Overview
The Grand Bhutan Journey is Gu-Mar Travels & Tours’ ultimate, all-encompassing cross-country masterpiece. Spanning 14 full days and 13 nights, this definitive expedition is engineered specifically for intrepid luxury travelers who refuse to compromise on geographical and spiritual depth. While standard tours limit themselves to the developed western corridor, this grand journey cuts completely across the nation, breaking through the Black Mountains to cross the sacred central sanctuaries of Bumthang and travel deep into the raw, seldom-seen wilderness of Eastern Bhutan.
To deliver a completely frictionless experience across this epic distance, this itinerary utilizes the complete, ultra-exclusive Amankora circuit — lodging you across all five of their intimate properties (Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, and Paro) to ensure flawless management of your preferences, dietary requirements, and style throughout the country.
You will wander through ancient clifftop fortresses, share home-cooked meals inside generational farmhouses, and meet semi-nomadic yak herders in isolated eastern valleys. To optimize your pacing and protect you from grueling overland backtracking, this itinerary culminates in a spectacular domestic flight from the far east back to Paro for the Tiger’s Nest hike. This is the ultimate, definitive Bhutan expedition — done right.
Trip Highlights
- The full Amankora circuit — Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Paro — plus premium lodges in the far east.
- An out-of-hours tour of Tashichho Dzong and a private viewing of rare royal manuscripts at the National Library.
- The Gangtey Nature Trail and private access to the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre in Phobjikha Valley.
- Bumthang’s ancient temples, Trongsa Dzong and a traditional farmhouse meal of buckwheat pancakes and home-brewed Ara.
- The dramatic Thrumshing La Pass drive, cliff-edge Trashigang Dzong and Bura silk weaving in Radhi Village.
- A scenic Yonphula flight to Paro, the Tiger’s Nest pilgrimage, a hot stone bath and a farewell gala dinner.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Morning: Touch down at Paro International Airport, where the sudden, jaw-dropping scale of the snow-capped Himalayas welcomes you. Your dedicated Gu-Mar senior scholar guide will greet you at the runway and escort you to your luxury SUV. Drive 1.5 hours along the river valleys to the capital city, Thimphu.
Afternoon: Check into your luxury suite at Amankora Thimphu, styled after classic dzong architecture and set within a quiet pine forest. Spend your afternoon completely at leisure, unpacking your bags and acclimatizing to the altitude.
Evening: Gather at the lodge’s reflective lounge for a private welcome dinner curated by the executive chef, featuring fresh local ingredients and regional Himalayan specialty dishes.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Thimphu (Amankora Thimphu)
Morning: Start your morning at Buddha Dordenma for early meditation, followed by a walk around the rhythmic National Memorial Chorten. Visit the forested Motithang Takin Preserve for a private viewing of Bhutan’s unusual national animal.
Afternoon: Take an exclusive tour of the National Institute for Zorig Chusum to see students mastering traditional arts, followed by a private viewing of rare royal manuscripts at the National Library, closed to public tour groups.
Evening: Enjoy an exclusive out-of-hours tour of Tashichho Dzong, exploring its majestic throne room corridors. Conclude with a private wine-pairing dinner back at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Thimphu
Morning: Leave Thimphu after breakfast for a scenic drive over Dochula Pass (3,100m), stopping to admire the 108 memorial chortens. Descend into the warm subtropical valley of Punakha and check into Amankora Punakha, centered around a traditional farmhouse reached via a private motorized river ferry.
Afternoon: After a light lunch, take an unhurried walk through the rice paddies of Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang (The Fertility Temple), where a resident monk will share the inner folklore of the eccentric saint Lama Drukpa Kunley.
Evening: Relax on the lodge’s outdoor terrace overlooking the river canyon, followed by an elegant farm-to-table dinner inside the restored estate dining room.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Punakha (Amankora Punakha)
Morning: Dedicate your full morning to exploring Punakha Dzong, analyzing its incredible woodcarvings and master joinery without nails. Your scholar guide will lead you through its quiet inner sanctuaries away from standard crowds.
Afternoon: Escape the midday sun for an exclusive organic lunch cooked by a regional master chef inside a private local village farmhouse. In the afternoon, take a scenic uphill walk to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten for sweeping views of the valley.
