Abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade: Entdecken Sie Bhutans verborgene Schätze in 09 Tagen

I had an incredible experience with Raven Tours. Dawa, our guide, was professional, knowledgeable, and very attentive to make sure we were all taken care of and comfortable. Thank you Dawa, for sharing your culture and beautiful country with us! This was an unforgettable trip!

From the moment we arrived in Bhutan, Raven Tours ensured that our experience was seamless and enriching. Our guide, Dawa, was the cornerstone of this incredible journey. His deep knowledge of Bhutanese culture, history, and traditions brought each site to life, turning every visit into a captivating story. Dawa's professionalism and warm demeanor made us feel welcomed and well-cared for throughout our trip. He was always attentive to our needs, ensuring our comfort and safety, and was flexible in accommodating our interests and pace. His passion for his country was evident and infectious, enhancing our appreciation for Bhutan's rich heritage. Highlights of our tour included the breathtaking hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery, where Dawa's encouragement and insights made the challenging trek incredibly rewarding. Exploring the vibrant streets of Thimphu and the serene landscapes of Punakha with Dawa's guidance allowed us to connect deeply with the local culture and natural beauty. Raven Tours' organization was impeccable, with every detail thoughtfully arranged. The accommodations were comfortable, the transportation was smooth, and the itinerary was well-balanced between sightseeing and relaxation. We are immensely grateful to Dawa and the Raven Tours team for crafting such a memorable Bhutanese adventure. Their dedication to excellence and genuine hospitality exceeded our expectations. We wholeheartedly recommend Raven Tours to anyone seeking an authentic and unforgettable experience in Bhutan.

I could not be more pleased with the depth and breadth of our 8-day tour of Bhutan. From arrival to departure, I was impressed with the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that Raven Tours clearly displayed at every turn. While I expected to tour several Buddhist temples and monasteries — all of which, incidentally, sit atop mountains and hills — I was pleasantly surprised by some of the other activities. Among my favorite non-temple activities, I had a yoga session on a mountain next to a monumental Buddha atop a hill; I planted a tree at a monastery also high in the mountains; and I hung a prayer flag at another sacred site. Watching an archery competition proved far more interesting than I expected, while white water rafting with the Himalayas in the background was exhilarating. A visit to the Takin Preserve was a wildlife enthusiast's dream. The Takin, an endangered species that looks like a bull with a goat's head, is Bhutan's national animal. Another nice touch was donning traditional Bhutanese dress on a visit to a monastery. Those photos will amaze my future grandchildren one day. A sleeper activity that appealed to my intellect was a visit to the postal museum, where I learned that Bhutan is a world leader and innovator on postal stamps. The museum printed one of my photos on actual postage stamps that I then affixed to postcards I sent friends. Imagine, my photo on a real postage stamp. The highlight of the tour, however, was the last day, during which I hiked up to the iconic Tiger's Nest — Bhutan's equivalent to France’s Eiffel Tower — a monastery perched precariously high on a cliff. The steep three-hour hike was rewarded with a tour of eight of the temples inside the monastery. It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. The hike was followed by a hot stone bath — a traditional Bhutanese bath where the water is heated by burning-hot stones — that soothed my aching muscles from a week of hikes. I capped that night with a beer tasting at the local brewery that featured eight different beers and a non-Bhutanese menu. While I fell in love with Ema Datshi, Bhutan’s national dish consisting of chilis and cheese, I welcomed the Western menu after having Bhutanese food all week. Throughout the eight days, my guide and driver were both incredibly helpful, courteous, and accommodating of my many requests. Each day had a minimum of five activities (the itinerary was an unbelievable 30 pages long) and our guide implemented the schedule with aplomb and savvy, ensuring that everything we wanted to do somehow got done. Our driver showed incredible skill navigating the treacherous, narrow, two-lane mountain roads. I understood at that point why we had a specially trained driver. On several occasions, I had 12-hour days and both guide and driver accommodated me with good cheer and not a trace of a complaint. All in all, it was one of the best tours of my life (85 countries and counting) and I could not recommend Raven Tours more highly. A trip to Bhutan is pricey, but it’s money well spent.