the-tour.by Kat and Simon Morgan at Hays Travel
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COX & KINGS

Cox & Kings

Bhutan: Journey to the Dragon Kingdom

Prices checked 26 October 2026 · Cox & Kings · Supplier snapshot; confirmation required.

Bhutan: Journey to the Dragon KingdomChoose your departure & see monthly prices →

Although Bhutan opened its doors to the world in 1974, age-old Buddhist traditions continue to thrive and define the character of this former hermit kingdom. On this tour, travel between the highlights, passing through meadows, forests and valleys to visit fortified monasteries, pagodalike temples and hilltop stupas steeped in history and spirituality.

Plan this tour with Kat & Simon Morgan — Personal Travel Consultants at Hays Travel. Call 0800 0662 694 for help comparing dates, departure points and room options.

Tour highlights

Further highlights

Your itinerary

In supplier order. Some entries may cover multiple days; optional experiences are described by the supplier.

Sample itinerary. Choose a departure for its exact itinerary and hotel plan.

Day 1 — Fly to Kathmandu, Nepal

Overnight flight from London with Qatar Airlines.

Day 2 — Kathmandu

Arrive in Kathmandu for exploration of the Nepalese capital’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Durbar Square, home to historic temples, courtyards and palaces; the ancient temple complex of Swayambhunath, with its hilltop stupa and Buddha statues; Pashupatinath, a Hindu temple and pilgrimage site; and the gilded stupa of Boudhanath, which houses numerous sacred relics.

Meals: dinner

Day 2.1 — Transfer: Kathmandu to Thimphu
Day 3 — Thimphu, Bhutan

Fly on to Paro, and continue by road to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. If time permits, take tea with the nuns of the Zilukha Nunnery or witness the sundown flaglowering ceremony at the Tashichho Dzong monastery.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 — Thimphu

Visit the National Memorial Chorten, adorned with fine wall paintings and precious Buddhist statuary. After lunch, visit the National Institute of Zorig Chusum, where artists practice the centuries-old traditions of Bhutanese arts and crafts. Optional visit to Kaja Throm farmers’ market.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4.1 — Transfer: Thimphu to Gangtey
Day 5 — Gangtey

Take the scenic five-hour drive to Gangtey Valley, traversing Dochula Pass for views of the eastern Himalaya. Take an evening stroll to enjoy the mountain vistas.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 — Gangtey

Walk the Gangtey Nature Trail through pine forests to Khewa Lhakang, a protected roosting area for the blacknecked crane. After lunch, stop by the Black-Necked Crane Visitor Centre, then Gangtey Monastery, with the option to attend evening prayers.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6.1 — Transfer: Gangtey to Punakha
Day 7 — Punakha

Take an excursion to the Chimi monastery and fertility temple, with a detour in the village of Pana for a walk through ricefields. Later, visit the hilltop nunnery of Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 — Punakha

Hike to the pagoda-like stupa of Khamsum Yuelley Nagyal Chorten. Take lunch with local hosts, then continue to Punakha Dzong, a sprawling 17th-century monastery set on the confluence of the Pho and Mo rivers. This building houses the sacred remains of Bhutan’s founder, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8.1 — Transfer: Punakha to Paro
Day 9 — Paro

Head to the historic valley town of Paro. After lunch, visit Ta Dzong – the national museum of Bhutan – which houses thousands of artworks. Continue to Rinpung Dzong nearby, a fortified Buddhist monastery containing numerous shrines and temples. Later, try your hand at archery in traditional Bhutanese dress at a local farmhouse.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10 — Paro

Visit one of Bhutan’s most eye-catching and precipitous landmarks: Taktsang – or Tiger’s Nest – a monastery built in 1684 and perched high up on a rocky ledge. Back on lower ground, consider the option of a traditional hot-stone bath at a local spa. Finish the day at Druk Choeding temple, where monks impart blessings to their devotees.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10.1 — Transfer: Paro to Kathmandu
Day 11 — Kathmandu, Nepal

Fly back to Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a final afternoon at leisure to explore the city.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12 — Fly to the UK

Transfer to Kathmandu international airport for your flight home.

Meals: breakfast

Your accommodation

Planned hotels or ships as published by Cox & Kings. Alternatives of a similar standard may be used. Hotel options are grouped as supplied and are not necessarily all included in one departure.

