Thimphu

Thimphu Trips & Tours

Thimphu

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Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Feefo

4.9/5 (1007 reviews)

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
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Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024
A young capital city with a beating heart and a unique brew of modernity and tradition.

Many parts of Bhutan feel like an otherwordly, glorious paradox, and perhaps none more so than the capital city, Thimphu. Surrounded by forested mountains and spread out along the Raidāk River, it was barely more than a village when the King declared it the face of ‘new’ Bhutan in 1961 and it exploded into life. Today, it’s slowly modernising and you’ll spot the famous ‘traffic light’ policeman alongside cool cafes and restaurants, shops selling handmade paper and traditional arrows alongside cellphone credit, and red-robed monks sipping lattes. We recommend wandering the crooked streets to the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum and the National Library, before heading to the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of Bhutan’s government and royal offices – and completely nail-free! Then, hike to Cheri Goemba, the first monastery in the country, to complete a rather eccentric but lovely stay.

Things to do

What to do in Thimphu

Bhutan’s capital city is packed to the hilt with history, which you can get acquainted with on visits to the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, National Library and the centuries-old Tashichho Dzong, which was built without using a single nail. Get to know Thimphu from a local perspective as you browse shops selling handmade paper and traditional arrows, and even watch some of the country’s finest bowmen perfecting their aim. As is the case with most of Bhutan’s towns, there are dozens of beautiful temples to marvel at and witness sacred Buddhist traditions, and on hikes into the surrounding countryside, you can visit the famous 51-metre-tall Buddha Dordenma.
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Why you'll love it

Why you'll love it

Paying a visit to the Changlimithang Stadium to watch the bowmen practise their archery skills. It’s the country’s national sport and an impressive sight and there’s usually a good dose of ritualistic singing and dancing (when they hit target, of course).

Off the beaten track

Off the beaten track

We’ve got a couple of insider's tips here. Head into the valley and ogle at the gigantic, 51-metre tall Buddha Dordenma – and leave time to count all 125,000 mini Buddhas inside – and visit the weekend market for organic produce and other, er, unusual delicacies…

Something to think about

Something to think about

Compared to Bhutan’s bucolic countryside, Thimphu is a thumping, pumping city; in anyone else’s book, it’s little more than a small town! It’s a fascinating insight into contemporary Bhutanese culture and a welcome respite in a rural itinerary, but hustling and bustling it is not.

When to go

Best time to visit Thimphu

Excellent
Good
Mixed

january

Dry Season — a quieter time to visit

Articles

Bhutan in the blog

Reviews

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Based on 1007 Feefo Reviews

An Incredible Safari Experience Thanks to Timbuktu Travel
Matt
An Incredible Safari Experience Thanks to Timbuktu Travel
October 2026
11 nights in Kenya and Tanzania
We recently returned from an incredible safari through Kenya and Tanzania, and we couldn't be happier with our experience working with Timbuktu Travel. Joanna and her team were wonderful from start to finish. They listened to what we wanted from our safari and designed an itinerary that exceeded our expectations. They helped us prepare for every aspect of the trip, answered our questions along the way, and made sure everything ran seamlessly once we arrived in Africa. From the accommodations and guides to the transfers and overall coordination, everything was exceptionally well organized. We were also celebrating a milestone anniversary, and Joanna and her team went above and beyond to make it special. They arranged anniversary surprises at every stop, including cakes, traditional celebration songs, and even a private dinner. These thoughtful touches made an already amazing trip even more memorable. We also want to recognize Joachim, our private guide for the final four days of our safari. He was friendly, patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and an absolute pleasure to spend time with. He made the final part of our journey particularly enjoyable. The entire experience exceeded our expectations. We saw incredible wildlife, stayed at wonderful camps, and never had to worry about the logistics. Timbuktu took care of everything, allowing us to simply enjoy the adventure. We can't thank Joanna, Joachim, and the entire Timbuktu team enough for creating such an unforgettable experience. We would highly recommend Timbuktu Travel to anyone planning an African safari.

Why travel with Timbuktu?

We design tailor-made journeys for travellers who want more than a holiday, from first-time safaris, gorilla treks and multi-generational family adventures to once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons - and everything in between. And here's why so many choose us to plan them.

Tailor-Made Since 2014

Tailor-Made Since 2014

We've been crafting one-of-a-kind journeys since 2014 — over 2,500 trips across 40+ countries, each one built from scratch around your interests and dreams.

Specialists Who've Been There

Specialists Who've Been There

Our team only recommends places they've slept in, eaten in, and happily keep going back to. Condé Nast Traveler named 11 of them Top Travel Specialists in 2026, and Travel+Leisure made three A-List Advisors.

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

Travel+Leisure's readers voted us the World's No.1 Tour Operator in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 — the travel industry's biggest readers' award, judged by people who actually travel.

Every Trip Makes A Difference

Every Trip Makes A Difference

$50 from every booking goes to female empowerment, tech education, and conservation projects across the countries we love. We have donated $78,000 so far – and it's going up!

Collaboration Is Key

Collaboration Is Key

Your travel specialist is with you the whole way, dreaming up the trip, building the itinerary, checking you in, and answering the 2am question from the other side of the world..

Loved By Our Guests

Loved By Our Guests

We are rated 4.9 out of 5 from 1007 verified Feefo reviews. And these are the words of people who actually went, not us talking about ourselves.

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11 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2026

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"Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip."

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