Himalayan Locals

Amankora Five Valleys

A ten-night private journey linking all five Amankora lodges, with a Bumthang to Paro flight and two published wellness benefits.

This route covers Amankora's full five-lodge circuit without rushing the west. Thimphu, Punakha and Gangtey lead into Bumthang's older temple country, then a planned domestic flight returns the journey to Paro for Tiger's Nest. This is an Amankora-based private itinerary planned by Himalayan Locals. Suites, lodge sequence, flights and experiences remain subject to live confirmation. Published Amankora tariffs vary by lodge, season and occupancy, so the final proposal is quoted for your dates rather than shown as a fixed package price.

Duration
11 Days | 10 Nights
Location
Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, Bhutan
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Season
Year-round cultural journeys · winter dates available, subject to route and weather
Group
Private journey for 1-8 guests

Journey highlights

  • A private lodge-to-lodge journey using named Amankora properties.
  • All meals, selected beverages, private touring, permits and monument access included as quoted.
  • Ten-night journey benefits: one 60-minute Holistic Massage and one 60-minute Nourishing Massage Ritual per adult, plus one complimentary one-way Bumthang-Paro economy flight for single or double occupancy.
  • Daily pacing can be adjusted around walks, cultural visits and rest time.
  • One itinerary, driver-guide team and local support from arrival to departure.

Full itinerary

  1. Arrive Paro and Drive to Thimphu

    Your guide meets you at Paro Airport for the drive to Thimphu. Follow the valley road to your hotel and settle in after the flight. Keep the evening light, with time for a short walk nearby and a conversation about the days ahead.

    Stay: Amankora Thimphu

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Thimphu Cultural Day

    Spend the morning getting to know Thimphu through its chortens and cultural sites. Buddha Dordenma and the Memorial Chorten are options to discuss with your guide, alongside museum or craft visits that follow opening hours and your interests. Leave space in the afternoon for the city streets and a café break, rather than moving straight between monuments. Return to your hotel in the evening for dinner and time to relax.

    Stay: Amankora Thimphu

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  3. Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula

    Leave Thimphu for Dochula Pass and pause among its 108 chortens before descending into the Punakha Valley. Take time for photographs at the pass when visibility allows. In Punakha, the dzong and riverside setting introduce Bhutan's former capital, with visits arranged around access and arrival time. Check into your valley stay by evening and enjoy a slower finish after the mountain drive, without a crowded list of additional stops.

    Stay: Amankora Punakha

    Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

  4. Punakha Valley

    Keep a full day for Punakha's dzong and the surrounding river valley. Walk at an easy pace through the village roads or rice-field setting, with your guide choosing a suitable route for the conditions. There is time for photographs and breaks between visits, followed by an afternoon at your stay rather than another long transfer. The evening remains open for dinner and a quiet view of the valley as the daylight fades.

    Stay: Amankora Punakha

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  5. Punakha to Gangtey

    Travel into the hills around Gangtey and Phobjikha, where forest roads open into a broad valley of meadows and scattered farmhouses. Visit Gangtey Monastery if the arrival time and access allow, then take a short walk to get familiar with the valley. The afternoon leaves room for photographs and a warm break before check-in. Spend the evening at your stay, with dinner and time to rest in the cooler mountain setting.

    Stay: Amankora Gangtey

    Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

  6. Gangtey and Phobjikha

    Start with Gangtey Monastery and spend the rest of the morning walking in Phobjikha Valley. Your guide selects a manageable section of the valley trail, with pauses around the meadows and village edges. Allow the afternoon for photographs, a warm drink and time at your stay. If cranes are present during your visit, observe them from a respectful distance. Return before evening for dinner and a quiet night in the valley.

    Stay: Amankora Gangtey

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  7. Gangtey to Bumthang

    Leave the Gangtey and Phobjikha area for the road east toward Bumthang. This is a substantial travel day through Bhutan's central hills, with breaks and any Trongsa stop arranged around the driving time. Arrive in the Bumthang Valley and check into your stay before settling down for the evening. Keep temple visits for the following day, when you can explore the valley without fitting them around a long transfer.

