Best of Western Bhutan: Thimphu, Paro Tiger's Nest, Punakha Dzong, Wangdue, Haa Valley & the Trans-Bhutan Trail - A 2026 First-Person Guide
Browse more guides: Bhutan travel | Asia destinations Best of Western Bhutan: Thimphu, Paro Tiger's Nest, Punakha Dzong, Wangdue, Haa Valley & the Trans-Bhutan Trail - A 2026 First-Person Guide I have written this guide the way I would brief a close friend before they flew into Paro for the first time. I have been into Bhutan three times since the borders reopened in late 2022, the last visit was a slow 11 day swing across the western dzongkhags in early spring 2026, and the country has rewired the way I think about pace, altitude, and what "developed" should mean. Western Bhutan is where almost every first time visitor begins, and for good reason. The international gateway is in Paro, the capital sits two hours away in Thimphu, the old winter capital of Punakha is a single high pass east, the quiet Haa Valley is a day trip south, and the revived east to west Trans-Bhutan Trail starts within sight of the runway. If you read this guide end to end, you will know how...