Bhutan Tours & Holidays

If travellers can tear their eyes away from the backdrop of the mighty Himalaya, they’ll discover a rich, remarkable culture in Bhutan that is quickly modernising yet truly anchored in tradition.

Since opening up to travellers in 1974, Bhutan has seen visitor numbers rise from just a couple of hundred to upwards of 200,000. The appeal is obvious: pristine alpine landscapes, magnificent Buddhist architecture and an air of mystery that pulls travellers in, not to mention the much-discussed Gross National Happiness used to measure national wellbeing, which is prioritised over GDP.

Bhutan is the only country in the world to be carbon negative. Since 2007 the country has been run by a democratic government, with three separate parties having won the three national elections since. Approximately 75 per cent of the population are Buddhist and these religious values are used to guide government policy along with prioritising sustainability and cultural preservation.

In society, the Bhutanese follow ‘driglam namzha’, a traditional etiquette supporting the respect for authority, devotion to family and a dedication to civic duty. The flag, which was adopted in 1965, features the country’s emblem of the Thunder Dragon on a backdrop of golden yellow and orange. The yellow represents the king and his secular power, while the orange represents Buddhism. The dragon holds jewels in each of his claws, representing the wealth of the nation.

And it’s the word ‘wealth’ that perhaps describes Bhutan best. A wealth of tradition, of culture, of history. A wealth of beauty, of happiness, of prosperity. In the future, given the way the country has been progressing, there’ll no doubt be a large amount of wealth brought in by more and more tourists. What will be interesting is how Bhutan manages to balance its age-old traditions with its quickening march towards modernity.

Early history

As one of the few countries in the world to have never been conquered or occupied by another, Bhutan has a long history of independent governance. Although its early history is shrouded in mystery, Bhutan is thought to have been inhabited from as early as 2000BC. Tibetan Buddhism was introduced into the region around the 9th century, when many Tibetans fled neighbouring Tibet to seek refuge in Bhutan.

The leadership and governance of Bhutan has always been linked to its religion, and this continues in today’s political, legal and religious leadership of the country. The 16th and 17th centuries saw some conflict with Tibet, although Bhutan was never officially taken over by its neighbour. External threats from the British presented themselves in the 18th and 19th centuries; however, once again Bhutan was never officially controlled or governed by an external power.

Recent history

In the last 40 years, Bhutan has had many ‘firsts’. Bhutan introduced a new monetary system and currency in 1974 and also opened up its borders to welcome foreign tourists in the same year. By 2000, Bhutan had its first television set and internet cafe, and by 2004 Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco products. Bhutan’s first constitution was drawn up in 2005, and its first democratic multi-party election was held in 2008, when the constitution was finally ratified. It has held two democratic elections since.

Today, Bhutan’s economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture and forestry, although ‘Gross National Happiness’ continues to be valued more than economic abundance or growth in domestic product. Bhutan has been held up as an example of what a country can be when it puts culture, the environment and wellbeing ahead of economic development, but there are challenges too: after the new government took control in 2013, the prime minister admitted that the focus on the Gross National Happiness measure sometimes distracted from addressing Bhutan’s problems including unemployment, corruption and poverty.

Bhutan is famous for its spicy cuisine that’ll knock the socks off the most hardy traveller. Almost everything is served with chillies, so if you like things spicy, you may just have found heaven – for others it’ll be hotter than hell.

A few dishes to look out for

1. Ema datshi
   
   These are very hot chillies served in a cheese sauce. This is Bhutan’s national dish, with ema translating as ‘chilli’ and ‘datshi’ as cheese.
   
   
2. Phak sha pa
   
   Sliced pork stewed using red chilli, onion, tomato, ginger and sliced radish.
   
   
3. Red rice
   
   The Bhutanese eat loads of rice and you’ll notice that the rice is usually a reddish colour. This is because it’s grown in the fertile Paro Valley soil. It has a nutty flavour and is typically paired with mushrooms and chilli.
   
   
4. Momos
   
   These Tibetan dumplings are filled with meat, cheese or vegetables and are generally served up as a snack. Never say to no-no to a Momo.
   
   
5. Red Panda beer
   
   The Red Panda Brewery, which is Bhutan’s first, was started by a man named Fritz Maurer who came to Bhutan from Switzerland after answering a newspaper ad for a qualified cheesemaker. Not only does he make Swiss cheese, he also produces this hefeweizen beer.

