Spend Twelve days / eleven nights with us in Bhutan, timed to the one week of the year when Paro's dzong courtyard fills with masked dancers for the Tshechu, and the valley fills again with ideas as the Bhutan Innovation Festival (BIF) gathers global thinkers at nearby Dungkar Dzong. You're based throughout at The Happiness Farm, with Dorji and Kezang as your hosts — watch the festival's opening dances, rise before dawn for the unveiling of the great Thongdrel, and hike to the Tiger's Nest. Midway through the trip, the group splits by interest: stay close to the action at the Forum, or head over Dochula Pass to raft the Mo Chhu and wander Punakha's rice valleys as an Explorer, with nights in Punakha itself. Either way, everyone reunites at the Farm for a final cooking session, a village walk, and a farewell barbecue under the stars.

This is a small-group journey (maximum 14 guests) open to guests across a wide range of ages. The pace throughout is easy, and a vehicle is always close by.

After landing in Paro, your adventure begins with a visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, and a stroll through Paro’s vegetable market, before the drive out to Happiness Farm, a serene retreat about an hour from town that serves as your base for the entire trip. Over the festival’s opening days, you’ll walk to Rinpung Dzong for the colorful masked dances of the Paro Tshechu, Bhutan’s most celebrated festival. Between festival days, soak in the simple joys of farm life — a home-grown organic lunch with hosts Dorji and Kezang, a gentle walk through the orchards, and farm-to-table meals throughout.

A day trip to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, brings you to the Giant Buddha overlooking the valley, the Takin Preserve, home to Bhutan’s national animal, and the lively Saturday weekend market. Back at the festival, choose your own day — more of the Tshechu’s dances, or a scenic drive to Dobji Dzong, perched above the Wang Chhu river, with a picnic lunch and a gentle village walk. The festival builds to its highlight before dawn, when you’ll make the drive into Paro to witness the unveiling of the great Thongdrel, a giant sacred thangka of Guru Rinpoche shown only once a year.

Midway through the trip, the group splits by interest. Stay close to the action at the Bhutan Innovation Festival at Dungkar Dzong, where past speakers and attendees have included global figures such as Joseph Stiglitz and Bhutan’s Prime Minister — or head over Dochula Pass, with its 108 chortens and Himalayan views, to Punakha as an Explorer. There, the Punakha Dzong offers a majestic stop at the confluence of two rivers, followed by a float down the Mo Chhu river with experienced rafting guides and a hike to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for sweeping valley views.

The journey turns to its most iconic moment with a hike through pine forest to Tiger’s Nest, the cliffside monastery that is one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites, taken at your own pace, with ponies available for the uphill section. Both groups then reunite at Happiness Farm, where the trip culminates in a cooking session with Kezang, a walk through the neighboring villages, and a farewell barbecue under the stars.

ITINERARY

Day 1 · Wed 17 March — Arrival in Paro

Welcome to Bhutan! འབྲུག་ལུ་ཕེབས་བསུ་ཞུ།

Day 2 · Thu 18 March — Opening Day of Paro Tshechu

After breakfast at the Farm, drive in to Paro for the opening day of the Tshechu, when the first masked dances are performed in the dzong courtyard at Rinpung Dzong. Your guide explains the meaning of each dance, and cushions or seating are arranged where possible. The afternoon is free to rest, or for an optional visit to the Bhutan National Museum (Ta Dzong), before returning to the Farm in the evening.

Day 03: Friday, 19 March, 2027: A Day at the Farm

Day 04: Saturday, 20 March, 2027: A Day in Thimphu

Drive to the capital to see Buddha Dordenma, the giant seated Buddha overlooking the valley, then the Saturday weekend market and the Takin Preserve, home to Bhutan's national animal, with craft shopping on the way back to the Farm.

Day 05: Sunday, 21 March, 2027: Your Choice of Day

Option A: another morning at the Tshechu in Paro for those who want to see more of the dances. Option B: a scenic drive to Dobji Dzong, perched above the Wang Chhu river, with a picnic lunch and a gentle downhill walk through Yuesakha village — the vehicle follows, so anyone can ride instead of walk.

