Another wonderful tour of Bhutan! YEG to YVR to HKG to KTM, to PBH and back home!
Departing KTM Friday, November 7 on Drukair to Paro, returning Friday, November 14, 2025
Did the amazing hike to Taktsang Monastery, the iconic location in Bhutan.
Accommodations are improving every year and the culinary improvements are amazing!
With visits to the National Museum, rebuilt after the earthquake of 2015 and then to the Paro Dzong.
A stop on the highway to Thimphu to visit the Tachog Lakhang and the Iron Bridge.
A real treat was dinner at the Simply Bhutan Restaurant! Great food, butter tea and cultural dancing, archery and a sip or two of ara (local brew).
Lunch on the road is always in Nobding which now has an expanded restaurant for tourist buses and a good buffet lunch.
On the way to Phobjeka we had an early start from Thimphu to see sunrise on Dochu La, the high pass where the Queen Mother built a monument to honor soldiers killed in a skirmish with India years ago. It was still dark when we arrived but there was cloud and fog that hid the Himalayas to the north.
A highlight of a visit to Bhutan is to see the Black Necked Crane Festival - always on November 11 in the area of Phobjeka. We stopped at the RSPN center for the cranes and then on to our Homestay. I have stayed at two others, but this one was absolutely the best! We had the best food and good sleeps! The next day was the annual festival at Gangtey Gompa the monastery where local dance, sing and show their ancient culture to honor the return of the Cranes from Tibet.
On to Punhaka and the Dzong is always a treat. We got to feed the fishes from the bridge to the monastery and enjoyed a hike to the suspension bridge over the Mo Chu.
Back to Paro for a night, toured Kiyichu Lakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. A bit of shopping, a latte, a traditional Hot Stone bath and a celebration dinner. Up early the next morning for a 4:30am checkin for our flight back to Kathmandu. The view from the plan was spectacular - even saw Mt Everest and Kangchenjunga!
Arriving back in Kathmandu, we drove to Pashupatinath temples, lunch on the rooftop in Boudhanath and then to Hotel Tibet for our last night and dinner before departures! Another amazing visit, I am so blessed!🙏
