PRIVATE TAILORMADE JOURNEY
Treasures and Textiles 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.
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.
We take you on an in-depth guided journey across Bhutan, stopping at some of the most atmospheric Buddhist temples and nunneries in the kingdom. Next, a heli-flight to a remote village known for its weavers who live in the eastern interiors of the country, for a peek into its vibrant textile traditions. Then, a scenically spectacular flight over the kingdom’s dramatic Himalayan terrain to attend an ancient festival in the old capital of Bhutan, followed by the exciting museums, markets and social life of the modern capital. And, finally, a one-on-one opportunity to receive a personal instruction in Himalayan meditation techniques from a well-known reincarnated Buddhist teacher, before continuing your travels home with an armload of special memories.
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A private journey to Bumthang, Punakha, Paro and Beyond
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
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.
ITINERARY
Arriving from an early flight in Delhi, we connect directly via a short but spectacular mountain flight to Jakar, the spiritual heart of Bumthang. There, visit a royal palace that’s being lovingly restored as a museum for the future, preserving the royal culture and spiritual treasures of the kingdom. Visit the inspiring nuns of Pemacholing at their remote monastery in Tang, hidden among the quiet folds of the mountains, before stopping by a series of atmospheric temples and monasteries from the seventh to the 17th centuries. Learn about local traditions, like the colorful yak-and-wool weavings for which the region is famous. Next, take the Heli flight to Khoma, where the famed royal weavers of bhutan live, and spend the morning there, learning about their fascinating traditions and techniques before a spectacular return over the deep valleys and gorges, and high alpine ridges where prayer flags murmur benedictions to the wind, finally arriving in Punakha, the ancient Bhutanese capital.
Here, attend the first major annual religious mask dance festival of the year, the Punakha Drubchhen, sometimes also known as the Punakha Procession of Warriors. Toward the end, we transfer to the modern capital, Thimphu, where we explore museums, markets, the sights and sounds, and meet interesting and notable capital society members, and attend any royal audiences you may be invited to attend. Close out your journey back in Paro with a personal meditation instruction from Chung Rimpoche, a reincarnated Buddhist abbot of the Longchen Nyingthik or “The Great Heart Essence“ discipline.
VIEW DAY BY DAY
MARCH 03 : ARRIVAL/PARO, BHUTAN
Your flight to Paro, Drukair KB203, departs Delhi at 6 AM and lands in Paro at 8 AM. After we greet you on arrival, we stop by the mountain Café for organic Bhutanese-grown coffee and light snacks while your bags are being transferred to the domestic flight to Jakar, Drukair KB012, departing at 11 AM and arriving at 11:35 AM. Following arrival in Bumthang, enjoy a refreshing lunch at the Six Senses lodge prepared with local organic ingredients. In the afternoon, we take you on a walkabout to stretch your legs and see the lay of the land, a lovely valley set on both sides of the aquamarine Chamkhar River, full of wood and stone homes in the traditional style, dominated by a dramatic fortress on the hill, the Jakar Dzong or “Castle of the White Crane.“ You may like us to schedule a private add-on spa treatment at the lodge before dinner to help you ease out of any remaining jet lag. (Please let us know ahead of time if this is what you’d like.)
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodations: the Six Senses Forest within a Forest, Bumthang
MARCH 04 : BUMTHANG EXCURSIONS & EXPERIENCES
Lace up your walking boots today for an exciting excursion into the surpassingly lovely (and peaceful!) interiors of Bhutan’s central highlands. We enter a mythical landscape of saints and “burning“ lakes, and hidden valleys as we stop by the holy gorge in the river where the 15th-century mystic, Pema Lingpa, discovered hidden religious relics and treasures; a mountaintop nunnery, where nuns of all ages from across Bhutan spend their days in work, prayer and contemplation; a sacred cliff whose craggy face still bears the marks of a holy tiger’s “scratches”; and, finally, the lovely palace of Ogyen Choling, a museum and lovingly-restored heritage home, where we have a lovely organic lunch and spend some time in deep contemplation inside the atmospheric Tara temple, a shrine dedicated to the feminine Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: the Six Senses Forest within a Forest, Bumthang
MARCH 05 : PALACE MUSEUM & JAKAR
Today, after breakfast, take the short drive to the exquisitely-restored palace-museum of Wangduechhoeling, a royal seat of the Bhutanese kings. After exploring the galleries of the museum, which takes us on a journey through the culture and history of Bhutan using state-of-the-art multi-media presentations, we continue our walk or drive further down the valley, stopping at the home of a famous local weaver. Later, following a picnic lunch by the river, we cross the new steel bridge over the Chamkhar river to continue up the hill to the Dorjibi (women's co-op) Weaving Center, a storehouse of local, handmade textiles. In the late afternoon, or early evening, we end back at the Six Senses, or continue further down the hill to sample the Swiss-Bhutanese-inspired offerings at the Red Panda Cafe. The two countries have a long and friendly history, and this cafe (or the guest house up the hill) run by a Swiss-Bhutanese family is the best place to experience the culinary crossroads where the two countries meet in their love of heavy, hearty, cheesy food. On tap, the locally famous Red Panda beer, brewed with special, gut-health-promoting fermentation processes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: the Six Senses Forest within a Forest, Bumthang
MARCH 06 : HELI-FLIGHT TO KHOMA/PUNAKHA
This morning, after breakfast, take the dramatic heli-flight east to the Lhuentse district and the famed village of Khoma, where the best weavers of Bhutan are born and trained. Khoma has a long and storied history of producing the best artisans of the weaving trade. Most, in the past, went on to become weavers for the royal households. Stopping in Lhuentse, take the short walk up to Khoma village for a tour to meet some of the well-known local weavers and learn more about their skills and techniques, before returning via the deep gorges and valleys of central Bhutan to Punakha, the ancient capital, set amid the abundant rice fields of West Bhutan.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: AndBeyond River Lodge Punakha
MARCH 07 : THE PUNAKHA FESTIVAL
This morning, join the residents of Punakha, dressed in their season's best silks and brocades, headed to one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Crossing the ancient cantilever bridge, enter the grand fortress of Punakha, surrounded by scented jacaranda trees, and accessed by an impressive set of medieval stone steps and wooden ladders. Experience a feast of sights and sounds as the clash of cymbals and drums announce the start of the festival, attended by some of the highest-ranking monks and royalty, as well as government dignitaries. (You can read our report on the festival here: The Pomp & Circumstance of Bhutan's Punakha Warriors Festival).
