Bhutan and Thailand for Teenagers
Bangkok, Thimphu, Punakha, Paro & Koh Lanta
based on 13 nights & selected experiences
Price Guide:
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MayLow-High
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JunLow
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* Pricing is a guideline only and excludes special offers. Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year and other public vacations) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
Price includes:
Internal flights
Accommodation
Private transfers
Shared transfers
Boat transfers
Selected experiences
Half Board included in Bhutan
Daily Breakfast included in Thailand
per person based on two sharing. Bhutan is included on a half board basis and Thailand on a bed and breakfast basis.
At a Glance
Experiences that are designed around the children from creating their own stamps, meeting a monk their own age, dressing up in traditional dress, archery, tea with a local family, rafting and making prayer flags
This itinerary provides a fantastic combination of culture, amazing scenery, fascinating history and relaxation
Private tour with personal guide and exclusive driver in a large six-seater vehicle
Finish on the beach in Thailand for some best deserved beach-time
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
In the western, central and eastern Bhutan you will mostly experience cold European-like weather. Winter lasts here from November to March. The Monsoon occurs between June and August when the temperature is normally between 8° and 21°C. October and November are arguably the best months, when the monsoon has passed and the skies are clear. The spring months of March, April and May are best for the flora, but it can be stormy as the monsoon builds up for July-September.
With the tropical climate of the West Coast of Thailand, the driest months to visit are December to March. November and April are also good months to visit and you may get some rain, although it is outside of the monsoon season. May to October is the monsoon with downpours occurring once or twice a day, rather than constant rain.
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. To start planning your vacation
Itinerary
This family adventure delves into the mysterious Kingdom of Bhutan before kicking back on the palm-fringed beaches of Thailand. Totally designed around the teenagers, it is action packed with family-friendly experiences. Bhutan is a perfect destination for a family vacation, not only is it exceptionally safe, but it will offer an overall experience that your children will absolutely adore, it will
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Days 1-3: Bangkok
You begin by having two nights in Bangkok and we suggest two nights here as the city is packed with fun and exciting things to see and do. From street-food markets, to ancient temples and taking the boat up the river and visiting floating markets, Bangkok always offers something new to do.
Accommodation: Peninsula Bangkok (2 nights)
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Days 3-5: Thimphu
You then fly into Bhutan where on arrival you will be met by your guide, handpicked with experience of taking families through Bhutan, and your own private driver and vehicle. Drive towards Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan for two nights. Thimphu is possibly one of the smallest and most laid-back capital cities in the world but there is plenty to do and see here. In your itinerary we have included a trip to the post office where you can be photographed and produce your own stamps to add to a postcard to send home. As your guide is completely private, you can of course tailor your itinerary on the day but we suggest including a visit to the Folk Museum to get a glimpse of Bhutanese culture that has been unchanged in centuries. In the evening, the family can don traditional Bhutanese dress, the elegant and colorful 'kira' for the girls and 'gho' for boys.
Accommodation: Taj Tashi (2 nights)
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Days 5-7: Punakha
Next, move to Punakha, a lush fertile valley about 3 hours from Thimphu. Whilst in Punakha we will take you along the Butterfly Trail, past rice-paddies with local farmers hard at work before boarding a raft on the Mo Chu River and floating down to Puankha Dzong (there are a few soft rapids to keep it interesting!). Visit the Dzong, where the children can meet a monk their own age and hear about how they have to get up every morning before first light for prayers in the monastery. During your time in Punakha, should there be time we can also include a gentle cycle ride down Punakha's other valley, the Pho Chu, where you can stop for a picnic and visit a local home for tea. In the afternoon, it might be worth getting the family to have a little archery contest - it is Bhutan's national sport and they use time-old wooden bow and arrows and archery grounds are located throughout the country.
Accommodation: COMO Uma Punakha (2 nights)
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Days 7-9: Paro
Your final stop in Bhutan is Paro. From hear you are just a hop, skip and a jump to the Tigers Nest Monastery walk. It is an 800 meter ascent, and if the children aren't so keen on the walk, you can stop half-way at the first viewing point. To make the experience more fun, we have included the chance for you to make traditional Buddhist prayer flags the night before and then when you reach the top, you can hoist them and watch your prayer flags in action! As your family would have already seen a monastery in Punakha instead of adding in another in Paro we have included a trip up to the Chele Pass. From here you can hop on bikes and free wheel back down to the Paro Valley.
Accommodation: Zhiwa Ling (2 nights)
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Days 9-14: Koh Lanta
Finally, fly out of Paro and back to Bangkok where you can connect for a flight to Krabi and five nights on the tropical beaches of Thailand to end. Needless to say it will give you the perfect balance to all the adventure you would have experienced in Bhutan and some well-deserved pool and beach time to end.
