Bhutan Holidays
Bhutan is a devout Buddhist country nestled high in the Himalayas and sandwiched between India and China. It is a remarkable country of fascinating lifestyles and surprises in every region.
Since opening its doors to tourism in the 1980s, it has continuously strived to maintain its cultural identity by resisting western influences. This included limiting the number of foreign visitors to 7,000 per year, making it expensive to visit. It is still a relatively difficult country to get flights to and planes are small only allowing a limited number of travellers.
Until recently, travel to Bhutan was the preserve of the more dedicated traveller as the standards of hotels left much to be desired. Travel within the country is challenging, the roads are demanding and the standard of hotel accomodation is very poor. However, with the opening of luxury lodges owned by the Aman Resorts and Como Hotels, holidays to Bhutan have taken on a different aspect. Accomodations in much of the central regions is stark and undeveloped.
Whilst Bhutan does not offer the breathtaking views of the Himalayas that Nepal has, it offers the opportunity to travel through a country where the culture has been preserved and where a house is judged not for its size or decoration but by the hospitality it offers. Sadly entrance to many of the monasteries has been restricted due to the stealing of ancient artifacts by visitors, a concept so alien to the monks that few steps were taken to counter it.
Nevertheless, Bhutan is a truly remarkable country offering a glimpse into a completely different style of life and one which should remain at the top of anyone's wish list.
Group Tours in Bhutan