Boutique Small Group Tours & Private Tours to Bhutan

A nation of fascinating culture and geography, it’s well worth the effort to travel to Bhutan. The country is landlocked high in the Eastern Himalayas, between Tibet and India. Travellers to this high altitude area of the world will experience steep mountain passes, wide valleys and a huge range of native plant and animal species. Though geographically small, the nation varies widely between snow-capped peaks and subtropical plains.

The unique culture of Bhutan is heavily influenced by its predominantly Buddhist faith, represented by clifftop monasteries and a focus on gross national happiness. It’s worth travelling to Bhutan to understand its rich local history, culture and religion.

Overall, Bhutan is considered a safe country for travellers. Crime rates are low and the risk to visitors is small, though vigilance is always encouraged. Even though Bhutan is the only country in the world without traffic lights, roads are considered very safe. Border areas can be risky, but guided tours to Bhutan are a great way to explore the country while staying safe and taking advantage of knowledge and experience.

Due to its elevation, visitors may present symptoms of altitude sickness. This is easily managed with deliberate acclimatisation. Other health risks include the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused the Bhutan government to suspend tourist visas temporarily. It’s worth checking Smarttraveller regularly for updates.

Bhutan is known for its strong adherence to Buddhism, which is the state religion. As such, much of the nation is tinged with elements of Buddhist culture, including festivals known as tshechu. Highlights of tshechu are the cham dances, performed mainly by masked Buddhist monks. Tourists will also find it worth travelling to historical Buddhist monasteries, such as the cliffside Paro Taktsang.

Bhutan is also known for zorig chusum, which is a collection of thirteen traditional arts and crafts. The crafts, which include masonry, carpentry and woodwork, can be seen all across the nation, including in its architecture, traditional dress and the wooden masks of tshechu.

The Himalayas are an enormous mountain range between the Indian subcontinent and Tibet. The range crosses five countries - Bhutan, India, China, Pakistan and Nepal - and includes some of the tallest mountains in the world, like Mt Everest and K2. Bhutan is located in the Eastern Himalayas, a geographically-diverse section of the mountain range which extends across northeast India up to the border region of Myanmar.