SUBCONTINENT TC JOURNEYS
Sacred Peaks & City Streets: India & Bhutan for Luxury Explorers
9 nights | 2 adults
Trip highlights
- Discover two Himalayan kingdoms in one journey, from the energy of Delhi to the serene valleys and dzongs of Bhutan.
- Explore Bhutan’s cultural treasures, including Punakha Dzong, Thimphu Dzong, riverside villages, and lively local markets.
- Hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched high on a cliff with breathtaking valley views.
- Enjoy soft adventure through gentle hikes, high passes, and panoramic viewpoints, perfectly paced for couples and luxury explorers.
- Stay in characterful hotels and lodges that blend warm Bhutanese hospitality with comfort, wellness, and beautiful mountain settings.
Discover some of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks as you explore the city’s rich heritage. Take in the grand India Gate war memorial and glimpse the stately presidential residence as you drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Then delve deeper into history at Qutub Minar, a soaring UNESCO-listed minaret, and the serene, Mughal-era Humayun’s Tomb, whose elegant gardens and architecture inspired the Taj Mahal. This short tour offers a perfect introduction to the story and splendour of India’s capital.
Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. On arrival into Paro, you will be warmly greeted and transferred through lush valleys and forested hills to the capital, Thimphu. After checking in and enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, your introduction to Bhutanese culture begins with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten and the impressive Buddha Dordenma statue, gazing serenely over the valley.
Your day ends at the majestic Thimphu Dzong (Trashichho Dzong), the largest religious building in the city and the seat of the central government, before returning to your hotel for a peaceful overnight stay.
Leave Thimphu behind as you journey towards Punakha, Bhutan’s former capital and one of its most scenic valleys. En route, pause at Dochula Pass, where 108 white Druk Wangyal Chortens stand silhouetted against sweeping 360-degree Himalayan views, a poignant memorial created by the Queen Mother of Bhutan. Continue your drive and stretch your legs with a gentle hike to Chimi Lhakhang, the famous Fertility Temple, celebrated for its colourful murals and distinctive architecture.
As you approach Punakha, walk across the nearby suspension bridge, the longest in Bhutan, for a thrilling yet serene vantage point over the river and the magnificent Punakha Dzong. Your day ends with an overnight stay in Punakha, surrounded by rice fields and mountain scenery.
After breakfast, set out on a gentle hike through fields of chillies and cabbages to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a beautiful hilltop monument built to promote peace, stability and harmony in a changing world. From here, soak up commanding views across the Mo Chhu River and towards the distant peaks of Gasa, a panorama that truly captures the beauty of the Punakha Valley.
Continue to the legendary Punakha Dzong, the “Palace of Great Happiness”, dramatically set at the confluence of the Phochu and Mochu rivers. As you wander its vast courtyards, ornate temples and golden-roofed tower with your guide, you will gain a deeper insight into Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural heart. In the afternoon, visit the charming villages of Talo and Nobgang, known for their immaculate farmhouses, flower-filled gardens and neat terraced fields. Here you will meet local families and experience Bhutanese rural life at a relaxed pace before returning to your hotel in Punakha for the night.
Today is dedicated to one of Bhutan’s most iconic experiences: the hike to Tiger’s Nest, or Taktsang Monastery, perched dramatically on a cliff face at around 3,180 metres. Over the course of 5 to 6 hours, you will follow a well-trodden mountain trail through pine forest and prayer-flag-lined paths, with ever-expanding views of the valley below.
As the monastery gradually comes into view, seemingly clinging to the rock high above, the sense of anticipation and achievement builds. Reaching the viewpoint and then the monastery itself is an unforgettable moment, rewarding you with breathtaking scenery, a peaceful spiritual atmosphere and a genuine “once in a lifetime” memory.
