Please help me to start planning a trip to Bhutan
 

I have been wanting to go to Bhutan for a while, so would like to start planning for 2018. I know it is too early, but I would like to use my mileage for a flight from Chicago to... (Delhi, Katmandu, etc), and in general, seems like this trip requires a bit more coordination than usually, so wanted to have some time.

We (my husband and I) will have two full weeks total for an entire trip.

My first question is on recommendation on how to spend these two weeks. I understand we can fly to Paro from Nepal, India, Thailand and Singapore. However, we have been to Thailand and Singapore previously, so thinking to flying to Delphi or Kathmandu, prior to flying to Paro. We have never been to India or Nepal.

I was thinking of maybe spending about 8 days in Bhutan, and 5 days in India to see the Golden Triangle.
Another option is to spend 5 days or so in Nepal and seeing some of the sites in there.
Or maybe we need to increase time in Bhutan, but we are not trekkers and seem a bit expensive to stay longer.
What do you recommend? Really looking forward to seeing your input.

I also would like to visit during festival time. I am not sure if it makes sense to plan around major festivals, or we can attend a smaller ones. Do you have any recommendations on this?

And lastly, where do we start? Do we start by contacting a local agency to discuss dates, festivals, flights to Paro, and only then plan on purchasing international flights?

So many questions ... Looking for your help to get me started...

Start by buying a guidebook. That will help you determine what you want most to see/do in Bhutan. Read some of the trip reports here on Bhutan. Go to the top of the page and under "view by country" choose Bhutan. You will find both planning threads and trip reports.

Once you have a good idea of what you want from your trip, the next task is to choose a local company in Bhutan to take care of all the logistics. The company can also make good recommendations to you about things like festivals.

I've looked into a trip to Bhutan several times in the past decade, but have not yet gone. But if I were going, I'd spend all the time I could in Bhutan. Dividing a two week trip into Bhutan plus a trip to the Golden Triangle or Nepal sounds like a mistake to me unless you had at least three weeks.

Happy planning!

I agree that some time with guidebooks would be good, and that you don't really have time for the Golden Triangle. However, I do think that you could spend three or four days in Nepal. Bhutan is a very homogeneous country, and although the countryside is wonderful and the temples interesting, after a while it can all start looking the same.

The most important consideration is that you want to be there for a festival. I don't know how much tourism there is now, but a festival in the countryside rather than the capital might draw fewer tourists.

Kathie Thursdaysd, thank you for your replies!

I do have Bhutan travel books are on my Kindle. :) You know I was a regular on this site since 2004, and planning all kind of independent trips for over 20 years, so I would not even dare to post any questions without some preliminary reading. Based on my reading (my books and some trip reports), I know we would not want to spend all two weeks in there. I did get the same feeling as Thursdaysd said, it is a very homogeneous country, and it would get expensive for a longer stay.
With that, my question was more on how to spend our remaining days, so they do not get wasted. We both work, have very short vacations, I have health issues making it is very hard to tolerate long flights, so we try to use out days to the fullest.

I did not spent much time with India or Nepal books as of yet, so wanted to go an easy route and ask experts on where our remaining days would be spent better - India or Nepal.

I did see some tour companies offering a private trip of the Golden Triangle for 5 days, so this is why I thought this would be an option. How many days do we need to see the Golden Triangle?

Thursdaysd, thanks for your suggestion, I will look on how several days can be spent in Nepal.

I think Nepal would be easier to manage in conjunction with Bhutan. The Golden Triangle requires lots of driving as does Bhutan, so a place where you aren't driving all the time seems like a better fit. I'd recommend spending your time in the Kathmandu Valley and visiting some of the many World Heritage sites there. Take a look at my trip report which details visits to all of the World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley. Here is a link to our photos: www.marlandc.com/Nepal-2008

You might also enjoy the movie, Travelers and Magicians, which was filmed in Bhutan.

You might want to re-post with a heading along the lines of "Five Days - India or Nepal?" as not many people here have visited Bhutan and may skip this thread.

What does the five day trip cover? Really, you need at least one overnight in Agra, and if you are going to see anything of Delhi (not that it is one of my favorite cities) that probably only leaves time for Jaipur or Jodhpur.

I probably spent a couple of weeks on the Golden Triangle, don't remember exactly. For Bhutan and Rajasthan (Deserted Kingdoms) see:

http://wilhelmswords.com/asia2001/
Photos: https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/Asia-2001

For Nepal, start here: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...and-mountains/

Thursdays (looked at your website, and I understand your screen name now :)) and Kathie,

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I will be looking at Nepal then. Browsed quickly thru pics (will look in details when get more time; I love looking at pics, this gets me excited), and looks beautiful.

Now, I just need to do more reading on Bhutan, and figure out exactly how many days, around which festival, and then the remaining time will to go to Nepal.

If you have any Bhutanese agency that you can recommend, this would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thank you again!

It sounds like you are well on your way with planning. If I can answer any Nepal questions, I'd be glad to do so.

