Hidden Bhutan
In Bhutan nothing is quite as it seems. While rivers, buildings, moutains, people, caves, monasteries and even animals might seem at first to be perfectly normal, many of them hide stories that could be straight out of a fairytale. There are statues that can fly, demons pinned to the ground, people who can travel to the eight Buddhist Hells, gateways to hidden paradise lands, ghosts protecting treasures, forest creatures built of multiple animals, caterpillars worth their weight in gold and temples decorated in phalic symbols.
On this journey we take you to both the main tourist sites in the country but also to places where few foreign visitors get to tread and throughout we put an emphasis on a Bhutan hidden from view. A Bhutan of magic and wonder where nothing is certain and everything is possible. If only you’re willing to believe. And so, for that reason we ask that anyone joining our Hidden Bhutan journey should be willing to cast away skeptisim, be open to the unlikey and be willing to believe in magic. To believe in fairytales.
This 15 day/14 night journey starts and ends in Paro. The itinerary involves a certain amount of moderate hiking.
Itinerary
Make friends with the monks while staying the night in a monastery.
Marvel over the Taktshang - or Tigers Nest - Monastery.
Be among the first to explore the upland pastures and lakes around Laya.
Do a thrilling overnight trek to a monastery built by 100,000 fairies.
Get an astrology reading done and meet the monks who meditate for years on end.
Scramble up to remote, little visited, cliffside monasteries in the Haa Valley.
Be one of the first foreigners to visit the Tibetan flavoured town of Hanle.
Be overawed by the beautiful Punakha dzong.
Learn about Bhutan’s inspiring environmental and community development achievments.
Journey Highlights
Key Details
Number of days: 15 days total.
Start/End: Paro
When: Possible year round, but best Oct-Nov and March-May
Minimun number of participants: 1
Highest altitude reached: 4200m
Trek difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Can this tour be customised? Yes
Accommodation used on this journey consists mainly of upper mid-range hotels and high quality homestays. But, the night spent in the monastery is in a basic room and the nights in Laya are in basic homestays. There’s also a night of camping at high altitude in small done tents. In the more basic options bathrooms might be shared between all guests, hot showers might not be available and in-rrom heating might be rudimentary.
Accommodation
With most nights spent below 3000m altitude related health problems are not a big risk on this journey. However, some people may feel a little light headed on the first couple of nights and espically on arrival in the Haa Valley which sits at an altitude of around 3000m. By the time we head to the higher altitudes of Laya, or during the overnight trek at the end of the trip, you should be very well acclimatised and suffer no ill effects.
Important!
Prices for our 15 day/14 nights Hidden Bhutan journey are based on low season travel and are a miniumn price. The exact price will vary depending on the number of people in your group, accommodation used as well as any additional add-ons.
The Hidden Bhutan journey starts at Euros for one person travelling alone. Euros for two people ( Euros per person) travelling together in a shared room. Euros for three people travelling together and Euros for four people sharing two rooms.
This price includes:
All accommodation from the night of day one to morning of day fifteen in a mixture of 3-star and above hotels, high-quality guesthouses, simple homestays and a night camping.
Private vehicle and driver for duration of tour
English speaking guide
All meals and drinks (excluding alcoholic drinks) from lunch on day to breakfast on day fifteen
All entry fees
Bhutan visa, permits and Bhutanese government sustainabilty fees
All listed activities mentioned within the programme.
This price does not include:
International flights
Visa for India or any third country
Travel insurance (personal travel insurance is compulsory for joining any of our tours. Please confirm with your travel insurance company that trekking to above 4000m is included. Many travel insurance policies do not include this or charge an additional fee for it)
Hotel, meals and activities in Delhi or elsewhere in India or another transit country prior to the start of the tour or after the end of the tour. These are available for an additional charge.
Transportation to/from home departure airport
Phone sim card/internet useage
Souvenirs
Items of a personal nature
Tips
Alcoholic drinks