Bhutan
When
March to May | Sept to Nov
Price
From 4 200€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
The Bumthang region, encompassing four remote valleys in central Bhutan, is considered by many to be the kingdom's spiritual heart, owing to an exceptional concentration of temples and monasteries among the country's oldest, some predating the official introduction of Buddhism in the 7th century. Less visited than the Paro Valley, the region retains a rural way of life largely centred on yak herding and buckwheat farming.
Jambay Lhakhang Temple, one of the oldest in Bhutan, is said by local legend to have been built in a single night in the 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, to pin down a giant demon whose body stretched across the entire Himalayas. Nearby Kurjey Monastery preserves the body imprint left in the rock by the great master Padmasambhava, the founding figure of Tibetan tantric Buddhism venerated throughout the kingdom.
The remote Tang Valley, the highest of Bumthang's four valleys, remains home to semi-nomadic yak herders who live using methods largely unchanged for generations. The region is also known for its wild honey, harvested on cliff faces using a perilous technique passed down from father to son, as well as its yak cheeses and local barley beer.
Make this itinerary yours
Every Globale Explore Tours trip is tailored exactly to you. Tell us about yourself and we'll create something that's entirely you.
Amankora Bumthang
A monastery-style lodge deep in a pine forest, pared-back architecture inspired by traditional dzongs, a spa using local medicinal plants.
Mountain Lodge Bumthang
A simpler hotel at the heart of the valley, rooms with traditional wood-burning stoves, a restaurant serving homestyle Bhutanese cuisine with chilli and cheese.
Other trips built in the same spirit — more to draw inspiration from.
