Itinerary Include flights Expand all Kathmandu to Kathmandu Day 1 Depart London. Depart London. Day 2 Arrive Kathmandu Start in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. The evening is free to relax. Royal Singi Hotel or similar Day 3 Fly to Paro Today we fly to Paro. The flight is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world and takes us over the eastern Himalayas. If the weather is clear, we should get a fantastic view of much of the eastern half of the Himalaya, including Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu and Kanchenjunga. The Paro Valley is considered to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan, with blue pine-covered hills and attractive solidly built houses among the paddy fields. If there is the time in the afternoon there will be a visit to visit the museum, dzong or the Kyichu Lakang; one of the oldest temples in Bhutan built by the 7th century Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Rema Resorts / Dewachen Hotel, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Drive to Thimphu Today we have an hour’s drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The capital of Bhutan was Punakha until 1961 when the 3rd King changed it to Thimpu. The rest of the day is spent exploring Thimpu, where there is plenty to see and do. The main sights include the Memorial chorten, built in 1974 in honour of the 3rd King, Kuensel Phodrang, known locally as Buddha Point, where there is a huge statue of Buddha overlooking the whole of the valley. Tashi Chho Dzong is the main dzong and seat of government and usually only open after 5 pm. Other places of interest are Semthoka Dzong, the Takin Reserve, the Folk Heritage Museum, an Arts and Crafts School, the textile museum, the Post Office where you can get your own stamps made, plus the market is interesting to explore. If we do not see everything today, we have more time in Thimpu on our return. Hotel Pedling / Galingkha / Gakhil, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Drive to Punakha; visit Chimmi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong We leave Thimphu in the morning and drive east to Punakha. The route climbs its way steadily on a good road to the Dochula Pass, where there are 108 chortens. At 3050m (10,000ft) the views over the eastern Himalaya are magnificent although this is most definitely weather dependent! We then descend to the valley floor and continue to sub-tropical Punakha. En-route we visit the Chimmi Lhakhang, built in 1499 to honour one of the more folkloric saints of Bhutan, Drukpa Kuenley. Nicknamed the Divine Madman or Mad Saint, he was a maverick lama, who subdued a demon who controlled the Dochu La. He built a chorten where the monastery stands, and he was reputed to have unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by suggesting outrageous behaviour and he was a great womaniser! He advocated the use of the phallus as a symbol to be painted on walls and houses, which were intended to drive away the evil eye. Most of the houses in this area are decorated with highly ornate phallic paintings. We walk through the village to the monastery with a chance to see the traditional Bhutanese style of farmhouses. We continue on to Punakha, which, at an altitude of 1200m is warmer than Paro or Thimpu. Punakha was once the capital of Bhutan and it is still the winter residence of the monastic body. We visit the dzong, one of the most beautiful in Bhutan and the second one to be built in 1637. This remarkable fortress is situated between the Mo and Po Chhu Rivers and it has survived many fires, an earthquake and several floods. Over the years it has been repaired and added to and has several interesting features to protect it against invasion. Overnight in Punakha or Wangdi Phodrang. Today's drive is 72km and takes about 3 hours. Meri Phunsum Resorts / Punatsangchu Cottages / Zangtopelri Hotel / Sonamgang Hotel, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Drive to Gangtey (Phobjikha); afternoon hike Today we leave the main road and drive up to the Lawala Pass and into the beautiful Gangtey Valley. If it is possible, we can visit the ruins of Wangdue Dzong, en-route. After lunch, there is plenty of time to explore one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. Often called the Phobjikha Valley, this U-shaped glacial valley is wide with hardly any trees and gives the impression of a vast space. There is some of the best marshland in Bhutan and the valley is rich in flora and fauna. Look out for barking deer, sambar deer and wild boar. Himalayan Black bears have been spotted in the valley an there is a wealth of birdlife. It is also where the graceful Black-necked cranes come from Tibet during the winter season to roost. The cranes usually arrive towards the end of October and upon arrival, they fly around the monastery three times! They spend the winter in the valley and in spring they again fly three times around the monastery and fly back to Tibet for the summer. We can also visit the black crane information centre and the Gangteng Monastery. Today's drive is approximately 84km and will take 2.5 to 3 hours, although variable road conditions may mean we spend longer on the road. Dewachen Hotel / Home Resort / Padmasambhava Guesthouse / Ue Loki Guesthouse, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Morning hike in Gangtey; drive to Wangdue Phodrang (or Punakha) This morning we will set off on foot from our hotel and go on a walk through the Gangtey Valley (approx. 