Until the 1970s Bumthang was only accessible by horse or on foot, and it still remains an incredibly unspoilt and traditional region. The picturesque valleys are scattered with buckwheat and potato fields, pine forests and apple orchards, all best explored on foot on a number of well-established hiking trails to suit all abilities. The region is also the home of Red Panda beer, founded in the 1960s by a Swiss chap called Fritz Maurer and still brewed in the same Bumthang microbrewery.
While in the region, make sure to visit the Wengdichholing Palace, built in 1857 as Bhutan's first non-fortress palace and the home of Bhutan's first king. For those who appreciate a good view, another must-see sight involves climbing up to Jakar Dzong, a hilltop monastery with epic panoramic views of the Chokhor Valley.
For an insight into rural Bhutanese village life, head out on a guided trek through the Ura Valley, where cobbled alleyways and traditional timber and stone houses dot the hillsides. The sacred Mebar Tsho (otherwise known as the Burning Lake) with its fluttering prayer flags can also be found here.
