9-Day HimalayanCruiser: Premium Bhutan Cultural Escapade with Luxury Accommodations

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Embark on a 9-day premium Bhutan cultural escapade with luxury accommodations. Immerse yourself in the unique culture, stunning nature, and exquisite comfort of Bhutan.

Duration: 9 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Paro International Airport – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

Rinpung Dzong - It is a fine example of the ostentatious Bhutanese art and architecture evident everywhere. Located above the Dzong is the National Museum showcasing various artifacts and relics of ancient Bhutan.
National Museum - National Museum showcasing various artifacts and…

Paro International Airport – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

National Museum - National Museum showcasing various artifacts and relics of ancient Bhutan

Thimphu - Enjoy the one and half hour drive to Thimphu through the beautiful landscape and during holidays you can stop over and watch an archery match in progress. Thimphu is one of the few capital cities in the world not having traffic lights and the traffic is still manned by traffic policemen. You can either check into your hotel and relax or go for an evening stroll through the town and and market areas.

Thimphu Valley Excursion – Combination of the Ancient and the Modern

Buddha Dordenma - After a leisurely breakfast explore the capital Thimphu and visit the main sites. Soak in the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from the site of the gigantic Buddha Shakyamuni, one of the largest statue of Buddha at a height of 169 feet (51.5 meters).

Thimphu Chorten (Memorial Chorten) - You can also enjoy a short hike around the Buddha, and then a stopover at the Memorial Chorten/stupa in town is another favorite with the tourists and elderly citizens as they circumambulate the Chorten chanting prayers and pulling at their beads. The main statue of the Buddha inside the Chorten is said to grant wishes for the earnest and honest hearted!

Centenary Farmers Market - If you want to mingle with the Bhutanese people and jostle with local farmers amongst the aroma of organic fruits and vegetables, the Centenary Farmers Market is the place to be. Smiling tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with the vendors and you could even stock up on your organic fruits for the coming days.

Tashichho Dzong (Thimpu Dzong) - After office hours (5 pm) visit the impressive Tashi Chho Dzong / Fortress of the Auspicious Religion. The Dzong houses the office of our King, few government offices and the Central Monk Body.

Thimphu – Gangtey & Phobjika valleys

Dochula Pass - After an hour drive from Thimphu you will reach the scenic Dochulaa Pass (3150 meters) from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains and the mini 108 stupas built over a hill

Chimi Lhakhang Temple - You can have your lunch in one of the many tourist standard restaurants in Lobesa Market and after, visit the Fertility Temple / Chime Lhakhang. It is a pleasant 30 minutes walk through mustard and paddy fields. Standing on a picturesque hilltop the Lhakhang is famous for its fertility wish grants to couples. Inside the walls of the Lhakhang are beautiful frescoes depicting the colorful life of Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman regarded for his crazy methods of teaching which included blessing women in the form of copulation!

Excursion of Gangtey & Phobjika Valleys

Punakha & Wangdue Valleys

Punakha Dzong - Punakha is the old capital city of Bhutan and the Punakha Dzong meaning the fortress of Great Bliss, was built by in 1673 to commemorate the final victory against numerous Tibetan invasions. Located on a piece of land between two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (literally meaning male and female rivers), the Dzong is massive, huge and magnificent in all its architectural grandeur. Although ravaged by flood, fire and earthquakes many times, the Dzong was always rebuilt with its original pattern and design.

A few minutes walk from the Dzong through beautiful flower gardens and huge flowering trees will bring you to the longest iron suspension of Bhutan. Continue walking on the rickety bridge till you reach the other side of the river where your car awaits to take you back to your hotel. Enjoy the ride along the river and the paddy fields

Excursion of Punakha & Wangdue Valleys

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten - After breakfast drive for a few minutes up north and walk for about an hour to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten stupa. The walk is beautiful through the pine trees, the stupa is beautiful and so is the view from there. Enroute you will also be walking through a suspension bridge over the Puna Tsang Chhu – Punakha River.

Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery - You can then visit the Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery where you can watch the nuns as they go about their daily life and rituals and since most of them speak a little English you can interact with them and exchange life-stories. You can also enjoy the beautiful view of both the valleys with the meandering river and landscape dotted with houses and prayer flags.

Punkaha – Thimphu – Paro Valleys

Simtokha Dzong - The drive back to Paro is about 4 hours and enroute you can stopover to visit the Semtokha Dzong, the first Dzong built in 1629

Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge - Tachogang Temple across the iron suspension bridge, and back in Paro you can check into the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary and enjoy their hospitality.

Hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery / Taktsang Goemba

Paro Taktsang - After an early breakfast drive for about 30 minutes to the base of the Taktsang Monastery, and while there are options to ride a pony till halfway, we’d suggest you to walk all the way to the Monastery. It is about 3 hours uphill and 2 hours down, and enroute there is a cafeteria, however we can either arrange a picnic lunch or depending on your walking pace you maybe able to come back to your hotel for lunch.
Since the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary offers many activities you have the choice to stay at your Hotel and enjoy these facilities, or you can visit few temples located in the town and enjoy a stroll through the market places and numerous small handicraft shops.

