8 Days Classic Bhutan tour with easy hikes

We had such a great time during our visit. Bhutan is a truly beautiful and unique place, with incredible scenery, a peaceful atmosphere, and a culture that makes the experience feel very different from anywhere else. Everything was well organized and we felt very welcomed throughout our time there. The people were warm and friendly, and trip organizer Khusala was especially kind, friendly and helpful whenever we needed anything. She made the experience even more enjoyable without ever making us feel rushed. Overall, we left with some really great memories and would absolutely recommend visiting Bhutan to anyone looking for something a little different and special.

This is my second trip with Bhutan Travel Club. The first time was solo and BTC made it a very memorable trip. And this time again they brought in the magic and gave me and my son a wonderful experience. Chimi thought through each day and if it would be tiring for the kid to travel and explore and suggested the right itinerary. The stays were all neat and classy and we were well taken care of. Sherab, our guide, paid attention to my son's interests and detailed out stories that he liked. He also became his friend and they had their own games and moments. As a mom, it was an ecstatic feeling to see my son experience the magic of Bhutan and it's people and food. The stay at Haa valley homestay is a memorable one too, playing with the pets and cooking with our hosts was special moments. I would highly recommend Bhutan Travel Club and Chimi to everyone. Wishing to be back in the highlands again sooner and with BTC.

+6

Everything was perfect, couldn't have been better. An amazing country and Bhutan Travel Club does an outstanding job organizing Everything- literally.

Four of us, all over 70 years of age, had a wonderful experience in Bhutan planned with the excellent assistance and guidance of Tshering Zangmo of Bhutan Travel Club. Our guide, Bijay Tirwa, and our driver, Jamyang, were the best travel companions we could have asked for. By the end of the trip, they felt like members of our family. These three individuals exceeded anything we could have imagined and were absolutely essential to the remarkable experience we had in their country. Tshering booked our flights into and out of Bhutan, arranged wonderful overnight accommodations, and worked patiently with us as we navigated major flight changes caused by the war in Iran and the temporary closure of the Qatar airport. She also went out of her way to create special moments for us during our anniversary celebrations. She truly represents the kind and caring spirit of the people of her country. We can only hope she’ll let us host her in our homes if she travels to the U.S. in her future. Jamyang was a fearless driver on the sometimes sketchy roads of Bhutan, typically with a smile on his face, especially after his three-mile walks and temple visits each morning. He also joined us on several longer hikes, proving himself to be a true mountaineer in addition to an excellent driver. He bested us in shooting arrows, but promised to give us another chance to win if we return. Bijay was a blessing for us. He spoke excellent English, had a gentle and encouraging manner, and carried a calmness that guided not only our feet but also our spirits. Particularly meaningful for us was his deep knowledge of and reverence for Bhutanese Buddhism and the broader history of the religion. He helped us walk, figuratively, in the footsteps of the Buddhas, the Bhutanese kings, and the people of this land of Gross National Happiness. He led us as a master. We hiked through moss-laden forests, climbed mountain trails, crossed fields tended by farmers using wooden hoes, and walked over wooden ladders crossing over fence wires between fields. We shot wooden arrows with handmade bows (not handmade by us), gazed into holy waters, soaked in hot tubs, meditated and prayed in temples, and watched student artisans learn to weave, paint, and sculpt. We especially enjoyed the hikes to the temples, dzongs and museums. We laughed at monkeys in the trees, remained watchful and ready to retreat when viewing yaks up close, smiled at the odd-looking takins, and constantly stepped around (beautiful) dogs, horses, and cows who clearly possessed special status in the country in that they never felt obligated to move from our paths. We ate plenty of vegetables, fiddlehead ferns, rice, and potatoes. Although Bhutanese cuisine often includes meat, they took good care of the vegetarians in our group. While Bhutan advertises its cuisine as quite spicy, we suspect the heat is somewhat tempered for tourists, as even the hottest dishes would have ranked only “medium” for some of us. The thingye (Sichuan wild pepper), with its tingling sensation, did add a wonderful spice — especially when sprinkled on cucumbers handed to us by workers in the fields we crossed. All in all, we had a wonderful journey and only wished we had attempted the longer treks into the national parks when we were younger. Bhutan is undergoing major change, with increasing development of tourist hotels and higher-quality roads, so we would encourage travelers to visit sooner rather than later if they hope to experience more of its traditional character. Nevertheless, this trip was a true highlight for us, and the beauty of the country and kindness of its people will live long in our memories. And if we return, we would without hesitation make sure we used the Bhutan Travel Club again!