Accommodation: Pimalai Resort & Spa (5 nights)
Experiences
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A visit to Chimmi Lhakhang
The Chimmi Lhakhang Temple is a temple of fertility dedicated to the Buddhist saint known as the Divine Madman. A short walk through paddy fields takes you to the temple and is popular with Bhutanese families wanting to start a family.
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Cycling up the Pho Chhu River
Take a morning cycling up the beautiful Pho Chhu River, famous for the White-Bellied Heron and dramatic scenery. Take a walk into the local village for a spot of tea before having a lovely picnic lunch overlooking the river before returning to Punakha.
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Day in Thimphu
You can easily fill an afternoon or day exploring Thimphu. It is worth visiting the Tashiccho Dzong, where essentially Bhutan is governed from. Also of interest is the Simtokha Dzong, Memorial Chorten, Changagkka Temple & Folk Museum.
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Dressing up in traditional Bhutanese dress
Anyone who works in Bhutan must wear traditional national dress, and you can have the chance to dress up for a few hours to see how it feels. The Bhutanese absolute love visitors doing it!
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Drukgyel Dzong
The Drukgyal Dzong is located further up the Paro Valley from the Tiger's Nest Monastery and was built in 1649 by Tenzin Drukdra to celebrate victory over an invading army from Tibet.
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Giligang Trail
Giligang has a 300-year old temple and a wonderful way to escape other tourists and see an authentic side to Bhutan, and can be added on to a visit to the Khansum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Butterfly Trail.
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Khansum Yulley & the Butterfly Trail
Take the short hike up to the Khansam Yulley Temple where you can sit back in awe at the wonderful views down the Mo Chhu Valley before heading off on the one-hour Butterfly Trail, stopping off for tea in the local home.
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Kyichu Lhakhang
The Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, dating from the 7th century and constructed by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsan Gampo.
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Meet a Monk Your Own Age
Your children can have the opportunity to meet a monk their own age. 10% of Bhutan's population are monks and they can hear stories of getting up each day before first-light for prayers and their daily routines.
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Nalanda Buddhist College and Nobgang Walk
This fantastic experience combines the Sangchen Nunnery, the Nalanda Buddhist College and the Nobgang Village walk which takes you from the high hills above Punakha and winds gently down to the Punakha Dzong - you approach it almost vertically!
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Paro Dzong & National Museum
The Paro Dzong, or Rinpung Dzong as it is otherwise called, looms above the town of Paro. On the hill above the Dzong in the former watchtower you can visit the National Museum.
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Paro Sunday Market
If you are in Paro on a Sunday then absolutely visit the local market. See a variety of vegetables on offer from 0630 until about 1000, and you can then see the archery ground following your visit.
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Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong, otherwise known as the Pungtang Dechen Photrang literally means the palace of great happiness or bliss, and is the finest of its kind in Bhutan, dating from the 17th century and located on the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Po Chhu Rivers.
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Punakha Weekend Markets
Khuruthang Saturday Vegetable Market is located in the small town next to the Punakha Dzong. On Sundays, you can visit the Wangdue Market, about a 30-minute drive away. Wander around the stalls, selling local fruit and vegetables.
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The Butterfly Trail & Rafting in Punakha
Take the Butterfly Trail which is a one hour trek through local villages and paddy fields, stopping for tea in a local home before hiking to the Khamsum Yulley Chorten and then rafting back to the main Dzong of Punakha.
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The Haa Valley
The unspoiled Haa Valley is located close to Paro and offers a fantastic day out. Drive over the Chele Pass, Bhutan's highest road, and choose to free-wheel on bikes into the Haa Valley. Explore the local monastery, have a picnic and return to Paro.
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Thimphu Weekend Market
You shouldn’t miss the weekend market in Thimphu. People from nearby valleys arrive on Thursday afternoon and stay to sell their goods – vegetables, other foodstuffs and handicrafts – until Sunday evening.
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Tiger's Nest Monastery
The Tiger's Nest Monastery is spectacular; legend has it that this cliffside was where Guru Rinpoche landed on the back of a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. Set off for the 2-hour walk to the viewpoint before continuing onto the Monastery.
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Try your hand at Archery
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and can be seen played throughout the Kingdom. Traditional bows are made from bamboo and witnessing an archery competition is an absolute highlight. We can easily arrange for you to have a go should you wish.
Location
Bangkok, Thimphu, Punakha, Paro & Koh Lanta
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