Overview
Bhutan by Invitation is Gu-Mar Travels & Tours’ ultimate 10-day, 9-night insider-access network, engineered to completely bypass standard commercial tourism in favor of private connections and rare human encounters. Designed specifically for intellectual travelers, artists, and lifestyle connoisseurs, this highly curated itinerary charts a path across the core cultural valleys of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and the Phobjikha Valley.
What sets this package apart is its emphasis on local access. You will skip public tourist tracks to engage in private evening cocktail receptions with contemporary Bhutanese artists, sit down for intimate philosophical discussions on mindfulness with senior tutors to the royal family, and join community leaders to analyze ecological preservation models on the ground.
Pairing top-tier properties across Six Senses and Gangtey Lodge, this journey combines luxury amenities with deep personal enrichment — unlocking doors that remain closed to the outside world.
Trip Highlights
- A private cocktail reception and dinner with a prominent contemporary Bhutanese artist.
- A private audience on mindfulness and modern happiness with a senior monk tutor to the royal family.
- A privately guided tour of the Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST) and a silk-weaving masterclass at a private estate.
- A secluded village temple visit guided by its hereditary guardian, sharing ancient oral histories.
- Gangtey Lodge, the Gangtey Nature Trail and a wetland walk with a senior environmental conservationist.
- A quiet alternate-trail hike to Tiger’s Nest and a farewell gala dinner at a private heritage property.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Morning: Arrive at Paro International Airport. Your dedicated Gu-Mar scholar guide will greet you at the runway and escort you to your luxury SUV. Drive 1.5 hours through the river valleys to Thimphu.
Afternoon: Check into your stunning hilltop villa at Six Senses Thimphu. Spend your afternoon completely at leisure, acclimatizing to the altitude while enjoying panoramic views from the property’s library lounge.
Evening: Attend an exclusive private cocktail reception and dinner at the lodge with a prominent contemporary Bhutanese artist, discussing the evolution of modern Himalayan art over fine wine.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Thimphu (Six Senses Thimphu)
Morning: Start your morning with an extraordinary private audience and philosophical discussion on secular mindfulness and modern happiness with a senior monk tutor to the royal family at a quiet temple near Buddha Dordenma.
Afternoon: Visit the National Memorial Chorten before taking an exclusive, privately guided tour of the Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST), interacting with young visionary creators reshaping the country’s cultural landscape.
Evening: Enjoy an unhurried seasonal dinner at the lodge, followed by a private presentation on traditional Bhutanese musical string instruments by a local master musician.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Thimphu
Morning: Leave Thimphu after breakfast for a scenic drive over Dochula Pass (3,100m), stopping to view the 108 memorial chortens. Descend into the warm subtropical valley of Punakha and check into Pemako Punakha.
Afternoon: Escape the standard tourist spots for an exclusive afternoon tour of an old, secluded village temple, guided by its hereditary guardian who will share ancient oral histories passed down across generations.
Evening: Relax in your private pool villa sanctuary, followed by a curated candlelit dinner overlooking the river canyon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Punakha (Pemako Punakha)
Morning: Explore the magnificent Punakha Dzong with your scholar guide, focusing on hidden artistic details inside the grand assembly hall. Afterward, walk across the adjacent Punakha Suspension Bridge.
Afternoon: Attend a private masterclass in traditional silk weaving at a private estate, learning how complex geometric motifs are hand-woven using ancestral back-strap loom techniques. Enjoy a customized lunch on the estate lawns.
Evening: Savor a private riverside twilight dinner hosted by the lodge, featuring a contemporary culinary menu inspired by regional ingredients.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Punakha
Morning: Board your 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 the award-winning Gangtey Lodge. Dine on a multi-course seasonal lunch prepared by a local village chef inside the lodge’s private timber dining room, overlooking the vast valley basin.
Evening: Gather by the massive stone fireplace for a relaxed evening discussion with a resident scholar regarding the region’s spiritual heritage, followed by an unhurried dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Phobjikha Valley (Gangtey Lodge)
Morning: Set out on the beautiful Gangtey Nature Trail, taking an easy 2.5-hour flat walk passing through blue pine forests and cutting across open wetlands at a completely relaxed pace.
Afternoon: Enjoy a private morning walk with a senior environmental conservationist through the valley wetlands. Learn about community-led crane protection policies and view the wintering birds through high-powered telescopes.
Evening: Unwind with a therapeutic hot stone bath, followed by an exclusive farewell wine-pairing dinner inside the lodge cellar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Phobjikha Valley
Morning: Board your luxury SUV for the return drive backtracking over the high passes, dropping back down into the fertile valley of Paro. Stop for a relaxed lunch along the way.
Afternoon: Arrive in Paro and check into the high-concept stone villas of Six Senses Paro. Spend your afternoon at leisure exploring the resort’s stunning facilities or visiting Kyichu Lhakhang temple.
Evening: Step onto the resort’s private lawns for an exclusive archery and lawn darts match with local competition champions, learning the songs and folklore behind the sport.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro (Six Senses Paro)
Morning: Set out for Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) via an exclusive, lesser-known alternate access trail managed by Gu-Mar to ensure a completely quiet, contemplative hike away from the main public paths.
Afternoon: Descend the mountain to a private luxury camp setup at the base for a fresh lunch. Return to the resort to relax or enjoy a customized spa therapy designed to restore physical balance.
Evening: Dine on an unhurried multi-course dinner featuring premium organic ingredients sourced directly from the valley’s farms.
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 old valley ruins.
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 journey by invitation with a spectacular farewell gala dinner hosted at a private local heritage property, celebrating your deep-dive experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Paro
Morning: After a 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 journey by invitation 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.