Historical Odysseys

Your COMO guide greets you at Paro International Airport — one of the world's most dramatic approaches, threading between peaks with only 25 qualified pilots trained to navigate the descent. The lodge is a mere 10-minute transfer away.

After checking in and acclimatising to the Himalayan air at 2,250 metres, an afternoon stroll through Paro town introduces you to the kingdom's gentle rhythms — the hum of prayer wheels, the flicker of butter lamps, and the quiet confidence of a culture that has protected itself for centuries.

A temple visit rounds out the day, easing you into the spiritual landscape that will define the week ahead.

The morning offers an optional butter lamp lighting at a nearby monastery — a Buddhist act of illumination, acknowledging the impermanence of life and offering prayers for good fortune.

The drive to Punakha passes through Thimphu, Bhutan's capital and the only national capital in the world without a single traffic light. Stops include the monumental Buddha Dordenma statue, the National Memorial Chorten where locals gather for circumambulations, a view of the stately Trashi Chhoe Dzong, and the Folk Heritage Museum.

Beyond Thimphu, the road climbs in tight switchbacks to Dochula Pass at 3,000 metres — a breathtaking vista of 108 Buddhist chortens, forests of cluttering prayer flags, and on clear days, the full sweep of the eastern Himalayan range. The descent into Punakha's subtropical warmth feels like crossing into another world entirely.

The morning begins with a walk across farmhouses and rice paddies to Chimmi Lhakhang, a 15th-century temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley — the Tibetan Buddhist saint better known as the Divine Madman. For centuries, this has been a pilgrimage site for couples hoping to start a family, adorned with vivid fertility symbols and bold statues.

Further down the valley, the 300-year-old Punakha Dzong emerges at the confluence of two rivers. Built in the 17th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who founded the Bhutanese state, the fortress once housed the winter seat of Je Khenpo — the head abbot — along with a retinue of 1,000 red-robed monks. It remains one of the most magnificent structures in Asia.

After lunch, a walk through homesteads and farmland leads to the hilltop Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a shrine built by the royal family. At 1,200 metres, Punakha Valley sits low enough for bananas and oranges to grow along the footpath.

Retrace the route over the Dochula Pass for a second chance at the Himalayan panorama — the mountain light shifts dramatically between morning and afternoon.

At Chuzom, the confluence of the Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu rivers, three shrines guard the junction — each built in a different architectural tradition: Nepali, Tibetan, and Bhutanese. It is a quiet reminder of the cultural crossroads that shaped this kingdom.

Time permitting, visit Tamchog Lhakhang, a temple built by Thangtong Gyalpo — the pioneering Tibetan engineer who introduced suspension bridge technology to Bhutan and Tibet, several of which remain in use today.

The final approach to COMO Uma Paro winds through apple orchards and rice paddies. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure — one popular option is trying your hand at archery, Bhutan's national sport.

A full day exploring the Paro Valley on foot. The morning route winds through pine forests high above the lodge to the fortress-like monastery of Zurig Dzong, then traverses to Ta Dzong — home to the National Museum — with commanding views across the entire valley.

Descend to Rinpung Dzong, the Fortress on a Heap of Jewels, where the Monastic body and government offices of Paro are housed. Cross the Paro Chhu river via the traditional covered bridge Nyamai Zam, past the main archery ground and Ugyen Pelri Palace, and into Paro town.

In the afternoon, drive a few kilometres north to Kyichu Lhakhang — one of Bhutan's oldest and most revered temples, with its magical orange tree said to bear fruit year-round. Time permitting, continue to Drukgyel Dzong at the head of the valley, built in 1648 to control the northern route to Tibet.

An early start avoids the midday sun on what is perhaps the most iconic hike in all of the Himalayas. The two-hour climb is steep but manageable — passing a cascading waterfall and ascending through pine forest until Taktsang Monastery appears, clinging impossibly to a sheer cliff face 3,000 metres above the valley floor.

According to legend, this is where Guru Rinpoche arrived on the back of a flying tigress in the 8th century, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan from Tibet. The monastery's interior is filled with beautiful murals, sacred relics, and an atmosphere of deep devotion. If time and stamina allow, your guide can lead you further uphill to visit remote temples above the main complex.

Lunch is either a prepared picnic on the trail or a hearty meal at the Taktsang cafeteria. Return to COMO Uma Paro for a final evening — the swimming pool, steam room, or a restorative COMO Shambhala treatment are the perfect way to honour tired muscles.

A 10-minute transfer to Paro International Airport, arranged to your flight schedule. As you take off, the valley narrows between the peaks — a final reminder of the rarefied world you have been privileged to explore.