We Found The Best Way To Travel To Bhutan — Here’s How To Easily Plan A 5D4N Trip To The Kingdom Of Happiness
One of my most regrettable travel mistakes is to have shelved a visit to Bhutan for so long. A bucket list destination for many, what's known as the last Shangri-La is one of the most mystical and magical destinations in the world. But a trip to the Himalayan kingdom also requires more planning than, say, a Japan holiday, what with the country's requirements for mandatory local tour guides, visas and tourist charges (more on that later), and limited flights from Singapore.
But what if someone else took care of all the trip planning? I was immediately sold.
How to travel to Bhutan… the easy way
Four words: Book a tour package. Chan Brothers Travel operates Bhutan tours all year round. The sweetest part of this is that the 60-year-old travel agency’s local coordinators will take care of schedules, itineraries and logistics and even guide you through the paperwork required. As a chronic over-planner, this is a dream come true.
There's also the added convenience of chartered flights. Yes, for its Bhutan tours, Chan Brothers Travel organises chartered direct flights both ways between Singapore and Bhutan with Drukair, Bhutan’s national airline. This means you’ll get there conveniently on a five-hour flight, as opposed to having a half-hour stopover in India for regular Singapore-Bhutan flights booked with Druk Air (our full flight review here).
Prices of Bhutan tours on Chan Brothers Travel start from $1,788 for a seven-day trip. This includes return airfares on chartered flights, all tour expenses, but not visas and Bhutan’s SDF of US$100 (S$129) per day. However, a local tour coordinator in Singapore will fill you in on the necessary steps, so you don’t miss anything out. They'll also delve into trip details in a pre-departure briefing about a month prior to departure. During the online sesh, they'll walk you through itinerary highlights, packing tips and on-ground expectations, as well as last-minute reminders and questions.
In the words of our local coordinator, Wendy, her job is to “make sure you don’t have to use your brain” so we could focus on taking in the sights and sounds. Happy to report that she was 100 per cent spot-on.
Essentially, all I had to do for my trip was to pack my luggage and show up at the airport for one of the most unforgettable trips I’ve been on.
3 Must-Do’s in Bhutan: Best places we visited on our 5D4N Bhutan trip
“You don’t come to Bhutan to rush,” Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay tells 8days.sg when we meet him in his office alongside other Singapore media on the trip. It’s not every day you get travel tips from a Prime Minster, and we’re all for it.
And he’s right. Maybe it's the fresher air or the quieter pace of life, but you get a sense of calm the moment you land in Bhutan. The lure and mystique of Bhutan lies in not just the fact that it’s harder to get to compared to most destinations. Rather, it's that the country is deeply rooted in its own culture, heritage and ethos of keeping nature just the way it should be (it’s the only carbon negative country in the world, with over 70 per cent of the country still swathed in nature).
This must be one of the most beautiful airports in the world. Majestic peaks, intricate traditional architecture of airport and mega portraits of the very photogenic royal family of Bhutan greet you the moment you step off the plane.
“You’re in the land of happiness! Don’t just look happy. Be happy!” our Bhutanese tour guide chimes when we walk through the airport arrival gates.
Sure, Bhutan's reputation of being the world's happiest country, thanks to its Gross National Happiness index, precedes itself. But spend a few days here and you'll realise it's not just a tourism tagline.
#1: Visit the only capital in the world with no traffic lights
Things get relatively busier when you finally get to the city centre of Thimphu (still markedly less hectic than most cities, though). It moves along with a gentle hum, and people are laidback and friendly. Visit the famed town square and cluster of souvenir shops here, but the main thing that caught our attention was the lack of road rage.
Thimphu is the only capital in the world with no traffic lights, save for one – and it’s a traffic controller stationed at a cross junction in the city centre at Norzin Lam (pictured above). Despite speed limits of just 50km/h and no traffic lights, there are no angry car horns sounding.
If that isn't testament to life in Bhutan and easygoing nature of the people, then perhaps the Prime Minister's, well, prime example might be it. Mr Tobgay, as we later discover, had driven himself to come meet this bunch of Singapore and Malaysia journalists in his office. His car, a regular family sedan, had its windows wound down (like most of the people here do we observed). No chauffeur or air-con needed.
Such is the refreshingly charming pace of life here, complemented by the Bhutanese respectful of their fellow countrymen, nature, culture, and more. Among the many charming qualities of Bhutan, the genial nature of Bhutanese people is the cherry on top.
#2: Visit culture and nature hot spots
“Enjoying our culture is an important pillar of Gross National Happiness,” said the PM. For that, Bhutan has plenty to offer.