Paro International Airport

Paro Airport Bird’s Eye View Point - Final view of Paro from Bird Eye view

What's Included

Private transportation
Complimentary bottled mineral water
Contribution to socio-economic development through Government Royalty
Short hikes with packed lunches and snacks
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Cooler box for chilled beverages in vehicle
All necessary VISA and VISA Processing Fee covered
Bhutan Tourism Development…

What's Not Included

Air fare
Refreshments and bottled drinks and alcohol
Cost arising out of Flight Cancellation/road blockades/ landslides and events beyond our control
Expenses of personal nature and any other expenses not mentioned in the above cost
Tips/gratuities – It is at your discretion to tip your guide and driver as per their services

Additional Information

Journey to Bhutan with opulence and comfort. Stay in prestigious 5 star International Chain Hotels and Bhutan’s AmanKora Lodges.
Experience the Joy of Bhutan Cultural Tour, offering a rich array of stunning valleys, indigenous culture, traditions, and abundant nature with overnight pauses at attractive lodges and hotels. This tour is the epitome of…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

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(5 Ratings)

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Wfc42

Oct 11, 2023

Excellent Guide & Driver - I had a very enjoyable and memorable nine-day tour of Bhutan with Bhutan Swallowtail Tours. My guide (Kinzang) and driver (Dorji) were exceptional. They were professional, punctual, flexible and fun. I spent a few wonderful days at the Dodeydrak Monastery. And when I tired of sightseeing, Kinzang improvised several inventive volunteer activities. We painted a stupa/shrine, cleared a trail to a temple and, best of all, harvested rice alongside locals. Kinzang is smart, educated and fluent in English. As well as being an outstanding guide, she would also make an excellent tour company manager. Dorji is a very safe and helpful driver and has his own high quality vehicle. All highly recommended!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Amir

Apr 14, 2023

Swallowtail made it amazing! - We are a family from Israel, just got back from 10 amazing days in Bhutan, after we planned to visit Bhutan with Swallowtail already in March 2020, and then COVID came... Swallowtail team made sure that I got all my money back, and that I am smiling. The owner Tashi and her team kept in touch with me in the last 3 years, and once the borders got open, we immediately made plans to make this tour happen. All of us (parents and teenagers) were fascinated by Bhutan, its culture, its smiling friendly people, the Paro festival (WOW!), the monasteries and nunneries in both the cities as well as remote locations, the relaxed atmosphere, the beauty of nature while doing short treks, and how everything was organized. A big BRAVO to our guide KD and the driver Jimmy who took good care of us for 10 days with any request about sites, food, change of plans, teaching us Archery, and were even attentive to our special crazy requests (e.g. buying a Drum and transfer it to us from another location). Swallowtail is highly recommended.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Fivewaves6711

