kilmainham

HI

Myself and two friends are hoping to travel to Bhutan in Oct - we'd like to do a trek for about 8-10 - we're relatively fit . Would love if anyone could recommend a trek and other things to do in Bhutan - we plan on spending about 16 days in total there before moving onto China.

Cilla_Tey

Presume you know that there is a minimum all-inclusive cost of USD$200 per day per person irrespective of your standard of accommodation. From memory about 40% goes to the government.

kilmainham

Yes ! It will be expensive - good job there is a good exchange rate Euro to USD at the minute! Do you know of any accommodation that isn't as expensive as the Aman resort but has a bit luxury for after a trek ?

thursdaysd

My Bhutan hotel info is out of date, but have you checked the Lonely Planet guidebook?

Kathie

I hear the Uma isn't quite as expensive as the Aman. But rather than asking us, you need to be asking your Bhutanese company. All visitors are required to have a Bhutanese guide and to have arrangements made by the Bhutanese company (even if you are going through, say a British compay, they must use a Bhutan company). There have been a number of recent posts about Bhutan - do a search here.

kilmainham

Thanks for that . We're enquiring with a few tour operators at the moment.Bluepoppy and snowwhite trek - does anyone know of any other we should look at before making a final decision?

Kathie

Those are the two that have gotten the best reviews.

dogster

Kathy - Blue Poppy was the company I used for my not very fabulous trip to Bhutan. So not ALL the reviews are good.

kilmainham - exercise caution. Blue Poppy will give you fabulous pre-trip service - BUT its IN Bhutan that matters. If they are just going to hire whatever freelance guide is hanging around Thimpu then all your pre-trip planning goes for nothing. See my review [thread is Dogster? Bhutan.]

Uma Paro is your clue to arranging this. Pay the extra - but it'll be AT LEAST $250 a day on top of the $200 tax. But you'll be totally safe and secure.

By the way, for your basic $200 a day you won't get to choose your hotels. You'll be allocated them.

Kathie

dogster, thanks for disclosing which company you went with. Previous posters who had gone with Blue Poppy had good reviews, so it's very helpful to hear the other side.

kilmainham

Dogster - myself and my friend were reading your "tour" of bhutan and we were in tears laughing at it- I know it was horrible but you were very funny ...I've been very impressed with Bluepoppy so far but may be going towards the other operator now.Thanks for that. Also, are you never without a guide - is it possible to have a few hours meandering around on your own ?

dogster

kilmainham: Thanks for your kind words.

My guy confused the roles of guide, bodyguard, P.A., geriatric nurse and nanny. I couldn't shake him.

The only time you'll get any time on your own will be once you're dropped off at your hotels. Most of these will be outta town [not that there's anything to do IN the town [except for Thimpu] so you're effectively trapped.

Tourists are not to be let loose in Bhutan. I got the feeling [in my limited interaction with the locals] that they thought we were all rather stupid.

Which, in my instance, may not be far from the truth...

kilmainham

We may try and cause a diversion and escape the guide! Thanks for your reviews - I'm hoping to maybe have a slightly less horrific time! We're planning on trekking for 10 days -Jomolhari trek - and touring as far as Bumthang. If anyone has done this trek I'd be interested to hear how they got on. And any confirmed sightings of blue sheep ?!

thursdaysd

I visited Bhutan as part of a tour group, rather than as a solo traveler, and we were "let off the leash" on occasion. I would imagine it's harder to shake a guide if there's only one or two of you, although the group was explicitly allowed to wander off. I can remember watching archery, visiting the Thimpu market, and just generally walking around without a guide.

kilmainham

Thanks for that -was there anything in particular you really liked about Bhutan - we're not sure where to travel after the trek so will take all suggestions!

thursdaysd

kilmainham - trip report at www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2001. Make SURE you're there for a festival. Otherwise the best part was the countryside, but you're planning to trek through that anyway.

stephenmat

snowwhite travel was great with me. no leashes !

fluke

i used bhutan scenic tours (they have a website) last may, i spent a wk there with my husband, we stayed at zhiwaling in paro (very good, but not 5 star because it was new and no landscaping etc) but it was cheaper than uma paro and aman and my friend stayed at uma, paid more and was unhappy.

anyway i almost used blue poppy but they charged some service fee and bhutan scenic tours gave us a discount because it was "low" season and there was no festivals during that time (so easier to secure hotels)

i thought the tour was great, service was very professional.

CailinDeas

ttt

kilmainham

Did anyone take a day out fishing or birdwatching in Bhutan ? Is it workth the extra time ?
Also I read somewhere you can upgrade for about $40 to business class on Druk air - really just to use the business lounges in Kolkatta/Paro in case of delays - anyone any info on this ?
Thanks...

Cilla_Tey

Yes, it's not much to upgrade to business class. On the way there business was not available because the then king's youngest wife was travelling. On our return flight it was available but we didn't upgrade. On that flight in business were a few of the Bhutanese princes and princesses. So the chance of bumping into a royal in business is high. My consolation was ending up next to a very interesting American lady married to a Bhutanese. She featured briefly in Michael Pailin's book on his Himalayan trip.