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Mystical Bhutan…. the time to go is now…

Bhutan - Land of the Thunder Dragon. No ordinary place. It is the last great Himalayan kingdom, enshrouded in mystery & magic, where a traditional Buddhist culture carefully embraces global developments. Moving & magical, this remote kingdom is a world apart, a sanctuary tucked deep in the snow-capped Himalayas. Journey through this mind-stirring country will blaze in your memory long after you have left its shores.  Come, discover the Dragon Kingdom with us……..

Asia sticks to you. The joss sticks lit for the household shrines in Thailand impart a sweet perfume to the thick air. The heavenly aroma of Indian spices follows you for days.

This is a spiritual place infused with the gods of past and present: the ancient spirits of the land & the family, the deities of Buddhism & Hinduism and the rules of Islam. Architectural wonders & sacred spaces abound from the Great Wall of China & the temples of Angkor to lesser known marvels in Myanmar, Nepal & Afghanistan.

From sublime coastlines to snow-capped mountains, rolling landscapes fed by the monsoon rains & frenetic cities fizzling with energy, the diversity of Asia’s landscapes is mind-boggling. As are their highlights from trekking Malaysia’s steamy jungles & wildlife spotting in southern India to riding horses through the Mongolian steppes, skiing  Japan’s Alps & dodging falling coconuts on of the continents many remote islands.

Then there’s the food. Tuck into fiery Indian curries, get adventurous with a local dish from a road side stall and gulp down a hearty bowl of Japanese ramen. With its colours, smells, flavours and personalities, you’ll find Asia is deliciously rewarding.

Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is no ordinary place. This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red and where chillies aren’t just a seasoning but the entire dish. It’s also a deeply Buddhist land, where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on the walls of most houses, and where Gross National Happiness is deemed more important than Gross National Product. Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you don’t have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary. What you won’t find in Bhutan is backpacker-style independent travel. This is Nepal for the jet set.

Environmental protection goes hand in hand with cultural preservation in Bhutan. By law, at least 60% of the country must remain forested for all future generations; it currently stands above 70%. Not only is Bhutan carbon neutral, but it actually absorbs more carbon than it emits! For the visitor, this translates into lovely forest hikes & superb birding across a chain of national parks. Whether you are spotting takins or blue poppies, trekking beneath 7000m peaks or strolling across hillsides ablaze with spring rhododendron blooms, Bhutan offers one of the last pristine pockets in the entire Himalaya.

There are the early Buddhist sites in the cultural heartland of Bumthang Dzongkhag & the undisturbed traditional Tibetan-style culture that sets Bhutan aside as the last remaining great Himalayan kingdom.

Bhutan holds many surprises. This is not just a nation of saintly, other-worldly hermits. Bhutan is straddling the ancient & modern world and these days you will find monks transcribing ancient Buddhist texts into computers & checking their smartphones after performing a divination and traditionally dressed noblemen chat on their mobile phones.

If you do visit Bhutan, you will become one of the few who have experienced the charm & magic of one of the world’s most enigmatic countries - the ‘last Shangri La’ - and you will be playing your part in this medieval kingdom’s efforts to join the modern world, while steadfastly maintaining its distinct & amazing cultural identity. So why spend all your money to come here? Because most of all, Bhutan offers an opportunity to glimpse another way of living, an alternative vision of what is truly important in life.

Firstly, there is the amazing Himalayan landscape, where snow-capped peaks rise above shadowy gorges cloaked in primeval forests. Taking up prime positions in this picture-book landscape are the majestic fortress-like dzongs & monasteries. This unique architecture sets the stage for spectacular tsechus (dance festivals) attended by an almost medieval-looking audience

Then there are the textiles & handicrafts, outrageous archery competitions, high-altitude trekking trails as well as the stunning flora & fauna of Phobjika Valley.

Join the pilgrims as they look for the footprints of saints in a rockface, or explain monastery history in terms of flying tigers & unruly demons.

Yet while it visibly protects its Buddhist traditions, Bhutan is not a museum. You will find the Bhutanese well educated, fun loving & well informed about the world around them. It's this blending of the ancient and modern that makes Bhutan endlessly fascinating.

From Gross National Happiness to crazy wisdom, a journey to Bhutan is a journey into a different reality. A unique experience is just the beginning. Take the plunge now and yep..….the Dragon Kingdom is waiting. A warm welcome awaits you and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery. 

  Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Bhutan. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………