Bhutan is one of those rare places that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a completely different world. I know that’s how I felt during our 8-day trip. And here’s me convincing you to make Bhutan your next travel destination!
It’s Genuinely Authentic
Because Bhutan has been isolated for so long and has only recently opened it’s doors to tourists, it remains one of the few places where you can experience traditional life firsthand and get a genuine glimpse into how locals live day to day. It is not a destination that’s been redesigned around tourism and it’s so refreshing to experience that.
Bhutan has preserved its traditions, architecture, dress, and way of life remarkably well.
Did you know that Bhutan has laws and regulations designed to preserve its traditional architecture and culture? For example, all buildings are required to follow traditional Bhutanese architectural guidelines, incorporating distinctive features such as ornate wooden windows and painted facades. I personally believe it’s such a great way to encourage cultural patriotism and solidarity.
During our visit, I loved seeing people wear their national clothes, the kira and the gho, daily. It’s not required by law to be worn everywhere (only on formal settings) but people still do so and it’s so wonderful to see.
So Many Opportunities to Participate First-Hand
From homestays to farm visits, you can experience local meals, try their national sport archery, participate in arts and crafts, and have genuine interactions with communities.
We did all of these and more during our trip! Some highlights include:
- Staying at the home of a local grandmother who cooked and fed us to no end!
- Spending a night at a monastic university and chatted with monks
- Trying archery, making sand mandalas and painting traditional symbols
- Learning how to cook Ema Datshi, Bhutan’s national dish
- Experiencing a traditional hot stone bath after a tiring hike
Far From the Usual Tourist Crowd
Rather than pursuing mass tourism, Bhutan has long followed a “High Value, Low Volume” tourism philosophy. The way our guide explained this is that this is done to keep tourism manageable while protecting its environment, culture, and way of life.
In fact, protection of the environment is really big here, with their constitution mandating that at least 60% of Bhutan’s total land area must remain under forest cover “for all time.” That is so impressive to me. (In fact, many of the things that their Kings have done has impressed me so much, but that is a story for another day!)
One of the ways Bhutan does this is through its Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). International visitors currently pay US$100 per adult per night, in addition to the visa fee. So, although most of the things in Bhutan is relatively very cheap compared to the rest of the world, I wouldn’t say that traveling here is “cheap.” (Don’t let that deter you, though!)
Your Pick: Budget or Ultra Luxury
Bhutan has some exceptional high-end stays, from heritage-inspired hotels to remote glamping and luxury resorts. Like I mentioned, we stayed at a homestay and a monk’s university. But we were also able to try staying at a city hotel, a luxury boutique hotel and even got to experience glamping!
We also got to visit ultra-luxury resorts such as Aman and Six Senses, where we had drinks and high tea respectively. But I really enjoyed our stay at Amba Paro, a luxury boutique hotel in Paro. The architecture was impressive, we had the best view from our room (The Tiger’s Nest!) and the service was heartfelt.
I shared more about our different stays on my article for WhenInManila.com. Click the link to read more about it!
I Love Bhutan!
I have been to so many places but Bhutan ranks high up there on my favorites list! There’s so many things I love about the place and I’ve barely scratched the surface on this article. If you see me in person, you can ask me about it.
But be prepared to listen to me ramble on about why Bhutan is so amazing, for hours on end! 😉
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