Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions | We are Bhutan Travel Specialists Sharing Bhutan's Happiness since 1999 | Detailed Itineraries, Expertly Curated & Hand-crafted Journeys, with insider tips, feature articles, cultural insights, and more. Bhutan In-depth We offer meaningful hand-crafted travel adventures and cultural journeys in the last Himalayan kingdom and beyond. See our Signature Journeys Culture Curators We are your friends and guides through the rich mountain culture of Bhutan, each of our journeys led by insightful, indigenous local guides with deep ties of kinship across the kingdom. Start a conversation | PLAN YOUR BHUTAN TRIP Browse our small group adventures for 2025 & beyond | TRAVEL STORIES Some fun reads to whet your appetite | RECCOMMENDED READS What we're talking about Featured In the New York Times Read the NY Times article of the journey Recalculating Happiness in a Himalayan Kingdom by Seth Mydans See our journey designed to share the secrets of Bhutan's National Happiness policy at Heart of Happiness: Journey to Discover Bhutan's Gross National Happiness. We had the pleasure of arranging travel, research and interviews in Bhutan for NY Times Correspondent Seth Mydans & Times videographer Mariko Takayasu. Following the trip, Mariko produced a video with Christopher Flavelle of the New York Times called Measuring Happiness that appeared on the Times' website. The Raven Crown Royal Emblem of Bhutanese Kings — read about the significance of the Bhutanese crown, taken from a 2009 lecture at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum by Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Travel Coordinator, Karma Dorji PART-I : 13:59 PART-II : 9:00 See all posts See all stories In-depth cultural exploration of Bhutan Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes The pristine high trek to Treasure Lake See all journeys Bhutan’s Wild Wild East: A fascinating temple whose walls preserve a painful history of migration Hatching in the Himalaya: How the brown trout, a native of the British Isles, found a home in Bhutan’s lakes and rivers Traveling to learn about Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness policy The people and the landscape of Bhutan’s Mountain Goddess: a Photo Essay The King’s Speech Top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2020 _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

A luxe spiritual sojourn in Bhutan Ancient Kathmandu and hidden Trisuli with optional Chitwan National Park Bhutan Abundance Bhutan conservation, culture, mythology & overland from western to central highlands Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons Blessings of Bhutan Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival Conservation, culture and the grand Trongsa Festival Discover Bhutan’s vibrant Warriors Pageant Travel Choose one of our scheduled signature journeys below, featuring the best experiences from our decades-long experience running tours and expeditions in Bhutan, or mix and match to create your own*. Our signature journeys *Additional fees for groups smaller than four travelers WELLNESS ● SPIRITUAL A luxe spiritual sojourn in Bhutan A peaceful sanctuary to rejuvenate body & mind, based on Bhutan's ancient wellness traditions A peaceful sanctuary to rejuvenate body & mind, based on Bhutan's ancient wellness traditions ACTIVE ● CULTURE Ancient Kathmandu and hidden Trisuli with optional Chitwan National Park UNESCO Heritage Durbar Square, historic Pashupatinath, awe-inspiring Boudhanath stupa, ancient Patan, and a tranquil river lodge overlooking the Trisuli, with an excursion to Chitwan National Park UNESCO Heritage Durbar Square, historic Pashupatinath, awe-inspiring Boudhanath stupa, ancient Patan, and a tranquil river lodge overlooking the Trisuli, with an excursion to Chitwan National Park ACTIVE ● CULTURE ● VOLUNTEER Bhutan Abundance Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season Discovering the superlative charms of Bhutan's countryside during the kingdom's lush, green season ACTIVE ● CULTURE Bhutan conservation, culture, mythology & overland from western to central highlands Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys ACTIVE ● CULTURE Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons Discover Bhutan's cultural centers during the stunning rhododendron season Discover Bhutan's cultural centers during the stunning rhododendron season ACTIVE ● CULTURE Blessings of Bhutan Explore the spiritual heart of Bhutan, its scenic trails, temples & vibrant Buddhist culture Explore the spiritual heart of Bhutan, its scenic trails, temples & vibrant Buddhist culture ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrate the annual return of Bhutan’s endangered Black-necked Cranes On the Wings of Prayer: The annual return of Bhutan's rare Black-necked Cranes On the Wings of Prayer: The annual return of Bhutan's rare Black-necked Cranes ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Celebrating 40 years of Bhutan Foundation at the spectacular Royal Highland Festival A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation A special journey commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhutan Foundation ACTIVE ● CULTURE Conservation, culture and the grand Trongsa Festival Rare Black-necked Cranes, Bhutan's oldest wildlife conservation park, and the Grand Trongsa Tshechu Mask Dance Festival Rare Black-necked Cranes, Bhutan's oldest wildlife conservation park, and the Grand Trongsa Tshechu Mask Dance Festival ACTIVE ● CULTURE Discover Bhutan’s vibrant Warriors Pageant Travel to Bhutan's first annual mask dance celebration; welcome the magnificent Himalayan springtime Travel to Bhutan's first annual mask dance celebration; welcome the magnificent Himalayan springtime View all journeys _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys LEARN MORE CONSERVATION & FESTIVAL Bhutan conservation, culture, mythology & overland from western to central highlands Trip Photos Itinerary Accommodations Peace of Mind Practical Details Dates & Prices What's Included Trip Overview Ask A Question Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN RESERVE TRIP The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. Accommodations The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. Expedition Staff Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. Traditional Balcony, Zingkha Heritage Lodge Welcome foyer, Zingkha Heritage Lodge Bedroom, Zingkha Heritage Lodge Hallway entrance, Zingkha Heritage Lodge The Olathang, courtyard The Olathang, reception The grande dame of Bhutanese hotels and lodges, this sprawling property dotted with pine trees throughout its well-manicured grounds exudes an atmosphere that is at once comfortable and ceremonious. The