Plant-based options

Vegetarians will find travelling through Bhutan easy as meat does not play a huge part in the Bhutanese diet. Vegans may have a more difficult time as dishes will often come with cheese. Be sure to ask that your dish is prepared without butter or cheese.

Of course, this is all a lot easier when you’re travelling with a local. If you travel with Intrepid, you’ll have a local leader who can help you decipher menus and recommend good plant-based choices. 

This landlocked kingdom may occupy a small space on the world globe but there’s nothing small about the mountains that lie within. Sharing borders with China and India, Bhutan is known as 'The Switzerland of Asia' for its mountainous topography and similarity to Swiss landscapes.

Bhutan has largely resisted overdevelopment, which has left much of its natural environment intact. As a result of this, Bhutan is one of the most species-rich countries in the world – with hundreds of species of mammals, birds and plants calling the Bhutanese valleys, mountains and meadows home. Endangered red pandas and snow leopards can be found in Bhutan as well as a huge variety of wild flowers and birds.

The country can be divided into three areas. In the south, you’ll find the lowlands fronting the Indian border, which enjoy a subtropical climate. This region sees monsoonal rains from June to mid-October and mild winters through December, January and February.

Travel north and the climate becomes progressively colder as the Himalaya rise. The central belt of the country, in the lower foothills of the Himalaya, features cold, dry winters and warm summers with monsoonal rains on the southern sides, while the valleys experience less rainfall thanks to the mountains’ protection.

 In the northern regions, as the Himalaya rise above 2500 metres (8202 feet), the winters are cold and while the summer can be warm, the valleys are generally protected against monsoonal rain. The temperatures turn freezing as you reach the China-Tibet border, with the mountains rising to a high point at Gangkhar Puensum (7570 m/24,480 ft) – the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

If you’re after top quality handicrafts and colourful art, then Bhutan will delight. While Bhutan isn’t known as a top shopping destination, there are many talented artisans creating good quality souvenirs to buy here.

It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

1. Hand-woven fabric
   
   Traditional weaving is at its very best in Bhutan. Choose from colourful rugs, clothing, blankets and accessories when visiting one of the many textile stores and boutiques in Bhutan’s cities.
2. Traditional music
   
   Why not pick up a CD of Bhutanese harmonies, or chanting monks, as a melodic stress-buster for when you’re back at home and in work mode.
3. Spiritual souvenirs
   
   Vibrant prayer flags, fragrant incense and prayer beads make meaningful gifts for friends and family back home.

Bhutan's festival calendar is packed with colourful occassions filled with celebrations and dancing.

Paro Spring Festival (Paro Tshechu)

The people of Paro welcome the start of spring with five days of cultural and spiritual celebration. Locals shake off the winter blues by indulging in sword dancing, drumming and feasting. Expect to see stirring rituals, colourful clothing and touching displays of faith if you’re lucky enough to travel during this time.

Thimphu Festival (Thimphu Tschechu)

This three-day festival is meant to be highly auspicious to all who attend. Bhutanese people travel from all over to attend this spiritual celebration that features prayers and rituals to invoke the gods as well as traditional dance, costume and theatre. This highly joyous time gives travellers an important insight into Bhutan’s culture and the chance to mingle with locals.

Public holidays that may impact travel include:

• Winter Solstice

• Traditional Day of Offerings

• Losar

• Birthday of His Majesty the 5th King

• Birthday of Third Druk Gyalpo

• Buddha’s Parinirvana*

• Birthday Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche

• Buddha’s First Sermon

• Blessed Rainy Day

• Dashain

• King Jigme Khesar Namgyel’s Coronation

• Descending Day of Lord Buddha

• Birth Anniversary of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo/Constitution Day

• National Day

*Please note dates of Bhutan's public holidays may vary.

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Bhutan adventure, check out these books:

• Buttertea at Sunrise: a Year in the Bhutan Himalaya – Britta Das
• Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: a Portrait of Bhutan – Ashi Dori Wangmo
• The Heart of the Buddha – Elsie Sze
• Beyond the Sky and Earth – Jamie Zeppa
• The Blessing of Bhutan – Russ Carpenter
• The Divine Madman: the Sublime Life and Songs of Drukpa Kunley – Translated by Keith Dowman
• Seeing with the Third Eye: Growing up with Angay in Rural Bhutan – T. Sangay Wangchuk