WESTERN BHUTAN
Paro is 65 km (two hours' drive) to the southwest of Thimpu. The Taktsang Monastery where Guru Rinpoche meditated to subdue evil spirits; Rinpung Dzong, venue of the Paro tsechu (festival); Ta Dzong which houses the National Museum; the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, built to commemorate Bhutan's victory over Tibetan aggressors; Kyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples in Bhutan; and Dungtse Lakhang with its extraordinary collection of religious paintings, are the places to see in the valley.

Punakha, 77 km (three hours and 15 minutes' drive) north-east of Thimpu, served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955 and, even today, it is the winter home of the central monk body. The Punakha Dzong houses many sacred artifacts and temples. The road from Thimpu to Punakha crosses the 3,115-m Dochula Pass.

CENTRAL BHUTAN
Trongsa is 129 km (four and a half hours' drive) east of Wangdi and crosses the 3,300 m Pelela Pass. The Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of Bhutan's royal family, houses 23 temples. The watchtower, Ta Dzong, has a temple dedicated to King Gesar, the hero of a great epic.

Bumthang consists of the valleys of Chumey, Choekhor, Tang, and Ura. It takes two and a half hours to reach Bumthang, 68 km northeast of Trongsa. Bumthang is ideal for making excursions to the many monasteries and shrines — Tharpaling, Choedrak, Tamshing, Kurjey, Jambey, Kunzangdra among others -- as well as to Mebartsho, "the flaming lake".

EASTERN BHUTAN
Mongar is 198 km (seven hours' drive) south-east of Bumthang. The road to Mongar crosses Thrumshingla (3,800 m), the highest pass in Bhutan. The Mongar Dzong is relatively new compared with the other dzongs of the kingdom.

The 90-km trip from Mongar to Trashigang, the easternmost district, takes four hours. Some 20 km before Trashigang is the Dametsi Monastery, the most important monastery in eastern Bhutan. After Thimpu, Trashigang is the largest urban center where the Trashigang Dzong stands over the Gamri river. Tashi Yangtse, north of Trashigang, has a dzong and the Nepalese style Chorten Kora.