The 8 Best Things To Do In Bhutan
Bhutan is a unique and mysterious kingdom tucked away in the Himalayas, perfect for those looking for peace, views and untouched surroundings. As the only country that measures its GDP in happiness rather than profit, a trip to Bhutan is both a memorable and rare experience. A shining example of sustainable travel and low-impact tourism, Bhutan has famously applied high daily tourism levies to ensure this pristine kingdom isn’t eroded by the demands of mass tourism. It is not a cheap destination to visit, nor should it be. If Bhutan is on your travel wish list, now is the time to visit and here we explain why.
Written by Holly, Travel Differently’s Bhutan specialist
Last updated 1st October 2026
1. Hiking
From scenic ambles with incredible Himalayan views, to steep walks through pine forests and multi-day camping treks, Bhutan has something for everyone. Unlike Nepal, where hiking routes can be very congested, trekking in Bhutan is still relatively new. Coupled with Bhutan being a high-value, low-volume destination, the result is quieter trekking routes, fewer visitors, and a sense of peace in discovering somewhere untouched.
Our Bhutan holidays are fully private and tailor-made, so your expert guide will be on hand throughout to accompany you on any of the hikes you’d like to try. You typically spend 2-3 days in each valley on a Bhutan holiday, which allows a perfect amount of time to incorporate the best day hikes in each region. The Lungchutse hike from the Dochu La Pass en route to the Punakha Valley is one of our favourites, offering stunning views from a picturesque temple high above the pass. Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten is another classic hike in Punakha, taking you high up to the stupa for valley views before ending at the suspension bridge above the iconic river. The Gangtey Nature Trail is renowned for sweeping, atmospheric walking, rewarding you with scenic views and a real sense of achievement.
If you’re looking to include a multi-day trek as part of your Bhutan holiday, there are several varied options, from the gentle 2-day Bumdra Trek through to the demanding 11-day Laya Gasa expedition. We’ve written a full guide to choosing the right one for you in our Best Treks in Bhutan article.
“Day hikes are such an integral part of a Bhutan trip. You don’t need to commit to a multi-day trek to get that properly quiet, Himalayan feeling.” — Holly, Bhutan Specialist
Want to build hiking into your Bhutan holiday? Speak to our Bhutan experts about tailoring a route around your fitness level and interests.
2. Festivals
Bhutan has a rich yearly calendar of festivals held in valleys across the country. These extraordinary festivals offer a colourful, carnival-like atmosphere filled with dancing, music, costumes and varied themes. Festivals originated to mark the arrival of Buddhism in Bhutan, with each district holding its own unique festival, bringing together neighbouring valleys and inviting people to join in the celebrations.
The festivals, known as Tshechus, can last from 1 to 4 days, and locals are encouraged to attend, meet up with friends and family and enjoy this hugely positive event that celebrates togetherness. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is one of the most famous in Bhutan, held in November in the courtyard of Gangtey Monastery. It combines all the colour and celebration of a Bhutan festival, with the added purpose of raising awareness of the unique black-necked crane. These magnificent birds are protected and revered in Bhutan, and the festival encourages ongoing conservation.
Bumthang, one of the more remote and harder-to-reach valleys in Bhutan, is home to extraordinary festivals (Tamzhing Phala Choepa and Thangbi Mani among others) and is well worth the longer drive days required to experience such culturally rich celebrations.
Want to include a festival in your Bhutan holiday? Unsurprisingly, festivals are incredibly popular with both locals and tourists, so we advise booking your Bhutan holiday at least a year in advance if travelling over festival dates, to secure accommodation in the relevant valleys.
Experience a unique festival on our Bhutan Trekking and Festival Holiday (16 days from £5,276pp)
3. Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery is perhaps the main reason people dream of travelling to Bhutan. Experiencing this monument etched into a steep cliff, surrounded by misty mountain air and rich green vegetation, is a true once-in-a-lifetime travel moment. A visit to Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Palphug) will excite those who love culture and climbing, with the at-times challenging 4–5 hour round-trip hike to the monastery forming a key part of the overall experience.
