Is the east worth the additional days?

For the traveller who has done the Bhutan before, yes. For the first-time visitor with two weeks, also yes — the contrast between the busy west and the quiet east is part of what the country is. For the visitor with seven nights, no — stay on the Bhutan and come back for the east a different year.

What about the eastern lodges?

The east does not yet have the premium-lodge infrastructure of Amankora and Six Senses. We use the best boutique and government-run heritage hotels — substantially comfortable but not luxury-tier. The Mongar and Trashigang dzongkhags have small properties; Bumthang has good options. The fortnight is honest about this trade-off; the atmospheric rewards in the east compensate.

What about the Guwahati onward flight?

Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGB) connects to Delhi, Kolkata, Bangkok, Singapore, and other regional hubs through IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and others. Our team coordinates the onward flight as part of the booking; the Indian-side three-hour transfer from Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati is included.

What about the Indian visa?

Required for the exit through Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati. We coordinate this with you well in advance — the e-visa for most nationalities is straightforward but needs the application 30+ days before departure.

The country end to end, exit through Assam

Fourteen nights from Paro to Guwahati — the country as a single arc.

A one-way fortnight that takes you the length of the country — Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Trashigang — exiting at Samdrup Jongkhar with a three-hour Assam transfer to Guwahati. The full circuit, the quieter half, and no doubling back.

Journeys begin at USD 28,000 per couple.

14 nights · signature tier

Begin your proposal Speak with us first

Why east, and why one-way

Bhutan (Paro, Thimphu, Punakha) is where the principal visitor traffic concentrates. The eastern dzongkhags — Mongar, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse — receive a small fraction of that volume and reward the additional days that getting there requires. The one-way exit through Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati saves the return drive across the country and adds a substantial three-hour Indian-side transfer to a working international airport. The total journey works, end to end, in fourteen nights.

What the fortnight is built around

Three nights in the western valleys for the principal sites and acclimatisation; two over the Black Mountain in Trongsa with the dynasty's central seat; two in Bumthang for the country's densest religious circuit (Kurjey, Jambay, Tamshing, Mebar Tsho); two through Mongar for the eastern descent; two in Trashigang and Trashiyangtse for the easternmost reach. One last day for the descent to Samdrup Jongkhar and the Indian-side transfer. The road is the journey; the road is sometimes substantial; the road is what makes the east the east.

Who you'll travel with

One Bhutanese guide for the full fortnight — chosen from the small, carefully curated network for fluency in Sharchopkha (the principal eastern language) alongside Dzongkha and English. Two drivers across the fourteen days; the eastern dzongkhag roads are demanding. The lodge progression moves from the principal western premium lodges (Aman or Six Senses) to the more modest eastern boutique-and-government hotels — the east does not yet have the premium-lodge infrastructure of the west, and the fortnight is honest about that. The atmospheric rewards make up the difference.

A sample shape of the week

Day 1
Arrival in Paro
Met in the arrivals hall, twenty minutes to the lodge, an early supper.
Day 2
Tiger's Nest
The Taktsang climb, slowly; back to the lodge for the long sleep before the long drive begins.
Day 3
Across to Thimphu
The Pa Chhu valley to the capital; Memorial Chorten, Folk Heritage Museum.
Day 4
Over Dochu La — into Punakha
The 3,100m pass; Punakha Dzong at the confluence; the warm-valley tradition.
Day 5
Punakha to Trongsa
The long mountain road over Pele La; into the Black Mountain range; Trongsa Dzong on its substantial spur above the Mangde Chhu.
Day 6
Trongsa to Bumthang
Over the Yotongla pass into Bumthang; afternoon at the Choekhor valley sites; Kurjey Lhakhang in the late light.
Day 7
Bumthang religious circuit
Jambay Lhakhang in the morning, Tamshing Lhakhang and the Pema Lingpa tradition sites, an afternoon at Mebar Tsho in the Tang valley if time allows.
Day 8
Bumthang to Mongar
Over the Thrumshing La pass at 3,750m through the rhododendron belt; the longest single drive day; descent into Mongar in the late afternoon.
Day 9
Mongar to Trashigang
Down the eastern valleys; Drametse Monastery if time; Trashigang Dzong at the bend of the Drangme Chhu.
Day 10
Trashigang and Trashiyangtse
Day excursion north to Trashiyangtse for Chorten Kora and the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary boundary; afternoon return to Trashigang.
Day 11
Trashigang day — Sakteng valley margin
The Brokpa highland-community day; Phongme village; the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary edge; an introduction to the eastern highland culture.
Day 12
Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar
Down the long eastern road through the southern forest belt; descent into the lowlands; Deothang and into Samdrup Jongkhar.
Day 13
Border day — Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati
The morning border crossing into Assam; three hours by car to Guwahati; an evening at one of the city's premium hotels.
Day 14
Departure from Guwahati
Onward flights from Guwahati international (LGB) to Delhi, Kolkata, Bangkok, Singapore, or further; the team writes a fortnight later.

The day-by-day above is illustrative. The proposal you receive is built around your dates, your pace, and your interests — not this template.

Frequently asked

Is the east worth the additional days?: For the traveller who has done the Bhutan before, yes. For the first-time visitor with two weeks, also yes — the contrast between the busy west and the quiet east is part of what the country is. For the visitor with seven nights, no — stay on the Bhutan and come back for the east a different year.
What about the eastern lodges?: The east does not yet have the premium-lodge infrastructure of Amankora and Six Senses. We use the best boutique and government-run heritage hotels — substantially comfortable but not luxury-tier. The Mongar and Trashigang dzongkhags have small properties; Bumthang has good options. The fortnight is honest about this trade-off; the atmospheric rewards in the east compensate.
What about the Guwahati onward flight?: Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGB) connects to Delhi, Kolkata, Bangkok, Singapore, and other regional hubs through IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and others. Our team coordinates the onward flight as part of the booking; the Indian-side three-hour transfer from Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati is included.
What about the Indian visa?: Required for the exit through Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati. We coordinate this with you well in advance — the e-visa for most nationalities is straightforward but needs the application 30+ days before departure.

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Begin when you're ready.

Five questions, or a conversation in your own words — a bespoke draft either way.

Begin your proposal Speak with us

Preparing

Why east, and why one-way

What the fortnight is built around

Who you'll travel with

Why east, and why one-way

What the fortnight is built around

Who you'll travel with

Arrival in Paro

Tiger's Nest

Across to Thimphu

Over Dochu La — into Punakha

Punakha to Trongsa

Trongsa to Bumthang

Bumthang religious circuit

Bumthang to Mongar

Mongar to Trashigang

Trashigang and Trashiyangtse

Trashigang day — Sakteng valley margin

Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar

Border day — Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati

Departure from Guwahati

The Chomolhari Base Camp trek, paced for the autumn window.

How long to give Bhutan — five nights, seven, or longer.

Thirteen nights across western and central Bhutan, with time to slow down.

Begin when you're ready.

Why east, and why one-way

What the fortnight is built around

Who you'll travel with

Arrival in Paro

Tiger's Nest

Across to Thimphu

Over Dochu La — into Punakha

Punakha to Trongsa

Trongsa to Bumthang

Bumthang religious circuit

Bumthang to Mongar

Mongar to Trashigang

Trashigang and Trashiyangtse

Trashigang day — Sakteng valley margin

Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar

Border day — Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati

Departure from Guwahati

The Chomolhari Base Camp trek, paced for the autumn window.

How long to give Bhutan — five nights, seven, or longer.

Thirteen nights across western and central Bhutan, with time to slow down.

Begin when you're ready.