Bhutan, also known as “The land of thunder dragon”, is an exotic destination for most. Bhutan is a small mountainous country with around 800,000 people. It is an ideal destination for travelers seeking peaceful and serene travel experience. Most people in Bhutan follow Buddhism and it is a Buddhist country by law. You can find the Dzongs (Monasteries) and nunneries everywhere in Bhutan.
The culture, tradition and the lifestyle of the Bhutanese people is unlike anything. The life here seems pretty simple and slow from outsiders’ perspective. They have one of a kind festivals which is truly fascinating. People dress up in their traditional costumes which are really colorful and vibrant and perform traditional dances and rituals. Apart from their local language Dzongkha, most of the people speak Nepali and Hindi language as well. Tiger’s nest (Takshang Monastery), Punakha dzong are some of the famous attractions of Bhutan. Tourism is a major industry and the main source of income in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
Bhutan as a travel destination is really incomparable with any other destination.Apart from the fact that it is the only Tibetan-Mahayana kingdom in the world, nowhere else is there lived in harmony with nature as in this small Himalayan country. Bhutan is also very cultural and scenic. The people of Bhutan are traditionally dressed and centuries-old traditions are still being honored.
For centuries, Bhutan lived totally isolated from the outside world, tourism has only been possible since the 1970s, is strictly regulated and fully in the hands of the Ministry of Tourism. To limit the number of visitors, it has been determined that tourists pay around $ 250 a day.
The monastery fortresses (Dzongs) of Bhutan are famous, they are often impressive to see and built in the most beautiful places. The best known is Taktsang Dzong, the Tigers Nest, which is spectacularly "stuck" against the rocks.
It is also very special to attend a Tse Chu. These religious monastic festivals are held throughout the country to please the Gods, to ask for a good harvest, and to cast out evil spirits. The monks of the monastery wear beautiful costumes and masks and sculptures appearances of Padmasambhava dancing on the impressive tones of festival music.
The people wear the most beautiful costumes during these Buddhist festivals and are decorated with beautiful jewelry. The festivals often last several days and the dates are determined on the basis of the lunar calendar.
You can find the various dates of the festivals in Bhutan via the link mentioned above. The festival dates may change at the last minute due to local circumstances / decisions. We will state the most current dates in your travel agreement.
The best travel time in Bhutan is from October to May. The rainy season is from June to September.
Besides the journeys in Bhutan - of which you will find detailed descriptions on our website - there are various travel schedules possible.
Contact us for the possibilities and we will gladly provide you with a quote and corresponding day-to-day descriptions.
Access
BY PLANE via:
- Kathmandu (Nepal) - Almost daily direct flights to Paro
- Delhi (India) - Busy Air 3/4 flights per week to Paro (with stopover in Kathmandu)
- Calcutta - 3/4 direct flights a week to Paro
- Bangkok - various flights to / from Paro every day
OVER LAND via:
- Bhadrapur (Nepal) - direct flights from Kathmandu every day. In Bhadrapur you will be welcomed by a Hikers Haven employee, then by car to Phuntsoling (Bhutan).
- Sikkim (India) - if you combine your Bhutan trip with Sikkim you will travel by jeep to the border with Bhutan where you will meet our Hikers Haven guide from Bhutan. From here you travel further with our guide from Bhutan
- Calcutta (India) - by train / plane to Siliguri. In Siliguri you will meet our guides and travel by jeep to Bhutan.
Your Hikers Haven guide welcomes you at Paro Airport. We will arrange your Bhutan visa before your arrival. For this we need a scan of your passport.