Wedged in between India and Tibet, but protected by soaring snow-capped peaks and dense jungles, tiny Bhutan has always been a place apart.
Cut off from the rest of the world until 1974, this magical Asian kingdom today still retains its mystical allure and is largely untouched by modern development and external influences. Measuring itself in different ways to the rest of the world, its culture is sometimes severe and often eye-popping, while its famed pursuit of Gross Domestic Happiness is an object lesson in how to live sustainably. The people of Bhutan are almost universally easy to mingle with, and really rather curious about life outside their country.
"You’ll discover a beguiling eccentricity wherever you go in the Land of the Thunder Dragon."
Bhutan’s strategy of high-value, low-impact tourism has largely focused on the five valleys of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Phobjikha and Bumthang, where much of Bhutan’s cultural and natural wealth resides. Here you’ll find most of the (usually excellent) accommodation and many of Bhutan’s best-known cultural riches from the dramatic Tiger’s Nest Monastery to the Wangdicholing Palace.
Go a little deeper though and you’ll discover a hidden nirvana, best experienced on foot with an expert private guide and a private ‘tent with a view’ set up in a variety of stunning locations. Here you can explore little-visited dzongs complete with chanting Buddhist monks, raft down rushing jungle rivers, cycle through remote traditional villages, attend riotous country festivals with masked dancers, trek into high alpine meadows bursting with botanical wonders and even go in search of snow leopards and yetis.
At Explorations Company, we’ve been taking our clients to Bhutan for years. Our unique network of community leaders can open doors to profound experiences not readily available elsewhere. Take a helicopter to the slopes of Jomolhari, Bhutan’s most sacred peak, for example, and help gather highly sought-after cordyceps mushrooms. Stay at some of the most exclusive private residences or a centuries-old monastery. Be received by a leading expert and discuss over afternoon tea how Bhutan has become a carbon-negative country. Head out with a top conservationist to monitor the yearly return of endangered black-necked cranes.
Whether you’re on a personal journey of mindfulness or are looking for an amazingly different place to take your family on an outdoors adventure, you’ll discover a beguiling eccentricity wherever you go in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Let social media influencers talk the talk. Here you’ll find reminders everywhere of how really to live your best life.
