Gangtey Lodge

This is an introduction to our Temple Trails & Homestays walking holiday in Bhutan. Watch to discover more about staying in Bhutanese farmhouse homestays as well as the walks and sights that you will enjoy on this unique two-week holiday in the Thunder Dragon Kingdom.

Visiting the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has long been considered beyond the reach of the ‘average’ traveller, but those who venture into the Land of the Thunder Dragon are rewarded with an enthralling culture and spellbinding scenery. This remarkable country stands out for its unique approach to tourism, prioritising environmental sustainability and the happiness of its people over mass tourism.

Festivals are a significant part of Bhutan's culture and are central to the living Buddhist faith in the kingdom. Most festivals, also known as 'tsechus', are of great religious significance and are mostly celebrated through music and ritual masked dances called 'chams'. Tsechus attract large numbers of Bhutanese people, dressed in their finery, as they believe by attending these special celebrations they gain religious merit as well as enjoying a fine social event.

Bhutan, known fondly as the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’, is a travel destination unlike any other. Untouched by mass tourism, this Himalayan kingdom draws visitors in with its blend of rich culture, stunning landscapes, and deep spiritual traditions. But what makes this country truly beautiful isn’t just the spectacular scenery, it’s its commitment to the Gross National Happiness scale which prioritises the well-being of its people and environment over economic growth.

Mountain Kingdoms have been organising cultural tours, walking holidays and trekking adventures to the Thunder Dragon Kingdom for more than 35 years, so we know this unique country inside out.

Bhutan is back open after two long years, and Ian and Lizzy were amongst our first clients to return. They were doing the Druk Path Trek and here’s what they had to say about their time in Bhutan.

"Amazing scenery and sights with the most hospitable people you’re ever likely to meet. Our guide was superb and all the camp crew were great. The Druk Path trek may be a short trek but the altitude makes it more challenging as most of it is over 3500m, we were well looked after and the food was amazing in camp."

Travel east to west across Bhutan in the company of our MD, Steve Berry, and expert tour leader, Sue Lawty, to discover the fascinating places, people and cultural traditions of this remarkable Himalayan Kingdom. On this journey through picturesque countryside, remote villages and historic sights, Sue will introduce you to Bhutan's ancient art of textile weaving, describing the different techniques and materials that have changed little over centuries which make Bhutan's fabrics so fine and unique. Sue takes you to homes and small villages where weaving remains at the heart of the community, including the village of Khoma where the finest of all textiles are produced for the ceremonial clothes worn by the royal family.

The Weaver's Trail is not only an exploration of the weaving traditions of Bhutan, but also the history, culture and way of life of the Bhutanese people. On this video you'll see imposing dzongs, hear myths and legends, join the celebrations at a Bhutanese festival and enjoy gentle walks into the unspoilt countryside and follow the trail up to the Tiger's Nest, Taktsang Monastery, Bhutan's premier cultural attraction. All of which you can experience for yourself on our truly unique Weavers' Trail holiday.

Mountain Kingdoms have been organising cultural tours, walking holidays and trekking adventures to the Thunder Dragon Kingdom for more than 35 years, so we know this unique country inside out.

Festivals are a significant part of Bhutan's culture and are central to the living Buddhist faith in the kingdom. Most festivals, also known as 'tsechus', are of great religious significance and are mostly celebrated through music and ritual masked dances called 'chams'. Tsechus attract large numbers of Bhutanese people, dressed in their finery, as they believe by attending these special celebrations they gain religious merit as well as enjoying a fine social event.

In October 2014 Mountain Kingdoms MD, Steve Berry, trekked to the base of the world’s highest unclimbed mountain, Gangkar Punsum, 7,550m/24,770ft, during which a mysterious discovery was made.

During this incredibly remote trek in Bhutan, a Bhutanese guide accompanying Steve spotted some interesting tracks in the snow across a ledge on a steep mountainside. Interestingly, locals say that this valley had never before been entered by humans…

In this video Steve gives a fascinating account of how they came by these mysterious tracks and a theory of what may have been responsible for them. A yeti, perhaps? Watch to find out more!

