Hosted by Gillian Lichota, founder of iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation + Operated in Collaboration with WHOA travel

This adventure to the Kingdom of Happiness has been crafted especially for iRise Above Breast Cancer, a community built around moving from surviving into thriving and reclaiming the power to live a great story. Bhutan is unlike anywhere else on earth, a country that measures its success by the wellbeing of its people, where ancient monasteries cling to cliff faces, valleys open into endless sky, and the pace of life invites you to breathe it all in.

We’ll travel through sacred valleys, experience a remote festival, and end with two days on the BumDrak Trek, which offers a rare approach to Tiger's Nest Monastery from above. Along the way we will sit with nuns, share meals with local families, witness an intimate cultural celebration, and move through a place that has a way of putting everything into perspective. This trip will ask something of all us, physically and emotionally, and is sure to give back even more. Come ready to be moved.

This hiking and cultural adventure provides a rare look at a Bhutan that most travelers never see. We’ll make our way to a festival in the eastern valleys, where the colors, dancing, music and energy will instantly pull you into the spirit of the country. We’ll also do an overnight hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest, tucked into a cliffside, via a route that gives a vantage point few see.

What makes this journey truly special though, are the people we’ll meet along the way. Bhutanese nuns, guides, farmers, artists and entrepreneurs open doors into a culture that’s both ancient and evolving, and these connections are just as powerful as the views. Come ready to release expectations, breathe thinner air, and let the remoteness strip life back to what matters. Bhutan has a way of revealing joy in the simplest things, and once you feel it, it stays with you!

We rated this trip a 3 out of 5 on the WHOA Adventure difficulty scale, because, while we cover a lot of ground and reach an altitude of 12,467 feet, the hiking is mostly day hikes and the overall pace is designed for reflection rather than pushing limits.

Bhutan’s weather shifts in subtle but noticeable ways as you move through the country. In Paro and Thimphu, the higher-elevation cities, you’ll get those crisp, mild days during the fall and spring, typically 50s to 70s °F, with cool evenings and beautifully clear skies. When you go lower into the Punakha and Chumey Valley the warmth picks up, and nights don’t cool off nearly as much. It’s a small country, but the temperature swings by elevation make every valley feel distinct!

Bhutan’s position tucked beneath the Himalayas gives it some of the best trekking weather you could ask for in the spring. Think crisp mornings, clear skies, and razor-sharp mountain views. Daytime temps usually hover in the 50s to 70s °F, which is perfect for long days of hiking without melting or freezing. That said, once the sun goes down, it can get near freezing (remember this for the BumDrak overnight hike)!

We’ll sleep at an altitude of 12,467 ft on the BumDrak trek, and shortness of breath, a little light-headedness, or mild headaches are all normal up here. The good news? This trip is intentionally paced so your body can adjust, and we build in plenty of time for water breaks, slow ascents, and soaking up those panoramic Himalayan views. In short: expect big skies, rugged trails, warm hospitality, chilly nights, and the kind of conditions that make you feel like you’ve truly stepped into the Himalayas (because you have)!

As with all WHOA Adventures, you’ll be on your feet and on the go a lot, and the altitude and terrain in Bhutan adds its own challenges! The stronger and better conditioned you are, the more you’ll actually enjoy this experience (because the challenge is part of the magic)! Start building your endurance ASAP, stay consistently active, and get comfortable with your gear. Break in your boots, test your layers and rain shell, and make sure your body knows what multi-hour hikes feel like. Show up ready, and this won’t just be a trek, it’ll be a spiritual journey you’ll carry with you long after you leave the Himalayas behind! If you’re looking for more tips check out our expert 6 step training guide.

Our Bhutanese adventures are brought to life through a collaboration with our deeply rooted local team. They’re women-owned and led, by Tashi, and closely connected to the communities you’ll meet along the way. Their knowledge comes from a lifetime of lived experience, long-standing relationships, and a genuine passion for sharing the heart of Bhutan with travelers for over 15 years!