5km/2-3 hours) - the climb up to the monastery involves around 500m ascent. This glacial valley is made up of farmlands, pastures and blue-pine forests. We will encounter herders caring for their herds, which graze on the dwarf bamboo of the area. After lunch, we drive for about 2.5/3 hours back to Wangdue Phodrang. Meri Phunsum Resorts / Punatsangchu Cottages / Zangtopelri Hotel / Sonamgang Hotel, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Drive to Thimpu; sightseeing In the morning we drive for about 2.5-3 hours back to Thimpu. We have time in the afternoon to see any of the sights we did not see on day 3. Hotel Pedling / Galingkha / Gakhil, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Full day at Paro, Thimpu, Decehenpu or Genekha Festival (depending on departure date) The 19th September 2020 and 9th September 2021 departures will spend all day at Thimpu Festival and will drive to Paro in the early evening. The 19th October 2020 departure will spend all day at Dechenphu or Genekha Festival in Thimpu and will drive to Paro in the early evening. The 17th March 2021 departure will drive to Paro (1hrs drive) early in the morning and spend all day at the Paro Festival. We spend the whole day experiencing one of the many vibrant festivals in Bhutan. During the festivals the Bhutanese gather to see the monks and lay dancers dressed in colourful brocade and silk costumes, wearing painted masks re-enacting the stories of the religious and lay history of Bhutan through music and dance. For several days there are masked dances and prayer meetings, and a general carnival atmosphere prevails as many villagers arrive to meet old friends. The Bhutanese all dress in their finest national dress for the festival and one of the highlights is the riot of colours of the magnificent silks on display. Paro and Thimpu are the most popular festivals in Bhutan whereas the one at Decehenphu is much smaller. Rema Resorts / Dewachen Hotel, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Day walk to Taktsang, Tiger's Nest Monastery Today we hike (approx. 9km in total for the round trip) to Takstang Monastery, also known as the 'Tiger’s Nest'. This spectacular building is perched on the ledge of a cliff high above the Paro Valley. Partly destroyed by fire in 1998, it has now been completely restored to its former magnificence. From the car park to the cafeteria viewpoint is about 2 hours uphill walk through the forest. From here we have incredible views of the monastic buildings which cling impossibly to the cliff wall. For the energetic there is the chance to walk even higher to the actual monastery. This will take another 2 hours and involves walking up and down stone steps. We highly recommend a trekking pole or you can buy a wooden stick at the car park. There are horses available up to the cafeteria for those who do not want to do the hike but please note that this is an unregulated activity and helmets are not available. We spend about an hour at the monastery looking around the temples (photography is not allowed inside) before descending to the cafeteria for lunch. After lunch we return to the car park and drive back to our hotel. There should be some time to have a look round Paro before dinner Rema Resorts / Dewachen Hotel, or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Fly to Kathmandu We transfer to the airport to check in for our flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free for individual sightseeing or shopping. You may want to visit the famous Durbar Square in the heart of the old city, the monkey temple at Swayambhunath, the largest Buddhist stupa on earth at Boudhanath or the Hindu temple at Pashupathinath. Another option is to take a taxi to Bhaktapur, the mediaeval city 17km east of the capital. Bhaktapur has its own Durbar Square with many temples and statues and a maze of narrow streets, which are generally quieter than the capital. Please be aware that due to the 2015 earthquake some of these places have still not been fully rebuilt. The Exodus representative in Kathmandu will be able to give you more information on what there is to see. Royal Singi Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 End Kathmandu End Kathmandu after breakfast. For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the same day. Meals included: Breakfast
Bhutan You will need a visa for Bhutan, which we will organise for you. The cost of the visa is included in the price of the trip (USD40). You will need to send us a clear copy of your passport on booking. We need this in order to organise your Bhutan visa in advance of your arrival. Please make sure that we have a copy no later than 8 weeks before departure. The passport copy can either be sent by post or scanned, in which case it has to be very clear and in colour. If you need to get a new passport for the journey, please apply for this immediately, and send us the copy/scan as soon as you receive your new passport. It is VERY important that the information you give us is 100% correct, and that the copy of the passport you send us is the one on which you will be travelling to Bhutan. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.
