Known as the “Land of the dragon,” Bhutan has baffled many with its mysteriousness. Nestled in the great Himalayas, the tiny Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan was inaccessible to the outside world until a few years ago. Now it has become a bucket-list destination for tourists around the world. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country’s unique culture and traditions: Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage. Bhutan goes by the philosophy of Gross National Happiness, where the country believes in taking into account its citizen’s happiness levels in terms of having a good life. Bhutan is also highly focused on environment protection. There is so much to know about this beautiful country, so plan a holiday to Bhutan soon to unearth other interesting facts.

Know Bhutan before you choose Bhutan holiday packages

It’s preferable to read about a new place you are traveling to respect the place’s culture and religious sentiments. As a tourist, here’s all you need to know about this tranquil country before your holiday begins.

Where is Bhutan?

Bhutan lies in Southeast Asia. Bhutan is a landlocked country bordered on all sides. To the north, Bhutan is bordered by Tibet. To the west, Bhutan is bordered by Sikkim and the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. To the East, Bhutan is bordered by Arunachal Pradesh. Finally, to the south, Bhutan is bordered by the states of Assam and West Bengal.

How is the landscape of Bhutan?

The landscape of Bhutan consists mostly of steep and high mountains and deep valleys. Elevation falls in the range of 200 m-7000 m.

What is fascinating about Bhutan is that the different regions of Bhutan offer a wonderful change in terms of landscape and weather. Bhutan's northern region consists of Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows as well as glaciated mountain peaks. The higher elevations experience an extremely cold climate.

Bhutan’s central region is composed of the Black Mountains, deep gorges, and forests of subalpine conifer and broadleaf. Bhutan’s main rivers: The Manas, Torsa, Sankosh, and Raidak flow through this region. Most of the population lives in the central highlands.

The Shiwalik Hills make up the landscape of south Bhutan. These hills are covered with dense Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, alluvial lowland river valleys, and mountains. The Bhutan Duars is a 10 to 15 km-wide strip, with most of it extending into India.

Wondering about the climate?

With the variations in elevation, Bhutan’s climate goes from subtropical in the south to temperate in the highlands, while in north Bhutan the region experiences an extreme cold climate with year-round snow. There are 5 seasons in Bhutan: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, and spring. Western Bhutan namely Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha receive heavier monsoon rains. Places in South Bhutan experience hot humid summers and cool winters. Central Bhutan and eastern Bhutan are temperate and drier than west Bhutan.

You can get by with English

Dzongkha is the official and national language of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Three other dominant languages in Bhutan are Tshanglakha (spoken in eastern Bhutan), Lhotshamkha (or Nepali, spoken in south Bhutan, and Bumthangkha (spoken in central Bhutan). However, there are 19 different languages and dialects spoken throughout Bhutan. Having said this, most of the people in Bhutan speak English.

Are there exotic animals and flowers in Bhutan?

Bhutan is rich in flora and fauna. Many rare species of animals can be found here such as the golden langur. Other animals found in Bhutan include the sloth bear, hispic hare, clouded leopard, Himalayan Black bear, and Bhutan’s national animal—takin, among others.

Is there a monarchy in Bhutan?

Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The reigning monarch is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Ethnic groups

Bhutanese people primarily consist of the Ngalops and Sharchops, called the Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese, respectively.

What do the people of Bhutan wear?

The national dress for Bhutanese men is the gho and women wear an ankle-length dress called the kira. Social status and class determine the texture, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments.

You don’t have to survive on noodles (Maggi)

Red rice, buckwheat, and also maize are the staples of Bhutanese cuisine. The people of Bhutan love their meat as well with favourites being pork, beef, yak meat, chicken, and lamb. Soups and stews of meat and dried vegetables spiced with chilies and cheese are popular preparations. Popular beverages include butter tea, black tea, locally brewed ara (rice wine), and beer.

Now how to get to Bhutan

Air: Bhutan has only one international airport— Paro Airport. Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan. Bhutan’s national carrier Druk Air operates flights between Paro Airport to airports in Gelephu in Bhutan, Jakar in Bhutan, Bagdogra, Kolkata, New Delhi, Guwahati, Gaya, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Nepal.

Road: The Lateral Road connects Phuentsholing to Trashigang, running through the towns of Wangdue Phodrang and Trongsa. The Lateral Road also branches out to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan and other major cities such as Paro and Punakha.

Rail: Bhutan has no railways. Bhutan’s nearest railway station is Hasimara in West Bengal.

Holiday Packages to Bhutan

Now that you know everything about Bhutan- its people, food, culture, etc, let’s look at some exciting holiday packages to Bhutan. TourGenie has some awesome holiday packages to Bhutan that will change the way you experience this peace-loving and environment-friendly country.

Festival holiday packages, Bhutan

These holiday packages cover festivals such as Haa Summer Festival, Lhuentshe Tshechu Festival, Matsutake Mushroom Festival, Druk Wangyel Tshechu Festival, Jambay Lhakhang Festival, and Thimphu Festival Tour. Festivals are the best time to visit Bhutan to understand their culture and religion. Book these festival holiday packages for a unique experience in Bhutan.

Motorcycle tour holiday packages, Bhutan

To truly appreciate the beauty of Bhutan, nothing beats a motorcycle holiday tour. TourGenie’s Tusk Motorcycle Around the Dragon is one of the tour packages that take you through the main cities of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Bumthang. Other tour packages are 10 Days Bhutan Motorcycle Tour, 15 Days Around the Dragon in Bhutan, and Bhutan Motorcycle Tour.

Mountain biking holiday packages, Bhutan

Have an adventurous heart and love mountain biking? Some of these packages will surely excite you. The Explore Western Bhutan Mountain Biking Tour is an 8-day exploration of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdu Phodrang, and the Phobjika Valley on a mountain bike.

Walking tour holiday packages, Bhutan

A place is best experienced on foot. Walking tour packages are perfect to see and experience the local lifestyle and way of living of those living in rural Bhutan. Bhutan Remote Villages Walking Tour is a wonderful tour that takes you through the rural countryside and villages of Bhutan, giving you a first-hand account of rural living.

Hiking and trekking holiday packages, Bhutan

Bhutan has some of the best trekking and hiking trails in the world. Out of the many holiday packages for Bhutan, one offbeat hike that is offered by TourGenie is the Chelela to Kila Goenpa Nunnery Hike. This will take you through beautiful dense forests, with spectacular views of Paro Valley and Haa Valley of Bhutan.

Best time to visit Bhutan

The best time to visit Bhutan is in the spring/summer months between March and May. This is when the valleys are in full bloom. In October and November, Bhutan experiences clear skies which is a great time for hiking and trekking. Avoid the monsoon months from June to September.

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