Trongsa Bhutan Travel Gudie - Sightseeing, Transfer, Hotel, Weather

Located in central Bhutan, surrounded by deep valleys and amazing views, Trongsa is a small but crucial town that had controlled the trade of the whole country, linking the west and the east, due to its strategic position. Driving to the east, you can reach Jakar and Trashiyangtse with beautiful Bumthang on your way; back to the west, you will pass through Phobjikha Valley, Wangdue Phodrang, and Punakha and arrive in the capital area of Thimphu and Paro.

Trongsa - Strategic Junction in the Middle of Bhutan & Royal Family Historical Site

Trongsa is attractive and you can finish most attractions in the town on foot. The Trongsa Dzong, the must-visit site of Trongsa, built in 1644, has been witnessing the rise and development of the royal Wangchuck family since the era of the father of the first King of Bhutan. Not afar away from Trongsa Dzong, the Trongsa Ta Dzong, a watchtower which used to guard the Dzong has been converted into an impressive museum for visitors to learn about the history of the kingdom.

Top Places to Visit in Trongsa

Located in central Bhutan, Trongsa is an important hilly town where the royal family of Bhutan originated. Here, you can trace the imperial history by visiting the watchtower Museum, Trongsa Ta Dzong, the birth palace of the King, Thruepang Palace, the winter palace, Kuenga Rabten, as well as having a wonderful Tshechu Festival in winter...

How to Get to Trongsa

Trongsa is a small town and you can easily get around and visit most attractions there on foot. Currently, there is no airport and railway located in Trongsa. The only international airport to Trongsa is Paro airport and the closest domestic airport is Jakar airport. Hence, visitors are planning to visit Trongsa can fly to Paro or Jakar first and then drive there.

Paro to Trongsa - Trongsa is located to the east of Paro, about 240km, 6.5 hours by car. If you go straight to Trongsa from Paro, you will pass Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, after about 1.5 hour’s ride and continue driving eastward to Punakha in central north Bhutan, and then Wangdue Phodrang, and finally reach Trongsa.

Jakar to Trongsa - Trongsa is located to the west of Jakar, about 70km, 2.5 hours by car. The domestic flights from Paro to Jakar is very limited. If you go straight to Jakar from Trongsa, you will pass the beautiful Zungney and Yotong La and get to Trongsa.
Best Time to Visit Trongsa

Located in Punakha valley with an average elevation of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) and influenced by the south Indian Ocean, Trongsa is not hot all year round. The average temperatures in the daytime and night at Trongsa vary greatly. Even the warmest time in the average temperature of July is around 55.9°F (13.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 41.8°F (5.4°C) at night. Over the year, the temperature typically varies from 29°F (-2°C) to 70°F (21°C) and is rarely below 22°F (-6°C) or above 75°F (24°C).

Considering humidity, except for the summer, Trongsa has a low chance of precipitation most of the year. And the summertime from June to September brings intense rainfall and humidity which causes lots of inconveniences. However, after the monsoon is over, the temperature will be moderate and mild with a good view for hiking, and Trongsa is without exception. The best time to visit Trongsa is spring and autumn. Also, if you do not mind the coldness in winter, December and January are good months to visit to join the Trongsa Tsechu Festival.

Where to Stay in Trongsa

There are various hotels in Bhutan, ranging from fancy hotels to cozy homestays. Most of the hotels in Bhutan opening to foreign visitors are in a traditional Bhutanese style, and the accommodation fee in a 3-star hotel is already covered in your daily minimum cost in Bhutan (USD 250 per person per night in March, April, May, September, October, and November, and USD 200 per person per night in other months). If you want to upgrade your accommodation to a 4 or 5-star hotel, an extra fee may be required.

By 2020, there is only one registered hotel opening to foreign visitors in Trongsa, namely Yangkhil Resort (3-star). It is about 1.5km west of the town with 21 rooms, standing on the terraced hills facing the Dzong. All the rooms are cozy with a stunning view and nice facilities. You are recommended to stay in an upper-floor room for a better view.

Besides staying in Trongsa, not far away from Trongsa, you can have more accommodation choices in Bumthang and Phobjikha such as Chumey Nature Resort, the Village Lodge Bumthang, Odlyana Hotel, Phuntsho Chholing Lodge, etc.

Useful Bhutan Travel Notes

1. How to Apply Bhutan Visa
Bhutan Visa is a must to travel to Bhutan, which can only be applied by authorized travel agency (like Tibet Discovery) on behalf of independent travelers. You just need to send us clear scanned photocopy of your valid passport. As we receive your passport information, we will apply it from Tourism Council of Bhutan. When we get your visa (a visa clearance letter), we will send the photocopy to you by Email, with which you are able to border a flight to Bhutan. Upon arrival on Paro International Airport, the visa will be given to you.

2. How to Plan a Bhutan Tour
A classic Bhutan tour always takes about 5-6 days involving Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Apart from the arrival and departure days, you get four full days to explore the landmarks in Bhutan - three days in the towns of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, and another day in Traktsang Monastery. If you want an in-depth tour to central Bhutan, you are suggested to spend extra 4 days to Bumthang via Wangdu Phodrang and Trongsa. In fact, many travelers prefer an overland tour in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. If you time permits, you can take a one-hour flight from Bhutan to Nepal, where you can admire the medieval architectural wonders and marvelous landscape of Himalayan Peaks. After that, take an overland driving journey to the holy city Lhasa via Mount Everest.

3. How to Get to Bhutan
There are two choices to get to Bhutan - by international flights from some Asian countries (Nepal, India, Thailand, Singapore and Bangladesh) and by overland driving from India. Since Paro is the only international airport, all the flights to Bhutan lands on Paro. There are three accessible ports connected Bhutan and India, including Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu. Phuentsholing is the primary one which connects Chhukha of Bhutan and West Bengal of India. From Phuentsholing, it takes about 6 hours to drive to Paro or Thimphu. The other two ports are located in central and eastern Bhutan.

4. Other Destinations in Bhutan
Apart from Wangdue, there are many other destinations worthy of your visit, including Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, Trongsa, Bumthang etc. With the only international airport, Paro is probably the first destination of your Bhutan trip. And it is also where the Taktsang Monastery - Landmark of Bhutan locates. As the capital city with natural and cultural glamour, Thimphu is a must-be-visited city in Bhutan. Its National Memorial Chorten is an important holy site. Besides, there are many interesting and significant museums and institutes to catch a view of Bhutan’s rich history and culture. Punakha has the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan - Punakha Dzong. It looks surreal especially with the purple Jacaranda in blossom between April and June.