With its towering monasteries and monuments, spicy cuisine, and friendly people, the Land of the Thunder Dragon presents unique experiences every day. Steeped in Buddhist culture, the country offers a serene and peaceful holiday for those so inclined, but the dramatic landscape is also the perfect place to indulge in outdoor activities.

From fly-fishing to river rafting, the water sports options will satisfy the most restless adventurer. If you're more of a land person, go for a hike through picturesque tree-lined trails or enjoy a riverside picnic next to the Thimphu Chu. Culture buffs will love the old-world aura of the holy men and their monasteries, and can light butter lamps for good luck and prosperity. Don’t come as a tourist to the ‘Last Shangri-La’ looking for a cookie-cutter holiday experience; come as a traveler, ready to be surprised and charmed.

1. Game of Traditional Archery

Since time immemorial, the Bhutanese have been passionate about their national sport of ‘Dha’ (Archery). Nearly all villages in the kingdom boast an archery range, and each dzong has a space set aside nearby for a “bha cho” (field of target). Competitions are a riot of color and excitement, with two teams in traditional dress shooting at small wooden targets placed 140 meters apart.

2. Game of Traditional Khuru

A Khuru is a dart made out of wood with a 10 cm long nail at the tip. Khuru is played in teams of about 10 people. Every Khuru player builds his own two Khurus. In every round, every player throws his two Khurus and tries to hit a target that is about 20 meters from the players.

3. Fly-Fishing

Bhutan is one of the last unexplored fishing destinations in the world. With its back turned to the outside world, Bhutan has remained a mystery. Furthermore, since most people are not aware of this option, very few fly-fishers visit Bhutan annually. There exists the chance of making some interesting and unexpected discoveries.

4. Light 108 Butter Lamps at The Sacred Temple

Lighting outer lamps or offering light at a temple is a means of dispelling the darkness of our own ignorance, giving rise to clarity and wisdom. The lighting of butter lamps is an offering of light to the deities and is one of the common means of increasing one's merit.

Butter lamps are also offered with the wish that their light will illuminate the lower realms and the bardo, assuaging the torment of beings who suffer in darkness. It also helps to focus the mind and aids meditation.

5. Mountain Biking

Mountain biking in Bhutan is a relatively new sport that is steadily gaining popularity among the Bhutanese and visitors alike. The country’s topography, especially in the western, central, and eastern regions, is not the most cycle-friendly, but that is precisely why mountain biking is gaining momentum amongst more and more visitors.

6. 09 Holes Golfing at The Royal Thimphu Golf Course

The Royal Thimphu Golf Course lies just next to Tashichho Dzong. This is the only golf course in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan which is open to the public. It is a nine-hole (par 34, 2800 yards) course. The Royal Thimphu Golf Course provides an excellent opportunity to play and experience the tranquil natural beauty with a spectacular backdrop of the Himalayan ranges. It is one of the most remote golf courses on earth.

7. Riverside Picnics

This is one of the best experiences one could ever imagine. The entire meal experience is organized at the bank of the Thimphu Chu. We dedicate ourselves to creating a memorable and exquisite picnic experience by the fresh glacial river surrounded by mountains and lush evergreen cypress trees.

8. Enrich Your Life by Learning About Buddhism

Buddhism has flourished beautifully in Bhutan. Hundreds of sacred monasteries, stupas, religious institutions, the soft sound of prayer wheels fading with the wind, and the fluttering of prayer flags high up in the mountains; Bhutan is a Buddhist country in sync with its blissful nature. The people of Bhutan not only believe and practice Buddhism, but their way of life, culture, and tradition are mystically woven with Buddhism, a faith the Bhutanese people proudly follow.

9. Indulge Yourself in Meditation

The essence of Buddhist meditation narrates the meditative practice associated with the religion and philosophy of Buddhism. Meditation is understood as something that makes one’s body consciously soothed and relaxed, while the mind is made calm; a technique that aims to develop mindfulness, concentration, supramundane powers, tranquility, and insight. Well, it gets more interesting when one goes beyond just relaxing the mind and soothing the body!

10. River Rafting

The rivers of Bhutan are generally very steep and powerful, and road access is limited, so only relatively short sections of the main rivers are suitable for kayaking and rafting. Bhutan offers unique destinations for avid kayakers who are comfortable in class three and class four rivers, with incredible rivers that are both challenging and among the most beautiful in the world.

One-Day Hike Options

• Chumphu Lhakang - Near Paro
  Nestled on the lap of a mountain, this holy place is a precious jewel set in the vast life-giving wilderness. Chumphu Lhakang is a pilgrim destination about five hours' walk (one way) from Paro. The track follows the valley along the Dolp Chu. As one moves closer to the monastery, the vegetation changes from blue pine and broad-leaved deciduous to mixed coniferous trees like spruce and fir.

• Phajoding Monastery - Thimphu
  Located at 3,650 meters above sea level and a four-hour walk from Thimphu, Phajoding monastery was built in 1224 AD by Phajo Drugom Zhig, the Tibetan lama who spread the Drukpa Kagyu sect of Buddhism in Bhutan. Consisting of ten temples and several meditation houses, Phajoding has since become the regional center for a spiritual tradition that seeks the divine through solitary meditation.