Bhutan · 7 Nights · 8 Days
Bhutan Extended
Duration
7 Nights · 8 Days
Group sizes
2, 4, or 6 people
Pickup
Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / NJP Railway Station · Paro International Airport (for air entry)
Starting from
₹51,000/person
About This Journey
Journey Overview
The Bhutan Extended tour package is what happens when you give India's favourite Himalayan kingdom the time it actually deserves — 7 nights, 8 days, and a route that adds Phobjikha Valley to the classic circuit. Starting from Bagdogra Airport (IXB) or NJP, you cross into Bhutan at Phuentsholing without a visa (voter ID or passport suffices for Indian nationals) and drive up to Thimphu, where the Buddha Dordenma, the Takin Preserve, and Tashichho Dzong fill two full days. Dochula Pass in the morning mist leads you to Punakha before day four swings west over Lawala Pass to Phobjikha, a vast glacial bowl at 2,900 metres where black-necked cranes descend from Tibet each winter and Gangtey Monastery crowns a forested hill. Paro then claims three nights: Rinpung Dzong, the Tiger's Nest full-day hike to 3,120 metres, and a final valley exploration day. Priced from ₹51,000 per person with the SDF (₹8,400 total) included, this is the Bhutan extended trip package that leaves nothing unseen.
Day by Day
Your Itinerary
The complete Bhutan experience — from thunder-dragon fortresses and high-altitude passes to the silent glacial bowl of Phobjikha, where black-necked cranes descend each winter.
- ·Pickup from Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / NJP Railway Station
- ·Drive to Phuentsholing, Bhutan land border (approx. 3–3.5 hrs)
- ·Complete entry permit formalities at Bhutan Immigration, Phuentsholing
- ·Scenic mountain drive to Thimphu (approx. 5–6 hrs, 165 km)
- ·Hotel check-in and leisure evening in Thimphu's clock-tower square
- ·Buddha Dordenma — 51-metre gilded statue gazing over the Thimphu valley
- ·National Memorial Chorten — revered stupa dedicated to world peace and the Third King
- ·Tashichho Dzong — fortress-monastery housing the King's Throne Room
- ·Changangkha Lhakhang — hilltop temple with sweeping valley views
- ·Takin Preserve — meet Bhutan's national animal, a bovine-goat hybrid found nowhere else
- ·Evening stroll at Norzin Lam and local craft shops
- ·Morning drive over Dochula Pass (3,100 m) — 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens and sweeping Himalayan views
- ·Druk Wangyal Lhakhang monastery at the pass
- ·Punakha Dzong — the 'Palace of Great Happiness' at the confluence of Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers (altitude 1,200 m)
- ·Suspension bridge walk across the Mo Chhu river
- ·Chimi Lhakhang — the Fertility Temple of the Divine Madman, a short walk through rice fields
- ·Morning visit to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten — hilltop stupa with views over Punakha valley
- ·Drive to Phobjikha Valley over Lawala Pass (3,300 m) — approx. 3.5–4 hrs
- ·Gangtey Monastery — one of Bhutan's largest Nyingmapa monasteries atop a forested hill
- ·Gangtey Nature Trail — a gentle 3 km walk through the glacial valley meadow
- ·Phobjikha Valley viewpoints — a vast bowl-shaped valley ringed by pine-clad ridges
- ·Evening look-out for the endangered black-necked cranes (October–March season)
- ·Black-necked crane education centre visit (near Gangtey)
- ·Drive to Paro via Wangdue Phodrang (approx. 5–6 hrs through mountain passes and river gorges)
- ·Rinpung Dzong — 17th-century fortress above the Paro River
- ·Kyichu Lhakhang — one of Bhutan's oldest temples, built in 659 AD
- ·Paro town evening walk and dinner
- ·Full-day hike to Paro Taktsang Monastery (3,120 m) — Bhutan's most sacred and iconic site
- ·4.5 km trail through pine and rhododendron forest, approx. 4–6 hrs round trip with 518 m elevation gain
- ·Cafeteria stop at the halfway viewpoint for tea and panoramic photos
- ·Explore the four main temples built into the sheer cliff face where Guru Rinpoche meditated in the 8th century
- ·Celebratory farewell dinner in Paro
- ·National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong) — watch tower turned museum above Rinpung Dzong
- ·Drukgyel Dzong ruins — ancient fortress with Chomolhari peak views on clear days
- ·Paro handicraft market — Yathra weavings, thangkas, and local souvenirs
- ·Afternoon leisure; optional hot stone bath — a traditional Bhutanese therapeutic experience
- ·Breakfast at hotel
- ·Depart Paro — fly out from Paro International Airport, or drive back to Phuentsholing (approx. 5–6 hrs) for onward transfer to IXB / NJP
- ·Trip ends with the full depth of the Thunder Dragon Kingdom experienced
Package Pricing
Group of 2
₹68,000
per person
Group of 4
₹58,500
per person
Group of 6
Best value₹51,000
per person
* All prices inclusive of applicable taxes. Quote valid for 3 days from issue.
