The 3 national parks in Bhutan every foreigner should visit!

Jigme Dorji in the northwest corner of the country is one of Bhutan's biggest and most well-known national parks. It spans all three of the country's different climate zones. Here you can find some of the highest peaks in the country, including the famous Mt Jomolhari, a sacred mountain that nobody is permitted to climb.

Wild yaks still roam within Jigme Dorji National Park

Jigme Dorji National Park is the perfect place for foreigners to visit who want a chance to marvel at the towering white peaks of the Himalayas and enjoy classic Bhutanese mountain scenes like yaks in meadows and mountain passes strewn with Tibetan prayer flags.

The park spans all three of the country's climate zones and so has a diverse range of habitats, including beautiful montane forests, high pastures, and alpine desert. It's home to the endangered snow leopard as well as some special other wildlife, like black bears, red pandas, blue sheep and musk deer.

Holy Mt Jomolhari as seen from Jangothang Base Camp

Furthermore, the park offers some of the very best Himalayan hikes and treks in all of Bhutan. For instance, it's here that you can trek to Jangothang Base Camp, which is often compared with Everest Base Camp. And it's also here that you can embark on the famous Snowman Trek, one of the world's toughest high-altitude treks!

Anyone flying into Bhutan must come through Paro International Airport in the northwest of the country, as shown in the map below.

As you can see, you're then not far from the southern boundary of Jigme Dorji – only about a three-hour drive, in fact.

This mountainous and largely forested park is in the south of Bhutan and borders Manas Tiger Reserve in India.

Royal Manas National Park is a haven for many endangered species of wildlife while also being a superb place to visit for those who appreciate beautiful scenery. The park has thickly forested mountains as well as savannah plains and wide rivers offering great animal-spotting opportunities.

As we highlight in 15 incredible wild animals of Bhutan, many of Bhutan's most exciting wild animals can be found in Royal Manas National Park. We're talking of showstoppers like Indian rhinos, Indian elephants, Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, Asiatic water buffaloes, swamp deer and golden langurs.

The park is also home to over 426 bird species, including great and rufous-necked hornbills.

A safari in Royal Manas is a fantastic way to appreciate a different side of Bhutan from what most foreigners experience; most travellers stay in the northwest around the capital of Thimphu and iconic Himalayan spots like Tiger's Nest. Royal Manas National Park showcases the very best of the country's lower elevations both in terms of scenery and wildlife.

Golden langurs have beautiful and distinctive orangey coats

The best way to get to Royal Manas National Park is to drive there. It takes nine to 10 hours from Paro or Thimphu as you must navigate winding mountain roads. So set aside a full day for this journey.

Alternatively, you could fly to Gelephu Domestic Airport and then drive the remaining four to five hours to the park.

A red panda

Bumdeling (or Bomdeling) Wildlife Sanctuary in the far northeast offers a glimpse into yet another part of Bhutan that's completely different from both Jigme Dorji and Royal National Parks. It's the perfect destination for those who enjoy venturing to destinations where tourists are few and far between.

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is a fantastic reserve for birders to visit between November and March when a few special species arrive for the winter. Not only can you find about a hundred of Bhutan's beloved black-necked cranes, but there's also a good chance of spotting ibisbills and bar-headed geese.

Black-necked cranes

Bumdeling is also a safe haven for diverse mammals such as red pandas, capped langurs, snow leopards and tigers.

The animals aren't the only arrow in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary's quiver; the land is also incredibly beautiful. You can explore the different habitats from wetlands to forested mountains on day hikes and then stay in an eco-lodge.

The far east of Bhutan has very few inhabitants

It takes about 16 hours to drive from Paro to Bumdeling, and about 14.5 hours from Thimphu. So unless you plan to sightsee en route (and please note that there are indeed many memorable places you visit on that route!), we recommend that you fly there.

Yongphulla Airport (also known as Yonphula or Trashigang Airport) is a 45-minute flight from Paro. Bumdeling Sanctuary is then less than an hour's drive to the north.

For those with the time and finances to visit more of Bhutan, there are many other incredible parks and reserves you could add to your Bhutan itinerary. Here are three of our other favourites:

Spotted deers (axis axis) are also called chitals, cheetals or axis deers