Bhutan has been on my radar for a while, but then I contemplate signing up for a trip and start questioning myself whether it's really worth the long journey and how different it really is. Will I get dzonged out? After a bit, does it seem repetitious? How long should I stay? Is it worth spending the time to be able to get to central and/or eastern parts of the country rather than just the more typically touristed western part? Is the food (and buffets) truly boring? I am not a foodie by any means, but having interesting and unique meals does add to the impact of a trip.

If I were to visit Bhutan I'd be looking for a small group tour that isn't just riding in the van from one tourist stop to the next. I'd like a trip that combines some half day walks (not heavy duty trekking) of maybe 10 to 12k in rural areas with the cultural sightseeing. I am fit and able to handle walks that aren't too steep and don't involve a lot of climbing. But, because of my advanced age, I am apprehensive about how difficult walking is due to the high elevation.

I have visited Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand (my least favorite) and India.

Bottom line: I am getting older by the day and have many places in the world I am interested in visiting in the limited travel years I have left. Is it worth making Bhutan one of those?

I visited Bhutan back in 2001, when tourism was just getting started. I went with GeoEx, much pricier than my usual trips, but Bhutan is pricey. I was there for two weeks, and things were getting a bit repetitive. The food was not exciting, it was mostly hotel buffets, but after twenty years I would expect improvement.

That said, I am very glad I went. The country is mostly forested mountains. The dzongs are unique. The people are great. Only go if you will be there for a festival.

The site that had my report from this trip is defunct, but if you're interested I suppose I could post the text on Fodors - but it was 2001. My photos are here.

I haven't been to Bhutan and don't plan to. I have however done lots of hiking at high altitude elsewhere in the world. You are right to be concerned about the effects of altitude though there is evidence to suggest that as you age, the symptoms are less pronounced. IME you can reach a degree of acclimatisation in 2-3 days during which time I would avoid exertion such as hiking. Even walking uphill or stairs will quickly make most people breathless. It does take time to become full acclimatised to the altitude to a point where one is comfortable hiking for any distance.

Some friends went recently and whilst they enjoyed it , it didn't blow their minds as I would have expected for the extraordinary prices being charged. For hiking in mountain scenery, maybe Peru or in Asia, Taiwan? Less expensive, extraordinary food and perhaps closer to home.

I appreciate both of your replies.

They have added to my current gut feeling that perhaps this should slide down my list in order to let places that I know I truly want to see to move up. If I were 30 years younger........

Here’s a concise reply recommending Bhutan while addressing concerns:

Bhutan is definitely worth considering! It's unique and offers a blend of culture, nature, and history that sets it apart from neighboring countries. While the dzongs and monasteries can feel repetitive, Bhutan’s peaceful atmosphere and stunning landscapes make each visit memorable.

For your preferences, a small group tour with half-day walks (around 10–12 km) is ideal. The terrain is generally moderate, and the high elevation won’t be too challenging if you take it easy. The western part of Bhutan is popular, but the central and eastern regions are more remote and offer a different perspective.

Regarding food, Bhutanese cuisine is simple but flavorful, and while it might seem repetitive to some, it’s part of the authentic experience. As for your limited travel years, Bhutan offers a refreshing, peaceful escape and is certainly worth the journey if you’re seeking something unique.

Let me know if you need more details or recommendations!

I'm happy you began this thread and as soon as I began reading I was going to suggest Thursday's report, but I see that she has chimed in.

I'm also looking for a few more "exotic" trips while I can handle them. Believe it or not, I had a long conversation (almost an hour in length) with an Uber driver from Bhutan recently. He did make it sound really interesting but after thinking about all the other places Id like to go, Bhutan is not on top of the list. Certainly there would be much better and more varied food elsewhere, I think..

But where????

This is off topic, but I'm wondering about Oman, more of Indonesia, Taiwan, Sri Lanka. And ...believe it or not, the NYTimes just ran a story about increasing foreign tourism in Afghanistan!

I'm thinking that Bhutan would be vaguely similar to Nepal which I enjoyed (seeing very little outside the capital) but it wasn't among my 'dream" destinations.....

I've been to both Bhutan and Nepal, and would not have said they were that similar.

I would recommend both Taiwan and Sri Lanka, though. I have reports on both on Fodors, but from 2010-11.

Julies, there is a current TR on Fodors about Taiwan from Progol, if you are interested. And there is one from last year from Yestravel. Taiwan sounds very interesting.

I'll take a look at that Taiwan trip report. Thanks for mentioning it.

As far as other Asian destinations, I am currently thinking about Sri Lanka or parts of India (NE or NW) that I haven't already visited in the total of 4 months I have already spent there.

I have recently returned from Bhutan. The east in particular has fantastic scenery. Food is repetitive and boring. Accommodation in the east is virtually all 3 star only.

Dzintra131 So your suggestion would be to include/focus on the less touristed east? Did you get dzonged out? Was yours a trip that included walking/hiking or was it a cultural tour only? Did you visit during a festival, and if so did the festival add to your enjoyment of the country.

Above all else, on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) would you recommend Bhutan?

If you have time, I would so appreciate a response. Thanks.

The East and centre have great scenery. I was there for 3 weeks. I don't hike but if you did there would be a number of interesting hikes. It was a cultural tour. Several long car trips which I'm ok with. I did visit during a festival. That was a worthwhile experience and great for photos. Photography was one of my reasons for going. I did get a bit dzonged out but I went as a solo traveler so I could control what I did. I would give Bhutan a 5 with a reservation regarding food.

Three weeks! That is a long time. I appreciate your help and may rethink Bhutan. Thanks.

Too many places I'd like to visit and diminishing time and opportunities.

I recently visited Bhutan and, unfortunately, had a pretty bad experience, especially in Thimphu. I was excited about the trip, but things just didn’t go as expected. The customer service was disappointing; staff were either unhelpful or seemed disinterested in assisting tourists. On top of that, getting around was a hassle with transportation being disorganized and delayed. The accommodations I stayed in weren’t great either, with cleanliness being a major issue. It’s a shame because Bhutan is such a beautiful country, but my time there left me feeling let down...