Most Inspirational Moment
A day spent climbing epic Himalayan staircases on the Bhutan pilgrimage took us through the rain forest, past thundering waterfalls, and on to the sacred Tiger's Nest Monastery perched on a cliff overlooking the Thimphu valley. Here, we spent time reflecting on our journey and had the option of receiving a blessing from the local temple monk. The extraordinary beauty of this ancient, intricately carved temple in its peaceful mountain surroundings is difficult to accurately capture in words.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Kind, patient and gentle, our guides Kinley and Kimey, went out of their way to make every day of our trip enjoyable. Always smartly dressed in traditional Bhutanese dress, they conveyed a strong passion for their beautiful country, a deep love and understanding of the Buddhist faith, and a humble pride in Bhutan's belief in sustainable policies. During one day of our tour heavy rains flooded the bridge that led from our lodge to the main road and village. Our guides went out of their way to make the most of the situation, taking us to a local monastery off the usual tourist beat that the monks had lit with candles due to a flooding-related power failure. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, admiring the rich colours of the tapestries and statues in the flickering candlelight, we sat cross-legged on the floor listening to stories of Buddha's life, while the rain fell steadily outside. That evening Kinley and Kim surprised us with a birthday party for one of our group members. Responding to how they'd manage to arrange a special birthday cake during the flooding, Kimey explained that he'd walked to the flooded bridge, waited on the side of the road until a truck large enough to cross had arrived, caught a lift across, walked to the village, picked up the pre-ordered cake, walked back to the bridge and waited for another lift to get back to the lodge with the cake. Such dedication made the celebration extra special for our group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Long sleeves must be worn in temples but it can get quite warm during the day so wear a t-shirt and pack a light-weight long sleeve top to wear while at the temple. Wear long trousers or skirts. Shorts are discouraged. Pack waterproof walking shoes for the Himalayan hikes as it can be muddy. A raincoat is also recomended for days spent in the mountains. Trekking poles are recommended for the Tiger's Nest Monastery but if you don't want to carry one in your suitcase you can purchase a carved wooden walking stick at the start point for the hike. Locals wear their best clothes to the festivals and it encouraged that visitors also dress up. Bring a smart collared long-sleeve shirt and long skirt or trousers. Alternatively Exodus can lend you a traditional Bhutanese outfit to wear for the day. Our whole group opted to wear traditional dress which the locals at the festival really appreciated.