Top 5 Recommended Places to Visit in Bhutan for Honeymoon Tour

Bhutan is renowned as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, boasting ancient temples and fortresses, breathtaking natural landscapes, and a serene and secluded location for a honeymoon.

Notably, Bhutan, the last true Shangri-La, sees far fewer tourists than most honeymoon spots.This land of nature and unique cultures can make your honeymoon the perfect romantic getaway.

Let’s see the top 5 romantic destinations for a honeymoon tour in Bhutan.

Top 1: Paro Valley - Enjoy a Romantic Hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Paro Valley, in the west of Bhutan, is one of the most historic Dzongkhags in the country and is a must-visit place for all Bhutan honeymoon tours.

Among all the highlights of Paro, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is always the top place to visit, where the Guru Rinpoche is said to have landed on his first visit to bring Buddhism to the Bhutanese.

The monastery lies 900 meters up the cliff face overlooking the Paro Valley and sits perched on a narrow ledge. The most impressive part will be on the way to hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery. You will not miss the romantic trek to the Monastery just like what Prince William and Kate did on their romantic trip to Bhutan in April 2016.

Besides the world-famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, you can also visit the massive fortress of the Rinpung Dzong, built by the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche, and the ruined skeleton of Drukgyel Dzong, sitting in the upper region of Paro, and a figure of Bhutan’s glorious history.

Best Time to Visit Paro for Honeymoon Tours

The best time to visit Paro is in the spring and autumn, from March to May and September to November when the weather is clear and dry, and best for sightseeing and trekking.

Recommended Hotels for a Luxury Honeymoon in Paro

The city of Paro is also home to a huge number of great hotels, of which the best include the Uma by COMO, the famous Amankora, and the stunningly beautiful Zhiwa Ling Hotel.

The Le Meridien Hotel, on Paro’s riverfront, is a delightful place to stay with a very personal touch, perfect for honeymoons, or you can stay at the lavish Gangtey Palace Hotel, with elegant rooms and stunning valley views.

Top 2: Thimphu - Visit the Capital where the King and Queen Live

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the kingdom. Located around 50 kilometers to the east of Paro, Thimphu is also one of the most popular honeymoon spots and best cities to visit in Bhutan. You can experience the modern and the traditional meet together. The colorful weekend markets, with their quirky stalls and unique souvenirs, are one of the best simple outings you can have in the city as a newlywed couple.

The ancient Dzongs and monasteries in Thimphu are must-sees in all Bhutan tours.

The Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist fortress on the northern edge of the city that is now the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of the civil government in Bhutan.

The Dechen Phodrang, or "Palace of Great Bliss", which is a monastic school that has more than 450 students taking eight-year-long courses.

The Simtokha Dzong, one of the first Dzongs to be built by Ngawang Namgyal in the early 17th century, which guards the northern end of the valley from invasion.

The Great Buddha Dordenma, a gigantic 52-meter statue of Sakyamuni Buddha that sits amid the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the former palace of Sherab Wangchuck.

Otherwise, you can not miss the weekend market in Thimphu. Here you will get along with the local people who wear their traditional clothes in bright color and experience the authentic Bhutanese life.

Best Time to Visit Thimphu for Honeymoon Tours

The best time to visit Thimphu is the warm months of summer, from March to May. Besides, from September to November, it is also a busy tourist season.

Winter in Thimphu is cold and the temperature drops regularly. Sometimes, there is snowfall in Thimphu during January and February. If you want a romantic tour of the pure white world, winter may be a good time to go.

Also, the tour cost in winter is much cheaper than in spring and autumn because it is a low season during which the daily tariff is USD 200 per person per night.

Recommended Hotels for a Luxury Honeymoon in Thimphu

The Le Meridien, Amankora, and the Taj Tashi are some of the best five-star hotels in Thimphu, with luxurious rooms and stunning views.

In the mid-range four-star hotels, you have the City Hotel, the Hotel Jumolhari, the Hotel Druk, and the Hotel Motithang. Four-star hotels in Thimphu are often the more popular places to stay.

Three-star hotels that are also popular include the Hotel Ghasel and Hotel Tandin, which both offer clean rooms with attached bathrooms and hot water as well as their own restaurants.

Top 3: Punakha - Explore the Most Beautiful Punakha Dzong in Bhutan

The former capital of the country, Punakha is one of the lower valleys in the western and central region of Bhutan, which lies to the east of Thimphu with a 3-hour drive from Paro.

The Punakha Dzong, the second oldest in Bhutan, lies between the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu river, and is rated as being the most beautiful Dzong in the kingdom.

Chimi Lhakhang, located near Lobesa Town, is a sacred temple that lies on a small hillock in the valley. The temple was built after the site was blessed by the famous “Divine Madman”, Drukpa Kunley, in the 15th century. It is also known for the fertility temple. Local people will visit there in hope of having a child. If you are newlyweds and plan to have a baby, you can have a try to approach the local lama to get a lucky blessing.

The Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chöten is a beautiful Chorten built by the Queen Mother, and makes a delightful short walk up from the village of Yepaisa, with all four interior floors laid out in the form of Mandalas.

Best Time to Visit Punakha for Honeymoon Tours

Punakha has better weather throughout the year than most of the popular destinations in Bhutan. With the milder climate of this region, it is possible to spend your honeymoon in Punakha from September through to April.

Also, winter is a good time to visit Punakha for it is warmer than Thimphu and Paro. There is a popular winter trekking in Punakha, which will take you deeply experience the culture and landscape of this ancient capital.

