Seven valleys, one kingdom

Each valley keeps its own weather, dialect, and reason to visit — from the airport cliff of Paro to the crane fields of Phobjikha and the roadless north.

Where we travel

The valleys of Bhutan

Bhutan is a country of folded ridgelines, and life gathers in the flat of the valleys between them. Here are six we return to most — sub-tropical and warm, high and glacial, or newly opened to the road.

Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest monastery, clinging to a cliff high above the Paro valley in Bhutan

2,200 m

Western Bhutan

Paro

The valley of the sacred cliff — home to Tiger’s Nest and the kingdom’s only international gateway.

Tashichho Dzong, the riverside fortress-monastery of the Bhutanese capital Thimphu

2,334 m

Central West

Thimphu

The world’s only capital without a single traffic light — directed instead by a dancing policeman.

Punakha Dzong standing white at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers

1,200 m

Sub-tropical South

Punakha

Warm and low, with Bhutan’s most beautiful dzong at the meeting of the Pho and Mo rivers.

2,600 m

Central Bhutan

Bumthang

The spiritual heartland: four sacred valleys of ancient temples, buckwheat fields and apple orchards.

The wide glacial bowl of the Phobjikha valley below Gangtey monastery in autumn

3,000 m

Central Bhutan

Phobjikha

A glacial bowl where black-necked cranes circle Gangtey monastery three times each winter.

2,670 m

Far West

Haa

A quiet, recently-opened valley of alpine meadows and the twin temples of the black and white hills.

When to go

Two windows, and how to choose

Spring, from March to May, brings the rhododendrons into flower along the high trails, opens the passes as the snow retreats, and coincides with the great Paro tshechu — the masked dances staged in the courtyard of the dzong.

Autumn, from September to November, is the season of crisp, settled skies after the monsoon: the biggest festivals fall now, and the trekking is at its finest, with dry trails and clear views to the snow peaks.

Spring — Mar to May · blossom, festivals, high passes opening
Autumn — Sep to Nov · clear skies, dry trails, tshechu season

Ask us the best month

Find your valley

Tell us which of these places calls to you — or let us match a route to your dates and your pace. We’ll send back a tailored itinerary, usually within two days.

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