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10 Reasons Why Bhutan Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

In January, I got to check off one of my top bucket list items:

Visiting the remote Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan.

I’m typically attracted to a destination by three things:

  • The promise of delicious food
  • The knowledge I’ll be able to stretch my dollar far
  • The possibility of adrenaline-pumping adventure

However, that wasn’t why I wanted to go to Bhutan.

Instead, I longed to explore a less-considered destination that still retained much of its traditional heritage and natural landscapes that, by the way, are incredibly epic.

The destination did not disappoint.

For a better idea of why you, too, should consider Bhutan as your next travel destination, keep reading for my top highlights.

One quick tip before we dive into the experience:

Grab my free Ultimate Travel Planning Kit — which also includes a downloadable Google Map of my full Bhutan itinerary.

Add the map to your phone to have it ready to go for your trip!

Bhutan Travel Video

But wait!

Before we get into what made my Bhutan trip so memorable, I’ve got a video for you:

Watch it for an overview of what makes Bhutan unlike any other place in the world.

As in, 13 truly unique facets of the country.

Plus, you’ll see some of my favorite Bhutan trip photos.

If you’d like in-depth explanations of each point made in the video, click here to learn more about the interesting facts about Bhutan.

And now, for the list of Bhutan travel highlights.

1. You’ll Learn That Wealth Doesn’t Measure The Strength Of A Culture

Instead of measuring Bhutan’s economic prosperity on wealth, the government measures it on a Gross National Happiness Index focusing on good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.

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Birds flocking to the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu

In fact, right in Bhutan’s constitution, it mandates the country be at least 60% covered in forest.

Moreover, no matter where you go you’ll be able to see traditional arts and crafts, like weaving at the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre and paper-making at the Jungshi Paper Factory, both in Thimphu.

To show you just what a visionary government Bhutan has, in 2003 King Jigme Singye Wangchuk actually led his troops into battle — as opposed to sitting by and watching the war from his throne — against rebels from the Indian state of Assam.

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One of the world’s highest Buddhas at Buddha Point, Thimphu

2. To Experience The Beauty Of Buddhism

No matter what religion or belief system you follow, it’s hard not to appreciate the values of Buddhism.

During my 10-day trip, my Bhutan Tourister guide, Kinley, told me much about Buddhism that really rocked my world.

For one, the idea that we are all born with three poisons — hatred, greed and ignorance — and that we should work to rid ourselves of these to reach enlightenment and potentially reach Nirvana.

Or that instead of clinging to expectations and material things we should accept that disappointment and suffering are part of life, and try to practice non-attachment to those things.

Or that nothing is permanent, and thus we should enjoy our positive memories and know that our suffering shall pass. Or that our suffering and joy are all controlled by our minds — meaning we have control over these emotions.

To go along with this, the temples and spiritual centers are magnificent, typically featuring Dzong-style architecture with massive fortress-like designs, giant iron and wood entryways, flared roofs and interior courtyards with lots of intricate detailing.

Phobjikha Valley
Photos of Phobjikha Valley’s Black-necked cranes taken with my iPhone 6 through a telescope at the visitor center

3. For Amazing Wildlife

Phobjikha Valley or, as I like to call it, the Valley of the Black-necked Crane, is an amazing place to visit for those interested in bird-watching and nature.

Not only is this place unique for its endless flat fields of bamboo shrubs and inspiring mountains, but because it is home to the Black-necked Crane, one of the rarest species of crane in the world.

It’s not hard to spot them, their bright white bodies contrasting with their black heads and tails, sticking out against the light green and yellow grasses.

The birds strut and glide gracefully, and are truly mesmerizing to watch. Interestingly they’re known as “birds of heaven” and are said to be attracted to holy places.

In fact, at the local Black-necked Crane Visitor Center I learn the birds fly clockwise three times around the local Gangteng Monastery — a Buddhist practice that helps rid the body of negative energy — both when they arrive in the fall and before they migrate to Tibet in the early-to-late spring.

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Chilies with cheese abound in Bhutan

4. They Love Chilis

Every time I asked Kinley if a particular dish was local, he’d reply:

“Only if it has chilies in it.”

Bhutanese like it hot, which in turn makes me love Bhutan.

Hey, you’re talking to someone who is obsessed with New Mexico solely based on their green chile culture, and who once ate so much hot sauce at a restaurant in the Bahamas that they mailed me a free case!

