Gangtey

One of the loveliest valleys in all of Bhutan, Gangtey is home to pine and bamboo forests, spectacular views of the remote Phobjkha valley, and the Gangtey Goemba (monastery). Must-do activities include a hike on the Gangtey Nature Trail — renowned as one of the most beautiful nature trails in the entire country. Along the way, you may also catch a glimpse of the black-necked cranes that make their journey from Tibet.

Samdrup Jognkhar

Samdrup Jongkhar is not only the gateway between Assam, India, and Bhutan, but it also holds the distinct honor of being the oldest town in Bhutan. It is a bustling little settlement with a mix of Bhutanese and Indian shops, market stalls, cuisine, and culture. It is a convenient exit town for visitors who are extending their travels in India.

Bumthang Valley

The Bumthang region encompasses four major valleys: Choskhor, Tang, Ura, and Chhume. The dzongs and the most important temples can be found in the large Choskhor Valley, commonly referred to as the Bumthang Valley. Different from most other valleys in Bhutan, Bumthang is broad and ideal for walkers and hikers.

There are numerous Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites to explore, making it the cultural and historic center of the country. It would be difficult to find as many important temples and monasteries in such a small area anywhere else in Bhutan — and almost every little valley or hill has its own background of interesting myths and legends about kings, Buddhist masters, and serpents.

Mongar

Surrounded by flowers, fertile fields, and lush vegetation, Mongar is perched high in the hills of Eastern Bhutan and is the second largest town in this sub-tropical region. Places of interest in and around Mongar include Mongar Dzong, the Yakang Lhakang monastery, and Dramese Lhakang, founded in the 16th century and regarded as one of the largest and most important monasteries in Eastern Bhutan.

Paro Valley

Paro is the home of the national airport and where all of our custom tours in Bhutan begin. The Valley itself is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses.

One of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan, Paro has kept its bucolic nature and has a feeling of peacefulness rare in most other Asian cities. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

Punakha

The road to Punakha offers great views of the eastern Himalayan Mountains, and as you cross the 10,230′ Dochu La pass, you’re soon surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Punakha is an idyllic place, filled with magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, terraced rice fields, small villages, and spectacular views.

It’s also home to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, this was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs, and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today, Bhutan’s spiritual leader, Chief Abbot Je Khempo, lives here with 1,000 monks during the winter months, due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000′).

Thimphu

Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capital in 1961, and home of the royal family, Thimphu was a simple rural farming valley. However, nowadays, Thimphu is becoming increasingly popular with world travelers.

It is a city ideally explored on foot, and filled with many interesting sights including the newly built National Textile Museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Small and secluded, it is unlike any other capital in the world.

Trashigang

Trashigang is the principal township of the biggest and most populated district in Bhutan, and is used as market place for the semi-nomadic people of the region. At 3,610′, Trashigang appears to cling to a steep hillside, high above the Gamri River.

Standing at the extreme end of a rocky outcrop far above the river gorge is Trashigang Dzong, which was built in 1659. It serves as the administrative seat for the district, and the local monastic community occupies part of the dzong.

Paro Valley

Paro is the home of the national airport and where all of our custom tours in Bhutan begin. The Valley itself is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses.

One of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan, Paro has kept its bucolic nature and has a feeling of peacefulness rare in most other Asian cities. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

Punakha

The road to Punakha offers great views of the eastern Himalayan Mountains, and as you cross the 10,230′ Dochu La pass, you’re soon surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Punakha is an idyllic place, filled with magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, terraced rice fields, small villages, and spectacular views.

It’s also home to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, this was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs, and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today, Bhutan’s spiritual leader, Chief Abbot Je Khempo, lives here with 1,000 monks during the winter months, due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000′).

Thimphu

Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capital in 1961, and home of the royal family, Thimphu was a simple rural farming valley. However, nowadays, Thimphu is becoming increasingly popular with world travelers.

It is a city ideally explored on foot, and filled with many interesting sights including the newly built National Textile Museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Small and secluded, it is unlike any other capital in the world.

Paro Valley

Paro is the home of the national airport and where all of our custom tours in Bhutan begin. The Valley itself is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses.

One of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan, Paro has kept its bucolic nature and has a feeling of peacefulness rare in most other Asian cities. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

Punakha

The road to Punakha offers great views of the eastern Himalayan Mountains, and as you cross the 10,230′ Dochu La pass, you’re soon surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Punakha is an idyllic place, filled with magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, terraced rice fields, small villages, and spectacular views.