Nepal Most nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry (at present, the Immigration Department of Nepal have suspended 'visas on arrival' for certain nationalities - please check if this applies to you). All Nepal tourist visas are multiple entry. We recommend that you apply in advance as queues on arrival can be very long – applications can be made directly through the Nepal Embassy (by post or in person) or through our recommended visa agency, Travcour. The current cost for a visa in advance is GB£20 for a 15-day visa and GB£35 for a 30-day visa for UK passport holders (plus processing and postage fees if applying through Travcour). The current cost for a visa on arrival is US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, or US$125 for 90 days for UK passport holders. The fee can be paid for in any major currency at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. On arrival in the immigration hall there are 3 queues (if you have obtained a visa in advance go straight to (3) - immigration): (Step 1) Fill in a 'Tourist Visa' form: either online before travel (recommended) via the Department of Immigration website - print the submission receipt with barcode (valid for 15 days) and bring it with you, or use the electronic kiosk machines on arrival at the airport. If using the kiosks, after inserting your passport the machine will automatically fill out an application form, take an electronic photograph of you and print a paper slip. If the machine won’t read your passport you can complete the details manually using the touch screen. We recommend taking 1 passport photo with you just in case. (Step 2) Proceed to the visa fees collection counter and pay the visa fee (we advise to take some cash) – make sure to keep the receipt. (Step 3) Lastly, go to the relevant immigration desk and present your tourist visa form, payment receipt and passport to obtain your 15, 30 or 90-day visa stamp. Please check you have been given the correct visa duration. Non-UK nationals should check requirements with their nearest embassy (a few nationalities are not permitted visas on arrival).
Bhutan There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice.
Nepal There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. There is low to no risk of malaria throughout Nepal and antimalarial tablets are not usually advised although may be considered for certain higher risk groups; you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. The risk is highest in the low lying southern ‘terai’ districts bordering India. A yellow fever certificate is only required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or for travellers having transited for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of transmission. Dengue fever is a known risk in Nepal. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. As of August 2019, there has been a recent outbreak of Dengue fever in southeast Nepal and we therefore recommend you take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites (such as wearing full length trousers, long sleeves and applying insect repellent during the day as well as at dawn and dusk). Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for further advice on AMS.
Hotels & Guesthouses During your trip to Bhutan you will spend 10 nights in tourist class hotels with en-suite facilities. The hotels are simple, local style hotels. All rooms have attached bathrooms and the rooms have heaters. All food is included at the hotels and local restaurants and is usually buffet style – it is simple and a mixture of Bhutanese, continental and Chinese.
April 23, 2020 7 Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Experiences When it comes to travel, everyone has a different mindset.
March 30, 2020 How to Leave Your Comfort Zone on a Solo Holiday in North America Read Time - 3 minutes
March 24, 2020 Adventurous Overnighters: Unique Sleeps in the Americas We’re celebrating the most exciting and adventurous sleeping spots in the Americas!
Reviewed October 2019 Sarah osborn Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Great trip Great trip, and worth a visit to experience Bhutan and the festivals What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing Tigers nest Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't be put off by the price as in Bhutan everything is included except drinks etc. and money needed for souvenirs. I only spent £80 in Bhutan on drinks etc. its generally £2-3 for a beer. If you have time, and willing to pay a bit more for a few nights accommodation its worth coming out early and spending a few days in Kathmandu, which is always a great place to visit. The hotel I stayed in was very central and walking district to Thamel and Durbar square.