Their identity is shaped by Bhutan’s rich natural heritage, and their operations reflect that same commitment to uniqueness and environmental care. They actively support local schools, maintain trekking trails, preserve cultural sites, and create opportunities for youth through scholarship programs. Their approach blends comfort with authenticity, ensuring you experience the country’s landscapes and traditions in a meaningful, respectful way.

With multilingual guides and warm Bhutanese hospitality, they offer more than logistics, they open doors. They provide an insider’s perspective into village life, festivals, rituals, and the rhythms of Bhutanese culture that most visitors never see. Their dedication has earned them strong local and international recognition, along with thousands of happy travelers who leave feeling deeply connected to this extraordinary country.

Welcome to the Land of the Thunder Dragon. The moment you step off the plane in Paro, you'll feel it: that particular Bhutanese mix of calm, warmth, and fresh mountain air. Our team will be there to greet you, and we'll make our way to Thimphu, Bhutan's modern capital, where the afternoon is yours to wander the town center, get your bearings, and breathe it all in. In the evening, we'll gather for a trip briefing and our WHOA-style Welcome Dinner.

Drive Time: ~1 hour (Paro to Thimphu)
Included Meals: Welcome Dinner
Stay: Access Suites (or similar)
Arrival Logistics: Plan to fly into Paro by 1 PM on the adventure start date. We recommend connecting through Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi or Kathmandu on one of the nation’s two airlines, Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines. We’ll provide more details on flights prior to your adventure!

*NOTE: All drive and hike times, mileages, and elevations are approximate, and subject to change based on the conditions for the entire group’s safety and enjoyment!

We’ll spend a full day in the capital, starting with a visit to the 196 foot Shakyamuni Buddha Dordenma statue, one of the largest seated Buddhas in the world, watching over the entire Thimphu Valley with a calm, commanding presence. From there we'll head to the Choki Traditional Art School, where the studios are alive with the sounds of looms and chisels, and students are honing traditional skills in woodcarving, weaving, embroidery, and tailoring. The school provides free, multi-year training to underprivileged youth, and it's one of the best places in the country to buy handcrafted pieces directly from the artists who make them.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Access Suites (or similar)

Today we’ll make our way east and drive over the Dochula Pass at 10,334 ft, where 108 memorial chortens stand in formation and, on a clear day, the entire Himalayan panorama opens up behind them. Then we drop down into the valley and warmth of Punakha, Bhutan's old capital. Before we visit the Dzong, we'll stop for lunch on the riverside, and take a moment to eat, breathe, and be present with the journey and each other. Then we continue to the Punakha Dzong, known as the Fortress of Great Bliss, where two rivers meet beneath its whitewashed walls and the hum of monastic life fills the courtyard.

Drive Time: ~2 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Lobesa Boutique (or similar)

Our morning starts with a hike through rice paddies and forest to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten, a vividly painted stupa perched above the Punakha Valley with views stretching in every direction. From there, we make our way to the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery to sit in on prayers and hear how the nuns live their practice: how they navigate joy and hardship, and what their daily devotion actually looks like. After lunch, we drive to Gangtey, ending the evening with a traditional farmhouse cooking experience and dinner with a local family.

Drive Time: ~2 hours (to Gangtey after lunch)
Hike Time: ~55 minutes
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Gangtey Pinewood Resort (or similar)

Today takes us deep into one of Bhutan's most beautiful glacial valleys for a full day on foot. We begin with the Longtoe Khumbu 360-degree hike, gaining a high viewpoint above the valley floor where Himalayan peaks and open sky stretch in every direction. A picnic lunch follows in the valley before we wind down through the Gangtey Nature Trail to Khewa Lhakhang, arriving in time to meet the young monks who call it home. Gangtey is also the home of Gangtey Goemba, Bhutan's premier institute for Buddhist studies, and the valley holds that weight quietly. It is a deeply beautiful place to spend a day.

