8-Day Bhutan Cultural Adventure: Sacred Bumdrak Trek and Western Districts Exploration
5.0
6 Ratings
Embark on an 8-day Bhutan cultural adventure, trekking to the sacred Bumdrak pilgrimage site and exploring the western districts. Immerse yourself in ancient culture and stunning natural beauty.
Duration: 8 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Arrive Paro International Airport / Transfer To Thimphu (2334m)

National Museum of Bhutan འབུག་གར་གལིམ་ན་གང་། - Our guide and driver will receive you on your arrival at the only International Airport located in Paro. We’ll begin by first visiting the National Museum of Bhutan and then transfer to Thimphu the capital city.

The National Museum of Bhutan is housed in an ancient watchtower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watchtower fortress”) built-in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. Ta Dzong was converted into the National Museum in 1968. We then drive to the capital city Thimphu.

Thimphu - Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and it is 55km away from the main Paro town. The drive should not take more than 2 hours including stopovers on the way.

Thimphu is home to approximately 115,000 residents. This bustling little city is the main center of commerce, religion and government in the country. Arriving in Thimphu, our guide will assist you to check into the hotel so that you can relax for a while and then have your first taste of Bhutanese cuisine for lunch. Lunch will be arranged either at Paro or Thimphu depending on your flight arrival time.

Buddha Dordenma - The magnificent 169 feet tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha is located on a hilltop overlooking the Thimphu valley. It was built to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of the Fourth King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and also to usher peace in the world. The giant Buddha statue houses more than 100,000 8-inch-tall Buddha statues of the same type. The construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2015 after almost 10 years.

Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre - Weaving is an integral part of the culture and tradition of Bhutan. You will see both men and women at work weaving some of the most intricate designs and sophisticated patterns of traditional Bhutanese textiles. Not long ago, it was common to see one member of the family weaving for the entire family.

Changlimithang Stadium & Archery Ground - Pass by the Changlimithang Archery Ground and witness the game of archery if the match is in progress. You will see archers dancing and singing each time they hit the target which is 145m away.

Leisure time in Thimphu town.

What's Included
  • All internal taxes for the services listed above
  • Medical treatment at a hospital in Bhutan for injuries
  • All ground transportation including airport transfers
  • Trekking permit and National Museum entry fee
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) and light snacks
  • 1 night full-service outdoor camping at 3860m
  • 6 nights twin-sharing accommodation at 3-star hotels
  • Experienced English-speaking licensed tour guide
  • Visa Fee & Processing with e-Visa delivery in 4-5 business days
What's Not Included
  • Travel insurance is highly recommended.
  • International flights. Let us know if you need help with arranging flights to and from Bhutan.
  • Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, telephone call charges
  • Tips to guide and driver
  • Emergency evacuation
  • Guide speaking other major languages can be arranged for an additional fee.
  • Any other expenses of personal nature
  • All Entry fees except for National Museum
Additional Information

Embark on a thrilling 8-day journey through Bhutan’s rich historical culture and the heart of its four western districts, brimming with nature’s splendor. Experience nature walks, soak in the pure natural surroundings, discover rural communities, and immerse yourself in the local culture and people.

The sixth day of your expedition leads you to one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations, Bumdrak. Located on a high-altitude meadow at 3,860m, your path weaves through vibrant green forests along age-old trails, offering stunning views of the Paro Valley. Camp at a tranquil mountain meadow embellished with sacred Buddhist structures called Chortens and flapping prayer flags. The return trip to Paro features a visit to Bhutan’s most famous site, the 17th-century Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest). This monument, perched on a rocky 800-meter cliff, is a revered site with roots tracing back to the 8th century.

