Bhutan Punakha Tours

Punakha sits low by Bhutanese standards, around 1,200 meters, which keeps its valley warm enough for two rice harvests and winter oranges. That mild climate is why the capital wintered here until the 1950s, and why the monastic body still migrates down from Thimphu each year.

Days on and Above the Rivers

Tours in Punakha mix gentle rafting on the Mo Chhu, terrace walks between hamlets, and the long suspension bridge strung high over the Po Chhu. The drive in from Thimphu crosses the 3,100-meter Dochula pass, its hillside of chortens facing the eastern Himalaya on clear mornings.

Where It Fits in an Itinerary

Most travelers give Punakha one or two nights between Thimphu and the return toward Paro, enough for the dzong, a temple walk and an unhurried riverside afternoon.