Mar 20, 2023

The Perfect Bhutan Experience - all thanks to the Company, Comms Officer, Guide & Driver ! - * The company * Having wanted to visit Bhutan since 1998, I finally checked TripAdvisor in late 2019 and selected Bhutan Swallowtail Tours, having found that it topped the list among 185 other contenders for Outdoor Activities in Thimphu. It seemed a good choice back then, and as I write this review having completed my tour now 3 years later, I can now confirm that it was indeed an excellent choice! * The comms officer / travel agent * In 2020, Covid happened and the Communications Officer, Singye Wangmo had the unenviable task to break the news to me and many others that the trip was an indefinite no-go due to Covid. In the 3 years that followed, I researched Bhutan with a vengeance and bugged Singye for all things big and small. Hats off to her for being the epitome of tolerance and grace all this time. Let me start by saying that travellers want a travel agent who is detail-oriented and who can anticipate their needs. One that can plan every aspect of their trip, from flights and accommodations to ground transportation. Someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in the destinations they are interested in visiting. Able to explain complex travel arrangements in simple terms and respond promptly to questions and concerns. Someone with integrity, honesty and transparency. Someone who listens to our needs and preferences, and who can tailor our travel plans accordingly. Available when we need them, responding promptly to any questions or concerns. What Singye was admirable … why? because she did all this for 3 years, very promptly and without a single complaint! Her attitude and her responses were what kept me with Swallowtail for 3 years! But last but not least, a good travel agent should be able to handle unexpected situations, such as flight cancellations, and should be able to quickly find solutions to minimize the impact on the traveller's itinerary. On the day I was scheduled to fly to Bhutan, this was unfortunately exactly what happened to me as my Thai airways flight got messed up due to a flight confirmation email from the airlines that it did not honour, which caused us to be sent back home with our luggage. I remain ever-thankful that Singye took the initiative to call me to reassure me at the airport, to expedite the flight changes and all other arrangements such that I could start my tour in Bhutan the very next day. I shudder to think what would have happened if not for her quick mind and her resourcefulness. And throughout, she was extremely patient and kind. * the guide * We travellers typically look forward to the same qualities in our guides: subject-matter expertise, good comm skills, passion, flexibility, safety and security. My 9 days with Yeshi Dorje has proven beyond any doubt that he checks all these boxes with distinction. At the risk of repeating what has already been shared, I would still re-iterate that Yeshi is indeed a man of many talents. Not only is he very learned in Buddhist theory, practice and history, he is also great at singing and guitar. I was particularly impressed by his ability to answer nearly every question I threw at him - not only on Bhutan’s Buddhism and natural history, but also its history, culture, and customs. For the 1% of questions I asked that were new to him, he always came back with very detailed insights the next day as promised without fail. His passion to do his best for us clients is only matched with his devotion to be a good Buddhist. Hence, he “ran the extra mile, in fact many extra miles for us” just to ensure that we had the best experiences. We merely shared what we wished for on the first day, and he saw to it that he fulfilled those wishes on the 2nd day .. which subsequently completely changed our itinerary on the 4th day. What made Yeshi stand out from other guides we engaged in the past was firstly his understanding of our needs. His EQ was phenomenal. He intuitively sensed our needs and by day 2 or 3 could propose things we liked without us even asking. Secondly, Yeshi himself has had a colourful yet tough past, and what I found was that his perspective had been shaped by his life experiences and the people he had encountered. Which became fodder for the very interesting conversations that followed. Thirdly, Yeshi is super-experienced, having started his tour / trekking guide career in 2006. Yet what warmed our heart was that his years of experience and the scores of clients he must have guided had not dampened his passion to be a great guide for us. Fourthly, he is a great story-teller, whether for first-hand accounts, or second- or third-hand accounts. Just ask him about supernatural encounters, and he will leave you hooked wanting for more. Fifthly, he is well-connected with locals, meaning that it is easier to get or buy certain local products since he know the people dealing directly with these products. I shall not spoil it for you by telling what products, else this will spoil the suspense, but ask him and you will find out! * the driver * Having had 15 years of tour driving experience behind him, Dago Dorji is one of the most skillful drivers we have ever encountered. Being driven by him, we felt extremely safe and in very good hands. While the roads criss-crossing the mountains and passes were hardly easy, there wasn’t a single time we felt unsafe. Dago was a very decent guy, soft spoken, didn’t smoke nor drink, and very straightforward. He was precise in everything, hence it is no wonder he is a competitive archer participating in national competitions. His impeccable knowledge of Bhutan’s roads and routes at the back of his hand ensured that we were never late for anything. Always early, we never had to wait for him at all throughout our 9 days. He was ever respectful and kind, delighting us with small yet heartwarming gestures such as opening and closing the car doors for us, helping us with the luggage, etc. In the trip up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, he took it upon himself to guide and look after my wife and ensured that she go to the Tiger Nest café, which was no small feat considering her severe lack of physical fitness! Dago was really a pleasure to be with, and we were so happy to have him in our tour group. * summary * In summary, I unreservedly recommend Swallowtail as the tour agency of choice for Bhutan. The couple of Swallowtail staff I had the fortune to meet during our trip all really seemed pretty decent .. but if you want the best, based on the above account, you’d know who I’d recommend!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Berculucian

Jan 9, 2023

I love Bhutan and royal family. - This is from far one of the best travel agency in Bhutan. The tours guide Mr. Kindley, Mr. Dagoo and Mr. Tatoo are very profesional, kind, polite and strongly recomanded. Use this tour agency and you will be very satisfied with their servicies.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ramyaravi08

Dec 25, 2022

Amazing trip made even better by guide and driver from Swallowtail - My brother and I stayed 9 nights and 10 days in Bhutan with the help of Bhutan swallowtail tour agency. We were in touch with the agency a month and a half prior to discuss our itinerary and stays for the trip. The staff was very responsive and gave all information in a timely fashion. We felt supported and taken care of from the start. They took care of our visa and other booking needs. We were greeted as we arrived by Sonam (guide) and Passang (driver) in Paro on their National Day. We had the opportunity to take part in the festivities right away. Both S&P were always flexible with the any day’s itinerary and took care of us in case we were feeling under the weather or needed something out of the ordinary (more on this later). We stayed in two hotels booked by swallowtail and two of our choice. We would’ve liked a different one for our last stay in paro but it still was nothing to complain about. S&P were always on time and available for anything we might need. They were also easy to communicate with and get our needs met, if any. We insisted we wanted to hike a lot and see Bhutan that way. Sonam acquiesced with the best trails and ideas for excursions possible. She joined us and led us through some unknown paths. We had so many unexpected and pleasant experiences on this trip because of Sonam like a prayer at a nunnery and intense hikes with amazing views. I accidentally soaked my work laptop on a drive and had to get it repaired. Sonam was with me every step of the way to deal with that and it was all ok at the end which was a relief. My brother was ill with a cold and every stop Sonam made sure he was comfortable and doing ok. We were able to go out a couple of nights and enjoy the bar scene with S&P. Don’t miss out on booking these guys for your trip to Bhutan!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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