Bhutan Active Explorer

Bhutan Active Explorer:

• Bhutan Tourist Visa processing and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
• Twin-sharing accommodation in well-rated hotels and boutique lodges
• Daily breakfast and dinner at hotels; selected lunches at local restaurants
• All ground transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver
• Licensed, English-speaking Bhutanese tour guide throughout the tour
• All sightseeing, excursions and entrance fees as per the itinerary
• One traditional cultural show (subject to availability)
• Bottled drinking water during sightseeing tours
• All applicable government taxes and service charges

Not included:

• International airfare to and from Bhutan
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping
• Meals not listed under inclusions
• Optional tours or activities outside the itinerary
• Expenses from unforeseen circumstances (delays, emergencies)
• Camera and video fees at certain monuments or events
• Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)

• We can assist in pre-departure planning, extra accommodation etc.
• We will send an extensive pack list to make sure you have all you need
• General travel clothing for cool to mild conditions, plus warm layers for high passes
• A suitable luggage travel bag and a small day backpack (10–20L)
• Medication, camera, sunscreen, lip balm, and reusable water bottle
• Walking poles if you normally carry them — strongly recommended for the Tiger’s Nest hike
• Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots with good ankle support
• Modest clothing for monastery and dzong visits (shoulders and knees covered)

We stay in carefully selected boutique hotels and well-rated lodges throughout, chosen for their character, comfort, and connection to local culture. Accommodation is twin-share. In Thimphu, you’ll be based in a boutique hotel within easy reach of the city’s cultural sites. In Punakha, a valley lodge places you close to the dzong and rice paddies. In Gangtey and Paro, mountain lodges offer a quieter, more atmospheric stay close to the trailheads.

Please note that some accommodation in Bhutan is traditional in style and may differ from what you’re used to — bring your enthusiasm and adaptability and be ready for an adventure!

No specialist equipment is required. Your gear should include hiking and active wear, at least 2 good pairs of walking shoes (one being a sturdy hiking boot), a 10–20L day bag, drink bottles or a bladder to hold at least 2 litres of water, and your usual travel toiletries and medication. Walking poles are optional but very useful for the steeper hike days, particularly Tiger’s Nest. Layered clothing is essential — temperatures can swing significantly between valley and high pass. We will provide a full pack list prior to the tour.

Daily breakfast and dinner are included at the hotels, with selected lunches at local restaurants throughout the tour. Food is prepared to high standards and most dietary requirements can be catered for — please let us know in advance.

Bhutanese cuisine is rich, communal and full of character — expect chillies and cheese (the national dish, ema datshi), red rice, momos (steamed dumplings), buckwheat pancakes in Phobjikha, and warming butter tea. Farmhouse dinners with local families on select evenings give you a window into everyday Bhutanese hospitality.

All ground transport is in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced local driver who is with us throughout the tour. Mountain roads in Bhutan are winding and journey times can feel long relative to distance — but the scenery is constantly spectacular, and we plan plenty of stops at viewpoints, tea houses and stupas along the way.

International airfare to and from Paro is not included. We can assist with recommendations on flight routings (most travellers connect via Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi or Kathmandu).

This journey through Bhutan is designed for travellers who want to experience the country actively and meaningfully — on foot, through its landscapes, and in connection with its people. Combining moderate hiking with rich cultural encounters, the itinerary moves at a thoughtful pace through western Bhutan’s most beautiful valleys.

This is a trip for those who prefer to experience a destination through movement, connection, and time well spent in each place, rather than simply passing through it.