Hotel Yak and Yeti

Hotel Yak & Yeti is a heritage hotel which offers a blend of luxury and traditional Nepali charm in the heart of Kathmandu. Offering sophisticated comfort and elegance in grounds steeped in history and featuring elegant rooms, excellent dining, and modern amenities. Located at fashionable Durbar Marg, Yak & Yeti is just minutes from Kathmandu’s best shops and restaurants and central to all of the city’s sights.

City Heritage

Located in the heart of Thimphu, City Heritage Hotel offers a comfortable stay with a blend of traditional Bhutanese character and modern conveniences. The rooms are tastefully furnished and provide a relaxing space to unwind, with useful amenities and views of the surrounding landscape. Guests can also enjoy the rooftop bar or take some time to relax at the hotel’s spa after a day of exploring the city.

Dewachen Hotel & Spa

The Dewachen Hotel is a secluded property on 3 acres of land in Gangtey Vallry. It is located just 3km south from the main Gangtey Gompa monastery and just few minutes walking distance from the beautiful meadows where the endangered Black Necked Cranes reside during the winter months, having flown from Siberia and China. The hotel consists of 16 twin rooms built in Bhutanese style. Each room has two beds, Iron stove (Bukhari) heating and ensuite bathroom with shower. Additional facilities include a restaurant with a view and a well stocked bar.

Meri Puensum Resort

Accommodation in Bhutan is simple and clean, but cannot be compared to the standard of hotels in Europe. The Meri Puensum is situated high on a hillside with panoramic views of the fields, terraces and river below, approximately 5 kilometres outside Punakha, and offers simple accommodation, each room with an attached bathroom. Hotel facilities include a laundry, money exchange, a bar and a restaurant.

The Village Lodge Paro

Inspired by the typical lifestyle and rich Bhutanese culture, The Village Lodge presents true Bhutanese essence. Located only a few minutes' drive from Paro airport and set on the fertile farmland in the middle of vibrant Paro valley and encircled by richly forested hills, the lodge offers traditional experience and good accommodation in a peaceful Himalayan environment. The lodge has 9 suite rooms elegantly decorated in Bhutanese architecture, equipped with an underground heating system and comfortable bathrooms. The restaurant serves local, continental and Asian delicacies. NUTS Bar offers the selection of international and Bhutanese beverages. Guests are welcome to venture into the kitchen to learn the art of Bhutanese cooking or simply watch the chef prepare Chili Cheese Ema datshi, the fiery Bhutanese delicacy.

What’s included

Dates & prices

Indicative supplier snapshot. Confirm price, room basis and availability before booking. Monthly estimates deduct a £250 deposit per person for Europe or £395 elsewhere, then divide by whole monthly payments ending no later than 42 days before departure. Rounded to the nearest pound; final payment adjusted.

London and Manchester departures available. Published tour fares are indicative and not airport-specific; confirm your selected airport and quote with Kat & Simon.

20 published departure and room-basis records. Standard prices are per person sharing; solo fares are labelled separately. Sold-out records are shown for reference.

DepartureDeparture pointDurationRoom basisPrice per personStatus
17 October 2027London12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,695
£4,570
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
17 October 2027London12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,240
£5,090
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
17 October 2027Manchester12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,695
£4,570
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
17 October 2027Manchester12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,240
£5,090
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
31 October 2027London12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,695
£4,570
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
31 October 2027London12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,240
£5,090
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
31 October 2027Manchester12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,695
£4,570
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
31 October 2027Manchester12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,240
£5,090
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
12 March 2028London12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
12 March 2028London12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
12 March 2028Manchester12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
12 March 2028Manchester12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
15 October 2028London12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
15 October 2028London12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
15 October 2028Manchester12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
15 October 2028Manchester12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
29 October 2028London12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
29 October 2028London12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
29 October 2028Manchester12 daysTwo sharingSupplier price £4,895
£4,770
Save £125 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability
29 October 2028Manchester12 daysSoloSupplier price £5,490
£5,340
Save £150 pp · Book by 29 November 2026		Snapshot — confirm availability

Supplier source ↗

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Booking this tour with Kat & Simon

How do I book?

Call 0800 0662 694 with your preferred dates, departure point and party details. We’ll confirm the current fare and availability before booking. This page does not reserve a place.

Can I spread the cost?

The date selector shows monthly estimates where eligible. Deposit and balance dates are shown alongside each option; ask us to confirm the payment arrangement for your booking.

Will my itinerary vary?

Check the itinerary for your selected departure. Hotels, order of visits and included experiences can vary; optional activities may cost extra.

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