Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon 8D/7N

Your Bhutan adventure begins in Siliguri, where the group assembles for the first time. After introductions and a briefing on the days ahead, the convoy sets off for Phuentsholing - the border town that is the gateway into Bhutan.

The road climbs steeply through dense subtropical forest before giving way to towering pine-clad Himalayan slopes, past dramatic river gorges and cascading waterfalls, with planned halts at the most photogenic viewpoints. The evening in Thimphu is yours to explore.

A full morning of sightseeing in Thimphu before an iconic mountain crossing at Dochula Pass - adorned with 108 chortens - takes you into the fertile Punakha valley by evening.

A rare full-day excursion into the glacial Phobjikha valley that most standard tours skip entirely - Gangtey Monastery, the winter habitat of the endangered black-necked crane (visitors Oct-Feb), and gentle nature trails through open meadows and farmhouses.

Punakha holds some of Bhutan's most cherished landmarks - the 17th-century dzong at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu, one of the country's longest suspension bridges, and the Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple - before the road winds west to Paro.

Paro Taktsang clings to a sheer granite cliff 900 metres above the valley floor; the hike is roughly 4-5 hours return and rewards every step. The rest of the day covers the National Museum, Rinpung Dzong and Paro's markets.

At 3,988 metres Chele La is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan, hung with thousands of prayer flags and - on a clear day - looking straight at Jhomolhari. The afternoon descends towards the border.

Check out, complete exit formalities at the border and return through the plains to Siliguri.