8-Day Amankora Journey

Guests are warmly welcomed at Paro Airport and enjoy a scenic 90-minute drive to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. Depending on arrival time, visits include the National Memorial Chorten, National Library, or Textile Museum. A stroll along Main Street provides cultural immersion into Bhutanese crafts.

Guests then check into their lodge, relaxing amid peaceful Himalayan surroundings.

Accommodation: Thimphu Lodge

The day begins with Trashi Chhoe Dzong, home of Bhutan’s government and monarchy offices, followed by Pangri Zampa, a monastery specializing in astrology. A hike to Cheri Goemba reveals Bhutan’s earliest monastic body.

Later, visits to local paper-making and weaving workshops showcase Bhutanese craftsmanship. Guests return to the lodge for leisure, enjoying evening meals and conversations about the kingdom’s culture.

Accommodation: Thimphu Lodge

Crossing Dochu La Pass, guests admire views of Himalayan peaks and the 108 memorial stupas before descending into Punakha Valley. A walk through rice terraces leads to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple dedicated to fertility.

Guests later arrive at Punakha Lodge, where the lush subtropical environment provides tranquility. The evening is spent exploring or relaxing, preparing for the next day’s discoveries.

Accommodation: Punakha Lodge

Guests begin with a visit to Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s most beautiful fortress, set dramatically at the confluence of two rivers. A hike through terraced fields leads to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten.

Options include rafting along the Mo Chhu River or visiting Punakha’s traditional villages before returning to the lodge for a peaceful evening surrounded by nature.

Accommodation: Punakha Lodge

The journey continues eastward to the glacial Phobjikha Valley, winter home of black-necked cranes. Guests visit Gangtey Goemba, perched on a ridge, before walking across pristine wetlands.

The valley’s unspoiled natural beauty offers a stark contrast to the bustling capital. Guests spend the evening enjoying a quiet retreat, immersed in Bhutan’s serene landscapes.

Accommodation: Gangtey Lodge

Guests travel farther east to Bumthang, Bhutan’s spiritual heartland, rich with monasteries and sacred sites. Along the journey, dramatic landscapes unfold, featuring winding mountain roads and rural villages.

Upon arrival, guests explore Jakar Dzong or nearby temples before settling into the lodge. The evening is dedicated to relaxation, appreciating the valley’s cultural depth and beauty.

Accommodation: Bumthang Lodge

Travelers return to Paro Valley by road, enjoying a day-long scenic drive that revisits passes, valleys, and forests from the journey east.

Arriving in Paro, guests can visit Ta Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, or Kyichu Lhakhang, before settling into the lodge. The day ends with rest and preparation for the pilgrimage hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Accommodation: Paro Lodge

The final day begins with the iconic hike to Taktsang Goemba, dramatically perched 900 meters above Paro Valley. Passing waterfalls, prayer flags, and forested trails, guests reach one of Bhutan’s holiest sites.

After descending, travelers enjoy leisure before transferring to Paro Airport for departure, leaving Bhutan with memories of landscapes, monasteries, and spiritual serenity.