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Wandering around Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan

5. You’ll Be McDonald’s-Free

Sticking with the food theme, I can honestly say I can’t remember the last time I went somewhere, no matter how un-western, that didn’t have a McDonald’s or a Pizza Hut.

Until Bhutan.

While I did spy something called “Momo Bell” that featured something suspiciously similar to the Taco Bell logo in Thimphu, that was the closest I came to the big Western brand fast food culture in Bhutan.

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A picnic lunch in Paro, organized by my guide

6. To Slow Down

Driving down winding dirt roads that hug mountainsides, colorful prayer flags billowing in the wind, 73% lush forest and giant gilded gold Buddhas looking over the valleys, it’s impossible not to feel at peace.

Even the traditional dress — handmade knee-length robes tied at the waist for men (a Gho) and the ankle-length dresses with light outer jackets (Kira and Tego), so beautiful yet so comfortable — make me feel relaxed (and wanting to get out of my tight-from-too-much-cheesey-chilis jeans and into one).

Bhutan only got TV and the internet in 1999, and only received their currency over bartering in 1974, so their addiction to being constantly connected and stressing over work emails and Tweets isn’t as palpable as in other places of the world (ie my home of NYC).

In fact, in certain countryside stops I was completely without Wi-Fi, (happily) forcing me to grab my journal, a good book and some walking shoes and just enjoy the present.

By the way, to slow down while immersed in beautiful scenery you shouldn’t miss visiting Jakar, Bhutan’s “mini Switzerland”

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Natural beauty in Bumthang

7. To Travel Responsibly

While Bhutan’s $200-$250/night all-inclusive tourist fee + $40 visa + $30/$40 tariff for duo and solo travelers + $860 round trip Druk Airlines flights via Bangkok + round-trip flights to-and-from Bangkok and your home may seem steep, you will be getting your money’s worth in a number of ways, one of which is the chance to truly travel responsibly.

Because of the destination’s remote location and the expenses to get there it hasn’t been flooded with tourists, leading to a well-preserved culture and landscape.

And because you’re mandated to have a guide it’s ensured you won’t take part in any irresponsible or illegal activities, like mountaineering and skiing, which are believed to disturb the spirits that reside on the hillsides.

It’s also worth noting that 35% of what you pay goes toward governmental programs like free educational and healthcare, infrastructure and nature conservation, helping you give back to the community you’re visiting.

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Visiting the Weaving Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan

8. To Experience The Preservation Of Cultural Heritage

As stated above, one of the four pillars of the Gross National Happiness Index is the preservation of heritage, which you’ll experience over and over again on your trip.

Even in Thimphu, the capital and largest city in Bhutan, I visited places like:

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Phalluses are everywhere near the origins in the Chimi Lhakhang monastery

9. To Get An Alternative Look At Religion

In Lobesa, a village in the District of Punakha, I visit a very spiritual albeit quirky place, at least to me as a westerner and non-Buddhist.

Here you’ll find Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Temple of the Divine Madman.

Despite the fact the Divine Madman, a Buddhist Master, cursed in his preachings, had sex with and impregnated myriad women (including a nun), drank and ate copiously, danced jubilee through the hillsides, he did everything with his heart, with a goal to spread positive energy and liberate people from strict societal conventions and mundane religious cultures.

He was especially known for his phallus, which had the ability to enlarge and fight demons.

In fact, you’ll see homes all over the country with big cartoonish penises painted on the facades, as well as wooden phalluses on the roofs and above the doors to keep demons at bay.

Inside the temple itself, it’s possible to be blessed with a phallus made from an elephant tusk that once belonged to the Divine Madman himself in the 15th century.

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Monks at a Buddhist temple in Bhutan

10. To Experience Something You Can’t Anywhere Else

The reason you pay so much money to visit Bhutan isn’t for the world’s most delicious food or the best hotels of your life.

It’s to explore a place unlike any other, from their visionary Gross National Happiness Index to the locals still sporting their traditional dress to the many things that make the destination quite quirky, at least in the eyes of westerners.

It’s a place where people love their king, where leaders go into battle with their troops when necessary and where the traditions of the good old days are still present, from the capital of Thimphu to, even more so, the outer villages.

I’ve been to 40+ countries, and to me this was unlike any place I’ve been to before.

Bonus Bhutan Travel Resources:

What Everyone Should Know About Planning A Trip To Bhutan

How To Hike To Bhutan’s Breathtaking Tiger’s Nest

13 Things That Make Bhutan Unlike Any Place In The World

Is Bhutan Worth The $250 Per Night Fee?

