overview
Unspoiled and untouched, Bhutan, the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' opened its doors to travellers in the 1970’s. Visitors are still few and the Bhutanese way of life, with its small colourful towns and villages, has remained relatively unchanged for centuries. Bhutan's landscape of mountains and green valleys and its strong Buddhist religion shape the kingdom's identity with monasteries and chapels scattered throughout the land. Traditional life is maintained, with the Bhutanese obliged to wear national dress in public, and festivals are colourful and noisy events, gathering together people from all over the country in a blur of music and dance. Bhutan is an extraordinary place, unlike anywhere else and you will never forget a visit to this ancient kingdom.
Travel through Bhutan’s ethereal landscape on the way to the wild centre, past golden roofed monasteries and prayer flag covered hilltops, through emerald valleys and ancient forests surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. This is a truly magical journey through the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, with accommodation split between the luxury resort of Uma Paro, and carefully-sourced traditional hotels in the less developed regions.
The adventure starts with an exploration of the bustling markets and colourful museums of the capital city of Thimpu, before heading over the spectacular Dochhula Pass and following the Mo Chhu (Mother River) to Punakha and the Chimmi Lhakhang (also known as the 'Divine Madman’s temple'). Absorbing this Himalayan kingdom’s Buddhist culture along the way, your journey continues through the Black Mountains past yaks grazing on dwarf bamboo to reach the sacred heart of Bhutan: the beautifully rustic and deeply spiritual four valleys of Bumthang. On the return journey you will stop over in Phobjikha, an unusually wide, beautiful alpine wetland valley where the rare Black Necked Cranes fly down from Tibet to spend the winter. Once settled into the 5 star Uma Paro, the main temples, monasteries and dzongs of the Paro Valley are on your doorstep with the awe inspiring walk up to the Tiger’s Nest monastery as a fitting highlight to end this exploration of the Land of the Thunderdragon.