Find places in Bhutan

Must-Haves

• Tashichho Dzong (Chubachu)
  The great fortress monastery of the capital, with its flag lowering ceremony at dusk.
• Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang)
  A giant gilded Buddha on a hill above the valley, filled with thousands of smaller statues.
• National Memorial Chorten (Doebum Lam)
  The spiritual heart of the city, where locals circle and spin prayer wheels from dawn to dusk.
• Royal Textile Academy (Chubachu)
  A beautiful museum of Bhutanese weaving with royal costumes and working weavers.

Fun for Everyone

• National Institute for Zorig Chusum (Kawajangsa)
  Watch students learn the thirteen traditional arts, from thangka painting to wood carving.

Must-Haves

• Centenary Farmers Market (Wang Chhu riverside)
  The country's biggest market, piled with chillies, red rice and dried yak cheese at weekends.
• Norzin Lam (Central Thimphu)
  The main street, lined with handicraft shops, cafés and the famous traffic policeman.

Fun for Everyone

• Motithang Takin Preserve (Motithang)
  The best place to meet the takin, Bhutan's odd looking national animal.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cheri Monastery (Upper Thimphu valley)
  A forest hike across a covered bridge to a quiet seventeenth century meditation centre.
• Tango Monastery (Upper Thimphu valley)
  A cliffside Buddhist university reached by an uphill walk through the woods.
• Phajoding Monastery (Above Motithang)
  A steep half day climb to a monastery with sweeping views over the whole capital.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sangaygang Viewpoint (Sangaygang)
  A hill strung with prayer flags, with the classic view of the valley at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Changlimithang Archery Ground (Changlimithang)
  Watch Bhutan's national sport, with its long distances, singing and dancing archers.

Must-Haves

• Thimphu Tshechu (Tashichho Dzong)
  The capital's great autumn festival of masked dances in the dzong courtyard.

Must-Haves

• Folk Heritage Restaurant (Kawajangsa)
  Traditional Bhutanese food served in a farmhouse setting next to the museum.

Great for Date Night

• Bukhari (Taj Tashi)
  An elegant round dining room with a wood fire and refined Bhutanese dishes.

Great for Date Night

• Taj Tashi (Central Thimphu)
  A grand hotel in dzong style architecture in the heart of the capital.
• Six Senses Thimphu (Above the valley)
  A hillside retreat with wide views over the capital.

Must-Haves

• Amankora Thimphu (Motithang)
  A serene luxury lodge in the pine forest above the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Le Méridien Thimphu (Central Thimphu)
  A comfortable international hotel close to the main street.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hotel Druk (Clock Tower Square)
  A classic central hotel facing the clock tower square.

Must-Haves

• Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) (Upper Paro valley)
  The cliffside monastery that is Bhutan's most famous sight and finest day hike.
• Chele La Pass (Paro to Haa road)
  One of the highest roads in Bhutan, with views of Jomolhari on clear days.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dzongdrakha (Bondey)
  Cliffside temples on a short hike, often called the little Tiger's Nest.

Fun for Everyone

• Nya Mey Zam Bridge (Paro town)
  The traditional cantilever bridge leading to Rinpung Dzong.

Must-Haves

• Rinpung Dzong (Paro town)
  A mighty fortress monastery above a traditional covered bridge.
• National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong)
  Masks, thangkas and natural history in and around an old watchtower.
• Kyichu Lhakhang (Kyichu)
  One of the oldest temples in the kingdom, with orange trees in its courtyard.

Off the Beaten Path

• Drukgyel Dzong (Upper Paro valley)
  A restored fortress where the old trade route to Tibet began.
• Dungtse Lhakhang (Paro town)
  A rare chorten shaped temple built in the fifteenth century by the iron bridge builder.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Paro airport viewpoint (Above the runway)
  Watch planes thread through the mountains onto one of the world's most dramatic runways.

Off the Beaten Path

• Haa Valley (Haa)
  A rarely visited valley over Chele La with the white and black temples.

Must-Haves

• Paro Tshechu (Rinpung Dzong)
  The great spring festival, ending with a giant thangka unveiled before dawn.

Must-Haves

• Paro main street (Paro town)
  A painted single street of handicraft shops, cafés and small groceries.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Taktsang Cafeteria (Tiger's Nest trail)
  Tea and biscuits at the halfway point with the best view of the monastery.

Great for Date Night

• Amankora Paro (Upper Paro valley)
  A minimalist luxury lodge in a blue pine forest near Drukgyel Dzong.
• COMO Uma Paro (Above Paro town)
  A calm luxury hotel with a spa on the hillside above the valley.
• Six Senses Paro (Upper Paro valley)
  A stone lodge built around old fortress ruins with valley views.

Must-Haves

• Zhiwa Ling Heritage (Satsam Chorten)
  A grand hotel built by Bhutanese craftsmen with a temple inside.

Fun for Everyone

• Le Méridien Paro Riverfront (Shaba)
  A comfortable riverside hotel near the airport road.