Olathang, cottage balcony view The Olathang, cottage interior The Bhutan Mountain Resort front courtyard Set against a sacred cloud forest a short distance below Bumthang's Jakar Dzong (fortress), our family-run lodge in Central Bhutan features the best elements of traditional architecture, including flagstones of river rock, the beautiful wood-and-stone masonry construction of Central Bhutan, and spacious rooms with wood paneling and post and beams of fragrant pine. Guests can enjoy a healing soak in traditional "hot stone" baths enhanced, in accordance with indigenous practices, by mugwort and other medicinal herbs. It's our perfect base for exploring the ample beauties and blessings of the central highlands of Bhutan. The Bhutan Mountain Resort, tea service The Bhutan Mountain Resort twin bedroom The Bhutan Mountain Resort spa bath bacony The Bhutan Mountain Resort, staff fluffing pillows The Gantey Tent Resort (Glamping), interior The Gantey Tent Resort (Glamping), twin beds The Gantey Tent Resort (Glamping), view from restaurant The Gantey Tent Resort (Glamping), closet The Thimphu Capital Hotel, staff drawing curtains The Thimphu Capital Hotel, building exterior Featuring Black-necked Cranes, the Gesar epic, Haa and Bumthang valleys SHARE: Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link This journey includes both of Time Magazine's 'World's Greatest Places' reccomends for Bhutan in 2024 and 2025. The hand-crafted itinerary takes us from the western Haa Valley (Time's first reccomendation) to the central spiritual highlands of Bumthang, following a climb to iconic Tiger’s Nest monastery. We attend a thrilling open-air re-enactment of the greatest bardic tale of Central Asia, the Gesar Epic, before taking in the region's history and culture, and a renovated palace museum (Time Magazine’s second reccommend). Next, embark on a cross-country road-trip on winding mountain roads, passing picturesque villages on the route west, stopping at must-see places and highlights including famous Gantey-Phobjikha to learn about Bhutan's endangered Black-necked Cranes. Finally, explore the ancient capital Punakha, and the modern capital Thimphu and its citified charms. Consider the twin destinations on Time Magazine’s recommended list mere bookends to this experience-filled journey. All the magic happens inbetween! HEALTH & SAFETY HEALTH & SAFETY We are following strict national and international safety guidelines and protocols (Royal Government of Bhutan, WHO, and CDC (US) recommendations) to keep you, our staff, and the Bhutanese people safe. This includes new measures for maintaining personal health and hygiene, social distancing best practices, face covering requirements, cleaning, handwashing and more. UPDATED BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY UPDATED BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY With global travel resuming, we have changed our booking and cancellation policies back to normal. Normal cancellation policies are now in effect and final trip payment is due (4 months/120 days before trip start date, whichever is earlier). Trip cancellation policies are outlined in our trip confirmation emails and available by request. REQUEST ITINERARY ITINERARY After arriving in Paro we explore the Haa valley, described on Time Magazine’s 2024 list of World’s Greatest Places to experience. Next, climb to iconic Tiger’s Nest before taking a short mountain flight east to the surpassingly lovely valleys of Bumthang to visit the Bhutan Foundation-supported Wangduechhoeling Palace and Museum, also on Time Magazine’s list of World’s Greatest Places (2025 March) before exploring the cultural treasures of Bhutan’s sacred central highlands. Return east at the start of the Black-necked Crane season in Gangtey, where we learn about the conservation efforts to bring back the elegant wintering cranes. Make informative stops to explore Bhutan’s modern and ancient capitals next, before your return flight home with an armload of special memories. VIEW DAY BY DAY NOVEMBER 06: ARRIVAL IN PARO AND TRANSFER TO HAA Arrive at Paro International Airport. After clearing immigration and customs, meet your Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Trip Leader and supporting staff. Take a scenic 2.5-hour drive to Haa Valley via Chele La Pass, Bhutan’s highest motorable road at 3,988 meters. Enjoy stunning views of Mount Jomolhari and the surrounding Himalayan peaks if weather permits. Descend into Haa Valley through picturesque pine forests and traditional villages. On arrival, settle into the beautifully restored Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge , a 150-year-old former governor’s home in Haatey village. Meals: Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge NOVEMBER 07: HAA VALLEY EXPLORATION After breakfast, take the Haa Panoramic Hike through pine forests and exposed ridges adorned with colorful Buddhist prayer flags. Visit Katsho Eco Camp for lunch and continue to Jungney Dra temple, perched dramatically on a cliffside. Return to the lodge for evening aperitifs and a relaxing soak in traditional hot-stone baths . Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge NOVEMBER 08: DRIVE TO PARO & HIKE ICONIC TIGER’S NEST Drive to Paro this morning, followed by the hike to iconic Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), perched dramatically on a cliffside above Paro Valley. Spend the late afternoon exploring Paro town or with rounds of archery on the greens of the lodge with our team. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Paro Olathang Lodge NOVEMBER 09: FLIGHT TO BUMTHANG Take the short but dramatic flight east into central Bhutan’s spiritual heartland. Upon arrival in Bumthang, check into our family lodge built in the traditional timber-and-stone style, and take the traditional pilgrim’s walk, visiting a string of beautiful temples dating from the seventh to the 17th centuries. We end the evening at the Red Panda brewery, which makes the valley’s popularly fermented wheat beer. At the brewery we sample fresh Swiss Emmenthaler and Gouda cheese made next door, as well as Bhutan’s beloved dumplings, or Momos . Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Mountain Resort NOVEMBER 10: CHUMEY PANG FESTIVAL/GESAR EPIC FOLK OPERA This morning after breakfast we don celebratory clothes and head to the festival where dances illustrate the Gesar epic, one of Central Asia’s greatest tales sung by bards since the early 3rd to 6th centuries of the Christian Era. The Gesar epic is a cultural and religious celebration performed by the monks and the reincarnated chief abbot of the Chumey Monastery, who takes on the titular role of Gesar (see Festival Background: The Legend of Ling Gesar). Join local inhabitants dressed in their festive best for this much-anticipated yearly religious celebration on the monastery’s ancient outdoor arena. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Mountain Resort NOVEMBER 11: EXPLORE JAKAR VALLEY CENTER Start your day with a tour of the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum, recently on Time Magazine’s list of ‘World’s Greatest Places’ to visit (March 2025). This afternoon, take a long country ramble visiting villages scattered along the upper Chamkharchhu River. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Mountain Resort NOVEMBER 12: HIKE TO PEACEFUL TANG VALLEY Take an optional hike to Tang Valley, known for its rural atmosphere and farming villages. Visit a remarkable old country manor which has been featured in Dwell Magazine and the New York Times; meet the owner, a descendant of an ancient noble family or ‘Ashi’ Kunzang Roder, a prolific thinker, intellectual and writer. We return to the Bumthang valley center after a delicious meal prepared from organic ingredients grown in the gardens of the historic old manor, one of our favorite experiences to share with guests. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Mountain Resort NOVEMBER 13: DRIVE TO GANGTEY/HIKE THE NATURE TRAIL Drive west back to Trongsa via Yotongla Pass (3-hour drive). Visit Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan’s largest fortress and ancestral home of its royal family. Continue along winding mountain roads to Gangtey (Phobjikha), a high glacial valley known for its wintering black-necked cranes. Learn about the conservation effort to bring back the cranes at the conservation center, and visit Gangtey Monastery, followed by an easy nature trail walk through the serene valley surrounded by alpine meadows and forests. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Gangtey Tented Lodge NOVEMBER 14: DRIVE TO PUNAKHA/THE DIVINE MADMAN/SUSPENSION BRIDGE Take the winding descent through the lush Black Mountain Range to Punakha valley. Visit Chimi Lhakhang (aka the Temple of the Divine Madman), the massive Punakha Dzong at the confluence of two rivers, and Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge before continuing to the Mendegang Heritage Homestay for a truly local experience. On our drive today, if we're lucky, we may spot some of Bhutan's rare White Langurs, a native arboreal primate, among the flame-trees, magnolia, birch, rhododendron and Asian Maple in the ecologically-rich Black Mountain Range. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Mendegang Heritage Homestay NOVEMBER 15: DRIVE TO THIMPHU/GIANT BUDDHA DORDENMA/CAPITAL SIGHTS Drive to Dochula Pass (3,140 meters) and, if we’re feeling adventurous, take the 3-hour hike to Lungchutse Monastery through ancient pine forests. Continue to the towering Buddha Dordenma, which houeses two full-scale temples full of relgious icons in the Buddha’s “seat”. Explore Thimphu’s bustling streets and Centenary Market from our centrally located hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Thimphu Capital Hotel NOVEMBER 16: CAPITAL CITY ACTIVITIES Dive into Bhutanese weaving traditions with a trip to the magnificent Royal Textile Academy, then see how ‘De-sho,’ Bhutanese handmade paper, is made at the capital’s oldest papaermaking shop. Explore Thimphu's colorful city center and learn about Bhutan's 13 sacred arts and crafts. End the day with an evening walk beside Buddhist devotees at the National Memorial Stupa (or strolling around a new people’s park beside the Thimphu (Wangchhu) River). We have a sumptuous Bhutanese feast tonight at a restaurant housed in an old traditional farmhouse. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: The Thimphu Capital Hotel NOVEMBER 17: MORNING VISIT TO MARKET/LATE AFTERNOON DEPARTURE This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and some last minute shopping in the capital’s centenary markets, a source of some wonmderful local gifts and produce, before lunch at a delicious dumpling house (a favorite local haunt for capital shoppers and farmers) before taking the drive to Paro for your early evening return flight home to Bangkok. ACCOMMODATIONS PEACE OF MIND PRACTICAL DETAILS DATES & PRICES November 06 - November 17 US$ 10,640/- per person; includes US$1,100 per person Bhutanese government Entry, Visa and Sustainable Development Fees, and US$200 per person monument and entry fees to support ancient Bhutanese heritage sites and monuments SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS ___________ ***Please note the prices above are for 2 people sharing a room; if you must have separate single accommodations the Single Supplement of $1,400/- per person will be an additional charge***Please let us know in advance if you require Single Private Accommodations so we can arrange it for you.*** ACCOMMODATIONS: ______________ The published pricing above includes all ground costs at the Local Traditional High-end Heritage Lodges as shown on the itinerary page; International Luxury Resorts will be at additional cost. ________ PLEASE ADD AIRFARES: ___________ *REGIONAL FLIGHTS: Via Bangkok (meaning from Bangkok to Bhutan and return to Bangkok; flights from your home city to Bangkok will be on your own): $1,300 per person (Business Class) or US$980 per person (Economy) ___________ **DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: Please add $275/- per person for one-way domestic mountain flight described in the itinerary * ** Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions handles these flight bookings, ticketing & arrangements DATE *When signing up together as part of the same group Prices are per person based on double occupancy and DO NOT include international airfare to/from your destination or regional flights to Bhutan from Gateway Cities such as Bangkok or Delhi, and internal flights in the country during the expedition. We will arrange such regional flights for our guests and fares will be quoted at airline cost as a courtesy to our guests with no extra booking or reservation fees. Regional flights from Bangkok start from $980 per person & from $175 per person for internal domestic flights where a short-duration flight is included on your itinerary. Surcharges may apply to certain travel dates based upon international or local holidays, as well as local events and festivals. Single Traveler supplements will be assessed in addition to our published trip price, and are available on request. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. If you'd like to travel with your own special group of friends or family on dates different from the ones shown above, this expedition can be arranged March through May & October through February. TRAVEL SEASONS REQUEST RESERVATION US$ 10,640/- per person; includes US$1,100 per person Bhutanese government Entry, Visa and Sustainable Development Fees, and US$200 per person monument and entry fees to support ancient Bhutanese heritage sites and monuments SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS ___________ ***Please note the prices above are for 2 people sharing a room; if you must have separate single accommodations the Single Supplement of $1,400/- per person will be an additional charge***Please let us know in advance if you require Single Private Accommodations so we can arrange it for you.*** ACCOMMODATIONS: ______________ The published pricing above includes all ground costs at the Local Traditional High-end Heritage Lodges as shown on the itinerary page; International Luxury Resorts will be at additional cost. ________ PLEASE ADD AIRFARES: ___________ *REGIONAL FLIGHTS: Via Bangkok (meaning from Bangkok to Bhutan and return to Bangkok; flights from your home city to Bangkok will be on your own): $1,300 per person (Business Class) or US$980 per person (Economy) ___________ **DOMESTIC FLIGHTS: Please add $275/- per person for one-way domestic mountain flight described in the itinerary * ** Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions handles these flight bookings, ticketing & arrangements November 11 - November 22 DATE *When signing up together as part of the same group Prices are per person based on double occupancy and DO NOT include international airfare to/from your destination or regional flights to Bhutan from Gateway Cities such as Bangkok or Delhi, and internal flights in the country during the expedition. We will arrange such regional flights for our guests and fares will be quoted at airline cost as a courtesy to our guests with no extra booking or reservation fees. Regional flights from Bangkok start from $980 per person & from $175 per person for internal domestic flights where a short-duration flight is included on your itinerary. Surcharges may apply to certain travel dates based upon international or local holidays, as well as local events and festivals. Single Traveler supplements will be assessed in addition to our published trip price, and are available on request. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. If you'd like to travel with your own special group of friends or family on dates different from the ones shown above, this expedition can be arranged March through May & October through February. TRAVEL SEASONS REQUEST RESERVATION 2025 Dates & Prices 2025 Dates & Prices 2026 Dates & Prices 2026 Dates & Prices WHAT'S INCLUDED Flight and airfare costs to and from Bhutan (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ON YOUR TRIP INFORMATION), such as your international flights to a regional Gateway City (e.g., Bangkok or Delhi); roundtrip flights to Bhutan from the regional gateway cities (which will be arranged by us at cost) and internal airfare where applicable for domestic flights in the country (which will also be arranged by us at cost) Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance Alcoholic beverages Gratuities All ground transportation, visas for Bhutan and airport transfers All Accommodations All meals, including excursions to try well-known local restaurants The expertise and services of your Bhutanese Trip Leaders, Guides & dedicated trip field staff Courtesy booking services & arrangements for round-trip regional flights from gateway cities (such as Bangkok) to Bhutan & any internal domestic flights (airfare is additional). Sightseeing, special events & receptions, visits, and entry fees All environmental national parks & conservation fees and permits All Trek Arrangements (if you signed up for a trek), including expedition-grade high altitude, sub-zero sleeping bags, community camping and commissary equipment (comfortable and roomy two-person tents, kitchen and dining tents, and other community equipment), camp, cook and support staff (we reccomend you bring your own fitted hiking poles and personal sleeping bag liners ) WHAT'S INCLUDED WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED TRIP PHOTOGALLERY | RECOMMENDED POSTS CUSTOM TRIPS If this trip or schedule doesn't meet your needs, we also arrange private journeys throughout the year with flexible dates. WHAT TO EXPECT The activities on this trip are rated as moderate and suits a wide range of interests and physical fitness levels. The hikes on this trip can range from moderate to challenging, depending on your abilities. Trip members should be in good health and comfortable standing or walking for extended periods of time and confident navigating mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or, steps and stairs. Daily activities include city walking tours, hiking to and entering monasteries, temples and fortresses, driving over winding mountain roads and easy to moderate hiking with some strenuous options where possible. The general elevations in the valleys will mostly range from 6,800 ft to 9,000 ft, with drives that will take us over higher passes before descending to the average elevations mentioned above. The final hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery is 10,000 ft. ACCOMMODATIONS The high-end accommodations on this journey feature traditional Bhutanese style with modern elements. The lodges are handpicked for regional character, comfort, and hospitality, including our beautiful family lodge in the central highlands of Bhutan, the Mountain Resort (see more on the Mountain Resort below). In peak season, depending on availability, we may use lodges comparable to the ones we have listed or advertised. EXPEDITION STAFF Every expedition is curated by expert native-born guides and trip leaders who also facilitate meetings and learning experiences with other locally knowledgeable people along the way. Our experienced team shares valuable insights and local expertise to ensure a culturally rich adventure of discovery through the Himalayan landscape and traditions of Bhutan. ABOUT CULTURAL EXPEDITIONS NOTE: This journey includes a 2-day trek along the Trans Bhutan Trail which may reach elevations of 13,200-feet or higher. The activities on this trip are rated as moderate for the cultural portion of the journey and challenging for the trekking part of the trip. Trip members should be in good health and confident hiking mixed and steep terrain that may include rocky trails, slippery conditions and, or steps and stairs. This is a relatively easy trek compared to most of our average treks which exceed elevations of 14,000 feet. Our cultural expeditions are bespoke itineraries designed for active travelers that combine guided excursions, cultural insights, art and customs, with distinguished accommodations featuring a traditional ambience. Our journeys are small group adventures of usually 8 to 12 