No commitment — we'll answer your questions first
Accommodation
Comfortable 3-star category hotels, boutique guesthouses, and eco-lodges throughout. Phobjikha offers a stay in a valley farmhouse or eco-lodge — a genuine highlight of the extended circuit.
What's Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights (2N Thimphu, 1N Punakha, 1N Phobjikha, 3N Paro)
- Daily breakfast
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) — INR 1,200 per person per night (₹8,400 total)
- Bhutan entry permit processing assistance
- Licensed Bhutanese guide for all sightseeing days
- Private vehicle with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Monument and site entry fees as per itinerary
- Pickup and drop at Bagdogra Airport (IXB) / NJP Railway Station
Not Included
- Airfare / train tickets to/from Bagdogra or NJP
- Paro International Airport flights (if flying into Bhutan)
- Lunch and dinner
- Personal expenses, shopping, tips
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Optional hot stone bath in Paro
- Camera fees at monuments
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for Indian nationals on the 7-night package?
Indian nationals pay INR 1,200 per person per night in SDF — not the USD 100 international rate. Over 7 nights, the total SDF per person is ₹8,400, and it is fully included in this package price. Children under 5 are exempt; children aged 6 to 12 pay 50% SDF (₹600/night). There is no additional SDF to pay at the border or during the trip. The fee supports Bhutan's carbon-negative development model.
Do Indian nationals need a visa for Bhutan, and what documents are required?
No visa is required for Indian nationals entering Bhutan. Entry via the Phuentsholing land border requires an original Indian Passport (minimum 6 months validity) or an original Voter ID card. Photocopies are not accepted at the Bhutan Immigration counter. ClearEast Trip handles entry permit processing assistance in Phuentsholing, and a licensed Bhutanese guide (mandatory by Bhutanese law) is included and stays with your group throughout the trip.
What is Phobjikha Valley and why is it special?
Phobjikha is a wide, bowl-shaped glacial valley at approximately 2,900 metres in central Bhutan — one of the most serene landscapes in the country. It is home to Gangtey Monastery, one of Bhutan's largest Nyingmapa monasteries. The valley's biggest draw is its wildlife: from late October to early March, endangered black-necked cranes migrate here from Tibet for winter. A gentle 3 km nature trail winds through the meadow. Even outside crane season, the valley's silence and scale make it a genuine highlight of any Bhutan itinerary.
What is the best time to visit Bhutan on the extended itinerary?
March to May offers spring blooms and clear Himalayan views — ideal for Tiger's Nest and Dochula Pass panoramas. September to November is the second peak season; late October onwards also marks the start of black-necked crane season in Phobjikha, making it the best window for the extended route. Avoid June to August for road travel. Winter (December to February) is cold but uncrowded, with the cranes present in Phobjikha through February.
What does the Bhutan Extended package include and exclude?
Included: 7 nights accommodation (2N Thimphu, 1N Punakha, 1N Phobjikha, 3N Paro), daily breakfast, SDF of ₹8,400 per person, Bhutan entry permit assistance, licensed Bhutanese guide, private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, monument and site entry fees, and Bagdogra/NJP pickup and drop. Excluded: flights or train tickets, lunches and dinners, optional hot stone bath, personal expenses, and travel insurance. Prices start from ₹51,000 per person.
Important to Know
- ·Entry permit: Indian nationals need an original Indian Passport (minimum 6 months validity) OR original Voter ID card. No visa required.
- ·Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is INR 1,200 per person per night. Children below 5 years are exempt; children 6–12 years pay 50% SDF (₹600/night).
- ·Phobjikha Valley sits at approx. 2,900 m — light warm layers essential even in warmer months.
- ·Black-necked cranes are present in Phobjikha Valley from late October to early March. Outside this season, the valley remains beautiful but cranes will not be present.
- ·Tiger's Nest hike involves 518 m elevation gain to 3,120 m — guests with cardiac conditions should consult a doctor.
- ·Best travel months: March–May (rhododendron bloom) and September–November (post-monsoon clarity; crane season begins late October).
- ·A licensed Bhutanese guide is mandatory for all tourists — included in the package.
Ready to go?
Let's plan your journey
Tell us your dates and group size on WhatsApp. We'll confirm availability and answer every question before you commit.