Land at Paro and meet your guide at arrivals. The afternoon is yours to settle in and begin absorbing Bhutan’s pace — which is quite unlike anywhere else. Walk through Paro town past painted wooden shopfronts, a small dzong visible on the hillside and prayer wheels spinning at the edge of the river.

Dinner and briefing. Your guide covers the route, the Chele La Pass crossing, what to expect in Haa and the cultural context of the ancient temples you’ll visit. Overnight: Paro

A grounding Paro day before the pass crossing. Begin at Rinpung Dzong — the fortress-monastery above the river, accessible by a covered walkway bridge. Inside, monks conduct morning prayers in courtyards painted with Buddhist murals and wrapped in the smell of butter lamps.

Drive uphill to the National Museum, housed in a circular tower built in the 17th century. The collection covers Bhutanese art, natural history, textiles and ancient manuscripts. Afternoon visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s 108 temples said to have been built in a single night by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. The courtyard orange trees and the quiet resident monks give it an atmosphere of extraordinary peace. Overnight: Paro

The drive to Chele La Pass (3,988m) — Bhutan’s highest motorable pass — winds through increasingly dramatic scenery: pine forest gives way to rhododendron (blazing pink and red in spring), then to open alpine terrain where prayer flags stream in all directions and the views extend to peaks over 7,000 metres.

At the summit, the air is sharp and the Himalayan panorama is astonishing. On the north side, Haa district. On the south, Paro valley far below. A short walk along the ridge to the best viewpoints before beginning the descent.

The Haa Valley feels immediately different from everywhere else in Bhutan. Quieter, more remote, more ancient. Check into your accommodation and walk through Haa town — a small collection of painted houses, a market, a dzong and the sounds of a valley that doesn’t see many visitors. Overnight: Haa

A full day in the Haa Valley — the heart of the journey. Begin at Lhakhang Kharpo (the White Temple) and Lhakhang Nagpo (the Black Temple) — two ancient temples facing each other across the valley floor, considered to have been built by the same Tibetan king in the 7th century. Both are still in daily use; monks resident here.

Walk through traditional farming villages where life continues much as it has for centuries. Houses are wooden and painted; children run between fields; an elderly farmer tends a small shrine by the path. Afternoon walk toward the highland meadows where yaks graze above the treeline — if conditions allow, a short hike reaches views back down the full length of the valley. Overnight: Haa

Return over Chele La Pass — the light is different on the return, often warmer and with different shadows on the peaks. Optional short hike along the ridge before beginning the descent to Paro.

Afternoon in Paro at leisure. Some guests take a riverside walk, others browse the handicraft shops along the main street. Your guide can arrange a visit to a local farmhouse for butter tea and homemade Ara if you’re interested. Overnight: Paro

The full-day hike to Taktsang Monastery. Start early — the forest is quiet and cool, and the monastery is lit by morning sun before the day’s clouds build. The trail climbs through blue pine and rhododendron forest, past prayer flags and small offering cairns, with views of the Paro valley unfolding below.

Two thirds of the way up, a teahouse offers tea and snacks with a direct view of the monastery across the gorge. The final ascent involves stone steps cut into the cliff and a bridge over a waterfall. Inside, the monks have maintained this sacred complex since the 8th century — a series of shrines, caves and ceremonial halls connected by ladders and passageways. Overnight: Paro

Final morning in Paro — coffee, last views of the valley and a farewell walk if time allows. Your guide will accompany you to the airport, where the goodbye — as in all of Bhutan — is marked by genuine warmth. The departure flight offers one final view of the Himalayan ridges before Bhutan disappears behind the clouds. Departure: Paro International Airport