travelers, with a maximum of 16 guests per group. Unlike most tour providers who think nothing of a single guide leading an entire busload of travelers, we maintain a maximum of 4 guests per Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions guide, not counting support staff. This ensures that our journeys feel more like a shared adventure with local friends than a tourist's jaunt through the countryside. GETTING THERE Fly from your home city to Bangkok, Singapore, New Delhi Kolkata, or Kathmandu (Main Gateway Cities)* Overnight Fly from Gateway City to Paro, Bhutan. IMPORTANT: Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions makes round-trip flight arrangements from the Gateway City of your choice to Bhutan as a courtesy to our travelers. Airfare is not included in trip price (Unless otherwise noted). For further details please email us contact us using the Reserve Online button on this page. *Bangkok and Delhi are the primary Gateway Cities and offer the most frequent and most reliable flights to Bhutan. OUR TRAVEL EXTENSIONS (with optional Bangkok Transit arrangements) If you're thinking of traveling to some of the other interesting destinations in the region before or after Bhutan you may like to consider our travel extensions. That way you can spend less time juggling and coordinating multiple bookings and more time experiencing the magnificent World Heritage site of Angkor Wat, a peaceful Laotian sojourn, discovering Vietnam or experiencing India. For further details, and to see past travel extensions, please visit our Regional Extensions page. WHAT TRAVELERS ARE SAYING “Karma and his team perfectly orchestrated a wonderful series of valuable insights into Bhutan and Bhutanese culture. My particular area of interest was to learn about Bhutan’s challenge of balancing the goals of their Gross National Happiness Policy with the need to grow their economy and promote industry in the kingdom, which Karma addressed by arranging fascinating meetings with Bhutan’s Economic Affairs Ministers and other Bhutanese dignitaries and media personalities. A fantastic trip all-around with great hiking, culture, current affairs, insights into Buddhism and everything in-between.” ~ Heinrich Karl Friedrich Eduard Pierer von Esch, ex CEO, Siemens AG-Germany (front, third from left) See all posts > ACCOMMODATIONS High-end traditional lodges included. Luxury lodges at extra cost GROUP SIZE Private DURATION 12 days ACTIVITY LEVEL Easy to Moderate RESERVE TRIP Or call 1-855-4-BHUTAN (248826) TRIP TYPE ACTIVE ● CULTURE ASK A QUESTION _________ Travel Logistics Organizer for CBS 60 Minutes 2024 special report on Bhutan “First, thank you for making my trip to Bhutan run smoothly. Second, for explaining your culture and customs to me and our team in a way that helped our 60 MINS story come alive. Third, for making the visit seriously fun!” ~ Lesley Stahl, Correspondent, CBS 60 Minutes, September 2024 EXPLORE OUR STUNNING LANDSCAPE WITH BHUTAN HIMALAYA EXPEDITIONS Sign up to receive travel updates and offers, tips & insights from Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Thanks for subscribing! Yes I want to receive travel updates, announcements and offers from Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions. By signing up, I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Bhutan Himalaya Privacy Policy . Sign Up Search Travel Bhutan Abundance: A summer journey DEPARTURES Blessings of Bhutan Bhutan's Jomolhari Trek Heart of Happiness Trek to Treasure Lake On the Wings of Prayer Punakha's Pageant of Warriors Bhutan in the Time of Rhododendrons SEE ALL JOURNEYS Stories Hidden Lands of Happiness SPOTLIGHT Wild Wild East: How an ancient matriarch led her people to Bhutan Our top 10 reasons why you should visit Bhutan in 2023 How the brown trout came to Bhutan's lakes and rivers The top 10 mask dances to see in Bhutan Pomp & circumstance at Bhutan's warriors festival A journey to learn about Gross National Happiness SEE ALL STORIES Us The Bhutan Himalaya Difference ABOUT US Who we are The Bhutan Himalaya Difference What our travelers say Our Team Meet our latest hires CONTACT US

Losar is a time for fun, family, and feasting in Bhutan. Unlike the West, where people may stay up all night to party, the start of the lunar year in Bhutan is a mostly daytime affair. People wake early in the morning to bathe and put on fresh new clothes they’ve put away during the past year in carefully locked boxes, trunks, and closets for just such a special occasion. The first meal of the day is usually thuep, thick rice congee with spicy mala seasoning flavored by bone marrow, soft cubes of cottage cheese, and tender, well-cooked chunks of meat, usually pork or beef. It’s a dense umami concoction that’s at once savory, tingly, and filling, a great way to start this celebratory day. In some families, the day also begins with thrue, a purifying bath or shower to rinse off the negative karma of the previous year, followed by thuen or moenlam, a short prayer or dedication to welcome a prosperous new year. Daytime festivities include da-tsey or archery, the national sport, played mostly by men, and khuru or throwing darts that are enjoyed by monks (there being no injunctions against games of marksmanship in the Buddhist clergy) as well as by lay people. If, in other parts of the world, New Year parties are a time to go out, in Bhutan, the holiday is more akin to an American Thanksgiving. It’s a time when families gather and stay home to eat delicious and endless quantities of food throughout the day. Lunch usually arrives with a great deal of fanfare, featuring the season's best cereals, depending on the elevation—rice, wheat, roasted barley, dough, or buckwheat. Yak, beef, pork or chicken, and sometimes fish are served in prosperous homes. In the more religiously observant homes, a gathering of monks will usually perform ceremonies for barchey lamdoey, “which may loosely be translated as “prayers for the purification of diseases, obstacles, and misfortunes.” In such homes, the esteemed monks are invited to take frequent breaks during the day to join the family in the feasting. Renewed by such delicious food and drink, the monks will often be seen to resume their chanting, the blowing of ceremonial horns and reed pipes, and the beating of their drums and cymbals with renewed vigor and energy. Afternoon tea, with Indian-style sweet milk tea as well as salty Himalayan butter tea or suja—which is more like a broth—arrives with khabzoey, or crispy, mildly sweet deep-fried dough cakes. Dinner is usually preceded by ara, home-brewed traditional rice wine, or singchang, fermented barley beer. By this time everyone will have grown considerably rosier in the cheeks and louder and much more convivial in their mannerisms, and