Day 06: Monday, 22 March, 2027: The Thongdrel at Dawn

The festival's highlight: well before sunrise, you'll make the hour's drive from the Farm into Paro to witness the unveiling of the great Thongdrel, a giant sacred thangka of Guru Rinpoche shown only on the festival's final day. Return to the Farm for breakfast and rest, with an at-leisure afternoon or a short drive to Drukgyel Dzong at the head of the valley.

Day 07: Tuesday, 23 March, 2027: Tiger's Nest at Your Own Pace

The hike to Taktsang Monastery, clinging to a cliff 900 metres above the valley, takes about 4–5 hours round trip. Ponies can be arranged for the uphill section to the halfway cafeteria, itself a fine turnaround point with a superb view of the monastery. Not hiking? A relaxed visit to Dzongdrakha's cliffside temples, or a quiet morning at the Farm. A traditional hot stone bath with medicinal herbs for tired muscles in the evening, back at the Farm.

Days 8–10: Wed 24 – Fri 26 March, 2027: The Group Splits

For three days, the group follows one of two tracks, each with its own guide and vehicle — choose the one that matches your interest.

The Bhutan Innovation Festival Track: three days at the Bhutan Innovation Festival at Dungkar Dzong, with daily transfers to and from the Farm (about an hour each way) — past speakers and attendees have included Joseph Stiglitz, Juan Manuel Santos, Matthieu Ricard, Antony Gormley, Bjarke Ingels, and Bhutan's Prime Minister.

The Explorers Track: for guests who'd rather spend these three days over the mountains in Punakha. Day 8 — drive over Dochula Pass (3,100 m), with its 108 chortens and, on a clear day, Himalayan views, then descend into the warm Punakha valley with a gentle 20-minute walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman. Day 9 — Punakha Dzong, Bhutan's most beautiful fortress, at the confluence of two rivers; a walk across the Punakha suspension bridge. In the afternoon, an optional hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for valley views, and a gentle float down the Mo Chhu river with experienced rafting guides — or, for those who'd rather not hike or raft, a riverside picnic and village visit. Day 10 — a leisurely start, then the drive back over Dochula with lunch along the way, arriving at The Happiness Farm by late afternoon — where both groups reunite for dinner.

Either way, the price is the same — it's simply a question of where you'd rather spend these three days. Let us know your preference when you book, since each track runs with its own guide.

Day 11: Saturday, 27 March, 2027: A Day on the Farm

Together again, the whole group spends the morning in a cooking session with Kezang, learning to make ema datshi and other Bhutanese dishes from the garden's own produce. In the afternoon, a gentle walk through the neighbouring villages and a herbal hot stone bath, then a farewell barbecue in the evening.

Day 12: Sunday, 28 March, 2027: Departure

Breakfast at the Farm, then the roughly hour's drive to Paro International Airport for your 11:50 flight. Tashi Delek!

Optional 12th night: if you're not flying out with the group, stay on at The Happiness Farm and depart Monday 29 March instead.

Tour Highlights

This tour will especially be for you if you enjoy the following:

• Watching the Paro Tshechu's masked dances, including the pre-dawn unveiling of the great Thongdrel

• Three days at the Bhutan Innovation Festival alongside world-class speakers — or, on the Explorers track, rafting the Mo Chhu and exploring Punakha's valley

• Hiking to Tiger's Nest Monastery at your own pace

• Staying at The Happiness Farm throughout, with a cooking session, walks, and farewell barbecue

• Exploring Thimphu's Buddha Dordenma, Takin Preserve, and weekend market

• Engaging in authentic cultural encounters, from temple visits to a traditional hot stone bath

• Savoring farm-to-table meals made from locally sourced organic ingredients

• Capturing spring landscapes, wildflowers, and festival color across Bhutan's western valleys

What’s Included

• Expert-guided 12-day/11-night tour through Paro, Thimphu, and (Explorers track) Punakha