6 Highs & 6 Lows From A Trip To Bhutan

Exploring Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley, Land Of The Rare Black-Necked Crane

Exploring Jakar, The Switzerland Of Bhutan

There’s A Place In Bhutan That Is Obsessed With Penises

10 Amazing & Immersive Experiences To Have In Thimphu, Bhutan

venice italy experiences
Click here to grab your FREE Ultimate Travel Planning Kit! It includes a Google Map of my full Bhutan itinerary.

Have you visited Bhutan? What did you love/not love about your trip? 

10 Reasons Why Bhutan Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

Essential Bhutan Travel Info:

Recommended Tour Operator: I went with Bhutan Tourister and had an unbelievable time. I highly recommend them. Please use this booking form for inquiries.

Booking Your Trip: By law, tourists visiting Bhutan must have a guide and must pay an all-inclusive rate of $200-$250 per night (low vs high season) + airfare + $40 Bhutan visa fee (unless you’re an Indian, Bangladeshis or Maldivian national) + $30-$40 nightly tariff for duo and solo travelers. This includes your private guide, 3-star lodging, three (huge!) meals per day and ground transfers.

Responsible Tourism: Making it more difficult to visit Bhutan limits the amount of tourists entering the country, helping to preserve the landscape and traditional culture. Moreover, 35% of what you pay goes to the government to put toward free education and healthcare, infrastructure and conservation.

Health: Healthcare is free for locals and visitors in Bhutan. I didn’t encounter any hotels with gyms, so if you’re looking to stay in shape I recommend Yoga Download (900+ yoga classes right on your laptop or phone), TheraBands (inexpensive resistance bands that take up virtually no luggage space) and a FitBit wristband (encourages you to be healthy and is stylish).

Paying For Your Trip: As a points-obsessed traveler, it stung not be able to pay for the trip with my credit card. To pay for your trip you’ll need to transfer the funds in US dollars to the tourism board’s bank account. The fee for me personally through Bank of America was $45 for the transfer, though they were kind enough to waive it for me as I’m a preferred client, so that was sweet. You can easily make the transfer online if you do online banking.

Language: Dzongkha & English

Local Currency: Ngultrum (Nu). As of February 2016, 1 Nu= $0.01.

Tipping: I tipped my guide the equivalent of $10/day, as I read $8-$10/day was the norm on numerous forums and travel agency sites.

Internet: Most of the hotels I stayed at had pretty decent Wi-Fi, though there was one that said they had Wi-Fi and it didn’t work. Homestays will likely not have Wi-Fi. If you want to stay connected I recommend getting a local SIM card from TashiCell, which cost about $10 for the SIM and 10 days of credit (depending how much you’ll use it, I had lots of credit left over but I didn’t use mine much), or a KnowRoaming Global SIM Sticker to affix to your regular SIM for local rates.

Food: If you like heat, you’ll love the chili-laden Bhutanese food, though many hotels cater to tourists with more general meat and veggie dishes. I was never hungry, as portions are huge and heavy, typically featuring a heaping bowl of red rice with pasta, potatoes, fish, cheese-topped chilies, cheese-topped mushrooms, turnip flowers and other meats and veggies. That being said the food won’t be what you write home about; it’ll be the well-preserved culture and heritage as well as the beautiful mountainous, green landscapes, 72% of which are covered in forest, unlike anywhere else.

Booze/Tobacco/Weed: Bhutan is a booze-friendly country (the small capital of Thimphu has 700 bars alone), though note the country is dry on Tuesdays, which is also the day many sites and shops are closed. Despite growing plentifully weed is illegal, and tobacco is illegal to sell. You can bring your own cigarettes purchased from another country, but be prepared to pay a 200% tax on them at customs.

Plugs: The outlets varied at the hotels. In some I was able to plug a standard USA-style plug into the wall, while at others I needed the European two-prong kind. Click here for a visual. It’s recommended to get a TravelMore International Travel Adapter with USB ports so you can charge multiple devices with one gadget.

Dress: While it won’t cause an uproar if you wear a tank top and shorts, it’s a respectful gesture to keep shoulders and knees covered when not in your hotel room. This is mandatory in the local temples (as well as no hats!) which you’ll be visiting a lot of. One travel essential to carry that’s great for this is a scarf shawl — which also works as an airplane blanket!

