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Bhutan's Bumthang Valley
Tour Code: BTN01A comprehensive 18-day botanical holiday to this last Shangri-la, including a 6-day trek through the beautiful forests of central Bhutan.
£7,995 (Inc flights)
£7,395
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Bhutan boasts beautiful forests, superb fortresses, shrines and temples, and a natural history that is extraordinarily unspoilt, as well as little known. This holiday focuses on Bhutan’s fabulous flora, in particular rhododendrons, magnolias, and other spring flowers and shrubs. We’ll cover as much ground as possible, over a variety of habitats and a wide altitudinal range (1300 to 4,160 metres). Beginning in the Paro Valley we will botanise high passes as we travel east to the heart of the country, in the Bumthang Valley, where we start our 6-day trek. Following ancient trails we’ll trek through forest and over passes, enjoying the region's magnificent flora and culture. Lastly we’ll visit the Phobjika Valley and the capital, Thimpu, before returning to Paro for our flight home.
- Visit the spectacular Tiger’s Nest Monastery
- Visit Rimpung, Punakha and Trongsa Dzong
- A 6-day trek through magnificent forests in Bhutan’s cultural heartland
- Magnificent rhododendrons and other spring flowers
- A rich diversity of birds
- Stunning landscapes, friendly people and a unique culture
- Led by expert naturalist guides
Grading
Moderate. Between 2,160 and 4,260 metres.Druk-yul, the ‘Land of the Dragon’, as Bhutan is known to its inhabitants, has always been the most fiercely independent of the Himalayan kingdoms. Its formidable southern border, where the foothills of the great Himalaya rise more steeply from the Indian plains than anywhere else, imposed a limit on the British Empire. Tourists have been accepted since 1974 but the high prices demanded by the government of Bhutan have ensured that their numbers have been low -seldom more than a few thousand a year.
Bhutan is as individual as a country can be; it is a land of boundless and beautiful forests, of enormous dzongs (remarkable buildings peculiar to Bhutan that incorporate fort, monastery and village in one), and a proud and independent people with a culture, architecture and dress that are quite unique. If the natural history of this small mountain kingdom is as yet little known, we do know that its unspoiled forests and valleys hold the best of the great variety of birds and flowers for which the eastern Himalaya is famous. As one of the last strongholds of Tibetan Buddhism, its religious monuments are numerous and quite outstanding and temples, shrines, monasteries and dzongs litter the high valleys of Bhutan. This holiday focuses on Bhutan's culture and fabulous flora, particularly the rhododendrons, magnolias, and other spring flowers. Our chosen itinerary, including the trek, is ideal for botanists because it covers as much ground as possible, ranging in altitude from 1,300 to 4,160 metres, and takes us to a wide variety of habitats, particularly forested ones. As well as visiting the monuments mentioned in the rest of this passage, particular emphasis will be on exploring these fabulous forests, and the meadows and river valleys of the country’s limited inhabited regions.
After a flight from Kathmandu, we arrive in Paro and have two days to explore this historic valley which sits below Chomolhari, one of the highest of Bhutan’s Himalayan peaks. We will visit the huge Rimpung Dzong, climb to the spectacular Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery and explore the rich diversity of forests up to the Chele La, a high pass to the west, where we will encounter countless primulas, an exciting range of rhododendrons and other shrubs, as well as a variety of birds which may include Kalij and Blood Pheasant.
An early morning drive then takes us to the Dochu La, a high pass clothed in virgin oak and hemlock forest, where we will enjoy a peaceful morning’s botanising before descending to the old capital, Punakha, where we will visit the splendid riverside dzong. After spending the night here, a long, but scenic, drive takes us eastwards to Trongsa in the heart of Bhutan. We break our journey for plant-hunting stops in the magnificent rhododendron forest on the Pele La and along the roadsides. In Trongsa we visit the great dzong, that is the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family, before climbing to the Yotong La through an amazing landscape of flowering rhododendrons. Finally, we descend to Jakar in the wide Bumthang valley, the cultural heartland of the kingdom, where we spend a night and prepare for our trek.