    Stay: Amankora Bumthang

    Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

  8. Bumthang Valley

    Explore Bumthang through its temples, village lanes and valley walks, with your guide explaining the stories connected to the places you visit. Spend the morning on cultural visits and leave the afternoon for a slower walk or time around the farms and settlements. The day's exact stops follow opening hours and your interests. Return to your stay in the evening, with dinner and time to enjoy a day free of long-distance travel.

    Stay: Amankora Bumthang

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  9. Bumthang to Paro by Air

    Check out and travel back to Paro using the routing confirmed for your departure dates. Where a domestic flight forms part of the plan, the team coordinates the airport transfers and luggage arrangements. If the journey uses roads, allow a longer travel schedule and the stops shown in your proposal. Settle into your Paro stay on arrival and keep the evening relaxed, with sightseeing arranged only if the transfer leaves sufficient time.

    Stay: Amankora Paro

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  10. Tiger's Nest and Paro

    Start early for Paro Taktsang, known as Tiger's Nest, and follow the forest trail toward the cliffside monastery. Walk at a comfortable pace, allowing time for the climb, viewpoints and steps near the monastery. After returning to the trailhead, take a break before any further Paro sightseeing; shorter visits depend on your energy and the remaining time. Finish the evening at your hotel or around the town, with dinner and time to rest.

    Stay: Amankora Paro

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  11. Paro Airport Departure

    After breakfast, check out and meet your driver for the private transfer to Paro Airport. The pickup follows your confirmed flight time, allowing for luggage and airport formalities. Your Bhutan journey ends at the airport, with no additional sightseeing scheduled on the departure morning.

    Stay: Departure

    Meals: Breakfast

Pricing and planning

USD 13,900 / INR ₹13,35,000

  • Luxury: USD 13,900 / INR ₹13,35,000. From, per person, twin sharing. Dates, room category and availability are checked again before payment.

Inclusions

  • Accommodation in Amankora suites on single or double occupancy as quoted.
  • All meals, including picnics arranged between lodges.
  • Selected in-house beverages, including house wines and spirits.
  • Private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide for daily touring.
  • Paro Airport transfers and private transfers between Amankora lodges.
  • Monument access passes, touring permits, Wi-Fi and laundry service.
  • Personal itinerary planning before arrival and local support throughout Bhutan.
  • Ten-night journey benefits: one 60-minute Holistic Massage and one 60-minute Nourishing Massage Ritual per adult, plus one complimentary one-way Bumthang-Paro economy flight for single or double occupancy.

Exclusions

  • International flights to and from Bhutan.
  • Bhutan visa fee and Sustainable Development Fee, unless added to the final proposal.
  • Premium beverages, personal purchases, gratuities and travel insurance.
  • Services outside the confirmed itinerary or caused by airline and weather disruption.
  • Service charge and government taxes where these are shown separately in the final quote.

Questions before you book

Is the displayed journey price fixed?

No. Amankora suite rates change by lodge, season and occupancy. Himalayan Locals checks live availability and returns one dated proposal showing accommodation, touring, taxes, SDF and visa costs separately before payment.

Is this an official Aman package?

This is a private Bhutan itinerary planned by Himalayan Locals around Amankora lodges and the published Amankora Journey inclusions. Every stay and benefit is reconfirmed with the property for your dates.

Are the Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee included?

They are not assumed inside the lodge rate. The final proposal lists the visa fee and current Sustainable Development Fee separately, based on nationality and confirmed travel dates.

Can the route be changed?

Yes. Lodge nights, hiking level, flight sectors and signature experiences can be adjusted before confirmation, subject to availability and the minimum stay required for each Amankora Journey benefit.

Plan Amankora Five Valleys