+1

Bhutan Travel Club organized a fabulous, personalized tour for four persons. Our guide and driver were very knowledgable, hospitable and flexible. They modified plans one day so we could visit an additional site at our request and adjusted an overnight accommodation when we needed extra rest. They arranged a good mix of traditional Bhutanese meals served in local restaurants and in homes, buffet meals that included some international foods, and one meal prepared by a chef who amused us by serving American style mashed potatoes. I highly recommend Bhutan Travel Club for an authentic and personal visit to Bhutan.

excellent booking experience. all necessary information was given quickly, requirements of places to visit, clothes, visa, payment, hotels, guides and transport. The guides were knowledgeable and the driver was very safe, if a trifle slow ( understandable due to the hilly nature of country). Bhutan is very clean, water, roads, air and general awareness of importance of cleanliness. If at all visitors are not careful. Food is a slight issue, because it seems local food is not patronised. Indian food (not very good probably because of good cooks are in shortage) is readily available. Water in the rivers is plentiful and has low TDS so it is surprise that bottled water is recommended. The hotels should infact simply clarify the water and use UV to get drinkable water and eschew plastic bottles completely. overall a very pleasant experience.

Route: Paro-Thimphu-Punakha-Phobjikha-Bumthan-Paro/Haa Valley Trip Duration: 08 Nights/09 Days All of the details were worked out in advance patiently by Khusala. More days and distance were achieved by flying back to Paro from Bumthang. On arrival I was greeted by my guide Bijay and whisked away to the Paro Tshechu Festival. The festival was a wonderful introduction to the cultural heritage of Bhutan. The Buddhist sacred dances were incredible to witness. I had requested hikes during my travels: 1st above Thimphu, through the Nature Reserve near Phobjikha, a Trans Bhutan Trail descent into Ura village and hiking to The Tiger's Nest Monastery. I felt very well attended to by Bijay, who was both knowlegeable and caring. He would call ahead to restaurants to make sure my dietary needs were met, which was a huge help! Dawa was an excellent driver on all the endless winding roads and always cheerful even on long days. I had great experiences traveling in Bhutan and would definitely recommend The Bhutan Travel Club for your tour!

Recently back from an 8 day tour of Bhutan with BTC. The support and assistance from Dawa and Tshering in the office went above and beyond, from planning the trip to being on call during our tour. Our guide Sonam and driver were excellent & helped make this the trip of a lifetime - Sonams English is great and we had a superb overview of the culture and landscape of this amazing country. Do not hesitate to choose BTC for your trip :)

Many thanks to BTC (specifically Khusala, Krishna, Tashi and Tsiring) for a wonderful travel experience. They were all knowledgeable, thoughtful and professional.

We were traveling as a group of four good friends. While searching for a suitable tour to Bhutan, we contacted nine travel agencies. Khusala of Bhutan Travel Club particularly impressed me. Of the nine agencies I contacted, Khusala was always the first to answer our questions, usually within a few hours. She not only provided detailed explanations but also always considered things from our perspective, ultimately designing an itinerary that met our needs. Tshering is an excellent guide, fluent in English and Mandarin. Bhutan is a country that combines nature, history, and religion. A good guide can make your trip more in-depth. Moreover, he observed our physical condition (given the high altitude) and made minor adjustments to the itinerary as needed, ensuring we completed the entire journey in the most comfortable way. Subba is a professional driver; having a calm and focused driver like him made us feel very safe, especially given the bumpy road conditions in Bhutan. We all really appreciate the efforts of Bhutan Travel Club team!