The Eastern Bhutan Tour is an immersive journey through the less-explored yet culturally rich districts of Bhutan’s eastern region. This tour typically covers the districts of Trashigang, Mongar, Lhuntse, Trashiyangtse, Pema Gatsel, and Samdrup Jongkhar. It offers travelers an opportunity to experience Bhutan’s traditional lifestyle, unspoiled landscapes, and unique cultural heritage. The journey typically begins and ends in Samdrup Jongkhar, a border town connecting Bhutan with Assam in India.
Cultural Highlights
- Traditional Festivals: Eastern Bhutan is known for its colorful and vibrant festivals, such as the Trashigang Tsechu, where you can witness traditional mask dances and other religious ceremonies.
- Handicrafts: The region is famous for its handicrafts, particularly weaving, woodwork, and the production of religious artifacts. These traditional crafts are passed down through generations and reflect the deep cultural heritage of the region.
Adventure and Nature
- Trekking: Eastern Bhutan offers numerous trekking opportunities, including the famous Merak and Sakteng trek, where you can explore the highlands inhabited by the semi-nomadic Brokpa people.
- Birdwatching: The diverse ecosystems in Eastern Bhutan make it a paradise for birdwatchers, with a chance to spot rare and endemic species.
Practical Information
- Best Time to Visit: The best time to explore Eastern Bhutan is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons when the weather is pleasant, and the skies are clear.
- Travel Requirements: Tourists must arrange their trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator and pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). The tour packages typically include accommodation, meals, transportation, and a guide.
- Access: Samdrup Jongkhar is accessible by road from Assam, India. If traveling by air, the nearest airport is in Guwahati, India, with a road transfer to Samdrup Jongkhar.
The Eastern Bhutan Tour offers a unique and in-depth exploration of one of Bhutan’s most culturally rich and scenic regions. From the vibrant festivals and intricate handicrafts to the untouched natural beauty and warm hospitality, this tour provides an unforgettable experience for those seeking to immerse themselves in the heart of Bhutanese culture.
Day 01. Gauwahati (India) - SamdrupJongkhar
On the arrival at Gauwahati International Airport, representative from Authentic Bhutan Tours will received you and we will drive to Bhutan by Indian Car. At Samdrupjongkhar town or atthe Bhutan gate, our Bhutanese car and driver with guide will be waiting for you all. Aftermeeting at the Bhutan gate, we will complete the immigration formalities and drive to Dewathang. Lunch will be served at SamdrupJongkhar town or at Dewathang Hotel – DungsamTrashiling Resort. After checking the hotel, we will explore nearby and surrounding areas of the hotel. Dinner and over night stay at hotel – DungsamTrashiling Resort.
DayDay 02. SamdrupJongkhar - Trashigang
After our early breakfast, we will drive to Trashigang. The drive will take about 6hrs 30minutes through the tropical and subtropical forest. You will also see the villages of eastern Bhutan are located at the hilltops and scattered. Lunch will be served as hot pack lunch. Then we will continue our journey to Trashigang. On reaching at Khaling, we will visit Khaling Handloom Center and KanglungZangtopleriLhakhang. Dinner and overnight stay at Trashigang, Hotel.DrukDeojung Hotel or similar standard.
Day 03. Trashigang Stay. (Day Excursion to Radhi&Phongmey Village)
Today, after having the breakfast, we will visit to TrashigangDzong and drive to Radhi&Phongmey village. Radhi is known for the rice bowl of eastern Bhutan and is also famous for raw silk textile (bura) in Bhutan. On reaching Ranjung, we will visit RanjungYozerchholing Monastery and at Raddhi, we will visit KhardungAnimDratshang and at Phobgmey, we will visit PhobgmeyLhkahnag. If we are lucky, we may meet the people from merak and Sakteng with unique dress. Then we will drive back to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight stay at Trashigang Hotel.DrukDeojung Hotel or similar standard.
Day 04. Trashigang - Mongar via Trashiyangtshi
After having breakfast, before we drive to Mongar, we will visit TrashiYangtshi district and visit GomphuKora, ChhortenKora and TrashiYangtshi town. Then we will drive to Mongar. Lunch will be hot pack lunch. On reaching Ngatshang, we will visit small temple, TashichoephelingLhakhang. After this, we will continue our journey to Mongar over Korela pass. On reaching Mongar, we will visit MongarDzongm if time permits. If not we will visit tomorrow. Evening stroll around the small town of Mongar.Dinner and overnight stay at Mongar Hotel.
Day 05. Mongar – Lhuentshi (Day Excursion)
After breakfast, we will drive to Lhuentshi, the most remotest district in Bhutan. Not many people and tourist have visited this place or district. You will have an opportunity to explore and experience the true living styles of Bhutanese way of life. Visit to LhuentshiDzong and then we will visit to Khoma Village – to experience the weaving culture of Bhutan. Khoma village is famous for the production of textile in Bhutan – Kushuthara Textile. It will be your wonderful experience once in your lifetime. Then we will drive back to Mongar. Dinner and over night stay at Mongar Hotel
Day 06. Mongar- SamdrupJongkhar
Today, before we drive back to SamdrupJongkhar. Then we will drive to SamdrupJongkhar. The drive will take 8hours and 30minutes through tropical and subtropical forest along with the thick forest and scattered villages of the east. On reaching at SamdrupJongkhar, all the clients should have their Indian visa and we will do the visa formalities from the Indian abroad of immigration. Evening, in hotel our guide and driver will bid you fare well and we hope to see you again in Bhutan. Dinner and overnight stay at SamdrupJongkhar, Hotel.