Reviewed October 2019 Laura and Gavin Jones Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Beautiful Bhutan This trip provides a fascinating insight into a little known destination. We loved it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The highlight of the trip was the trek to the Tiger's Nest Monastery. It looks unreachable (and strangely familiar from the famous photos) and then suddenly you are standing outside! The Thimpu Festival was also spectacular. What did you think of your group leader? Kemey was organised, articulate and incredibly eager to do anything he could to make us comfortable. We were given a very warm welcome. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The day that we visited the Thimpu Festival it rained. This is apparently not unusual. We were therefore sitting out in the rain for about 3.5 hours. It helped to have a good waterproof, something to wrap around your legs to keep them dry (poncho) and a sit mat so that we were not sitting directly on wet concrete. The temperature varies throughout the trip - it helps to have layers. We travelled in October and it was warmer than we expected.
Reviewed October 2018 Angela Coates Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Breathtaking Bhutan This is a trip of a lifetime to the most beautiful place on the earth. Such beauty from the people, the environment, the culture and from the expert care of the team who show you their fantastic country. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We were lucky enough to go on the Thimphu Festival departure - and were even luckier to get to the Gangtey Monastery to see the festival up in the glacial valley - it was spectacular! To have been able to see the festival in Thimphu, to learn and understand more about the culture - to then be lucky enough to experience another festival high in the mountains was just a magical and beautiful occasion - we then walked through the valley back to the hotel. This was the best experience during the trip, but a trip of epic experiences, included of course was the walk to the Tigress Nest Monastery, all of the Dzong's which I adored and just learning and seeing this great country. What did you think of your group leader? Kemey was wonderful. Patient, knowledgable, flexible and very very kind. He made the trip for all of us, he packed the days with so many activities and made sure we had everything we needed. Thank you Kemey for showing us the heart of Bhutan. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The September trip was certainly not cold in any way - so don't pack too many warm clothes, instead take lots of layers as you move from high passes to tropical valleys in the same day. Change more money than you think you need at the start, there is very little opportunity to do this during the trip (or if you do the rate is very bad). Sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery - the team will take care of you. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you are thinking about this trip and are not sure I would urge you to book it and just go. This is a magical land, with the most friendly beautiful people - I want to go back again for more festivals and for the flowers in spring.
Reviewed April 2018 Glynis Howe Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Bhutan March 2018 Bhutan is a beautiful country, the air is very fresh and the in the main is very clean - an antidote to Kathmandu! This is a trip that takes in the cultural highlights of Bhutan as well as letting you see and walk in the beautiful countryside. The people are friendly and welcoming - browsing the shops and markets is easy -if you have been to India you will know what I mean ! There is no hard sell! There is a fair ammount of travel but this is quite relaxing and there are plenty of stops. Food is always buffet style and becomes very monotonous - you could try asking for an a la carte menu and pay extra, otherwise it is noodles, rice, veg and, if you are not vegetarian some rather poor quality meat dishes - and you get this twice a day! My food highlight was a large bowl of scrambled eggs at the Tigers Nest! Take snacks! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Too many to name one, I loved the festival, the climb to Tigers Nest Monastery and being blessed by the head Lama there, discussions with our guide Kunzang who was so knowledgable and informative about his country, the walks in the countryside, all of the Dzongs, nunnery......too much! What did you think of your group leader? Kunzang was the most amazing guide I have had on an Exodus trip, he was a very gentle man, caring, considerate and very knowledgable. If we made a request he would try his best to ensure it was achieved, for example he managed to get the hotels to make dhal for the vegetarians amongst the group! Also he just looked after everyone so well. I must also say that our driver, Yeshay was excellent, and also joined in with the group. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? As I said, take snacks, also, the weather was in the main bright and sunny and I know some people had taken lots of warm clothing - however it did get cold in Gantey and so you will need something...maybe layer up. Also do not forget something with long sleeves for the monasterys. In Kathmandu our guide took us to a cultural show with food on the 1st night and this was very poor value and to be avoided - he also took us to a place called the Ship on our last night and this was not brilliant! The food in the hotel is much better if you do not want to go out and there are lots of places in Thamel - research it and make a suggestion to the group!! Is there anything else you would like to add? Bhutan is amazing and I would recommend a vist - the flight into the airport is not for the feint hearted!!