Must-Haves

• Punakha Dzong (Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu confluence)
  The most beautiful fortress in Bhutan, where two rivers meet.
• Chimi Lhakhang (Sopsokha)
  The fertility temple of the divine madman, reached by a walk through rice fields.

Off the Beaten Path

• Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (Dochula)
  A temple at the pass with modern wall paintings of Bhutan's history.
• Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery (Wolakha)
  A hilltop nunnery with a great bronze statue and valley views.

Must-Haves

• Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten (Yepaisa)
  A gilded hilltop temple with fine views over the valley from its roof.
• Dochula Pass (Dochula)
  The 108 chortens and, on clear days, a sweep of Himalayan peaks.

Fun for Everyone

• Punakha Suspension Bridge (Behind Punakha Dzong)
  A long prayer flag draped footbridge swinging above the river.

Off the Beaten Path

• Royal Botanical Park Lampelri (Lampelri)
  Forest trails and rhododendrons in bloom in spring.
• Jigme Dorji National Park (Northern Punakha)
  The vast national park where takin roam and long treks begin.

Fun for Everyone

• Rafting on the Mo Chhu (Punakha valley)
  A gentle float down the river past the dzong.
• Wangdue Phodrang Dzong (Wangdue Phodrang)
  A rebuilt fortress on a ridge, restored after a fire in 2012.

Must-Haves

• Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu (Punakha Dzong)
  A late winter festival that reenacts a seventeenth century battle.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sopsokha village shops (Sopsokha)
  Painted houses and small craft stalls on the way to Chimi Lhakhang.

Fun for Everyone

• Druk Wangyal Café (Dochula)
  Tea and a mountain view during the drive over the pass.

Great for Date Night

• Amankora Punakha (Upper Punakha valley)
  A luxury lodge reached by a suspension bridge across the river.
• COMO Uma Punakha (Upper Punakha valley)
  A small luxury lodge above the river and rice terraces.
• Six Senses Punakha (Punakha valley)
  A hillside lodge looking over rice fields and the river.

Fun for Everyone

• Dhensa Boutique Resort (Punakha valley)
  A tasteful resort with wide views of the valley.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hotel Lobesa (Lobesa)
  A long running family hotel above the rice terraces.

Must-Haves

• Gangtey Monastery (Gangtey)
  A seventeenth century monastery overlooking the whole glacial valley.

Must-Haves

• Gangtey Nature Trail (Gangtey)
  A gentle two hour walk through pine forest and meadows to the valley floor.
• Black Necked Crane Visitor Centre (Phobjikha)
  Telescopes and displays about the cranes that winter in the valley.

Fun for Everyone

• Phobjikha wetlands (Valley floor)
  Watch the cranes feed from the edge of the marsh at dawn.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lawala Pass (Lawala)
  A high pass with prayer flags and yak pastures on the way into the valley.

Must-Haves

• Black Necked Crane Festival (Gangtey Monastery)
  A November celebration of the cranes' return with dances by local schoolchildren.

Great for Date Night

• Gangtey Lodge (Gangtey)
  A luxury lodge with sweeping views over the crane valley.
• Amankora Gangtey (Gangtey)
  A serene luxury lodge above the valley.
• Six Senses Gangtey (Gangtey)
  A hillside lodge facing the valley and the monastery.

Fun for Everyone

• Dewachen Hotel (Phobjikha)
  A comfortable lodge in traditional style overlooking the marsh.

Must-Haves

• Jambay Lhakhang (Chokhor valley)
  One of the oldest temples in Bhutan, home to a famous autumn fire festival.
• Kurjey Lhakhang (Chokhor valley)
  Three temples around the cave where Guru Rinpoche left his body print.
• Jakar Dzong (Jakar)
  The castle of the white bird, with views over the Chokhor valley.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tamshing Lhakhang (Chokhor valley)
  Pema Lingpa's temple, with ancient paintings and a chain mail coat to carry.
• Ogyen Choling Palace Museum (Tang valley)
  A family manor turned museum on aristocratic life.

Must-Haves

• Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake) (Tang valley)
  A sacred river pool where Pema Lingpa found hidden treasure.

Fun for Everyone

• Red Panda Brewery (Jakar)
  Taste Bhutan's unfiltered local wheat beer at the Swiss guest house cooperative.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ura village (Ura valley)
  The highest of Bumthang's valleys, with cobbled lanes and stone houses.

Off the Beaten Path

• Chhume yathra weavers (Chhume)
  Watch weavers make colourful yathra wool cloth.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Jakar main street (Jakar)
  Small shops for local woollens, cheese and honey.

Must-Haves

• Jambay Lhakhang Drup (Jambay Lhakhang)
  An autumn festival with a midnight fire blessing.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ura Yakchoe (Ura)
  A spring village festival with a sacred relic shown to the public.

Fun for Everyone

• Bumthang Swiss Guest House (Jakar)
  A historic guest house with home cooking and an apple orchard.

Great for Date Night

• Amankora Bumthang (Jakar)
  A luxury lodge beside the Wangdicholing Palace.
• Six Senses Bumthang (Chokhor valley)
  A small lodge among pine forest above the valley.