  • This tour can be customized and run on a private basis just for you and your group.
  • We highly recommend booking at least a few months before the departure date so that we have enough time to ensure the flights are available. If you already have flight tickets to and from Bhutan, we can take bookings up to a week before the departure date. To process visa, it only takes 4-5 business days.
  • There are only two airlines that connect Bhutan with the outside world and so securing air tickets can be difficult especially during the months of high season. Currently, Bhutan is connected with these cities - Bagdogra, Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Singapore. We recommend you book your international flights a few months in advance especially if you plan to visit during the high season months of March to May and September to November. If you need help in arranging flights to/from Bhutan, please let us know much in advance.
  • After you book the tour, kindly send us clear passports copies of all the participants. A biodata page including the machine-readable zone must be seen clearly. Passports should have a minimum of 6 MONTHS validity from the day you depart from Bhutan. You may also want to check the passport requirements by your next destination country after Bhutan. A copy of your e-Visa will be emailed to you once it is approved. It only takes 4-5 business days to get visa approval and it is 100 percent guaranteed as long as we receive clear passport copies of all the participants. The actual visa will be stamped on your passport upon arrival. Send the passport copies to the Local Supplier E-mail address.
  • Youth between the ages of 13-18 MUST send us a copy of their valid Student Photo ID Card/Document to keep the discounted price. Without a copy of valid Student Photo ID Card/document, the full adult price will apply.
  • Participants below the age of 18 years old MUST be accompanied by at least one full-paying adult.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Global486941
Apr 2, 2024
Bhutan Acorn T&T is fantastic - We just completed an 8 day tour of western Bhutan, with a 3 day trek to the Sagala Pass and Chelela Pass. Bhutan is a beautiful country and exceeded all my expectations. Bhutan Acorn T&T were fantastic! In the planning stage they were very responsive and understanding of our several requests for change to the itinerary. They were very organised and efficient in arranging the visas, government fees and flights to Bhutan. Our guide (Norbu) and driver (Thinley) were also fantastic and went above and beyond in looking after us. They were both very kind and helpful and their knowledge of Bhutanese history, Buddhist practice and local flora and fauna were exceptional. I would not hesitate in using Bhutan Acorn T&T again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie
Sep 22, 2023
Life-Changing Spiritual Journey - From the moment I reached out to Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel to inquire about a potential trip to Bhutan, Mr. Karma was extremely responsive, accommodating, and helpful. We had all sorts of information we needed to ensure our trip was successful. Once we arrived in Bhutan, we were greeted by our personal guide (Mr. Tashi) and our driver (Mr. Nidup). Both gentlemen were with us, and only us, for the duration of our trip. Both are extremely personable and knowledgeable. We learned so much and laughed a lot. Mr. Tashi always ensured every restaurant or host accommodated my lactose intolerance. They both ensured we always had enough to eat and drink throughout our visit and made us as comfortable as possible throughout. When an unexpected rainstorm hit us on our first day, Mr. Tashi recommended we change to a different hike/monastery since it would be less steep and muddy, which resulted in us getting an unexpected blessing/ritual bath from the lama (head monk) of the monastery. We saw so many amazing views and learned a ton about Buddhism and Bhutanese history and culture. We ended up changing our itinerary on the fly to exclude the Bumdrak Trek and camping for health reasons, which Mr. Tashi accommodated without complaint. We chose instead to trek up to Tiger's Nest and had the chance to meditate in one of the temple rooms for 30 minutes undisturbed. It allowed us to reflect on life’s journey that ultimately lead us here, the culmination of years of healing and personal growth. I'd highly recommend starting the trek early. We started around 6am and were pretty much the only people on the entire trek up. It made the trek so much more spiritual and personal for us. Mr. Tashi and Mr. Nidup provided us with their own personal trekking poles to use. Some tips when visiting Bhutan: pack toilet paper with you as many of the public and/or rural restrooms do not have toilet paper, have hand sanitizer available as many also do not have soap, and get into hiking shape to truly enjoy the experience. Bottom line...we absolutely loved Bhutan and plan to return. We would definitely go with Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel again and highly recommend you check them out too. Ask for Mr. Tashi and Mr. Nidup if possible!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sonamd511
Apr 25, 2023
One of the most beautiful and challenging hike. - Bumdra trek is one of the most beautiful place to go if you are in Bhutan, its 4 hrs climbing but we took around 3 hrs to reach on the base camp and the base camp was around 3800m above sea leavel. if you are not used to with the elevation its better to rest and accumulatise your body to go further up to see the sky burial but we did in a same day, we went further up till 4200m which is the 2nd sky burial point. On the way back we took path which take to Tiger Nest which is another 2 hrs hike to Tiger Nest. Overall its not a good idea to complete in a single day if you are not used to with elevation and fit yourself moreover chances of getting altitude sickness. last but not the least food was amazing but never expect food like hotel, we have to eat fast before it get cold. thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightseer39597865732
Apr 15, 2023
Beautiful Bhutan - Such a beautiful country, and the people so friendly. The scenery was stunning, I was mesmerised just going for a drive. We were given insight into the life and culture of people, and experienced some very special places. The pony ride half way up to Tigers Nest, then the rest of the way on foot with the guide, Tashi, was the highlight for me. All while the driver kept my companion company. The guide and the driver,Kardo,were very accommodating of our needs, and we were able to change the itinerary when we had a health issue, with the guide supporting us all the way. Well done Acorn Tours 🙏😊 I do hope to return 💕
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timnm827zn
Mar 18, 2023
A very delightful 6-day experience with Bumdrak trek - I happened to take this tour from Bhutan Acorn and visit Bhutan in December 2022. And I can definitely say that this was one of my best traveling experiences ever. What I liked most: - The communication was as easy as possible as was the visa application process. Besides, Karma is a pleasant person to talk to. - I was able to personalize my 6-day journey to include the Bumdrak trek, and the tour operator had no problems with doing it. Special thanks to Tashi Dorji. He's extremely knowledgeable about Bhutan & Buddhism, and I had an enchanting experience having him as my guide. Upon arrival, he asked me about the places I'd want to visit, and we could step away a bit from the itinerary (which I personally appreciated) and include some spontaneous activities like rafting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katie
Oct 20, 2019
Amazing tour company and wonderful country! - Hi there, I had a great time in Bhutan and am very happy that I chose to travel with Acorn Tours. My tour guide and driver were so thoughtful and accommodating and did a great job of showing me around the country. No complaints at all and would definitely visit again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 12 guests
1
Adult
June 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today