Bhutan Travel Guide: Top Attractions

Now is the time to go. Bhutan is rapidly developing and despite its innovative efforts to protect its natural and cultural heritage, change is sweeping across the country. Car ownership is accelerating and roads are fanning out into previously un-explorable areas, making Bhutan's top attractions alot more accesible to tourism.

1. The Fortress Monasteries

One of the first things you will notice when you arrive in Bhutan is the architecture, particularly the temples and monasteries. Each geo-political region is governed from a fortress-monastery called a dzong. Most dzongs dominate their locales, often perched on ridges with commanding views of the ancient trade routes and are formidable buildings with massive whitewashed walls and tiered rooflines; a top attraction in itself.

2. Paro and Thimphu

Most visitors to Bhutan arrive by air, and you know you are on a genuine adventure as your plane weaves dramatically through mountain valleys before steeply banking to land on the valley floor at Paro. This valley is home to the massive Rinpung Dzong, the national museum, and the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery, Taktshang Goemba. Tiger’s Nest is a cliff-hugging architectural wonder with a fantastical story of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche arriving here on the back of a flying tigress. It’s a tough hike up to the monastery, but well worth it. Further up the valley, the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong mark the start of some of Bhutan’s renowned treks, including the daunting 25-day Snowman trek.

Thimphu (pr. timpu) is a short but winding drive from Paro. Bhutan's capital is a mosaic of tradition and modernity. Under the gaze of the towering Buddha Dordenma, one of the biggest statues in the world, the city is rapidly expanding, sprouting luxury hotels, apartments and roads. But there are still no traffic lights in Bhutan. The arm-waving policeman at the city’s busiest intersection has become one of the city’s most photographed attractions. Down at Thimphu’s archery field you will find a match or practice session on most days. It might be traditional bamboo bows being used or high-tech carbon fibre bows.

The dzongs of Paro and Thimphu host the country’s most popular religious festivals, thetsechu. These famous masked dances, in honour of Guru Rinpoche, are a cultural highlight and their international popularity demands an early booking. The Bhutanese calendar is full of colourful festivals, so try to time your visit with at least one festival, and it is worth noting that festivals in central and eastern Bhutan are nowhere near as crowded as those in western Bhutan. The Tourism Council of Bhutan has a useful festival calendar, which contains detailed information about top attractions. 

3. Bumthang and Bhutan’s Heartland

A single road heads east from Thimphu, crossing numerous mountain passes on its journey through Bhutan’s heartland. If you are here in spring these high passes, always colourfully adorned with fluttering prayer flags, erupt with splendid blossoms of red, pink and white rhododendrons.

You will have already noticed the odd giant phallus painted on houses by the time you reach Chimmi Lhakhang, the chapel dedicated to the unorthodox Buddhist saint Lama Drukpa Kunley, also known as the "divine madman". The saint’s phallus appears on houses throughout Bhutan and brings good luck and protection to the household.

Punakha is home to undoubtedly Bhutan’s prettiest dzong – and maybe even main attraction – resplendent in late spring when its garden of lilac jacarandas bloom. This dzong was the seat of Bhutan’s rulers before Thimphu was made the capital, and more recently it has hosted the spiritual crowning of Bhutan’s fifth and current king and his wedding.

Phobjikha Valley is a beautiful glacial bowl renowned for its migrating black-necked cranes that overwinter in the valley’s marshes. If the birds aren’t here when you visit, there are several options to stretch the legs on short hike.

Trongsa has yet another imposing and strategically positioned dzong; its watchtower has been restored into a superb museum featuring the history of the royal family.

Bumthang (pronounce the "u" as in "put") is geographically and culturally the heart of Bhutan, with ancient monasteries and lhakhangs (temples) dotting the chocolate-box countryside and forested valleys. There are opportunities here to purchase handicrafts directly from the artisans and sample the wonderful agricultural produce.

4. The Secluded East

Far off the customary tourist trail, the east offers a more adventurous take on Bhutan. The road is sometimes hairy, crossing its highest pass, Thrumshing La, at 3,750m, and the human settlements are small and sparse. You’d be forgiven for thinking the east is largely unoccupied, as most of the population lives far from the narrow, tenuous road. The top attractions here include the fine weavings executed on traditional looms, and the verdant monsoon forests that sing with exotic and rare birds.

5. Bhutanese cuisine – chillies in cheese

Bhutanese pride themselves on their chilli-eating prowess, and the national dish – ema datse – is simply chillies in cheese, and is every bit a top attraction. Similar dishes with the traditional cheese sauce include mushrooms or potatoes as the main ingredient. Other traditional food is somewhat influenced by Tibet – for example, you will find momos (stuffed dumplings) and thukpa (noodles). If all this sounds a bit exotic, all tourist hotel restaurants provide western dishes. And in Thimphu you can find Italian, Thai and Indian restaurants as well as trendy espresso cafes. Bhutan brews its own beer and the best is Red Panda, a German-inspired weissbeer from Bumthang.