bhutanese culture.

Today you will hike to Taktsang Goemba, or Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Bhutan’s most iconic landmark. Clinging dramatically to a cliffside high above the Paro Valley, the monastery marks the spot where Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on the back of a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism from Tibet. The 4–5 hour round-trip trail leads through forests draped with prayer flags, past waterfalls and viewpoints, before reaching the monastery itself. After exploring the site, descend for a well-deserved picnic lunch.

In the afternoon, continue up the valley to visit Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th-century fortress built to guard the route to Tibet. On your return to Paro, you may wish to stop for a round of archery, Bhutan’s national sport, before heading to your lodge for the evening.

Enjoy a final morning in Bhutan then head to the airport to catch your onward flight.