Recommended Hotels for Honeymoon in Punakha

The Dhensa Boutique Resort lies nestled in the heart of the valley, and is a good four-star hotel with excellent amenities. The Hotel Lobesa, with its commanding view of the Punakha countryside, is one of the best three-star hotels in the area, and the Meri Puensum, overlooking the town of Punakha, is one of the most delightful family-run hotels, with beautiful gardens and great spa facilities for yoga and meditation.

Top 4: Gangtey - Cherish Peaceful Moments in the Hidden Valley of Love

One of the most romantic places in Bhutan, Gangtey, or Phobjikha as it is locally known, is a remote glacial valley in the Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag, to the east of Punakha. This unique valley is renowned for being the most popular winter feeding grounds for the endangered Black-Necked Crane, which travels south for the winter from northern Tibet.

Gangtey Monastery is the main attraction of this beautiful valley, and dates back to the 17th century, and is one of the subjects of the prophecies of the renowned Terton, Pema Lingpa.

Located on a spur of rock in the middle of the valley, the cranes that come in the winter circle the monastery three times before landing, and do the same again before heading north to Tibet in the spring. You can go to the black-necked information center where it is equipped with a high power telescope to observe the cranes more clearly.

Best Time to Visit Gangtey for a Honeymoon Tour

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit this beautiful valley, though if you are interested in seeing the rare cranes, then the winter months can be a good time to come here.

The famous black-necked crane festival, which promotes their protection and welfare for locals and tourists alike, is held on every 11th November, and is one of the best festivals in the world, celebrating the return of the cranes to their winter home.

Recommended Hotels for Honeymoon in Gangtey

There are limited hotels in the Phobjikha Valley, but there are good choices for you to make for your honeymoon accommodation.

The Wangchuk Lodge is a unique eight-bedroom lodge operated by the Wangchuck Hotel in Thimphu, and lies in a great position near the information center for the crane sanctuary.

The Gangtey Lodge combines pampered luxury with an understated décor, and is a farmhouse-like building with excellent views over the valley from all the rooms. It is also close to the Gangtey Monastery.

There are also luxury hotels in the Phobjikha Valley, including the Amankora Gangtey, the smallest of all the Amankora hotels in Bhutan, as well as the Six Senses, a branch of the famous luxury hotels in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha.

Top 5: Bumthang - Trek in Serene Valleys in Central Bhutan

If your ideal honeymoon includes a Bhutan trekking tour, then Bumthang is the place to be in Bhutan. A beautiful area that is made up of four valleys - Ura, Chhume, Tang, and Chokor – which are collectively known as Bumthang Valley, this is the best place in Bhutan for outstanding trekking.

Treks in Bumthang include the trek to the Burning Lake, the famous White Horse treks, and many more, which run for anything from 2-10 days. The area is also well-filled with outstanding Dzongs and Lhakhangs, such as the Jakar Dzong and the Jambay Lhakhang.

Jakar Dzong is the most important Dzong in the Bumthang Dzongkhag, and lies above the town of Jakar in the Chokor Valley. The Dzong sits on the site of an ancient temple that dates back to the early 16th century.

Jambay Lhakhang is also known as the Temple of Maitreya, and is said to be one of the 108 temples built by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century.

Best Time to Visit Bumthang for a Honeymoon Tour

Bumthang is a place that is best visited in the spring and autumn, as the winters there can get very cold, and the summers are very wet. At an altitude of around 2,600 meters, the most pleasant time is when the weather is dry and cool, from March to April and October to November.

Recommended Hotels for Honeymoon in Bumthang

Bumthang is a very popular destination in Bhutan, and as such, has a lot of good hotels to choose from.

The Hotel Jakar View, set in Bumthang Tang, is a stunning feat of local architecture with private balconies for all rooms, and has some great views down along the valley towards Jakar Town.

In the Chokor Valley area, the Mountain Lodge is a stylish lodge with modern interpretations of the traditional theme. All rooms are mini-suites, with fabulous views from their picture windows, and modern facilities.

The Jakar Village Lodge lies down a quiet village lane just below the Dzong, and is run by a former district administrator who offers spotless rooms with sumptuous fittings, sunny terraces, and a wide assortment of locally-grown teas and freshly ground coffee.

How many days are needed to visit the top 5 Bhutan honeymoon destinations together?

If you are planning a Bhutan honeymoon tour covering all of the major destinations, then you need to plan for at least 8-10 days, or even longer, depending on where you want to visit in each area.

If your time is limited, you can take a short tour in Bhutan covering Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Gangtey in 6 days. The most essential trip to the best of western Bhutan takes 5 days to visit Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha together.

How much does it cost to enjoy a Bhutan honeymoon tour?

The Bhutan tour cost for a honeymoon is the same as any private tour in the kingdom, thanks to the pre-set amounts of the Minimum Daily Package.

In the peak season, the package costs USD 250 per person per night, while in the low seasons it is only USD 200 per person per night.

Additional costs for four or five-starred hotels are added on, as are additional activities that the normal tour will not cover, such as Hot Stone Baths and Spa treatments.

How to get Bhutan Visa for your honeymoon tour?

The Bhutan Visa is only available once you have booked your lifetime honeymoon tour with a registered and reputable travel agency for Bhutan. Once you have booked your honeymoon trip, you just need to provide the scanned copies of your passports and we will do the rest for you.

Once the visa has been issued, a copy of the Approval Letter will be forwarded to you via email, which you will need to book and board your flight to Bhutan.

Upon your arrival at Paro Airport, your visas will be stamped into your passports at the immigration desk.

Conclusion

Bhutan is one of the most exclusive destinations in the world, and for honeymoon couples, it is the ideal location for that most romantic getaway ever. From the five main areas that are popular for honeymoons, you can choose to visit one or more, or even try all of them together. Whatever your requirements for your honeymoon tour of Bhutan, simply share your travel ideas with us, and we can make the arrangements for you.