The trail follows well-trodden steep paths through green woodland, passing prayer wheels along the way. Around halfway up there is a well-placed small café for a pit stop and to enjoy the midpoint views. As the walk progresses, the views become almost dream-like. Once you reach the summit, your guide will talk you through the history of this incredible monastery, explaining the artwork, spiritual significance and how construction took place.
Bhutan is a relatively quiet country that avoids the tourist masses; however, Tiger’s Nest is the country’s most popular highlight, so busy paths in places are unavoidable. We always include the visit to Tiger’s Nest Monastery at the end of your Bhutan holiday, allowing time for acclimatisation to the altitude and saving the very best until last.
“For a wonderful unique angle on Tiger’s Nest, consider staying at Amba Paro, the only hotel in the country with direct views of the monastery itself.” — Holly, Bhutan Specialist
Climb to Tiger’s Nest on our Classic Bhutan Holiday (14 days from £3,903pp)
4. Active Adventures
While Bhutan is a paradise for those seeking a peaceful, spiritual holiday, it’s also a dream for those who love outdoor adventures and breaking a sweat. Jumping on a bike with your expert guide offers the freedom to explore at your own pace, taking in cultures and landscapes you may otherwise miss from a vehicle.
Our Bhutan cycling holiday takes you through traditional villages, lush green valleys and past traditional farmhouses, often following routes through Punakha Valley, stopping for lunch with friendly locals along the way. This is the way to travel slower and travel better, on a bike, taking in what this marvellous kingdom has to offer. Your support team will go ahead with your luggage in a private vehicle, meeting you at points on the route that suit your abilities, meaning you can enjoy as much or as little daily cycling as you’d prefer, with Dhensa Boutique Resort or charming Dhumra Farm Resort and a cold drink waiting at the end of the day.
Rafting is also a brilliant activity to incorporate into your Bhutan holiday. In the Punakha Valley, depending on water levels at the time, choose from the male or female river to enjoy some exhilarating rafting with an expert team, covering around 6-9 miles of rapids past secluded stretches of glistening river, with views of Punakha Dzong from the water as you paddle past. A hearty lunch awaits you after your adventure.
Want to give the national sport of archery a go? Try your hand at Changlimithang Stadium and Archery ground in Thimphu, where you can watch a local competition or have a go yourself. Archery is an integral part of Bhutanese life and great fun to try.
Go cycling, hiking and rafting on our Bhutan Hiking, Cycling & Rafting Adventure (14 days from £4,668pp)
5. Meet the people
One of the first things you will notice on your Bhutan holiday is locals wearing traditional Bhutanese dress. A distinct outfit that reflects the Kingdom’s rich culture and history, the Gho (worn by men) and the Kira (worn by women) showcase skilled craftsmanship and beauty, giving you a glimpse into the traditions and values of Bhutan. The people you meet will undoubtedly form a major part of your Bhutan holiday, from your friendly, knowledgeable guide and driver, to hotel owners and market traders.
We can include a farmhouse visit in Paro with a traditional home-cooked dinner, where you can meet community members, learn about traditional ways of life and try some delicacies like butter tea. Thimphu’s weekend market is a wonderful way to experience real Bhutanese life, where you can chat to locals and buy some locally made gifts. Try to catch a local archery competition to experience this national sport up close, see the skills on display, and speak to some of the local players.
Bhutanese people are rightly proud of their beautiful and unique country, and encourage visitors to learn more about preserving nature and local environments. My wonderful guide Dorji kindly took me to his family home to meet his relatives, new baby niece and try some butter tea, a local delicacy. It was such a highlight to speak to his family and learn more about their jobs and daily life. In our experience, the people we met were warm, friendly and welcoming, and became an integral part of our holiday.
Want a trip built around genuine cultural connection? Speak to our Bhutan experts about including farmhouse visits, markets and local experiences in your tailor-made itinerary.
6. Unique hotels
A holiday to Bhutan offers two main choices when it comes to accommodation: homely, comfortable 3-star stays, or world-class 5-star hotels with real wow factor. What we tend to advise is to go with the charming, authentic 3-star options for most of the trip, then, if possible, upgrade to a couple of 5-star properties where it’s genuinely worth it.
