12 Days in Bhutan from AU$16,888
Bhutan gourmet adventure that balances spicy cuisine with tree-lined trails. Himalayan cooking embraces many influences from Tibet to India, and we'll get to explore it all in detail from farmers markets to grandma's chilli-cheese.
One of the most unique culinary adventures we’ve ever designed, Bhutan embraces influences from India to Tibet. A fascinating place to explore the Himalayas, the culture and the cuisine. You’ll be travelling with a local chef Tashi Dendup and our gourmet escort Shellie Froidevaux for the duration of your tour. Tashi and Shellie will be cooking up some treats plus sharing insights into the Bhutanese way of life.
We’ll take walks through rhododendron forests, spend two days at a cultural festival and eat with the local people. An optional hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is also included. We do have some gentle hikes throughout the itinerary, taking in the stunning Himalayan scenery and some pristine wilderness, but the main focus will be gourmet culture: Street food, traditional cooking and produce of the Himalayas.
You can travel with a conscience knowing that part of your tour cost goes directly toward funding of local schools, to improve the education outcomes of Bhutanese children.
Arrival in Paro & Thimphu
Punakha
Phobjikha Valley
Haa Valley
Paro
After September there are no restrictions on vaccinated travellers coming to Bhutan.
It's been eight years since Ewen Bell first started guiding trips to Bhutan. His favourite season is winter when the air is cool and dry in the mountains and you can enjoy the sunshine without exploding into a ball of sweat!
Not much at all. All meals, permits and ground transport are covered already. If you're not buying much in the way of souvenirs then $20 for a sim card and maybe another $50 for drinks should cover the basics. We also provide a more detailed "Pre-Departure Pack" when you book in the tour.
Solid walking boots with high ankle support is recommended. We don't do heavy walks on the Be Your Best tours, but we do expect to travese dusty and rocky trails.
This is the really tough one. Anyone can do it, you just need to take your time and don't rush it. The trail is steep on the way up, and the final section is mostly stairs. Coming back down at the end of the day can be tough if you have knee trouble. We offer an alternate day out for those who want to sit out the Tigere's Nest.
Very warm indeed. Bhutan is plentiful with trees and hydro-electricity, and everywhere we stay you can expect either a log fire that turns the room into a sauna, or electric panels that offer more regulated control of warmth. Often we get the benefits of both.
Yes. Everywhere we travel is good for electricity, although the supply can drop out for hours at a time. Charging camera batteries or a laptop each day is never a problem.
Yes there is mobile networks at every place we stay on the tour. The networks do vary so roaming connections may vary also. We recommend a local sim-card for cheap internet access as hotel internet is often slow.
We take care of that for you too. Our ground team handle visa applications and you'll have an electronic confirmation of your visa before departing for Paro.
Usually we require travellers to arrive on the same flight at the start of the tour. Druk Air fly to only a few destinations and traditionally we have used Bangkok (Thailand) as our meeting up point for the tours.