It’s also home to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, this was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs, and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today, Bhutan’s spiritual leader, Chief Abbot Je Khempo, lives here with 1,000 monks during the winter months, due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000′).

Thimphu

Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capital in 1961, and home of the royal family, Thimphu was a simple rural farming valley. However, nowadays, Thimphu is becoming increasingly popular with world travelers.

It is a city ideally explored on foot, and filled with many interesting sights including the newly built National Textile Museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Small and secluded, it is unlike any other capital in the world.

Paro Valley

Paro is the home of the national airport and where all of our custom tours in Bhutan begin. The Valley itself is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses.

One of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan, Paro has kept its bucolic nature and has a feeling of peacefulness rare in most other Asian cities. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

Punakha

The road to Punakha offers great views of the eastern Himalayan Mountains, and as you cross the 10,230′ Dochu La pass, you’re soon surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Punakha is an idyllic place, filled with magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, terraced rice fields, small villages, and spectacular views.

It’s also home to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, this was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs, and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today, Bhutan’s spiritual leader, Chief Abbot Je Khempo, lives here with 1,000 monks during the winter months, due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000′).

Thimphu

Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capital in 1961, and home of the royal family, Thimphu was a simple rural farming valley. However, nowadays, Thimphu is becoming increasingly popular with world travelers.

It is a city ideally explored on foot, and filled with many interesting sights including the newly built National Textile Museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Small and secluded, it is unlike any other capital in the world.

Paro Valley

Paro is the home of the national airport and where all of our custom tours in Bhutan begin. The Valley itself is a green bowl surrounded by jagged Himalayan Mountains and forested hillsides, crossed by beautiful rivers, and dotted with medieval fortresses.

One of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan, Paro has kept its bucolic nature and has a feeling of peacefulness rare in most other Asian cities. The houses are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country, and Paro is believed to be one of the first valleys to have received the imprint of Buddhism.

Punakha

The road to Punakha offers great views of the eastern Himalayan Mountains, and as you cross the 10,230′ Dochu La pass, you’re soon surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Punakha is an idyllic place, filled with magnificent pine and rhododendron forests, terraced rice fields, small villages, and spectacular views.

It’s also home to the Punakha Dzong. Constructed in 1637, this was the second of Bhutan’s dzongs, and for many years it served as the seat of the government. Today, Bhutan’s spiritual leader, Chief Abbot Je Khempo, lives here with 1,000 monks during the winter months, due to Punakha’s relatively low altitude by Himalayan standards (4,000′).

Thimphu

Before becoming Bhutan’s official national capital in 1961, and home of the royal family, Thimphu was a simple rural farming valley. However, nowadays, Thimphu is becoming increasingly popular with world travelers.

It is a city ideally explored on foot, and filled with many interesting sights including the newly built National Textile Museum, the Thimphu Dzong (seat of the government and main monk body), the School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, the Heritage Museum, and the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays the rich traditional crafts of the kingdom. Small and secluded, it is unlike any other capital in the world.

Annapurna Mountain Range

The Sanskrit name "Annapurna" can be translated as "Goddess of the Harvests" or "The Provider" — which is particularly apt, as trekking in the foothills of the Annapurna Mountain Range will provide you with an array of unforgettable moments. The views are spectacular, combining a variety of landscapes such as rhododendron forests, sub-tropical valleys, and charming villages, all set against a backdrop of some of the highest mountains on Earth.

Kathmandu

Stunningly situated in a bowl-shaped valley and encircled by some of the highest peaks in the world, Kathmandu is the largest city in Nepal, as well the namesake of the Kathmandu Valley. It’s home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites of medieval temple complexes and royal palace squares, plus Buddhist monasteries and religious statues, although some of these incredible sites were damaged in a 2015 earthquake. However, the resilience and strength of the Nepalese are helping restore this incredible capital back to its former glory.

Pokhara

The rural capital of western Nepal and the second largest city in the country, Pokhara is considered the starting point for most treks in the Annapurna Mountain Range. It’s a bucolic place, situated on Phewa Lake, with stunning views of the snow-capped Annapurna Mountains. Pokhara is also an adrenalin lover’s paradise, with a variety of active adventures to do including boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, paragliding, and naturally, trekking and hiking.