Located in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is an exotic destination living in the present and past at the same time. Unexplored by many, it offers solitary to all travellers and unforgettable memories. Covered by nature, views of snow-capped mountains, dramatic landscapes & fluttering flags dot all around the country.
This is a country where red rice is cultivated and dried red chilli is a special curry known locally as Ema Datshi aka Chilli with cheese. It is purely a Buddhist kingdom where Monks play football and use social media to entertain themselves during breaks.
There are many fascinating facts that differentiate the country from the rest of the world. Of the many, One funny fact is that Bhutan doesn’t have traffic lights and the traffic is operated by police personal with amusing hand movements.
In case you visit Bhutan, we have summed up five amazing things you can do in Bhutan that will fill your wanderlust with thrills and excitement.
Hiking
For travelers who want to get out from the bustling city life into the beautiful nature all by themselves, the country offers stunning and captivating hiking trails to get you close to nature.
Panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, Rhododendron flowers, and crystal clear alpine lakes are the glimpse that the hiking trails provide.
Cool breeze amid the forest below the shining sun, the chirping of birds & sights of elegant species of birds in the wilderness is where you will be on the whole journey. If you opt for long day hikes such as “Drakey Phangtsho” aka lake on the lap of a cliff, you will get to see a jaw-dropping landscape of rocky hills and numerous alpine lakes which is the perfect spot for you to have Instagramable pictures as your travel memories.
The best time for hiking is in spring, autumn & winter but not summer because of unexpected rainfalls.
List of hiking trails in Bhutan
- Dochula To Lungchutse Lhakhang Hike – it’s an easy hiking trail that takes about 3 hours and gives you a glimpse of mountain peaks.
- Tiger’s nest hike – it is an 8 hours hike where you can ride horses or walk by yourself. It gives sights of the popular Tiger’s nest and beautiful waterfalls.
- Druk path trek – it’s a strenuous 6-day hike where you will pass through jungles of pine and a number of lakes. Hospitable villagers and ancient religious sights are a freebie.
- “Drakey Phangtsho” aka lake on the lap of a cliff – it takes a day to & fro to the magnificent site and you can have views of jaw-dropping landscape of rocky hills and numerous alpine lakes.
5. Cheri monastery – This hike is in Thimphu and it takes a maximum of 2 hours to reach the monastery. You will be greeted with the view of some crystal clear rivers and natural vegetation. It’s a getaway for you if you feel bored being in Thimphu city all day.
Off Road & Mountain Biking
Off-road biking in the mountainous terrain has a different thrill which will increase your adrenaline rush and push you off your limits. The offroad trail takes you through small towns and villages with majestic views of splendid mountains and lush valleys.
Mountain biking is a very popular sport with Bhutanese and ex-pats alike. Various new off-road trails have been developed for biking lovers, which include single track, cross-country, jeep tracks, downhill, and so on.
Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha offer less -strenuous biking experiences but if you prefer strenuous challenging routes, there is a popular biking event held once in a year known as the tour of the dragon that takes place in September. The tour covers four mountain passes and with a distance of 286km through many twists and turns. You can also let your tour operator make tailor-made packages that suit your type of riding style.
Rafting
Rafting along the crystal clear untamed rivers with views of beautiful landscapes is an amazing adventure if you really need an adrenaline rush on the journey.
There are various types of rafting classified into six categories which range from easy to challenging ones.
There are six major rivers for rafting in Bhutan with the most popular being Punakha along phochu (male river) which is 16kms long, Mochhu (female river) at 10 km long & Paro along paro river. Amateurs can raft the Punakha rivers while experts can try white water rafting along paro chhu.
Helicopter rides
Flying in the chopper is one of the best ways to explore the spectacular high mountain passes that dot the country. The most amazing journey is the 60 minutes snow-capped mountain jomolhari ride that takes you to the base of Mt jomolhari which is at the height of 7320 meters above sea level and known to be the virgin peak in the world.
The chopper will take you to the base of the mountain where you can take some amazing pics and have some coffee watching over the magnificent mountains. Meanwhile, you can also catch the sight of blue sheep(Pseudo Nayar).
There are various types of helicopter packages taking you to wildlife sanctuaries as well as taking you over to get a glimpse of spectacular lakes & monuments.
Festivals
Bhutan festivals, which are ancient expressions of Buddhist culture and legendary victories, are re-enacted and celebrated around the country with such pomp and show that it attracts visitors and tourists from around the globe. There is much color and pomp in their visual presentation but hold significant meaning in Bhutan’s buddhist culture.
Bhutanese people attend the Bhutan festivals in their best attire of expensive gho’s (worn by men) and kiras (worn by women) adorned with the most exquisite accessories. Bhutanese believe that attending and witnessing these unique rituals cleanse their souls which is why many families still go to these events around the country.
Although most of the popular Bhutan festivals fall during the Spring and fall seasons, there are numerous other events you can explore that aren’t just masked dance performances but also showcase Bhutanese culture in a different way.
In case you’re looking into exploring the festivals according to seasons, here’s a link for the list of festivals in Bhutan which have gained much traction over the years, and which you should explore in 2020.