Day 07. SamdrupJonkhar - Guwati (INDIA)
Today, after breakfast at hotel, you will drive to Bhutan gate for your onward destination. On completion of the immigration formalities you will continue to Guwahati (India) by the Indian car with the driver.
This is a sample itinerary, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, tour conditions, group options and the physical condition of participants, may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on tour. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of our guests, safety, comfort and general well being.
- The price will be USD 160/night/person in high season and USD 115/night/person in off-season. Same FIT surcharge and other single supplement room charges are applicable.
- As for Pick Up from Guwahati Airport USD 100/pax, until 2 Pax. 3 pax and above USD 70/person.
- As for Drop to Guwahati Airport USD 100/pax until 2 Pax. 3 pax and above USD 70/person.
Start planning your tailor-made Dream Holiday to Bhutan – The Land of happiness!
In order to experience the best and rewarding fulfillment clients must plan in advance the different logistics that you have in your minds before actually venturing into the world of trips. You might have wishes and hopes for which you need to plan.
The following information will help you to plan your dream trip to Bhutan.
1. When and how to visit Bhutan?
Choose your traveling date like Arrival/Departure date. You also need to choose entry/depart Bhutan via AIR or LAND.
By Air: Druk Air, the national carriers is the only service operator in the kingdom and operates several flights per week from Bangkok (Thailand), Delhi & Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). The Paro International Airport is located about an hour and a half drive from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
Paro airport is daylight restricted, and the flights are totally dependent on the weather. As a result, sometimes flights are delayed. It is therefore a good idea to keep at least 24 hours of transit time for connecting flights out of Paro. You might also want to consider traveling on a non-restricted ticket so that if you miss a connecting flight, you can be rerouted or seated on the first available carrier.
Sometimes flights into Paro are disrupted because of unfavorable weather conditions. If this occurs, the flight will stop for the night at the transit airport. To be prepared, you may want to carry your essential personal items in your carry-on luggage.
By Land: Phuentsholing, a Bhutanese town in the southwest has road access to India. It is located about 170 km from the Indian domestic airport at Bagdogra, West Bengal. Phuentsholing is about 172 km from Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan and is about 6hours drive distance. And S/
2. What are your itineraries?
All the tours can be customized and extended as per our valued client’s requirements. There are sample itineraries for your kind reference and it will give you some general idea of the likely trip scheduled.
Complete the tour request form and submit it to us. Send us correct name list. We will send you the flight reservation status via email.
After confirming your reservation, we need the scanned copy of member’s passport.
Please remit us full payments and send us the copy of remittance paper via email. Visa will not be accepted without full payment.
We will send you the flight ticket copy and Visa Clearance Copy prior to your departure to Bhutan via email. You need to print out and carry along with you.
Start packing and looking forward to have a memorable trip in the LandThunder Dragon, DrukYul.
Hot stone bath (Dhotsho) is a traditional bath of Bhutan, where a tradition of heating up stones and then soaking in the water that is in turn heated by the stones. This is also a curative method and is used throughout the country We Bhutanese belief that this bath has so much of medicinal benefits. Some diseases are curable-like joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor diseases. Especially for the old age, where we have lots of body pains, joints pains helps a lot by this Hot Stone Bath (Dhotsho).
I think, the minerals in the rocks have certain chemicals, which can cure certain disease of our body. Hot stone bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. We can organize the hot stone bath during your stay in Bhutan.
The Bhutanese textiles are rich, vibrant, and colorful and are a complex art form as well as an integral part of the Bhutanese culture. This Bhutan weaving experiences will give you an insight about the rich textiles in Bhutan. You can sit one of the handlooms of Bhutan and weave your self practically. We promise that you will really enjoy this with great satisfaction in your life.
We will also see or learn the natural coloring and dyeing. You can bring your own materials like handkerchief to dye and color. So visit Bhutan and experience it practically by yourself.
Folk Performing Arts & Music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
We have Cultural Program Performing groups, which they will perform like Traditional folk songs, dances and keeps original tunes and dances alive. Moreover, new choreography for some traditional and regional songs is sometimes developed.
The troupe also performs mask dances that have historical and spiritual significance.
Tiger’s Nest is most visited spot in Bhutan and it is much awaited by every tourist who visits Bhutan to climb to Tiger’s Nest.
It takes about 2 hrs 30mins up steep climb through the forest of pine, oak and Rhododendron. However you can ride the horse and climb till the Taktshang cafeteria.
The above activities can be incorporated easily into your travel itinerary. However some activities need to pay some additional fees. So let us know which activities you would like to experiences so that we will include in your invoice.
Speak to a specialist
Email: info@authenticbhutantours.com
Cell: 00975-17343434
Get inspired by the trip ideas on our website and in our brochures. Then speak to us for first-hand expert advice and if you’re ready, start planning your trip in detail.