Cultural holiday to Bhutan
| country: | Bhutan |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 28 Oct |
| price: | From £1590 (12 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is well known for it's untouched wilderness, rich Buddhist culture and a history steeped in mystic and legend.
Our cultural journey encompasses all that Bhutan has to offer taking in the 'must see' highlights of both western and central Bhutan.
Our tour begins in the picturesque Paro Valley, home to the Tigers Nest (Takstang) monastery, before we drive across the dramatic Dochu La into central Bhutan, to Bumthang. It is widely regarded that Bhutanese Bhuddism first took hold here and the legacies are the many ancient and magnificent monasteries in and around the area.
Note: October departures follow a 13 day itinerary to experience the famous Jambay Lakhang festival in Bumthang where we spend an additional day, the remainder of the itinerary is unchanged.
HighlightsVisit the famous Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang) monastery, near Paro. Immersion in Bhutanese culture at Paro’s National Museum Visit the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Ancient dzongs (fort-monasteries) and monasteries in Thimphu Views of Chomolhari (7314m), Bhutan’s most sacred mountain, and the Bhutanese Himalayas. A day in Bumthang in Central Bhutan – the cultural heart of Bhutan and home to some of the country’s most significant Buddhist sites. A chance to experience the colourful Jambay Lakhang festival in Bumthang (October departures only) Land of the Thunder Dragon
Our cultural journey encompasses all that Bhutan has to offer taking in the 'must see' highlights of both western and central Bhutan.
Our tour begins in the picturesque Paro Valley, home to the Tigers Nest (Takstang) monastery, before we drive across the dramatic Dochu La into central Bhutan, to Bumthang. It is widely regarded that Bhutanese Bhuddism first took hold here and the legacies are the many ancient and magnificent monasteries in and around the area.
Note: October departures follow a 13 day itinerary to experience the famous Jambay Lakhang festival in Bumthang where we spend an additional day, the remainder of the itinerary is unchanged.
Highlights
what's included on our cultural holiday to Bhutan
12 or 13 breakfasts, 12 or 13 lunches, 12 or 13 dinners, English speaking local guide, good quality accommodation on a twinshare basis throughout, private internal transport throughout, all airport transfers, sightseeing & sight entry fees as listed. Note: October departures follow a 13 day itinerary to co-incide with the famous Jambay Lakhang festival in Bumthang where we spend an additional day. October depatures attract a $300 surcharge. day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Paro. |
| Day 2: | Paro Valley, drive Thimpu. |
| Day 3: | In Thimpu. |
| Day 4: | Cross Dochu La, Punakha Dzong. |
| Day 5: | Gangtey Gompa. |
| Day 6: | Drive to Bumthang. |
| Day 7: | In Bumthang. |
| Day 8: | Ura Village and Mebartso. |
| Day 9: | Drive to Wangduephodrang. |
| Day 10: | Drive to Paro via Lobesa. |
| Day 11: | Trek to Takstang Monastery. |
| Day 12: | Trip concludes in Paro. |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip allows ample time to appreciate the rich cultural history of this secluded Himalayan Kingdom. In the company of our local guides and with the use of local transport and accommodation you can be assured that as much of your money as possible feeds back into the local communities that you visit. Our strict policy of small groups ensures that this trip is both environmentally and culturally sensitive.
As with all travel to Bhutan, this trip is carefully controlled by the Bhutan Tourist Authority which exists to protect the country’s unique culture and thus minimise the negative effects of mass tourism. It also ensures that local people benefit from the revenue such tourism brings to the country. All travellers are provided with our award-winning 20 page Responsible Travel Booklet which outlines our environmental guidelines and practices and will provide you will clear details on how you can play a vital part in reducing your impact on the fragile environments and cultures around the world. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |