All you need to know before planning a Bhutan trip

Bhutan reigns as the happiest country in the world and nothing makes the Bhutanese people happier than their ruling monarchs. The royals have had a long history of love for their people, consistently going out of their way to ensure that the people in their kingdom are living well. The former king had voluntarily abdicated his throne at the age of 56 in 2006 — the first voluntary abdication recorded in history — to make way for political reforms that he believed would be beneficial for the entire kingdom. 

Now, its current ruler, H.M. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, continues his father’s work as an active advocate for education and welfare. Heralded as the People’s King among the locals, his passion to help his people has driven him to travel frequently to the rural countryside to live amongst them and visit inaccessible villages by foot. 

With such a strong focus on the environment, It is no surprise that Bhutan is a firm believer in sustainable tourism. As its natural environment is highly regarded as sacred sites, the Bhutanese government implemented daily tariffs to control the number of tourists entering Bhutan. This helps to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring that Bhutan’s prized nature continues to thrive. 

At first glance, this tariff seems to be a deterrent for the wallet. However, this actually includes many perks: you get a Bhutanese guide who’ll bring you around for the full extent of your stay, all internal ground transportation and a minimum 3-star accommodation. You will also be happy to know that a fixed amount of the tariff will be contributed to free education, healthcare and environment conservation under the Bhutanese government’s Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) initiative. Giving back to the destination has never been so easy. So when you go on a trip to Bhutan, be rest assured that you’ll be part of this government’s sustainable tourism development!

AN ASSEMBLY OF SPECTACULAR VIEWS

The moment you arrive in the Bhutan skies, you’ll be blessed with a sprawling scenery of rugged mountainscape and lush greenery from your flight. Paro Airport is famously known as the most difficult airport to land in and only a handful of pilots are qualified to do so. With the airport runway located amongst the mountains, pilots have to revert to manual mode to land successfully. As the plane slowly descends on its approach, you will be holding your breath either from the priceless bird’s eye view of the spectacular Bhutanese landscape or from the fact that the plane’s wings seem to barely clear the top of building roofs. If you ever felt compelled to applaud a pilot’s well-executed landing, this would definitely be a good reason to do so.

Here’s a special insider tip, courtesy of Uniq Luxe: reserve seats on the left side of the plane when flying in. Likewise on the return flight, request for a seat on the right side of the plane. This is how you secure the best views as you arrive and leave Bhutan respectively. 

Amankora boasts five different locations: from the valleys of Gangtey to the forests of Paro. In fact, Amankora Paro was specially designed to blend in with its surrounding greenery. Seemingly engulfed by the neighbouring forests, you’ll feel as though you have become a part of nature. Get the best views as you relax in the glass-walled yoga suite and gaze at the ancient Drukgyel Dzong ruins as well as the looming Jomolhari Mountain. 

COMO Uma Punakha is also another luxury accommodation with jaw-dropping views. Perched high above on a hill, its rooms have a fantastic view of the vast valley below, overlooking bright green paddy fields, emerald-carpeted peaks and the sparkling Mo Chhu River. If you’re looking for sprawling views of picturesque rice paddies and green valleys, stay at one of the intimate rooms available at COMO Uma Paro.

As its name suggests, aside from the picturesque views, Six Senses Bhutan offers an all-rounded immersive experience — a treat not only for the eyes but the soul as well.  Relax in one of its five lodges located high above the serene landscapes of Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, Gangtey and Bumthang. From meditative yoga to holistic spa treatments, guests find it easy to indulge themselves in a luxurious wellness retreat in Bhutan. 

With wellness at its very core, Terma Linca Thimphu is home to spa facilities and a hot stone spa — perfect for travellers who are looking for a rejuvenating retreat in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. The wide open terrain is also great for picking up archery, the national sport of Bhutan, and guests are more than welcome to book sessions at the concierge. This resort was originally built by the royals to host their royal weddings and is the only locally-run 5-star accommodation in the entire country. Attesting to their authenticity is their restaurant, Apa’s Restaurant, serving up local favourites.

Another gem in the country is the award-winning Gangtey Lodge. Nestled high upon the great Gangtey Valley, which is a protected reserve for the rare black-necked cranes, and thus a fantastic spot for bird-watching. Step into your private oasis, fully furnished with warm fabrics and earthly tones, and soak in the bath overlooking the mountainous scenery with the cozy fireplace warming you up.

Don’t be misled by its Japanese name: Matsutake mushrooms are actually native to Bhutan too. These wild mushrooms, known to the locals as Sangay Shamu, are found deep in the forests of the Ura Valley, grown in clusters around the bases of pine trees.

They are harvested once every year during the July-September period, where the people of Ura walk for hours just to gather these tasty mushrooms. To celebrate this harvest, the Bhutanese people throw a three-day Matsutake Mushroom Festival, held in the Bumthang Valley in the third week of August.

A story goes that the Bhutanese people reap in such large quantities of these mushrooms that they would feed the excess to the pigs. They had not known about the Matsutake mushrooms’ value in the international trade market until a Japanese tourist identified them at a festival.  Since then, Bhutan is currently one of the seven main exporters of Matsutake mushrooms in the world. 

Speaking of festivals, Bhutan plays host to several festivals as well. Regarded as the National Festival of Bhutan, the Thimphu Tshechu Festival is by far the largest and most popular. This festival is conducted annually over three days typically in October since 1867. The Bhutanese people put on colourful costumes and perform masked dances to bless spectators and impart to them the teachings of the Buddhist dharma. It is long believed that attending such a spectacle will bestow upon the onlooker good fortune for the year. For tourists who would like to partake in this festivity, it is highly recommended that they be there three days in advance for an extra day of celebration on Thimphu Dromche, when the local people throw dances to honour their patron god, Palden Lhamo. 

Another popular festival to attend is the 7-day long Paro Tshechu Festival, which celebrates the advent of spring. The star of the festival is a 350-year old scroll which attracts thousands of visitors to Bhutan. The people don masks depicting gods and demons, and dance to commemorate the deeds of the great saint Guru Rinpoche. The dances are believed to invoke the deities of these holy teachings who remove misfortunes by suppressing evil spirits.