Yes, I am fine for now. Thank you, Kathie! Will do some reading, find a couple of agencies to talk to and come back with more questions

I've just started to post a trip report that includes travelling in Nepal and Bhutan, stay tuned. These countries make a good combination not only because of proximity but also the contrast in their cultures and scenery. The flight from Kathmandu to Paro left me awe-struck. A good guide in Bhutan is essential as you will be spending alot of time with him/her and its important to communicate your itinerary preferences ahead of time. Happy planning!

Will be reading! Thanks Victoria!
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Definitely look up trip reports on Bhutan. I was planning a trip to Bhutan ~3 years ago, and came across trip reports by Dogster and Kathie which steered me towards Sikkim/Darjeeling instead. We stayed in Sikkim for 10 days and I did not regret it. Kathie I am a big fan of yours, we had one of our best vacations in Sikkim.

Thanks, vipsha. I'm glad I was able to be of assistance.

While it is true that dogster did not enjoy his time in Bhutan, a lot of that had to do with his guide (and dogster, much as I enjoyed his tales, had a tendency to exaggerate). I would not take his trip report as a reason to avoid the place. I visited before him, and while I thought two weeks overkill, I very much enjoyed my visit and certainly don't regret it.

I have just posted the start of my Bhutan trip (more to come) and hope it will give you some more perspective!

Victoria, I am enjoying your trip reports as well as reading others.

Yes trip reports are very helpful. I just realized that Bhutan even more expensive than I thought, so we would not be able to afford to stay longer than 7-8 days based on $475 pp/night (looking at your prices with upgrades) anyway.

I have a question on amount and difficulties of hiking. We like hiking, and can walk for a relatively long time, however lately, I have a very difficult time walking up.
How much will we be able to see without strenuous hiking? I know there is a difficult hike to the Tiger Nest, which I am hoping to make at least up to cafeteria. But I am wondering about other places.

To me, the best part of visiting Bhutan, aside from the amazing scenery, was attending a couple of festivals. I did very little hiking, aside from the trek to the viewpoint for Tiger's Nest (it was being rebuilt after a fire when I was there). There are some flat areas, and I certainly don't think you have to hike the appreciate the country.

Hey , I'm from India and went to Bhutan recently . Bhutan is an amazing country with great people - its beautiful and mythical. Hiking to Tiger's Nest is not as difficult as most forums and articles make it sound. However getting in and out of the country is a little tedious since there is only one airline that functions only a few times a week. If you manage to get a Paro-Delhi flight, then doing the Golden Triangle is definitely a possibility. Which month are you looking at for travel? India can get really hot in summers.

Anyways if you are travellng to Bhutan - please read this quick guide on what to keep in mind before going there:

https://mewanderlost.com/2017/05/08/...ing-to-bhutan/

Helen63, you mentioned visiting during festival time. One festival that comes to mind is the Camel Fair in Pushkar, which falls on the first full moon after Diwali, also known as Kartik Purnima. The date for 2018 is November 23. I find that November is a good time for visiting India; the monsoons will have ended, it will not be as hot, and while it will still be (crazily) crowded it will be slightly less so than in the winter months. Pushkar would be a detour from Jaipur, which is one of the cities on the Golden Triangle. I hear it takes time to get there during the festival, but the pictures look crazy enough that I am beginning to contemplate spending my Thanksgiving shopping for camels.

The other festival I like - Ganesh Chathurthi - is during the monsoon months which tend to be humid and logistically challenging. There is Janmashtami which is interesting, again in the monsoons. Diwali tends to be more of a family affair, although Navratri and Dussehra which come ~ 3 weeks before Diwali can also be interesting for visitors.

Those are the Hindu festivals and holidays. Of course Indians will celebrate just about any holiday from other religions as well, they are looking for an excuse to party, especially in the cities - which in itself is not a bad thing I guess. (I am originally from India).

@vipsha - the OP was asking about festivals in Bhutan, and has decided to visit Nepal instead of India.

I booked a 5 day trip with Druk Asia for September 2017 through Delhi and so far I have been happy with their service.

The trip is costing me about $2100 from Delhi and I will get to visit a festival.

Thursdaysd, thanks for your opinion on hiking and festivals. I am glad to hear that hiking can be somewhat limited, and yes, definitely plan on aligning with some of the festivals. As for Nepal, or India - still undecided - looking at recent Nepal trip reports and pics and still not due to earthquake consequences. I have a bit time to think.

Mewanderlost, Vipsha, thanks for your input! I was thinking of traveling in the fall (Oct -Nov), but yes I was planning to align with one of the festivals in Bhutan.
I just mentioned, I have not completely determined if we should go via India or Nepal. I was leaning to Nepal, after Kathy and Thursdaysd responses, but still not sure. So, your input on India is welcome.

DBMTraveler, what does this cost include?

