
Protected Buddhist Kingdom
Visit a country that has carefully controlled tourism since opening to the world in 1974.

Bhutan tours through the Himalayan Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon — Tiger's Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong, the Phobjikha Valley and traditional Tshechu festivals
Bhutan tours take you into a Himalayan kingdom unlike any other — squeezed between India and Chinese-occupied Tibet, fiercely independent and deeply proud of its Buddhist heritage. Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan only opened to tourists in 1974 and has carefully controlled visitor numbers ever since, preserving a culture and natural environment that much of Asia has lost.
Our Bhutan holidays travel between Paro — gateway to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) — the capital Thimphu, the spectacular Punakha Valley and the magnificent Punakha Dzong, the central valleys of Bumthang and the remote Phobjikha Valley, home of the Black-Necked Crane Festival. Bhutan measures its success not in GDP but in Gross National Happiness — a philosophy that shapes everything from its approach to tourism to the way its forests are managed.


Bhutan
Bhutan rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
Sweet spot: May
The best time to visit Bhutan falls into two clear windows: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Spring brings warm days, blooming rhododendrons, and the famous Paro Tshechu festival; the air is clear and the valleys are vivid green. Autumn delivers the most reliable Himalayan views, crisp days and the timing of many major festivals including Thimphu Tshechu and the Black-Necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha. Summer (June to August) is the monsoon season — often cloudy with hidden mountain views, though valleys are at their most lush. Winter (December to February) is cold but dry, with crystal-clear mountain vistas; some high passes may close due to snow, but lower valleys remain accessible.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
“I loved my trip, everything was excellent. Lots of help and information, good communications, excellent tour notes and finding flights and additional accommodation when needed. A seamless, well planned trip from start to finish.”
Di B
Bhutan
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“I loved my trip, everything was excellent. Lots of help and information, good communications, excellent tour notes and finding flights and additional accommodation when needed. A seamless, well planned trip from start to finish.”
Di B
Bhutan
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
Every one of our Bhutan journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
Bhutan is ideal for tailor-made holidays — every visit requires a licensed Bhutanese operator, and a private journey lets us tailor every detail to your interests. Whether you wish to focus on a specific Tshechu festival, take a deeper dive into the temples of Bumthang, spend longer in the Phobjikha Valley, or combine your visit with Nepal, we'll arrange experienced English-speaking guides, hand-picked accommodation and seamless logistics throughout. Bhutan's controlled tourism model means high-quality experiences are the standard — our role is to design a journey that matches your interests, pace and travel style while delivering genuine cultural immersion.
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Yes — Bhutan is one of Asia's safest destinations. The kingdom's careful tourism model and welcoming Buddhist culture make it secure for all travellers, including solo women.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before travelling, consult the latest UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bhutan. Bhutan is one of Asia's safest destinations. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Bhutan specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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