2. Enter The Dragon

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An excellent option for those with only limited time, this tour takes you by air from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan's second largest town set in an exquisite valley beneath the majestic Paro Dzong(fort). Here you will visit the Dzong itself, the monastic and administrative heart of the areas, as well as the famed Tiger's Nest Monastery—Taktsang. Then it is on to Thimphu, Bhutan's tiny capital nestled in a broad, beautiful valley about 2 hours drive from Paro.

Here you will visit the great Tashichodzong, the seat of Government in Bhutan. This magnificent building was erected without use of a single metal nail or support. You will also have a chance to buy some of Bhutan's famous weaving here in the Handicraft Center and have time to wander around this unique town and take in the atmosphere of this extraordinary Himalayan Kingdom. You then head back to Paro for the flight to Kathmandu.

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3. Central Bhutan Tour

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Bumthang is a serene and picturesque valley in central Bhutan that is relatively unknown to foreign travelers and yet is one of the most beautiful regions in the Himalaya. The drive from Thimphu to Bumthang, past the great Dzongs (monastery forts) of Wangdiphodrang and Tongsa, is one of the highlights of this tour. The valley of Bumthang is wide and lush and is the hearts of Bhutan's exquisite handicraft industry.

Bumthang weaving is known worldwide and few can resist the temptation to purchase at least one piece. There is ample opportunity for day walks within the valley or you can simply relax at the lodge and absorb the atmosphere. The Bhutanese are wonderful hosts and will happily assist with arranging various activities. Spectacular mountain scenery, remote and dramatic monasteries and pristine Himalayan culture—this tour offers all.

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4. Mystical Kingdom Tour

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A classic combination of cultures and history, this tour offers a slice of the most exotic and beautiful regions of the eastern Himalaya. You visit the old British hill station of Darjeeling, the remote state of Sikkim and the kingdom of Bhutan with its rich and unique Tibetan Buddhist culture.

From Kathmandu you fly to Biratnagar on the southern plains, before winding up mountain roads to the cool and calm of Darjeeling, nestled beneath the world's third highest peak, Kanchenjunga. Three days are spent here visiting the Himalayan Mountaineering institute(established by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa), the Tibetan refugee Center, Tiger hill for splendid views of Kanchenjunga, and just wandering the bazaars and cobbled walkway built by the British in the days of the Raj.

Then it is on to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, for two days immersing yourself in the rich Buddhist heritage of this tiny state. You will visit the famed Rumtek Monastery, the Institute of Tibetology, and see some of Sikkim's most beautiful handicrafts.

Finally you spend a week in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, nestled in the remote eastern Himalaya and only recently opened to limited tourism. Bhutan is unique—-in its architecture, its national dress, its language and its attitude to the outside world. Tradition is all important and this is reflected in the dzongs and monuments you will visit as well as the displays of religious dance and music you will experience. A fitting end to a remarkable journey.

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6. Across Bhutan West to East Traverse

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One of the world's difficult treks into one of the wildest and most remote regions of the Himalaya, this trek offers you the opportunity to enter a land seen only by local yak herders and some explorers of old trying to make their way into Tibet.

From Kathmandu you fly into the picturesque valley of Paro, a traditional village watched over by a medieval fort. From here the trail begins, your ultimate goal being the remote district of Lunana in the mountains of northern Bhutan. The trek is strenuous, crossing eleven passes, three of which are over 5000m, but the areas through which you walk are of extraordinary beauty. Beneath the great peak of Chomolhari (7314m) the trail takes you into the Lingshi region of Bhutan, and then into Laya— famed for its wildlife, including the blue sheep and the takin. From here the pass crossings begin, providing excellent training for the 5000 meters ones to come in Lunana.

The scenery grows more wild and barren and settlements are few and far between as you enter the Lunana district, an untamed region bordering Tibet where most of the Himalayan peaks towering to the north are unnamed and unclaimed. After the last major pass you reach Umtso Lake, highly revered by the Buddhist population of Bhutan. You complete the trek with a south-west descent to the road where a bus will return you to Thimphu, the tiny capital.

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