Dzongs
Each district has a dzong that is both the local government headquarters and a monastery. The dzongs are often dramatically located in scenic locations, on cliffsides and river confluences. The monasteries have temples dedicated to different Buddhist deities.

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Punakha
The most spectacular dzong in the country with a very large assembly hall with paintings depicting Buddha's life.

Trongsa

The ancestral home for the heredity kings with twenty-six different temples.

Thimphu

Houses the current government of Bhutan.

Jakar

Located in rural Bumthang and is a picturesque structure with a view of the town of Chamkhar.

Paro

The movie "The Little Buddha" was filmed at the Paro Dzong.

Temples, Monasteries and Nunneries
Throughout Bhutan are public and private temples of worship. The temples are dedicated to a variety of deities and have different worship styles. Bhutan also has many monasteries and a few nunneries.

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Takstang (Tiger's Nest)

Tiger’s Nest is the most important religious and tourist site in Bhutan, located high upon the side of a cliff, 2,700 feet above the floor of Paro Valley. You can choose to hike or ride horses part way up to a tea house with a great view, or hike up the entire challenging four mile trail and visit the monastery.

Cheri Monastery

A retreat center located 1,000 feet above the Thimphu Valley floor requires a moderate hike.

Changangkha

The oldest temple in Thimphu dedicated to the Avalokiteshvara, the female goddess of compassion. Locals visit the temple to find out the apropriate names for their children.

Pangri Zampa

Just outside of Thimphu is the first residence of the Shabdrung, who united Bhutan during the 16th century.

Zilukha Nunnery

One of the few nunneries in Bhutan. Zilukha is dedicated to the iron bridge builder and is located in Thimphu.

Chimi Lhakhang

This temple is dedicated to the divine madman. He loved wine and women and assists the Bhutanese with fertility issues. Chimi Lhakhang is located east of Punakha.

Khamsun Yuelley

A new three story temple near Punakha was built for the fifth king with fresh murals primarly of tantric Buddhism.

Kurjey Lhakhang

Guru Rimpoche meditated here in Bumthang and left his body imprint in the rock.

Tamshing Lhakhang

This temple in Bumthang contains untouched historic frescos dating back from the 16th century. You can be cleansed from your sins by wearing a coat of iron chain and circumambulating the temple.

Jampay Lhakhang

A small temple in Bumthang dedicated to the future Buddha with four stupas dedicated to the guardian deities of the four directions.

Buli Lhakhang

A temple maintained by the American Himalayan Foundation with a classroom for the local community. Buli Lhakhang is located on the road between Trongsa and Bumthang.

Merbartsho - The Burning Lake

Perma Linga discovered hidden treasures left by Guru Rimpoche here in Bumthang. He swam underwater with a butter lamp in this dramatic river gorge.

Treks
Bhutan department of tourism restricts trekking to a set of fixed itineraries. You can choose to add one of the following treks to your tour of Bhutan. The treks are listed in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest and start in locations throughout Bhutan.

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Bumthang Cultural Trek - 3 days / 2 nights

This trek is in central Bhutan and is mostly flat but does reach 11,000 feet in elevation. You will pass many villages and encounter the local people.

Gangtey Trek - 4 days / 3 nights

This trek is in Phobjikha, the valley of the black necked cranes. A moderate trek that starts at 9,000 feet and reaches 11,200 feet and passes through several villages.

Panorama Trek - 4 days / 3 nights

This moderate trek starts in the Haa Valley and ends in Paro. The highest point is 14,000 feet with views the snowcapped Himalayas and the Haa and Paro Valleys.

Druk Path - 5 days / 4 nights

This trek is moderately strenuous walking thirty seven miles up to 13,000 feet in elevation. The trek passes three beautiful lakes, starts in Paro and ends in Thimphu.

Jhomolhari - 10 days / 9 nights

This classic strenuous trek climbs two passes up to 16,000 feet with great views of the snow-capped Himalayas. You will visit Lingshi Dzong and a yak herder's permanent settlement along the way. Part of the trek includes a long downhill section on a scree path. This trek starts in Paro and ends in Thimphu.