a good old game of playing cards, or sho (a Himalayan game similar to mahjong played with dice) may well ensue. Even the monks, if they're still around and well-known to the family, may join the general rounds of speculation over the most strategic placements of the (sho) pieces in the game! More food is served at dinner—red rice, bright red chilies, and a variety of spicy stews including the national chili-cheese dish ema datsi, and long strips of shakam or dried beef, yak or pork—until everyone is stuffed. Copious amounts of drinking follows. The mostly home-brewed alcohol, imbibed by one and all finally brings the festivities to a close with the flushed red-cheeked faces of everyone giving evidence to their glistening hopes for a happy and healthy year! In the Lunar Calendar of the Himalayas, which largely corresponds with the Chinese one with some differences, 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon. According to traditional astrology, the foundational characteristics of the Wood Dragon Year are prosperity, daring, energy, and opportunity. Some people believe that Losar celebrations predated Buddhism in the Himalayas. The traditional practice of burning incense and juniper as a New Year's offering to the spirits and protective deities is believed to be an artifact of the animistic Bon practices that existed before the arrival of Buddhism. In Tibet, the celebrations are sometimes called Boed Gyalpoi Losar, which means “the Tibetan New Year of the King.” This is a reference to the belief that Losar was first celebrated following the coronation of Tibet's first king. In another story, Losar was first celebrated after a woman named Boed Ma (Tibetan Mother) invented the Himalayan lunar calendar. In some parts of the Himalayas, it was also believed to have been celebrated as an autumn festival at the time of "the flowering of the apricot trees." May the the dynamic dragon bring a happy and prosperous 2024 to everyone! As we say in the Himalayas at the start of each promising new year, Tashi Delek! May good fortune shine on all your endeavors! Like this article? Get similar features & travel information sent straight to your inbox with the Bhutan Himalaya Newsletter

Posted 08/14/2021 KARMA DORJI, Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions In a breathtakingly rapid response to the Covid 19 pandemic, the kingdom's health services covered nearly the entire eligible adult population with the first two doses of the vaccine, drawing widespread international media attention and earning its young health minister an executive chair at the World Health Assembly. Here’s the inside scoop of how that happened. The chief Buddhist abbot of Bhutan, His Holiness Je Khenpo, blessing Covid-19 vaccines in the kingdom’s eastern Lhuentse province. Photo: Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan By July 2021, 90 percent of Bhutan's eligible population was vaccinated with only 21 reported deaths from the pandemic. Faith in the young king’s leadership, the government's belief in science, and the support of the revered Buddhist clergy all played critical roles in the success of Bhutan’s Covid-19 vaccination drive. In a little over 16 days the kingdom’s first nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign launched March 27, 2021, covered an astounding 475,651 people, which may not sound like much until you consider that the number is more than an estimated 93 percent of everyone eligible to receive the vaccine in the country (figure last updated April 12, 2021). To boost coverage, the nation’s beloved young king, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, vowed to take the vaccine only after it was offered to every eligible Bhutanese citizen, spurring citizens to get their shot as quickly as possible. The landlocked Himalayan nation of approximately 800,000 people first acquired the early shipments of the UK-and-Sweden-based AstraZeneca vaccine, produced in India under the name Covishield, in January. But they were put on ice, literally, because February was deemed an inauspicious ‘Black Month’ according to the astrological calculations of the kingdom’s revered Buddhist clergy, the Dratshang Lhentshog. Bhutanese people routinely consult such astrological charts, released annually by the national religious body, for matters personal and official. Those recommendations can range from favorable dates to convene the National Assembly to opening times for government building projects, wedding and engagement planning, setting travel dates, and choosing the proper days to raise religious prayer flags to boost one’s karma and spiritual merit. Once those favorable dates are set, matters usually proceed at a fast clip, buoyed by the religious blessings and seemingly propitious celestial alignments. Monks and medical professionals gather for a ceremony to consecrate Covid-19 vaccines surrounded by portraits of Bhutan’s kings past and present. Photo: Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan. Bhutan first received the Covishield vaccines from the Indian government through a vaccine-diplomacy program called Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship). In the run-up to the nationwide vaccination program, the young king—who was the rallying face of Bhutan’s fight against the pandemic—made acquiring COVID 19 vaccines a top national priority. Other members of the well-loved royal family; religious figures such as His Holiness the Je Khenpo, the kingdom’s chief Buddhist abbot; Bhutan’s democratically-elected prime minister; the health minister; prominent citizens; and young social media influencers all threw their collective weight behind the vaccination program. Such endorsements assuaged fears, quelled rumors, fake news and conspiracy theories seeping in through the internet. The Prime Minister, a practicing medical surgeon, and the Health Minister, a brilliant young graduate of the Yale School of Public Health, immediately took to national television. They outlined the vaccination program, the process, timing and locations of the vaccination rollout, what to expect before and after the first shot. The government flew shipments of the vaccine to remote valleys across the kingdom’s challenging mountainous terrain on domestic flights and emergency service helicopters. Above: Covid-19 vaccines are loaded on an emergency recue helicopter to be flown over the country’s remote mountainous terrain, in preparation for the nationwide campaign to inoculate everyone over 18 years old. Photo: Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan On March 24, as the final consignment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the far-flung eastern Lhuentse province, completing distribution to all 20 districts of the country, the chief abbot, Je