Our trek lasts for six days. It is not particularly strenuous, averaging six to 10 kilometres a day on good trails at a leisurely pace. We walk from broad valleys to high passes, on an ancient trail, that is so rewarding to the naturalist that our pace should drop to that of a snail! We visit monasteries and temples along the route and pass through ancient villages, where life has changed little in centuries. At our highest camp, we have the option of a rest day or climbing to the Rudong La, the highest point of our trip, where further exciting discoveries await.
We retrace our steps, for one final night of camping and then return through Jakar for a comfortable night in the broad Phobjika Valley. We explore the forests here and visit the ancient monastery of Gangtey Gompa, before resuming our return journey. Our final day of travel takes us to Thimpu, the capital, for lunch and an opportunity to explore its many facets, before we return to Paro for our last night in Bhutan. We leave the following morning for the truly spectacular flight along the Himalayan chain to Kathmandu, where we stay the night, before flying back to London.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: A selection of hotels and lodges (all with private facilities); fully serviced camping whilst on trek.
- Food: Included in the price, except for main meals in Kathmandu. Allow ?35.
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
2027
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[description] => Botanical Tours – See Wild Flowers with our Expert Botanical Guides
There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?
- All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
- All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
- We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?
- Travel with a group of like-minded people
- Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
- Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.
Our specialist recommends...
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
Combined Walking and Wildlife Tours
Naturetrek started by, and still specialises in, organising bird-watching and wild flower treks to remote and mountainous regions of the world. Though our broad programme of holidays now includes many tours which involve little or no strenuous walking, we still offer an excellent choice of walking and trekking wildlife holidays, from the Himalaya to the Pyrenees and the Camino de Santiago to the Inca trail.
Walking Wildlife Holidays on Offer:
These tours involve walking all day on most of the days, and tend to be 8 days in the mountains of Europe (although not exclusively) and are either botany or general natural history in focus. Often in remote areas where there are very few other people, our expert naturalist guides will lead you through some of the most majestic scenery, whilst at the same time helping you discover the wonderful flora and fauna that inhabit the region. These tours are for those who enjoy spending a whole day on foot, being able to cope with some strenuous terrain on sometimes uneven ground, and their reward will be, apart from the memorable landscapes and wildlife encounters, a hearty dinner at the end of each day and a great sense of satisfaction at the end of the holiday! Some of our favourite destinations are:
- The Alps, which offer classic mountain vistas. Switzerland, in particular, with its beautiful alpine meadows, spruce forests and glaciers, is hard to beat for a superb holiday combining botany and walking
- The Pyrenees – we offer various itineraries with tours on both the French and Spanish sides. Wilder and less manicured than the Alps, this mountain range has a large number of different habitats and a wealth of natural history as a result
- The little visited Picos de Europa in northern Spain rewards those who visit with outstanding natural history – birds, plants and butterflies galore!
- Italy has a number of regions which are ideal for walking and afford plenty of wildlife – alpine flowers and butterflies in the Dolomites and unknown Sibillini Mountains, and Marsican Brown Bear in the Abruzzo National Park (in the Apennines)
- Zambia - walking between bush camps in Zambia’s South Luangwa National park, home to over 500 species of bird and 60 mammals, is a unique and unforgettable experience!
Looking for something even more adventurous?
Strenuous treks as the main feature of the tour – lasting up to 15 days – in some of world’s most spectacular and sparsely populated mountain ranges, we offer a selection of trips, including the Himalaya & Nepal’s Langtang Valley, where we go in search of breeding birds, alpine flowers, mammals and other wildlife. Here are a few more choices:
- We have two options in Ladakh searching for Snow Leopards - our original trip which involves camping for several nights and a new departure staying in a recently opened lodge, for those who prefer a roof over their head!
- Mount Everest & the Gokyo Lakes of Nepal to enjoy the world’s highest peaks & their unique natural history
- A holiday to Bhutan’s Bumthang Valley, an area with the most temples and historic sites in the this secretive country, in search of spring flowers, particularly rhododendrons
- Our Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu trip has the option to complete the infamous Inca Trail, which culminates after 5 days of trekking with the best view of Machu Picchu, looking down at the monumental Inca city from the Sun Gate.
Be it day walks or trekking, in mountains, hills or the savannah, we offer a wide variety of holidays where you can truly stretch your legs, breathe in the cleanest of air, and enjoy the natural history of our world on foot.
Our specialist recommends...
David Mills -Managing Director
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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