Snowman Trek - 25 days / 24 nights

This trek is one of the most difficult in the world as it crosses eleven passes up to 16,500 feet. Snowman offers the best view of the Himalayas, yak herder camps and many lakes. The snowman trek starts near Paro and ends in Chendebji, which is west of Trongsa.

Sporting and Outdoor Activities
Along with sightseeing, Bhutan offers quite a few sporting activities other than trekking. You can go on many day hikes and return to sleep in a comfortable lodge. Biking, archery, golfing and fishing are also available. If you like water, you can raft, kayak or soak in a hotspring. Bhutan is also good for birdwatching or staying overnight on in village home.

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Hiking

Throughout Bhutan are many opportunities for day hikes. To visit some temples and monasteries, your only option is to hike. Many hikes have some relatively steep climbs.

Birdwatching

Throughout Bhutan are 670 different bird species. Good spots for birdwatching are near Punakha, the central south town of Tingtibi, the National Park Thrimshingla along the highway between Bumthang and Mongar, and along the highway between Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

Black Necked Cranes

The black necked cranes winter in the Phobjikha Valley adjoining the Black Mountain National Park. You can see the cranes from an observatory overlooking the fields.

Takin Preserve

The Motithang Zoo in Thimphu is a preserve for the Bhutanese national animal, the unusual takin.

Biking

You can choose to tour part of the country on bicycle whether you rent bicycles in Bhutan or bring your own.  The best places for biking is in either Thimphu to Bumthang, or between Bumthang and Mongar. 

Archery

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. The range is 148 meters or 161 yards. We can arrange for you to take part in a local game.

Golfing

A nine hole public course in Thimphu rents clubs.

Fishing

Conventional or flyfishing is available in Bhutan along the Paro, Thimphu or Punakha rivers. You must bring your own fishing gear.

Hotsprings

In the winter months, the Bhutanese use the hotsprings for medicinal purposes. Hotel facilities are not located near the hotsprings requiring you to camp.

Home Stay

You can choose to spend one or more nights in a Bhutanese village home. We can arrange for you to attend a local dance performance, get a stone bath or help with farm chores.

Rafting

From October to March, rafting is available on the Punakha river with class I or III rapids.

Kayaking

You can kayak in either the Thimphu or Punakha rivers.

Cultural Activities
You can experience the local Bhutanese culture and history in a variety of ways. You can attend a festival, visit several musuems or shop for the local arts and crafts.

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Festivals

Throughout many months of the year are festivals held at the local dzong. The significant events in Buddhist history are re-enacted through music and dance. The locals believe one gains merit by attending their yearly festival. The event is also a main social gathering where the locals are dressed in their best textiles. Please visit the festivals page to see a festival schedule for the upcoming year.

National Museum

The national museum in Paro has rotating exhibits and a regular collection that includes ancient thangka paintings, bronze statues and Bhutanese stamps, which are collected worldwide.

Textile Museum

Thimphu Textile Museum has a nice display of the different kinds of Bhutanese textiles and a good video describing the different weaving techniques.

Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum

Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum has displays illustrating local village life.

Bumthang Folk Heritage Museum

Bumthang Folk Heritage Museum is similar to the Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum but requires a short walk up a hillside trail.

School of Arts and Painting

At the school of arts and painting in Thimphu, you can watch the Bhutanese students learn the traditional crafts of painting thangkas, carving statues, embroidery, weaving and blacksmithing.

Shopping

In Bhutan, you can buy many of the crafts the locals make for themselves. Many of the items are Buddhist objects including thangka paintings, masks used in the festival dnaces, vases, prayer wheels, bells, cymbals, telescoping horns and the lute. Local handmade textiles, jewelery and bamboo containers are also available.

Paper Making Factory

In Thimphu, you can visit a factory that makes paper.

National Library

The Thimphu National Library contains the largest book in the world: a photography book created by MIT in Boston, Massachusetts.

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