I'm guessing that one of the differences between DMB's trip/price quote and the ones cited by others is a group trip vs. a customized trip for two. All of the agencies will give prices for different size groups. Larger groups are less costly per person that small groups or private tours.

helen63

My package includes..Plus airfare from Delhi


1) Visas for Bhutan
2) A qualified & licensed English speaking guide
3) An experienced driver
4) Suitable transport for your group with experienced driver
5) All meals inclusive at selected restaurants
6) Accommodation at 3 star rated hotels
7) Taxes, surcharges, government contribution
8) Mineral water for the duration of the stay

*Hotels are subject to availability at point of reservation

The package excludes:

1) Hotel Stay outside Bhutan e.g. to catch a flight to Bhutan
2) Travel Insurance
3) Lunch & Dinner outside selected restaurants e.g. 5-star resorts
4) Tips for guide and driver
5) Alcoholic drinks
6) Expenditure of personal nature e.g. shopping and hot stone bath

Hope this helps!

helen63,

To clarify.. airfare (which is about $780) is included in my $2100.

DMB, how many people in your group?

Thanks, DMB!

Kathie, This seems to be the price for a private trip for one based with not upgraded accommodations (about $264 pp/per day consistent with Victoria report).

That would be correct helen63, this is for the basic accommodation and the inclusions/exclusions line up with the quotes I received. You will find they are very consistent from operator to operator, and you can check all the accommodations online to be sure they meet your expectations. Now the big thing is get specific with your preferences for itinerary and guide!

Kathie,

Just one..

Hi helen63,

I visited Bhutan last fall (October) during the Tsechu festival (mask dances with historical significances). I'm told that the best season to visit Bhutan is during this time as the weather is favorable for both touring and trekking.

The total package cost (as mentioned above by DMB) for 7 days was about $2510, inclusive of air tickets (bout $750).

Carl, this is what I was thinking. Did you enjoy Tsechu festival? this is a big one from what I understand.

Where did you fly from into Bhutan?

Thank you, Victoria and DMBT!

Thanks for the info DMB.

helen63,

The Tsechu festival period is perhaps the most popular time to visit Bhutan. I for one enjoyed the colorful mask dances that typically tell the story/life events of Guru Rinpoche who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. Legend has it that the Guru flew to Taktshang (Tiger's Nest) monastery on a tigress' back, hence the name, which I subsequently visited (and HIGHLY recommend to you).

I flew in to Paro from Bangkok and used Bhutan Next Travels as their package rates were slightly cheaper than most others I looked up. The service (guide, driver, transportation etc) were very good and the agency was responsive too.

I do suggest you build your trip around the Tsechu festival in Thimphu and visit Taktshang and a few dzongs (fortresses) as well.

Carl, thank you so much!

helen 63,

We just returned from Bhutan a few weeks ago. We went with Bhutan Travel Club (BTC). We had an amazing time and wouldn't change a thing. Highly recommend!

BTC also booked our flight from Bangkok to Paro. Make sure to check out business class on Druk Air as it is only $40 more than economy.

We visited Thimphu (2 days), Punakha (2 days), Paro (2 days), and Haa Valley (1 day). All places are incredible.

Punakha is stunning. Lots of rice paddies, beautiful villages, stunning temples, and friendly locals. We really enjoyed walking through the villages speaking with locals. The weather there is more 'tropical'. (It was 37 degrees Celsius in May). Also if you go make sure you visit Punakha Dzong. That place is very nice.

Paro is also beautiful. It's a small town with lots of history. And of course Tiger's Nest. The hike is steep but doable. Lots of places to stop and rest :-) It's totally worth the sweat!!!!! You can do it!! Rest up at the cafeteria and continue the climb. The hike is about 1 1/2 - 2hrs (with a break for coffee/tea). Make sure you bring a small lock as lot of the lockers where you will have to leave your belonging do not have one.

Haa Valley is absolutely amazing. It's like nothing you will ever see. The scenery is incredible. We stayed with a host family at a farmhouse and that was a lot of fun. Bhutanese people are very hospitable and friendly.

Thimphu is a an interesting city with lots of museums/dzongs. We were free to wander around the city in the afternoon and that was also fun.

Try Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath if you can. It's an interesting experience :-). And also an archery game, which is big in Bhutan.

Anyways, hope you have a fantastic time in Bhutan. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people. When we were there in May we hardly saw any tourists. It's very peaceful.

Bon Voyage!

It is certainly not that early if you are planning to visit two countries in two weeks. I will definitely invite you to visit my country, India which is apparently the "land of festivals" and you want to enjoy the festive season.

October to June is the ideal time to visit Bhutan as the air is clear and fresh with sunny skies. October and November are the festive months in India starting from Navrati pooja, Dussehra, Durga pooja, Diwali, Rajasthan International Folk Festival to Marwar Festival. The weather remains pleasant and mildly cold in October. The Golden Triangle, that you wish to visit has the best to offer in these months. You will need 4 days to cover Golden Triangle and 8 to 9 days for Bhutan.

Enjoy and I hope you have the best trip!

Unfortunately, i cannot offer any first-hand info on Bhutan. But i do recommend that readers educate themselves on the current geo-political situation of that tiny kingdom by reading this report on the chinese aggression into that state. I totally condemn the chinese takeover of Tibet and view with alarm the continued land grab of the himalayan mountains and wipe-out of ancient and worthy cultures.

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Econ...-bigger-target

Monika, Kajal, thanks for this information! I could not make the trip this year, bur reviving this topic to plan for next year :)