Khenpo, arrived with his entourage of monks and religious elders. They performed televised purification and consecration rites over the vaccines, setting devout Buddhist minds at rest about the efficacy of the vaccines. On the morning of March 27, vaccinations opened across the country with the first jabs given, where possible, to 30-year-old women born under auspicious astrological signs in the Monkey Year, prescribed by the Buddhist clergy. In Thimphu, the nation’s capital, vaccinations began at the religiously predetermined stroke of half-past nine in the morning, western time, chosen from the state astrological charts. Ninda Dema, a 30-year-old intellectual property rights inspector for the government, had the right star alignments to receive the first jab. A nurse, another 30-year-old woman, born in the same year and under similarly opportune conditions, vaccinated her, kickstarting the kingdom’s ambitious campaign to provide the vaccine to all ages recommended to receive the vaccine under international guidelines. Ninda Dema—the 30-year-old chosen in accordance with the Bhutanese state clergy’s astrological recommendations to receive the first jab of the vaccine—dedicates her Medicine Buddha prayer for universal healing under a smiling portrait of Bhutan’s young king, surrounded by dignitaries. Photo: Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan As the symbolic 30-year-old chosen to receive the first Covid-19 vaccine shot in the country, Ninda prepared herself a day earlier by praying at two famous Buddhist temples in the capital. Her mother, who lives in the neighboring province of Paro, visited and prayed at eight temples on Ninda’s behalf. Shortly before 9:30 am on March 27, the young woman sat on a chair, surrounded by government ministers and dignitaries (including the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan), and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and recited the Medicine Buddha mantra as she received her shot. Tayatha Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Randza Samu Gate Soha. “May all sentient beings who are unwell be liberated from sickness and pain,” she prayed, “and may all forms of illness and suffering disappear, never to return again.” By contrast, an article in the New York Times on April 5, 2021, quoted the leader of a US-based nondenominational Christian ministry who said, “The vaccine is not the savior.” He told the Times that he had received a divine message that God was the ultimate healer and deliverer. According to data from the Pew Research Center used in that Times article, 45 percent of White Evangelical Christians said they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19. Bhutan’s example should—but likely won’t—be held up in the US as proof that faith and science can coexist for the greater good. Isn’t that, after all, the highest purpose of both Science and Religion? 101-year-old Phurba Deki, receiving her Covid-19 Vaccine in Bhutan's southcentral region of Dagana. To learn more about the future of Bhutan's pandemic response, watch "Prepping for the Next Pandemic," an interview with the Bhutanese Health Minister at the Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Author of Dreaming of Prayer Flags: Stories & Images from Bhutan, Karma Singye Dorji is a writer and former journalist who has led and curated cultural treks and journeys to Bhutan since 1999. SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

Hint: They're not the ones listed by Lonely Planet when they voted Bhutan their #1 travel destination for the coming year. When one of the world’s largest guidebook publishers named Bhutan their top travel choice for 2020, it caused a stir among the more experienced Bhutan travel guides (we've been leading our journeys in Bhutan since 1999). On closer reading of the announcement, however, we saw the reasons they gave were the familiar ones we've heard before: the beautiful landscape, the balance of old and new, the fact that Bhutan is carbon-negative. So here, in no particular order, is our own insider's list of why we think it's always a good time to visit Bhutan, whether in 2020 or beyond. 1. An opportunity to discover unique foods and flavors Magical matsutake or mystical cordyceps anyone? The highly prized mushroom which grows in Bhutan during a tiny window of the year and the near-miraculous (so it is said) health-bestowing high-altitude plant that’s harvested only after it fuses with the remnants of a caterpillar are merely two of the more exotic items you can try on a Bhutanese menu! The first is usually eaten in traditional stews while cordyceps is consumed dried and whole or imbibed after being steeped in teas and alcoholic brews. Bhutanese food wasn't notable for a long time after the kingdom first opened its doors to visitors, mainly because we tried to mimic what we thought was "continental" cuisine borrowed from India, but today a convergence of local organic produce and the revival of interest in the diverse food traditions of the kingdom is fueling a culinary renaissance that is catching fire. In fact, the late well-known host of the wildly popular travel and food show Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain, visited Bhutan for just that reason (and filmed an episode in the kingdom that later aired after his sad demise). Based on “the primary ‘nine grains’ of Bhutan,” Bhutanese food includes many unique flavors and ingredients such as wild foraged bitter cane (with reportedly blood-purifying properties) as well as a range of fermented and preserved foods believed to have powerful “good-for-the-gut” (no pun intended) properties. 2. The people are nice. Like, really nice... The good people of Bhutan are kind and honest to a fault. You may not realize how exhausting it is to live in societies where everything is a transaction until you arrive in Bhutan. Once you relax and begin trusting your local Bhutanese hosts (which is not difficult; in fact we guarantee it), it allows the natural good humor of the people, their decency, and their honesty to rise to the fore. Here, you can appreciate just how truly amazing it is to have people approach you without motives other than to share an experience of genuine human curiosity or serendipity. With one of the lowest crime rates in the world, honesty is, in fact, a national attribute. Lost ATM cards in the kingdom are commonly found carefully taped to the walls next to ATM machines with helpful handwritten notes and reminders to their owners. 