Bhutan
Cradled in the deep folds of the Great Himalayas, very little has
been heard of Bhutan. To most people Bhutan is a hidden kingdom
shrouded in mystery. Bhutan is famous for holding some of the most
colourful and exciting religious festivals in the Buddhist world. A
Bhutan trip featuring the Teschus showcase Buddhist religious
festivals where masked dances depict events from the lives of the
deities. This provides the local populace with a wonderful occasion
to dress up and gather in a convivial light-hearted atmosphere. The
people of Bhutan are the only large group to follow traditional
Buddhism and, despite the building of roads and controlled
introduction of travel to Bhutan, have maintained many aspects of
the culture.
View all Bhutan Trips
Landlocked Bhutan is situated in the eastern Himalaya and is mostly
mountainous and heavily forested. The snowcapped Himalayan Range
reaches heights of over 7,500 meters above sea level and extends
along the Bhutan-China border. Bhutan is comprised of a mosaic of
different peoples who continue to live in valleys isolated from one
another and the outside world by formidable mountain passes.
Differing ethnic groups are also distributed according to the
varying environments within the land's borders. It is possible to
divide the population into three broad ethnic groups, though the
distinctions blur in places. Southern Bhutan is inhabited mainly by
Nepalese farmers who arrived at the end of the 19th century. They
brought the Hindu religion with them as well as the Nepalese
language, which is still spoken today over much of Southern Bhutan.
A Bhutan trip is a journey to a land of supernatural legends,
ancient monastery / fortresses. Ruins said to be haunted by ghosts,
old Dzongs as reminders of the Bhutanese defence against Tibetan
invaders, animals believed to have flown from Tibet to Bhutan and
assuming the shape today of huge rocks, stories about the abominable
snowman; both true history and myths are fascinating and an inherent
part of Bhutanese culture.
The country's ancient history is a story
of struggle between reincarnate rulers, feudal lords and differing
Buddhist sects vying for power, until late last century when the old
orders were swept away and an hereditary monarchy was
established.Each of our Bhutan trips has been timed to arrive in the
country for the climax of the spectacular tsechu (monastery
festival) at either Paro or Bumthang. Our tours also include a visit
to Bhutan's most venerated monastery, the Tashichho Dzong in Thimpu,
the remarkable medieval monastery that now houses the National
Assembly and the King's Throne Room. These Bhutan trips are offered
in combination with other countries in the region: Sikkim & Tibet.
The magical aura that pervades the area around the Himalayas is so potent, it is almost tangible. This vast region that separates the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau numbers among the destinations that many travellers visit only to find that their preconceived notions that have long been nurtured by fanciful flights of the imagination are indeed a reality. Journey with us amid looming, white-rimmed peaks, among traditional, colourful peoples and into the heart of a land where Nature's most spectacular endeavours complement an already bewitching destination.