Hike Time: ~4.5 hours total
Elevation Gain: 985–1,310 ft (360-view hike); 130–295 ft (nature trail)
Starting Elevation:10,500 ft (360-view hike); 9,400 ft (nature trail)
Highest Point: 11,950 ft
Included Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Gangtey Pinewood Resort (or similar)

Today is a long day in the car, but the scenery makes every hour worth it. The landscapes will shift and we will break often, stepping out to take in the views and stretch our legs along the way. We'll pause at the Chendebjee Stupa, step inside the formidable Trongsa Dzong, and spend time at the Chumey Yathra weaving center, where yak and sheep wool are transformed into some of Bhutan's most distinctive textiles. We overnight in the Chumey/Domkhar valley in Bumthang, which is home to the festival we will be experiencing. 

Drive Time: ~5–6 hours
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Chumey Nature Resort (or similar)

Today is one of the highlights of our time in Bhutan. A full day at the Domkhar Tshechu, one of Bhutan's most authentic and intimate cultural celebrations, held in the courtyard of a remote temple in the Bumthang valley. The masked dances are ancient and ceremonial, the colors are extraordinary, and the crowd is almost entirely local. It is a living tradition, and we get to be part of it. In the late afternoon, we make our way to our lodge, nestled in Jalikhar at the heart of the Bumthang Valley. Surrounded by gentle hills and open landscapes, it is a genuinely peaceful place, and after a day as full as this one, that matters. There will be time to sit together, let the ceremony settle, and talk through what we witnessed.

Drive Time: ~45 minutes (Domkhar to Bumthang town)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Village Lodge (or similar)

Today is a good day for moving slowly and sitting with everything we have experienced together so far. We spend the morning in a walking meditation through four of Bumthang's most significant temples: Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamzhing Lhakhang, and Kenchosum Lhakhang, each one distinct and layered with story. Afterward we settle into a picnic lunch in the valley together. The afternoon is ours to choose, options include a visit to the Wangduecholing Palace and a stop at the Swiss Factory with beer tasting (there’s no wrong way to spend it)!

Hike Time: ~3 hours
Starting Elevation:10,498 ft
Included Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Village Lodge (or similar)

A short domestic flight brings us back to Paro, and the afternoon is wide open. Rest, wander town, treat yourself to a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath, a ritual that uses river stones heated by fire and herbal water to ease whatever the mountains have asked of your body. In the evening, we can even gather for a leisurely round of traditional Bhutanese archery, the national sport, and a genuinely fun way to spend a last easy night together.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Termalinca Paro (or similar)

Today we begin one of the trip's signature experiences: the BumDrak Trek. We drive to Sangchoekar Monastery and start hiking through forest and sacred terrain, moving steadily upward through rhododendrons and pines to our camp beneath Bumdra Monastery, a site so sacred it takes its name from the 100,000 dakinis, female spirits of enlightenment, whose footprints are said to mark the cliff face above. The evening rewards the effort: sunset views over the Paro Valley, dinner by the bonfire, and a sky full of stars at altitude.

Drive Time: ~20 minutes (to trailhead)
Hike Time: 4–5 hours
Hike Distance: 4–5 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,280 – 3,940 ft
Starting Elevation: ~9,514 ft
Camp Elevation: 12,467 ft
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Bumdra Camp

The morning opens with views toward Jomolhari, and on a clear day the peak reveals itself fully above the valley. Then we make our way to one of the great walks in Bhutan. Rather than the well-worn path from below, we approach Taktsang Monastery, the iconic Tiger's Nest, from above, a less traveled route that opens up extraordinary vantage points over the monastery and the valley below. We share the trail with monks and pilgrims, the same way people have been making this journey for centuries. Inside, photography isn't allowed, which ends up being a gift. Without a camera to reach for, you're free to just be there.

Hike Time: 4+ hours (2 to Tiger’s Nest and 2 more descending)
Hike Distance: ~8.7 mi
Tiger's Nest Elevation: 10,236 ft
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Stay: Termalinca Paro (or similar)

Our journey through the Kingdom of Bhutan has come to an end, but the memories of this magical place will last forever! We'll say our goodbyes and transfer you to Paro International Airport to catch your flights onward. Lok jay gay (good bye, we'll meet again)!

Drive Time: ~20 mins
Included Meals: Breakfast