Later this afternoon, return to the lodge for a relaxed picnic beside the river, or join us on a set of available excursions to a local nunnery, to meet a famous national artist at his hilltop open studio, or to hike to a famous pagoda in the valley.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: AndBeyond River Lodge Punakha
MARCH 08 : PUNAKHA TO THIMPHU
Today, we take the three-hour drive back to the modern capital, Thimphu. If you're feeling adventurous, we can take you on a guided trek to a beautiful, mountain-top shrine with 360-degree views of the high Himalayan peaks. Alternately, continue on to the capital, arriving at the Amankora Thimphu lodge in time for a sumptuous lunch, followed by an excursion to the city to meet the Royal Textile Academy's director, Rinzi Dorji. In the late afternoon, we wander the city and its markets or proceed to the Bhutan Foundation offices to learn about their wide-ranging projects targeting programs that aim to ehance services and growth in education, health, culture, the environment, happiness, and rural upliftment among others.
We will also be on call for any royal audiences you may receive invitations for.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Amankora Thimphu Lodge
MARCH 09 : CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
Today we make space in the day for capital city highlights such as a visit to the giant Buddha Dordenma, which watches over the capital; a visit to 14th-century Changangkha Temple, which has one ofthe most beautiful Avalokiteshvara images in the kingdom, or a short walk to the Wangditse temple, which offers some of the best views of Bhutan's rapidly urbanizing capital. We also keep room for potential meetings with any interesting local personalities as well as visits to local art galleries, and crafts markets, or to meet and visit the famous silversmiths who create much of the new temple art—besides personalized gold and silver jewelry—in the country.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Amankora Thimphu Lodge
MARCH 10 : VISIT NUNNERY/MEDITATION
Today we drive one-hour to the Paro Valley and meet with the Chung Trulku Rimpoche, a renowned abbot of the Longchen Nyingthik tradition. We visit his nunnery and learn about his efforts to support the education and training of the nuns, and receive a one-on-one instruction in Vajrayana meditation from him.
Later in the evening, make a quick run into the bustling center of Paro to pick up last minute gifts, or spend a relaxed evening trying your hand at the national sport of archery on the pine-forested grounds of the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: The Paro Uma Resort by COMO
MARCH 11 : DEPARTURE/DELHI
This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, take the drive to the Paro airport in time for your departing flight Drukair KB202, with take-off at 11:55 a.m. and arrival in Delhi at 1:45 p.m. Indian Standard Time.
NOTES ON INDIAN VISAS
INDIAN E-VISA
You can apply for an e-Visa before traveling via a simple online form. This is the Indian government e-visa issuer, although there are private ones also this is most reliable.
Link: Online Indian E-Visa
You’ll want to choose the Tourist e-Visa for 30 days, not the other kinds. The 30-day visa allows two entries into India, which is handy since they consider each transit a single trip. All e-Visas take at least 72 hours to process, so be sure to do it well ahead of time!
YOUR FEATURED LODGES
Please visit the following links to learn more about the featured lodges on this trip.
Bumthang:
The Six Senses Forest within a Forest
Punakha:
Thimphu:
Paro:
SPECIAL NOTES & DISCLAIMERS
ITINERARY
Please note that all trip and itinerary descriptions are accurate at the time of publication. While we strive to keep the actual running of the trips as close to our original description as possible we cannot rule out changes or modifications and, or, variations on the ground as a result of factors that may be beyond our control. If such circumstances occur, we always strive to do better, or at minimum match the trip described but this may not always be possible.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Infrequently, we may also have to swap out the lodges and accommodations listed on your trip as a result of seasonal overbooking; in such instances we will always find a comparable hotel of the same category and amenities as replacement/s.
AIRFARE COSTS
Please note that while we make every endeavor to accurately price our trips, airfares subject to change by the airline are outside our control. As a result, current charter flight costs currently included the trip trip may change and we may be forced to generate a final additional invoice to make up any such potential differences in cost. While we don't expect this to happen in this case, a reduced number of travelers may result in a per-individual fare increase for which we will send out an addendum invoice if the occasion arises, within reason, to cover any such potential shortfalls. Guests will be notified of any such changes well before trip departure.