Feeling inspired? Join our Gangkar Punsum Wilderness Trek group trek to the same region in the hope of capturing the creature on film with the group’s camera trap.

To read more about the tracks discovered, including more tracks found during our 2015 expedition, read our blog post ‘Yeti prints on world’s highest unclimbed mountain’.

Having travelled through Bhutan many times by car, Mountain Kingdoms Managing Director, Steve Berry, has often thought of how much fun it would be to complete the journey on a bike. Earlier in 2018, he had the opportunity to do so, on our Cultural Cycling Tour of Bhutan. Steve found it to be the ideal destination to explore on two wheels, with its scenic roads, spectacular countryside and engaging sights.

Their adventure began with a gentle ride in the beautiful Paro Valley followed by a group visit to the Drugyel Dzong, a fascinating building with rich history. From here they enjoyed a dramatic view of Taktsang, the iconic sacred Buddhist site and temple complex located in the cliff-side of the upper Paro Valley, before cycling to the capital of Thimphu where they experienced impressive views and explored Thimphu’s best attractions. After some time to rest on the optional car journey up to the Dochu La they embarked on an utterly thrilling 42km downhill ride through forests and quiet backroads to the glorious Punakha Dzong. Steve described this as an incredible experience and the highlight of his trip.

Following their Dzong visit, they rode on to Wangdipidrang and along the Valley, where they reached their vehicle and continued their journey with a drive up to Gangtey. In late autumn and winter, Black-necked Cranes migrate to the Gangtey Valley and add unique sightseeing opportunities to any visit. Steve and his group enjoyed some pleasant cycling in the Valley, drove over the Pele La all the way down to Trongsa, home of the largest monastery in the kingdom. They rode over the Keke La pass and cycled on to the holy valley of Bumthang. The cycle ride then drew to a close as they reached their last but certainly not least cultural highlight of the tour, Jambay Lhakhang, one of the country's oldest temples.

There is no need to worry about being extremely athletic to complete this tour, as a huge amount of the cycling is downhill, with the choice to opt out of the very steep ascents. This holiday is perfect for leisure cyclists, with a moderate level of fitness.

This trip has a support vehicle on hand every day, so you can enjoy the riding with peace of mind, knowing you can always get a lift if you fancy a rest. The tour is led by a knowledgeable Bhutanese guide who also acts as your personal mechanic!

Steve found that travelling through Bhutan on a bike enabled him to get to know the country on a much more personal and intimate level than he has done previously by driving.During his journey he met with many more locals along the way, and experienced many more places of cultural interest, including monasteries, small friendly townships and Buddhist shrines (Chortens).

Overall, a wonderful and rewarding adventure.

This brief introductory video will give you a glimpse of some of the highlights of our Definitive Cultural Tour of Bhutan.

Magnificent Tiger’s Nest monastery, perched some 2,000ft up on a cliff above Paro Valley, is arguably Bhutan’s premier sight and a walk (or pony ride) to view the temple is an essential element of any tour of the Thunder Dragon Kingdom. Similarly, no itinerary would be complete without a visit to impressive Punakha Dzong – one of the finest and most important examples of the kingdom’s unique monastery/fortresses.

Bhutan’s unique architectural style is also evident in the picturesque houses and monuments that dot the valleys and villages and our cultural tour will take you on several easy walks to explore these in more depth.

Any tour of Bhutan will also include time to enjoy some of the country’s more scenic splendours. Panoramic views of the high Himalaya from the Dochu La pass, the fertile valleys of Paro, Gantey and Punakha and charming ‘chocolate box’ villages will ensure that your camera is rarely out of action.

But as you will see in the video, our tour doesn’t only take in the main tourist sights it also travels beneath the skin of the country taking you to local markets, villages, temples and festivals to give you a genuine insight into the traditions and way of life of the wonderfully welcoming Bhutanese people.

To find out more, see our Definitive Cultural Tour of Bhutan trip information including itineraries, departure dates and prices.

Please note that the itinerary on different departures may vary from that shown .