The 3-star properties in Bhutan are traditional in their design and style, and often run by families who have worked in the hotel for generations. Staying in these cost-effective hotels gives you a chance to experience the real Bhutan, with no bells and whistles, but always clean, comfortable, and offering hearty, healthy meals. Some of the newer 3-star hotels, for example in Thimphu, are more modern and spacious, and brilliantly located for evening strolls, offering exceptional value.
There are a handful of hotels that fit the 4-star category, such as the stylish and boutique Dhensa and the sustainable Dhumra Farm, both in Punakha, as well as the newest addition to Paro, Amba Paro, which offers unique direct views of Tiger’s Nest Monastery itself.
Then there are the 5-star lodges, which are really special. You may have seen BBC’s “Amazing Hotels” featuring the incredible Gangtey Lodge, without doubt one of the world’s best hotels. COMO Uma Punakha and COMO Uma Paro were some of the first luxury hotels built in Bhutan, and remain firm favourites today. Stay at both on our 11-day Luxury Bhutan Holiday, from £5,357pp.
For a full look at our favourite places to stay, read our Best Hotels and Luxury Lodges in Bhutan guide.
7. Dzongs, monasteries and nunneries
A trip to Bhutan will be filled with visits to incredible monasteries, dzongs and nunneries in each valley you visit. Your guide will talk you through what you’d like to see and experience, from the classic must-sees such as Tiger’s Nest Monastery and Punakha Dzong, to quieter temples in more remote locations. Often a visit to a place of spiritual importance will be included as part of a day hike, for example on the Gangtey Nature Trail, where you’ll visit Gangtey Goempa en route. We try to do things differently, so you might like to give rafting a go in Punakha and witness the imposing dzong as you paddle past, or, if your trip includes heading to the remote valleys of Bumthang, you’ll go via Trongsa and experience the incredible dzong there that many visitors miss.
There are also chances for first-hand experiences, such as witnessing a prayer ceremony, or visiting a nunnery for a blessing and butter lamp lighting ceremony.
Seek out more remote temples on our Slow Travel Bhutan Holiday Beyond the Highlights (21 days from £6,103pp)
8. Peace and stillness
A holiday to Bhutan offers a totally unique experience, unlike any other destination you will have visited before. The Kingdom has been described as the last Shangri-La, and is shrouded in mystery and spirituality.
Have you always dreamt of seeing vast mountain peaks without hordes of other tourists, or longed to experience a morning hike in complete peace with just bird-song and the sunrise to accompany you? Bhutan is this place. A sunrise walk on the Gangtey Nature Trail in Phobjikha Valley before other guests are up and about is one of the clearest examples we can point to of this stillness in practice.
There has never been a better time to visit, as daily tourist fees are lower than in recent years, while mass tourism is still actively discouraged. In a world where it can feel like everyone has been everywhere, Bhutan offers peace, stillness and untouched scenery like nowhere else.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Enquire here and let’s start planning your Bhutan holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most guests name Tiger’s Nest Monastery as the single unmissable experience in Bhutan, though the country’s festivals, treks and hotels each have passionate advocates of their own.
Most of our tailor-made Bhutan holidays run 11 to 18 days, which gives enough time to properly experience 3 to 4 valleys, including hiking, cultural visits and at least one upgraded hotel stay.
Bhutan applies a daily tourism levy as part of its high-value, low-volume approach to tourism. While this makes it more expensive than some neighbouring destinations, it directly funds conservation and keeps visitor numbers genuinely low.
Bhutan’s Tshechu festivals take place throughout the year in different valleys, with some of the most famous, including the Black-Necked Crane Festival, held in autumn and winter. We recommend booking at least a year ahead if travelling specifically for a festival.
All visitors to Bhutan travel with a licensed local guide as standard, which is part of what keeps the experience so personal, informative and low-impact.
In Summary
Inspired to visit Bhutan? Every Travel Differently itinerary is created from scratch, designed around your pace, interests and values.
Speak to our Bhutan experts today on 020 3909 9573 or enquire here to start planning your Travel Differently Bhutan adventure.
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