Travel to Punakha

lower altitude and warmer climate

Punakha is located in western Bhutan.

Driving east from the capital Thimphu, the road climbs steeply up into the forested mountains, to reach the Dochula La Pass at 3140 metres (10300’). On a clear day there are sweeping views towards the main peaks of the Himalayas. The pass is marked by the Druk Wangyel Temple, surrounded by a collection of 108 memorial chortens.

On the long descent into the Punakha Valley, you may catch sight of various monkeys and birds amongst the trees.

The important thing to appreciate is that Punakha is at a much lower altitude, 1200 metres (3950’), than the other four main valleys and therefore experiences a much milder climate, with relatively warm winters and hot subtropical summers.

The vegetation is rather different, with broad-leaved trees taking over from the usual pine forests and the purple bloom of jacaranda trees lining the streets.

Importantly for local people, this gentle climate means that rice can be cultivated in this area, causing it to become known as ‘the rice bowl of Bhutan’. Other crops include oranges, papayas and a wide range of vegetables.

We have heard the area being referred to as ‘the phallus fantasyland of Punakha’, a reference to the local cult of painting phalluses on walls and hitting pilgrims over the head with wooden phalluses, which is all rather amusing.

Being not too distant from the main airport at Paro, Punakha tends to be included in almost all trips to Bhutan, certainly those of four or more nights. Due to its low altitude, it usually features at the front end, to provide for a gentle acclimatisation.

The best time of year to visit Punakha is rather different from the rest of the country, due to the warmer climate.

If you want to include a lot of outdoor activity such as high altitude treks and mountain biking, then it is best to head for the two shoulder seasons of Mar-May (spring) and Sep-Nov (autumn), since the Jun-Aug period (summer) can get rather hot and wet. These activities can also be done during Dec-Feb (winter), although the conditions can close in.

If you are looking for a trip with a more general focus, of scenery and culture, then you can definitely visit this area year round, although you may again want to avoid the hot and wet Jun-Aug period (summer).

For a more detailed overview of seasonality, please refer to the country page.

Getting around

All of the main locations in Bhutan are usually reached by means of a private guided overland safari.

The Punakha area is usually reached by road from the main airport in Paro, a journey which can usually be done in 4-5 hours.

A big talking point in shorter itineraries is whether Punakha can be used as the first night in a trip. If you arrive on an early enough flight, then there is time to do the drive, but this doesn’t leave much wiggle room should the flight be delayed or the road conditions become challenging. We generally consider this to be feasible during Oct-Apr, when the weather conditions should be less obstructive.

It is also possible to travel to Punakha by helicopter, but this is usually prohibitively expensive.

Where to stay

Accommodation in the Punakha area falls into three distinct categories.

The first option is to stay at one of three upmarket properties, all of which are well-located and stylish, providing very high levels of conventional comforts.

The second option is to camp out in the forest at Punakha Tipi, which can be great if you are into hiking, biking and rafting.

The third option is to stay at one of the more simple properties, which tend to be disappointingly short on local character and are often more focused on budget tours. However, there are at least two decent options in this particular area.

usually the second stop, after Thimphu