Best experiences / Blog articles
Short description: The little Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is like no other place on Earth. With its stunning white-capped mountains, impressive dzongs (some of which are impossibly perched on steep cliffs), perfect balance between development and tradition, and a strong commitment to environmental protection, this small mountainous country is rightly referred to by many as the last ‘Shangri-La’ (Heaven on Earth). To prevent mass tourism and preserve its traditions, visiting Bhutan is only possible through a tour which has a minimum daily fee of $250. This price is all-inclusive: accommodation, meals, a driver, a guide, and even a ‘sustainable development fee’ that helps fund roads and schools are included, making this a reasonable deal.
Best photos: check out our favourite photos from Bhutan
Best time to visit: from March through May or from October to November to avoid the monsoon rains and the cold winter
Itineraries: 7 days, 10 days or 15 days
Best experiences
- witness a tsechu – Tsechus are religious Bhutanese festivals featuring masked dancers, a colourful display of traditional textiles, and meditative monastic music. These festivals occur all over the country, and can be easily seen in one of the temples at Paro or Thimphu. For a more intimate experience, it is worth heading to Bumthang valley to witness one of the smaller festivals where you might be the only foreign spectator. Alternatively, try to catch one of the rarer tsechus celebrating the black necked crane migration (in November in Wangdue) or the contribution of yaks to rural livelihoods (in April in Ura Valley
)! - explore the dzongs – Dotted throughout the country, these ancient fortresses were originally built to protect the country from Tibetan invaders through the history of the kingdom. Today, the massive inner courtyards and vividly decorated temples host monasteries and administrative offices. Monks can often be seen wandering around and are many times curious about visitors who make it to their dzong. To find out which are the most beautiful dzongs click here.
- wander around the sacred valley of Bumthang – The area surrounding the town of Jakar is considered to be the most sacred in all of Bhutan, and boasts the highest concentration of dzongs and monasteries in the country. The area comprises four fertile valleys where farmers grow buckwheat, rice and potatoes. Each of the valleys has a special appeal for the traveler. Two unique places that should not be missed are the ancient palace of Ogyen Choling (in Tang valley) which houses historical artifacts and furniture, and the Burning Lake (also in Tang valley), where according to local legend, the saint Pema Lingpa jumped into the lake holding a burning lamp and later re-emerged with treasures and the lamp still burning.
- hike to Paro Taktsang – One of the most iconic and impressive monasteries in Bhutan, Paro Taktsang or more famously known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is perched on a cliff 900 meters above the valley of Paro. It is one of Bhutan’s most photographed sights. The temple was built in 1692 near the site where Guru Padmasambhava, who is credited to have introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours. The main building caught fire in 1998, but a $2 million dollar initiative helped reconstruct the temple to its former glory. The hike to the monastery takes around 2 hours (or less on a horse) and leads through old rhododendron forests.
- admire Bhutanese art and crafts – Bhutanese art is sublime, combining bright colours and centuries-old motifs. Some of the most impressive crafts (and great souvenirs!) are the hand-painted tangkas, traditionally-woven carpets and textiles, and hand-made paper. The Choki Traditional Arts School in Thimphu showcases some of these masterpieces. The best carpets are found in Bumthang, while the most skilled textile weavers live in Lhuntse, the ancestral home of the royal family.
- learn about traditional Bhutanese lifestyle – One of the most authentic experiences in Bhutan is exchanging stories while visiting a local family in a traditional farmhouse. The hosts will be happy to offer yak butter milk tea (it is an acquired taste!) and typical Bhutanese food, such as emadashi (a tasty, chilli-based dish) – you might even get a chance to cook some of these dishes. Families are usually curious about their guest and the places they come from, so it is a good idea to share some photos and information about your hometown, your favourite music and your impressions of their little kingdom.
- head to the remote east – Fewer than 500 foreign visitors make it to the remote regions of Sakteng and Merak in the far east, though that is likely to change as the new airport in Yonphula will allow easier access. Still, the region feels like a world apart from the rest of Bhutan with a predominantly nomadic yak herder population and unique traditions. Tsechus here celebrate yaks (in addition to religious events), and the quality of textiles is such that even the royal family gets their clothes made in one of the districts here!
- relax in the traditional hot stone bath – Combining Ayurvedic science with traditional Tibetan medicine, hot stone baths are found throughout Bhutan. They are a great place to socialize or simply unwind. Stones are heated with fire and then thrown into a bath to heat up the water covered with aromatic Artemisia leaves. This unique spa treatment can be experienced everywhere, from luxury 5-star hotels to traditional farmhouses.
