Hi, thanks for all your help and suggestions we've more or less finalised our trip with Snow White Trek tours - Jomolhari trek for 10 days, has anyone done this trek ?(staying at the Taj Tashi in Thimphi, we deserve it after camping!) We're then on a cultural tour accross to Bumthang and then back to Paro for a few days in Uma Paro (thanks for that tip Dogster!). Now all I have to do is wait till October and start planning the rest of the trip - thinking of going to HK/Beijing/Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos/Thailand and home via somewhere yet to be decided. Any suggestion welcome

Glad you've finished your planning. I guess the Taj Thimpu is the new hotel they were building in the main street. Smart choice.

You'll be safe there and Paro - and, as you're trekking most of the time I think you'll have a great time. Bhutan does good nature and clean, clean air. The views will be great in October.

Have you considered Nepal for afterwards? It's a perfect companion trip to Bhutan. Both sides of the coin. You're just 40 minutes away... Easy flight [and spectacular Everest view on the way] Paro - Kathmandu.

Then fly KTM to BKK and head into S.E. Asia from there.

Alternative: Burma. But you'll have to return to BKK and backtrack up again.

We're flying to Kathmandu for a few days after Bhutan and then hopefully going to Hong Kong and Beijing and then Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos/Thailand. Have anyone any reccommendation for Kathmandu ?

http://www.dwarikas.com/

http://kathmandu.regency.hyatt.com/h...tels/index.jsp

both recommended.

Club floor Hyatt is fine and cheaper than Dwarikas - AND very close to Boudnath which, if you let it, will weave a magic spell. Go there late afternoon.

Dwarikas is closer to Pashupatinath - also worth repeated visits - you'll never get to discover it on one quick tourist visit.

Aarti at Pashupatinath as the sun goes down.

You won't have time to go here but check out this place; it's a knock-out.

http://www.villa-srilanka.com/apanepal/index.htm

Oh, and get a window seat on the right hand side of the aircraft, behind the wing, flying from Paro to Kathmandu.

And whisper 'Thank you, Dogster,' as you fly right across Mt. Everest...