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• Visit Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, which lies at a height of over 2,400m (8,000 ft) in the fertile valley traversed by the Wangchhu River. In many ways it resembles a large, widely dispersed village rather than a capital.
• See Tashichho Dzong, the country’s main administrative and religious centre. It houses the government ministries, National Assembly Hall, Throne Room of the King and the country’s largest monastery, the summer headquarters of the Je Khempo and 2,000 of his monks.
• Explore the country's plentiful Monasteries and temples. Simtokha, 8km (5 miles) from Thimphu, has Bhutan’s most ancient Dzong (fortified monastery). The Kharbandi Monastery sits on a forested hill overlooking Phuentsholing, the gateway to Bhutan.
• Delight in the temperate Punakha valley, which contains many sacred temples, including Punakha Dzong. Straddling the confluence of the Mo and Pho Rivers, the Dzong was built by the founder of the kingdom of Druk Yul (Land of the Thunder Dragon), Ngawang Namgyal.
• Do not miss Tongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the Royal family. It commands a superb view of the river valley and contains a magnificent collection of rhino horn sculptures. Tashigang, a silk-spinning district, also has an interesting Dzong.
• Gaze in awe at Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Goemba, Bhutan’s most revered monastery. It clings dizzily to the face of a 900m (2,952 ft) precipice in the Paro Valley. According to legend Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tiger and meditated in a cave for three months.
• Wander further up the Paro Valley to see the Drukgyel Dzong, (now in ruins after the 1954 earthquake), which once protected Bhutan against numerous Tibetan invasions.
• Visit the National Museum of Bhutan, located in the Paro Watchtower in the Paro Valley. Weapons, antiques, mammals and Bhutanese artefacts are all on display.
• Explore the district of Wangdiphodrang, known for its slate carving and bamboo weaving. The Wangdiphodrang Dzong stands where the Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers meet and, for many centuries, was the seat of one of Bhutan’s most powerful Dzongpons.
• Make the effort to reach the 3,100m- (10,170ft-) high Dochu La Pass, which commands a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayan chain. On a clear day it is possible to see Punakha, the old capital. Bhutan's national animal, the takin, is known to roam here.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• See Tashichho Dzong, the country’s main administrative and religious centre. It houses the government ministries, National Assembly Hall, Throne Room of the King and the country’s largest monastery, the summer headquarters of the Je Khempo and 2,000 of his monks.
• Explore the country's plentiful Monasteries and temples. Simtokha, 8km (5 miles) from Thimphu, has Bhutan’s most ancient Dzong (fortified monastery). The Kharbandi Monastery sits on a forested hill overlooking Phuentsholing, the gateway to Bhutan.
• Delight in the temperate Punakha valley, which contains many sacred temples, including Punakha Dzong. Straddling the confluence of the Mo and Pho Rivers, the Dzong was built by the founder of the kingdom of Druk Yul (Land of the Thunder Dragon), Ngawang Namgyal.
• Do not miss Tongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the Royal family. It commands a superb view of the river valley and contains a magnificent collection of rhino horn sculptures. Tashigang, a silk-spinning district, also has an interesting Dzong.
• Gaze in awe at Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Goemba, Bhutan’s most revered monastery. It clings dizzily to the face of a 900m (2,952 ft) precipice in the Paro Valley. According to legend Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tiger and meditated in a cave for three months.
• Wander further up the Paro Valley to see the Drukgyel Dzong, (now in ruins after the 1954 earthquake), which once protected Bhutan against numerous Tibetan invasions.
• Visit the National Museum of Bhutan, located in the Paro Watchtower in the Paro Valley. Weapons, antiques, mammals and Bhutanese artefacts are all on display.
• Explore the district of Wangdiphodrang, known for its slate carving and bamboo weaving. The Wangdiphodrang Dzong stands where the Mo Chu and Tang Chu rivers meet and, for many centuries, was the seat of one of Bhutan’s most powerful Dzongpons.
• Make the effort to reach the 3,100m- (10,170ft-) high Dochu La Pass, which commands a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayan chain. On a clear day it is possible to see Punakha, the old capital. Bhutan's national animal, the takin, is known to roam here.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.