26 Mar 2024
I had an amazing week in Bhutan and I cannot recommend a tour with Bhutan Acorn highly enough! My tour in Bhutan was incredible: seeing the unique landscapes in person, learning about Buddhism at the many temples and monasteries we visited, and most of all, the dedication and attentiveness of both my guide, Kezang, and driver, Tashi, throughout the whole tour.
From the get-go, I had a very positive experience interacting with Bhutan Acorn online. When I first enquired about a tour towards the end of 2023, I was told that the government had reduced the Sustainable Development Fee, which I had not known; Bhutan Acorn were transparent and ensured I would not have to pay any more than needed. Furthermore, as I made the booking through their website, I paid for the tour through a bank transfer, and I ended up accidentally paying slightly over the price of the tour. Bhutan Acorn notified me of the overpayment and after my arrival in the country, promptly repaid me.
I was very lucky to have Kezang, to guide me, and Tashi, to transport us, around Bhutan. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe and accounted for throughout the whole week. Kezang and Tashi were very patient with answering my questions and took many photos of me. Kezang also communicated what we were doing very clearly each day and I literally and figuratively was able to take a back seat. Both Kezang and Tashi really went beyond ensuring that I was more than comfortable, from accommodating to my preferences for our itinerary, and offering to carry my belongings for me.
The trip was full of unforgettable highlights. The homestay with Aum Leki in Punakha was very special to experience the way of living of a Bhutanese person. After our hike in Phobjikha Valley, as we had extra time, Kezang took me to the Black Neck Crane Information Centre, which was not part of the itinerary. From there, I was lucky enough to see the last three cranes that had not yet flown back to Tibet for the year! I attended the Annual Paro Tshechu Festival wearing a kira and saw traditional dances. And of course, the hike to Tiger’s Nest was very rewarding. While I was initially concerned that the itinerary would be packed, it definitely did not feel that way for me in reality; I always had time to unwind and did not feel too tired at the end of each day.
To all travellers thinking of going to Bhutan: it truly is a unique country that is definitely worth visiting! I miss Bhutan and will settle with telling everyone at every opportunity I can to travel there, especially with Bhutan Acorn. Thank you for a wonderful trip and for these amazing memories that will last a lifetime.