Reviewed April 2018 Sarah Turner Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Beautiful Bhutan Bhutan is a beautiful, peaceful country that is very much worth experiencing. The people, including and, in fact, especially our guide were lovely, helpful, genuine and gentle. The Tiger’s Nest is well worth the arduous trek up to and the Dzongs, nunneries and monestaries were all a privilege to see. In some ways the experience felt like going back in time. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being given a blessing by the head monk in the Tiger’s Nest monestary. Seeing how caring our guide, Kunzhang, was towards my mother. Witnessing a religious ceremony, including chanting, drumming and horn playing, in a monestary. What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. Can not fault him. Went out of his way to support my mother. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be aware that the festival you attend may be crowded. Surprisingly for us, it was by no means the highlight of the trip. Note that the weather forecasts for Bhutan are not accurate: we packed far too many warm clothes. It can get a bit chilly in the evening, but during the daytime it’s often sunny and warm, even in March, when we visited. (Sadly, it was explained to us that the climate has changed in Bhutan due to global warming). Take some of your own food, especially if you have dietary requirements, as it is bland and similar wherever you go: hotels seem to think that tourists want only veg, rice, noodles and poor quality meat. Is there anything else you would like to add? The restaurant in the hotel in Kathmandu is excellent: the local guide may suggest you go to a different one, but this is likely to be much inferior.
Reviewed April 2017 Vanessa Kanesanathan Trip: Festivals of Bhutan A fantastic insight into a beautiful country! Bhutan is probably the most beautiful country I have visited. It has such a rick landscape and culture, which is mostly unspoiled by tourism. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching Tiger's Nest Monastery What did you think of your group leader? Sangay was brilliant and a true advocate for his country - his passion for Bhutan (and Bhutanese food!) was very clear! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take your hiking boots for the treks. Is there anything else you would like to add? Go to Bhutan - very much recommended!
Reviewed October 2016 Mark Hilton Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Wonderful Bhutan Wonderful buildings, incredible Bhuddist traditions, lovely scenery, friendly people - a really peaceful, largely unspoilt and unique country - and a photographer's paradise. The only down side is the dangerous road from Wangdue to Gantey. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Tigers Nest was just wonderful as were many of the monasteries and forts - mesmerising with the monks chanting and the haunting sound of the horns and drums. The mountain village of Gantey was also wonderful so natural and unspoilt - just lovely - and its local festival and market much nicer than the very large main Thimpu festival. What did you think of your group leader? A really nice, knowledgeable and helpful guy - although safety and timekeeping weren't strengths Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take waterproofs and walking boots. And be aware that the roads are inherently dangerous with large drops in some places.
Reviewed October 2016 Alison Dixon Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Festivals of Bhutan Beautiful country Calm happy people What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing to Tiger's nest monastery Gangtey festival What did you think of your group leader? Friendly,knowledgeable ,funny and kind. He gave me a hot water bottle at the hotel at Gangtey to keep me warm as there was a power cut. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take a small waterproof cushion to sit on at the festival. We had a wet day and I spent 4hrs sitting in a puddle of water! Is there anything else you would like to add? The road to and from Gangtey was very unstable due to excessive rainfall. The drivers and guides were excellent and we were navigated safely but I think the road should have been closed as we were passing landslides which forced us to the very edge of a mud track that was falling away into the valleys below. I asked to get out and walk over the most unstable parts but the guide encouraged me to stay in the bus to avoid falling rock. Travelling on this road was beyond the risk I am prepared to take for sight seeing but once we were on our way it wasn't easy to turn back. I would not take this risk again.
