Peak performance: Bhutan’s 5 best road trips

15.01.2024 - 11:25 / lonelyplanet.com

A road trip through the remote, stunningly beautiful Himalayan valleys of Bhutan ranks as one of travel’s most exciting adventures.

Whether sticking to the more popular western valleys on a lightning trip or driving for days over wild passes through the remote east, the landscapes here are pristine and the traditional culture famously intact.

Paro airport in the west of the country is the main entry point for most foreign visitors, which also makes it the starting-off point for most every road-tripper. You’ll need more time to visit the remote center and east of the country, though domestic flights can open up these little-visited corners.

It’s worth knowing that self-driving is not an option for most visitors. While it is possible to sign up for a motorcycle tour of Bhutan, and Indian citizens in particular can drive their cars into Bhutan by paying of a daily fee, the vast majority of foreign tourists have to arrange a vehicle and driver for their tour. 

Which means you can sit back and enjoy the stunning views.

The best trip for a first-time visitor to Bhutan
Paro–Thimphu–Paro; 95km (60 miles); four days 

After flying into Bhutan’s international airport at Paro, spend the rest of the day visiting the Paro dzong (fortress-monastery) and nearby National Museum, from where you can shake off the flight with a short hike to Zuri Dzong for a fine overview of the valley.

The next day’s drive to Thimphu is only 47km (29 miles) on one of the country’s best roads – still, it’s worth taking your time, stopping en route at the deliciously fragrant Tshenden incense workshop and the roadside Tamchog Lhakhang, home to an amazing iron-link bridge built by the 15th-century Tibetan saint Tangtong Gyelpo. Our favorite place en route for a home-cooked Bhutanese lunch is the centuries-old Sisichhum Heritage Home. 

Just before you get to Thimphu pay your respects to the 51m(167ft)-tall Buddha Dordenma statue that guards the entrance to the valley. With enough time, you might even consider hiking the last hour along forested valley walls to reach Thimphu on foot. Once in town, spend the rest of the day enjoying the country’s best museums, craft workshops and retailers, some of which feature Bhutan’s most cutting-edge designers.

On day three, make the afternoon drive back to Paro; the next morning, make the half-day hike up to Bhutan’s most famous sight, the iconic Taktshang Goemba (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), stuck like a limpet high on granite cliffs in the upper valley. Finish your quick intro to Bhutan with a craft-beer tasting at the Namgyal Artisanal Brewery, or a restorative soak in a traditional herb-filled hot-stone bath.

Expect four perfect days in a one-of-a-kind country.

Detour: To really get off the beaten track, branch