• Accommodation at The Happiness Farm throughout (Explorers track: Punakha for two nights)

• All meals

• Private transportation throughout Bhutan, including transfers between destinations

• Entrance fees to all included cultural sites, monasteries, and dzongs

• Guided hikes, including Tiger's Nest and (Explorers track) the Mo Chhu rafting

• Personalized service from knowledgeable local guides and your tour leader

• Assistance with checking international flight options

• Advice on optional travel insurance, including CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) policies

• All taxes, service charges, and tips for included services

What’s Not Included

• International airfare to your gateway city (Bangkok or Delhi)

• Druk Air to and from Paro

• The Bhutan Innovation Festival Pass (booked and paid direct with BIF)

• Your gateway-city hotel on the night of 16 March

• Travel insurance

• Meals not specified in the itinerary

• Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, snacks, etc.)

• Beverages outside of included meals

• Costs for additional hotel nights or extended stays before or after the tour

  NOTE: the Bhutan Innovation Festival Pass is priced and booked separately, direct with BIF — see Salient Tour Details below for the net cost after the Sustainable Development Fee waiver.

Salient Tour Details:

• Tour Cost: $5,504 per person, double occupancy — includes the Bhutan Innovation Festival (BIF) Pass, which also waives Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee (normally $1,100 over eleven nights). Net effect: attending BIF costs $400, not its $1,500 sticker price. Without the Festival Pass: $5,104 per person, and you’ll pay the Sustainable Development Fee directly.

• Attending BIF: guests wishing to attend the Bhutan Innovation Festival purchase their own Festival Pass directly through BIF’s own registration portal. Tiny World Tours cannot buy or hold a pass on your behalf, and cannot guarantee availability — BIF is a small, invitation-leaning event that has sold out before and may again. We recommend registering as soon as you’ve decided to join the trip.

• Private Solo Room for all 11 nights: add $440 per person for the tour, if you’d rather not share.

• Optional 12th Night: for guests staying on past 28 March, an extra night at The Happiness Farm adds $364 with a Festival Pass, or $464 without.

• Minimum Participants: none — this tour is departing as planned.

• Maximum Participants: 14, to keep the group small and personal.

• Payment: balance due in full by 1 January 2027.

• Getting There: the trip begins and ends in Paro, reachable only by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines, from Bangkok or Delhi. 2027 fares aren’t published yet; budget roughly $950 round-trip in economy from Bangkok, or $560 from Delhi, as a working estimate (January 2026 quotes — expect these to rise by March 2027, especially during festival week).

Physical Activity and Expectations:

• This is a moderately active tour with average walking 2-4 miles per day in both urban and rural settings (and possibly even more if you enjoy walking).

• You’ll need to be able to climb up and down multiple flights of stairs (indoors and out)

• Occasional sitting on the floor (e.g. cross legged or legs stretched) and/or getting up and down from the floor.

• You’ll encounter uneven cobblestone streets, sidewalks, and trails.

Please Note:

• This itinerary is a sample and is subject to change. The final schedule will be determined approximately 30 days prior to departure to allow for the inclusion of special opportunities which may arise.  In the event that a requested visit is not available, a similar visit will be substituted.  A finalized itinerary and Travelers’ Notes document will be sent to all participants about two weeks prior to tour departure.

• An optional trip insurance policy such as a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) policy may reimburse you for unforeseen cancellations or itinerary changes.

• We do our best to accommodate allergies and food preference. Please inform us of any dietary needs at the time of booking.

• We also offer bespoke custom tours for groups. Contact us for more information.

• Dorji will obtain your Bhutan tourist visa and book your flights to and from Paro on Druk Airlines, the Royal Bhutan airlines. Opportunities also exist for trip extensions and/or stopovers in various global hubs (advice provided upon request, with costs according to the customized plan). This tour can also easily be combined with a pre-tour or post-tour visit to Eastern Bhutan and/or nearby Nepal (please inquire).

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(this page was last modified on 2026.10.28 - please check back for updates / refinements)