Evening: Enjoy a private riverside twilight dinner hosted by the lodge, featuring a traditional Bhutanese musical performance under the stars.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Punakha
Morning: Board your luxury vehicle for a scenic 3-hour drive climbing steadily into the Black Mountains past Wangdue Phodrang to the pristine, broad glacial Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey).
Afternoon: Check into Amankora Gangtey, set within a quiet pine grove overlooking the valley floor. Walk the famous Gangtey Nature Trail, a flat 2.5-hour path crossing open alpine wetlands and blue pine forests at a completely relaxed pace.
Evening: Enjoy private access to the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre to view the wintering birds through high-powered spotting scopes, followed by an intimate multi-course dinner at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Phobjikha Valley (Amankora Gangtey)
Morning: Embark on an early morning 5.5 to 6-hour journey deeper into the geographical center of Bhutan. Drive across the alpine Pele La Pass (3,300m), stopping to view the centuries-old Chendebji Chorten.
Afternoon: Arrive in Trongsa to view its grand canyon fortress, Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the ruling Wangchuck dynasty. Continue over the Yotong La Pass (3,400m) to drop into the beautiful cluster of valleys that make up Bumthang, the deeply spiritual heartland of the kingdom. Check into Amankora Bumthang.
Evening: Unwind by the wood stove in your luxury suite, followed by an elegant dinner featuring fresh local buckwheat dishes and regional cheeses.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Bumthang (Amankora Bumthang)
Morning: Spend a full day exploring Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred temples. Visit Jambay Lhakhang, built in the 7th century, and Kurjey Lhakhang, where the body-print of Guru Rinpoche is preserved in solid rock.
Afternoon: After exploring Jakar Dzong (The Fortress of the White Bird), step off the tourist track to share a traditional afternoon meal inside a local farmhouse, sampling buckwheat pancakes and home-brewed Ara.
Evening: Return to the lodge to relax. Enjoy an unhurried dinner featuring traditional central Bhutanese recipes passed down across generations.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Bumthang
Morning: Prepare for one of the most dramatic and visually spectacular mountain drives in the world. Leaving Bumthang, your vehicle winds upward for 7 hours across the wild Thrumshing La Pass (3,780m) — revealing plunging sheer cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, and changing alpine vegetation.
Afternoon: Cross into Eastern Bhutan and arrive in Mongar, a unique hillside town built entirely on a slope rather than a valley floor. Check into the premium Wangchuk Hotel or the best available local boutique heritage lodge.
Evening: Visit Mongar Dzong, constructed in 1930 using traditional methods without a single nail or written blueprint, followed by a quiet dinner at your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Mongar
Morning: Drive 3 to 4 hours deeper into the rugged terrain of the far east toward Trashigang, once the bustling center of the historic trans-Himalayan trade routes with Tibet. Along the way, cross the Kori La Pass (2,400m), driving past dense banana trees and bamboo groves.
Afternoon: Arrive in Trashigang and check into the premium Druk Deothjung Resort or the best available local luxury heritage accommodation. Visit Trashigang Dzong, an incredible fortress built in 1667 that sits precariously on a jagged cliff edge overlooking the sweeping Gamri Chhu river canyon far below.
Evening: Spend your evening walking the quiet streets of the eastern capital, interacting with local shopkeepers away from western tourist footprints, followed by a relaxed dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Trashigang
Morning: Spend your morning driving to Radhi Village, famously nicknamed the “Rice Bowl of the East,” celebrated throughout Bhutan for its incredible, ancient tradition of Bura weaving — where local women use raw silk dyed with wild roots and forest minerals to produce intricate patterns.
Afternoon: Drive up to Yonphula Airport for a spectacular 45-minute domestic flight back to Paro, saving you from three grueling days of return driving. This flight serves as a spectacular scenic experience, offering bird’s-eye views of snow-capped Himalayan ridges. Upon landing in Paro, check into Amankora Paro for a four-night residency.
Evening: Unwind with a customized holistic deep-tissue herbal massage at the lodge spa to relieve travel fatigue, followed by an unhurried dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro (Amankora Paro)
Morning: Enjoy an unhurried morning breakfast overlooking the old valley ruins. Spend your day exploring the Paro valley, starting with Kyichu Lhakhang temple to review its ancient woodwork and sacred inner shrines.
Afternoon: Participate in an exclusive archery and lawn darts masterclass on the property’s manicured lawns with a local champion, learning the focus and breathing techniques behind the sport.
