Day 3: Thimphu to Punakha
After breakfast, visit the Folk Heritage Museum, where you can experience Bhutanese rural life firsthand.
Depart for Punakha, a scenic 2-hour drive (approximately 70 km). En route, stop at Dochula Pass (3,100m) to admire breathtaking views of the Eastern Himalayas and the 108 memorial chortens known as Druk Wangyal Chortens.
Continue your journey with a short hike through rice fields and traditional villages to reach Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility, dedicated to the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kunley.
In the afternoon, visit the majestic Punakha Dzong, located at the confluence of the Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) rivers. The dzong, renowned for its stunning architecture, served as Bhutan’s administrative center until the mid-20th century.
End your day with a walk across Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge, spanning 160 meters over the Pho Chu River, connecting a local village where you can interact with the community.
Overnight in Punakha