You see it everywhere, even amid Thimphu city. A 51m-tall giant golden Buddha statue is perched high above on one of the mountaintops, as if watching over the whole city, and can be seen from most places in Thimphu. Interestingly, this statue of gilded golden grandeur was built with a donation of US$47mil (S$60.5mil) from Singaporean billionaire and Kim Lim’s dad, Peter Lim.
Our first sightseeing stop is the National Memorial Chorten, one of the most striking landmarks here. It's a calming sanctuary where Bhutanese folks are chanting round giant prayer wheels, lighting butter lamps for good karma, and is overall just a social hub for the elderly, families and even teenagers on dates.
It's just a stone’s throw from the 10,000-seater stadium that Ed Sheeran recently performed at (he was the first international artist to stage a concert in Bhutan), yet it's a whole world of difference. You get a sense that what you see at the National Memorial Chorten is just part of the day-to-day for the 85 per cent of the 780,000 population who are Buddhists, though I'd say even the non-religious would relish the soulful, energising vibe of these environs.
An hour from Thimphu is the Drukwangyel Chorten at the Dorchula Pass, made up of a maze-merising 108 stupas, built to honour the 108 fallen Bhutanese soldiers during a military operation in 2003. Yes, it's a tourist hot spot, but it's also a favourite among locals. Here, you’ll find people on peaceful walks around the stupas, and round the corner, teens doing TikTok dances with the intricate heritage architecture as their backdrop. Don’t leave without stopping for a cuppa and cake at the nearby café, and take in views of the Himalayan Alps on a good day (sadly, it was foggy when we went).
A trip to Bhutan isn’t complete without a visit to a dzong, or three. Dzongs, or fortresses, are the biggest tallest buildings of each region, originally intended as watch towers to guard against enemies.
The biggest among them is the 400-year-old Tashiccho Dzong (pictured above), the main office for the king and residence for monks. Once inside the towering walls, you’re transported to another world, with the hypnotic chants of monks wafting through the surrounds.
Some dzongs still serve as administrative buildings until today, like the Punakha Dzong (pictured below), where big national events are held, such as the coronation and wedding of the king.
#3: Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery
If you came to Bhutan but did not hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, did you even come to Bhutan?
Veritably the highlight of any Bhutan trip and the most iconic image of Bhutan is Tiger’s Nest, or Paro Taktsang. Perched at 3,000m above sea level, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a stunning thing of beauty that hugs the steep cliff faces of the mountains in the Paro Valley. “Tiger’s Nest is not a hike. It’s a pilgrimage,” Bhutan PM Mr Tobgay summed up.
Hiking Paro Taktsang usually happens on the last full day of Chan Brothers’ Bhutan tour itinerary. Our local guide tells us it’s to allow visitors to acclimatise to the higher altitudes of Bhutan, which vary from Paro to Thimphu to Punakha. The round-trip hike is only about 6.4km, but has relatively steep inclines at certain parts. Depending on your fitness level, it could take anywhere from three to six hours for a round trip, and that includes spending time at the various temples once you've peaked at Tiger's Nest. And trust us, having trekked all the way to what's considered the most sacred place in Bhutan, which is shrouded in mystique as no photos are allowed here, you'll definitely want to spend some time up here.
Besides the Tiger’s Nest hike, Bhutan offers plenty of opportunities to experience nature and the outdoors, where the air is fresh and 70 per cent of the country is still covered in nature. After all, it’s the world’s only carbon negative country.
Want other options after conquering Tiger’s Nest? Mr Tobgay happily dished out suggestions, including multi-day hikes, cycling trails, angling and fly fishing. “And you won’t bump into other tourists. That’s the beauty of Bhutan,” he mused.
Essential Bhutan travel tips
#1: Cash is king in most places. However, you will not be able to obtain Bhutanese currency outside of the country. Prepare US dollars to change to Bhutanese ngultrum when you land at Paro.
#2: Pack motion sickness aids or meds. Bhutan's mountainous terrain, high altitudes and notoriously winding mountainous roads may cause motion and altitude sickness. While I personally did not experience it, it varies among individuals so it pays to be prepared and pack pills or motion sickness bands with you.
#3: Most people speak English, so no need to worry about language barriers. Lessons in school are conducted in English, save for Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan.
#4: Splurge on a luxurious stay — at least for a couple of days. We managed to spend a couple of nights at the Le Meridien Paro. Luxuriating in a comfy hotel room facing gorgeous river and mountainous views here, especially after the Tiger’s Nest hike, is a treat in itself. Being just 10 minutes away from the airport is the icing on the cake.
This trip was made possible by Chan Brothers Travel.
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