Evening: Savor a private evening wine tasting featuring select international vintages paired with artisanal Himalayan cheeses on your suite’s outdoor deck.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro
Morning: Hit the trail by 7:30 AM to beat the afternoon sun and climb 900 meters to Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), clinging dramatically to a vertical granite cliff face high above the valley floor. Explore the sacred caves and inner sanctuaries where Guru Rinpoche meditated in the 8th century.
Afternoon: Descend the mountain to a private farmhouse estate at the base. Soothe your muscles with a traditional hot stone bath infused with wild Artemisia leaves, followed by a glass of premium champagne.
Evening: Enjoy an unhurried multi-course dinner at the resort’s signature restaurant, celebrating the completion of your cross-country trek.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro
Morning: Dedicate your full day to relaxation and personal reflection. Enjoy an extended morning spa treatment or swim in the indoor heated pool overlooking the valley orchards.
Afternoon: Spend a relaxed afternoon wandering the quiet paths of the surrounding pine forest with your guide, wrapping up your cultural insights over a private afternoon tea service.
Evening: Conclude your grand cross-country expedition with a spectacular farewell gala dinner hosted at a private local heritage property, celebrating your journey with Gu-Mar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro
Morning: After a celebratory final breakfast, your private guide and driver will transfer you directly to the tarmac at Paro International Airport for your outbound flight. Tashi Delek — may your grand journey across the Dragon Kingdom bring lasting purpose home.
Meals: Breakfast
Inclusions & Exclusions
What’s Included
- Ultra-Luxury Sanctuary Portfolio: Full accommodation in the country’s most exclusive properties (Amankora, Six Senses, Pemako, COMO Uma) on an all-inclusive basis.
- Elite Private Transit: Private arrival/departure transfers in top-tier luxury SUVs (Lexus, Audi, or Toyota Land Cruiser) with a designated professional executive chauffeur.
- Expert Scholars & Connoisseur Guides: Accompanied full-time by a premier, university-vetted senior English-speaking scholar guide specializing in Himalayan history, philosophy, or Buddhist iconography.
- Bespoke Gastronomy Experience: All meals customized by lodge executive chefs, including multi-course tasting menus, organic farm-to-table private dining, and curated wilderness cellars.
- Exclusive VIP Sanctuary Access: Private out-of-hours openings of sacred dzongs, custom monastic blessings, and entry into highly restricted monastery chambers closed to general tourism.
- Unlimited Wellness & Restorative Rituals: Signature lodge spa therapies, daily privately guided yoga, alpine forest meditation sessions, and unrestricted traditional hot stone mineral baths (Menchu).
- Mandatory High-Value Government Fees: Full coverage of the premium daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), national royalties, and all customs route clearances.
- Helicopter Scenic Excursions: High-altitude scenic transfers or domestic flights (per specific itinerary) to bypass long overland driving.
- Pre-Packaged Tech Connectivity: Premium local 5G SIM cards with unlimited streaming, presented on arrival.
What’s Not Included
- International Long-Haul Airfare: International business class commercial flights to and from Paro International Airport.
- Personal Curio Acquisitions: Specialized antique thangka collections, certified jewelry, and high-value textiles purchased directly from weaving cooperatives.
- Premium Vintage Spirits: Rare imported champagnes, limited-edition single malts, and vintage spirits ordered outside the curated lodge list.
- Gratuities: Discretionary tipping for your dedicated expert guiding team and logistical captains.
Good to Know
- Ultra-Luxury Sanctuary Crossovers: The resort properties across our Luxurious Collection (Amankora, Six Senses, Pemako, and COMO Uma) can be cross-graded or blended into a fully customized hybrid itinerary based on your design preferences and villa availability.
- Bespoke Dynamic Sequencing: Daily itineraries are kept highly fluid. Your senior scholar guide can adapt the schedule in real time — shifting trails to avoid weather changes, securing invitations to spontaneous village blessings, or arranging early monument entries for total privacy.
- VIP Airside Clearances: In full compliance with Department of Tourism (DoT) mandates, Gu-Mar Travels & Tours manages your visa endorsements, customized route clearances, and digital SDF logging well before your flight lands in Paro.
- Private Chartered Extensions: To optimize travel time, Gu-Mar can integrate private domestic helicopter charters through Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services to replace long mountain driving segments with scenic alpine flights.