3.No advertisement billboards, Starbucks or McDonald's There are no giant billboards pushing the consumer lifestyle here. The only large signs you will see are the ones announcing important public health messages and those celebrating the cutest first family in the world: the handsome thirty-something king; the winsome, and even younger, queen; and their adorable, dimple-cheeked, three-year-old son, the Gyalsay (Crown Prince), who has already won hearts and minds across the kingdom and beyond. Not here the ubiquitous Starbucks, the omnipresent Golden Arches or the scarlet Pizza Huts you will see in other neighboring countries, and it will probably remain so, by royal decree. 4. Local inns and lodges with traditional character In the same way that we—speaking as Bhutanese people—believe this world offers the perfect balance of suffering and joy optimal for the motivation to seek enlightenment, Bhutan offers the right balance of adventure and comfort for rejuvenating the spirit. Each local lodge, inn or hotel, while not necessarily updated to the latest modern standards, offers its own unique blend of traditional culture and convenience. Worried about central heating? Check out the kingdom’s spin on an iron wood stove, or bukhari, which lends rustic charm to any hotel interior while giving you the benefits of warming your feet. Even though a small handful of hotels in the country are now being built with outside investment, most accommodations in the country are still local affairs, which means there’s none of the sameness here of international chains that often flatten your travel experiences no matter where you are in the world. Thus, the rugged Himalayan landscape offers ample opportunities for staying active outdoors while the cozy accommodations offer the likelihood you'll strike up a friendship with the Bhutanese owners of the establishment. 5. Here you can truly get away from it all! In Bhutan, you probably have the best chance anywhere of truly getting away from it all! Remote valleys with a pristine environment (and great weather in the spring and the fall) means that you can go deep into the country if you choose. Once you leave the hustle and bustle of the capital and the three or four major towns, the true heart of Bhutan begins to reveal itself. You can still find many places in Bhutan where there are no landlines, no television sets or radios, or even newspapers. But if you truly seek escape from the world, you’ll have to take the ultimate plunge: unplug your cellphone. Because the local network coverage is excellent, you’ll likely pick up a connection in most places in the country, even the more remote valleys. 6. Bhutan invites you to explore the deeper meaning of our lives From taking a longer and more cosmic view of things to a deeper inquiry into the true nature of existence and, ultimately, to seeking the path toward peace, an encounter with the Bhutanese culture encourages us to ask the bigger questions of life that we may not have time for in busier societies with more materialistically-defined ideas about success and happiness. 7. Bhutan offers an opportunity for personal transformation This is not a tall claim. For those who find it at the right time in their lives, Bhutan can be a catalyst for personal transformation. The 17th century Japanese Haiku poet Basho believed that travel can be a process of spiritual rebirth. He wrote that when you visit sacred sites and explore sacred landscapes, you enter a liminal space of the heart and the mind, where your old habitual self dies, and you enter an in-between state in which a new awareness arises. He believed that, in this elevated form of travel, we undertake such journeys seeking to be reborn in a higher state of consciousness by encountering all the sublime influences in the places that we experience. The multitude of spiritually significant landmarks in Bhutan makes it a place where you’re likely to have just such an awakening. 8. Here you can take an inner and an outer journey Like the best places to visit in the world, you can take both an inner and an outer journey in Bhutan. There's the physical journey through the history, the temples, the monasteries, the ancient landscape, the valleys and gorges, the rushing waterfalls, the aquamarine rivers roaring down from the snow-capped peaks. Then there's the inner journey in which the visitor can travel in their own hearts and their minds over some of the paths that the Bhutanese people follow in their own learning and study, their beliefs, their spiritual practices and their way of life. In this way you can travel simultaneously on two planes and connect with the hearts and minds of the people to get an understanding of where their culture comes from, their version of reality and their perspective on the nature of existence. Along the way you're invited to immerse yourself in a way of seeing the world differently, which is one of the greatest gifts of travel. 9. You can bring home the practical lessons for your own life The stated national goal of Bhutan is perfecting a formula for happiness. Ask for a meeting with a high lama whose job it is to daily contemplate the ways of finding mental peace or talk to a government official whose responsibilities include protecting the four main pillars of Gross National Happiness: cultural preservation, environmental well-being, equitable socioeconomic development and good governance. Bhutanese people are wonderful at sharing their stories and their perspectives which means that, if you're willing to listen, you will likely find more than a few practical gems you can bring home to enhance your own life. 10. We are all connected The ultimate lesson of Bhutanese culture is that we are all warmed by the same spiritual fire, that we are all, each of us, Buddhas in the rough. To break down the delusions that separate us and to understand the interconnected nature of all things are the true goals of Buddhism. When an entire country believes that we have all been each other’s mothers in our previous lives, it makes that country much more open to visitors. As Bhutanese people we are also universalists at heart. By sharing our perspectives, which are grounded in the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha), Bhutanese people are not expressing their belief that there is some higher quality to our culture that makes us better than others. Instead, we are sharing our belief that a close examination of our own minds can vastly improve the quality of our lives spiritually and practically no matter where we come from. And that, ultimately, is what makes Bhutan a truly worthy destination whether in 2020 or beyond. KARMA SINGYE DORJI Travel Programs Coordinator Bhutan Himalaya Expeditions Karma has been leading close and intimate journeys to Bhutan since 1999. He is the author of Dreaming of Prayer Flags: Stories and Images from Bhutan. A print version of this post appears in the year-end issue of Tashi Delek, the inflight magazine of Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national airline of Bhutan.