Essential Gear: Even if you visit in the warmer months it’s essential to bring warm clothes, as the mountains can get chilly all year round. Some items I recommend:

bhutan travel
Jessie Festa standing in front of grafitti wall

Hi, I’m Jessie on a journey!

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15 Comments

  1. Stef on at 11:13 pm

    They love chili? I have to go 🙂 No seriously, Bhutan is definitely on my list. Not the next destination as it’s just on the other side of the world right now, but I’ll go! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Kate on at 7:22 pm

    It sounds like you had an absolutely wonderful time! I really hope to visit Bhutan sometime in the future–it looks like a destination that is too beautiful and unique to miss.

  3. Manjulika Pramod on at 4:48 am

    I soooo agree with this post. Bhutan is a must do. It surprised me in many ways.

  4. Santhosh on at 12:11 am

    Thanks for your blog. We travelled, and it was worth every minute.

  5. maggie2467 on at 6:50 am

    Hi Jessie ,

    Thank you for this wonderful article. You have definitely helped a lot of potential traveler discover our hidden kingdom of Bhutan. A lot of tourist who love to travel to Bhutan are in search of first hand experiences and its narration of their journey to Bhutan. This will be a huge help for them to plan their vacation in Bhutan .

  6. Destiny on at 1:31 pm

    Nothing can prepare you for Bhutan. It possesses an indescribable magic. The temples that seem to challenge the heights of the Himalaya.

  7. Ronit Pradhan on at 6:15 am

    Thanks for the blog. Your blog reminded me of my good time there in Bhutan. I and my friends thought of having our first bike trip and Bhutan was our preferred destination. It was a seven day trip and now that I think of I feel nostalgic all the time.

  8. Kamal Tanwani on at 6:53 am

    Nice information, you refreshed my memories my bhutan trip of last year, i was managed to backpack across bhutan in less than Rs.10k from Bangalore.

  9. Great post. I really enjoyed reading your bit about Buddhism, the three poisons and not clinging onto material things.

    I didn’t realise how expensive Bhutan was though! That is a little deterrent for budget travellers. Also interesting that you have to pay the tourism board direct for your trip.

    I hope to go one day though, it does look and sound fantastic. Thanks for sharing and the inspiration.

  10. Carrie on at 8:50 pm

    We are going to Bhutan in October for our honeymoon. We were originally planning on a 10-12 day trip through just Bhutan. Now we’re considering adding Tibet and Nepal and shortening our time in Bhutan to 6 days and only doing the “western” portions – Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. We would not be doing the central part of Bhutan, including Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang. Is it your opinion that this is a mistake? Would we be missing out by not going to central Bhutan? Thanks.

    • Jessie Festa on at 1:35 pm

      @Carrie: I think the more you can see the better; though I’ll admit there is A LOT of travel time in Bhutan. Some days are 100% just traveling. I was thankful to see more than just Central, but if you’re limited time/budget, then you’ll still enjoy your trip.

  11. Akanksha on at 12:10 am

    Great article! It’s so amazing that you have already been to 40+ countries. I have always wanted to visit Bhutan and explore their culture and tradition but I knew very little about the country and now after reading your article, I am pretty convinced that I should head towards this beautiful country soon. You have clearly covered all aspects of Bhutan in this article so it will be very helpful for the first time travelers like me or anyone planning to visit Bhutan. Thanks again Jessie.

  12. Alex Dwane on at 8:24 am

    Thank you so much, Jessie, for the informative and interesting post. I like your points which you have discussed over here and provided such a piece of great information with good knowledge. With the help of this information, most of the people will know about Bhutan and its richness.

  13. Ashley on at 2:54 am

    Hi Jessie! Greetings from Druk Asia! We’re a Bhutan Travel Specialist, the largest tour operator in Bhutan and also the official representative of Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines). We came across your blog post about Bhutan and would like to share with you that we actually have an affiliate program and we’ll like to invite you to be a part of it.

    It’s a platform for people to earn a commission while promoting Bhutan! 🙂 All our affiliates will earn USD50 for every successful booking made through their personal URLs.

    You can check it out and sign up at affiliates.drukasia.com.

    Let us know if you’ll be keen or if you have any queries.

    Thank you.

  14. Tshewang Penjor on at 1:57 am

    Hi,

    Thanks for your information on Bhutan. Thanks for your visit and writing great content.
    Cheers

    Tshewang

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