Reviewed October 2016 Ross Pezzack Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Wonderful Exploration of a unique country A unique adventure exploring a Buddhist country who embrace their monarchy and the importance of happiness. Great monasteries, beautiful scenery, festivals, and some hikes all make this a great trip. Hotels higher quality than I expected, adequate food with pretty good beer, and a great guide who spoke excellent English. Well organized tour. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I woke up early in Gangtey, decided to go out to get some pictures in the mist. I walked past the monastery only to find an early morning festival and blessings. I walked in to be surrounded by local people being surrounded by dancers and people seeking a blessing by the monks. I stepped aside to not invade their personal event but the devotion and love of the locals to Buddhism was very moving, a very special moment. Tigers Nest was very special. What did you think of your group leader? Did very well, represented his country very well. Always adaptable and trying to please us. Able to pass on knowledge of the monarchy, Buddhism and his country. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Get more than the $50 suggested by our guide at airport, depending on u $100-200 better, u can always convert back when leaving or use it as your tip. ATMs never worked for us in small towns so bring $US, even banks sometimes do not have a money delivery so u cannot exchange. Costs are just drinks but u may want to buy local crafts (often no cards taken) so have local currency. If worried about tiger nest monastery hike (especially if u got a virus in Nepal) consider doing horseback riding half way up. I would suggest u embrace the local festivals as a religious celebration we are lucky enough to observe but not invade. If u are combining trips, the hotel in Kathmandu has relatively inexpensive fast laundry service, my quick dry clothes were slow to dry in Kathmandu. Is there anything else you would like to add? U may want to add another extra day in Kathmandu to explore the region. Several of us developed GI problems in Nepal so come prepared. Nepal visa on line works very well but u can do at airport.
Reviewed October 2015 Leonard Raphael Trip: Festivals of Bhutan Festivals of Bhutan A long awaited trip became a reality and the reality is now a memory. But not just a normal travel memory, moreso something out of the ordinary, as I had probably anticipated. Unusual architecture. People with a different outlook on life. Different pursuits. Simpler pleasures. Happy people. Clean air. Wholesome food - spicy if desired. A lifestyle in flux as the county and the people join the 21st. Century. A tinge of regret that what makes Bhutan unique will not last. I'm glad to have experienced this unusual place before it disappears into the "Global Village". What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? * Climbing to the Tigers Nest monastery ,,, physically challenging ... mentally and spiritually stimulating. * Witnessing the festivals at Thimpu (capital city) and Phobjikha (small village) and interacting with the people in festive mode at each event. Calm and reserved people give way to excited participants. * Being in a country where the "National Highway" is an abominable "track" and everybody (locals and tourists) enjoys it ... part of the Bhutan's famous Happiness Index. What did you think of your group leader? Our leader was a quiet man with a calm personality, ideal for his situation in this unique country. He was helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and humorous, willing and able to expound an all aspects of Bhutan, the people, the way of life, the history and the cultural changes that tourism in introducing . His input at every level enhanced our experience and added to the enjoyment of our trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? * Don't have expectations or preconceptions of Bhutan. The reality will in all likelihood be different. Accept the calm of the place and the people. Enjoy the uniqueness for what it is. Be part of it while it is as it is. *Try for a window seat on the left when flying in to Bhutan and the same on the right when flying out. Hope for a clear sky and you'll enjoy a magic view of the Himalayas. Is there anything else you would like to add? I enjoyed in equal parts the atrocious road condition, the beautiful clean air (by law 65% of the country must remain at forested National Park) and the people and their attitude to life, not the mention the visual enjoyment of the unusual architecture and mountain scenery. I felt fortunate to see this unusual place before its character changes and possibly disappears, although the current generation are determined not to let this happen . I sincerely hope they're true to their word!
Langtang & Gosainkund Lakes 3 reviews An easily accessible Nepal trek; quiet trails, massive mountains and a holy lake Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Moderate / Challenging 16 Days from £2,449 Guided (Incl. Flights) View More Details
Mongolia Eagle Festival: Steppes, Deserts & Nomads 1 review Wild Monglia - from nomadic culture to eagle hunting in the Altai Mountains Culture Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate Guided View More Details
Bhutan: Druk Path Trek 24 reviews Trek the Druk Path, with stunning views of the surrounding Himalaya Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Moderate / Challenging 13 Days from £4,649 Guided (Incl. Flights) View More Details
Annapurna & Chitwan in Luxury 9 reviews Premium An introduction to Nepal - from Himalayan views to Chitwan's wildlife Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Moderate 14 Days from £3,949 Guided (Incl. Flights) View More Details