Black Necked Crane Festival and Cultural Tour to the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2025

Highlights Dates for 14 days: (departs on day 15) Sample Itinerary

• Travel to 6 major cities of Bhutan-Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa, Bumthang and Paro
• Attend Black Neck Crane Festival at Gangtey Monastery in Gangtey-Phobjikha (pictured)
• Travel from Western Bhutan to the Central highlands
• Astrology Reading at Pangri Zampa and Traditional Medicinal Institute lecture about the herbal medicine practiced in Bhutan
• Day hike up to Tiger’s Nest, Paro Taktshang.
• Trongsa Tower Museum- Learn about GNH-Gross National Happiness and History of the Royal Family of Bhutan
• Visit to the World’s 2nd Largest Seated Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu-meditate in the main temple
• Visit a 7th Century Temple in Bumthang-make offerings and butter lamps for loved ones
• Soak in the healing-medicinal hot stone bath and practice archery-the national sport of Bhutan

What’s Included in the Tour Cost?

Tour Costs for 2025, please Email us

Visa Details and Airline E-tickets

• We will process your Visa through Immigration by sending your *SDF funds and in turn, Immigration will process your Visa. Please email us a passport size photo for your Visa, 2×2 with a white back ground.
• Your Airlines E-ticket and your Visa will be emailed to you to you one month before travel time.
• You will be responsible for obtaining a Visa for any other countries you will be transiting on your way into Bhutan.

Accommodations

• All pricing includes rooms which are *shared, twin, or double for couples.
• We only use exclusive resorts and hotels for this journey.
• Pictured is Tiger’s Nest Camp in Paro, we will use this accommodations if available upon booking.
• There are hair dyers, hot water boilers and wifi in all the rooms. For more on what to bring to Bhutan, look for the downloadable Bhutan Checklist, scroll down on this page.
• You can bring your own adapters, however most hotels are already retrofitted for your I-phones.
• There are spa treatment options at some of the resorts, let us know one day prior to the service.
• Single supplement/private room is $500 USD extra charge

Food/Meal Options

Please let us know your food sensitivities, so we can plan ahead for you.

• Breakfast will be a choice of continental, breads, pancakes, fried rice, eggs, coffee and teas. 
• Lunch and dinners consist of freshly cooked organic vegetables, a meat dish and either Bhutanese red rice or white rice, and a noodle/pasta dishes. 
• Veg and Non Veg options at each meal, sometimes influenced by the cuisine of India, Nepal, chefs will try to incorporate traditional dishes of Bhutan. 
• None of the main dishes are spicy. 

Traditional Bhutanese foods

• Bhutan is almost 100 percent organic, we will visit some incredible market places in Paro and Thimphu if time permits.
• Red Rice is by far the most popular exported grain, (pictured)
• The main dish for the Bhutanese is a chili cheese dish called Ema Datshi, and also momo’s which are a dumpling influenced from Tibet and Nepal.
• There will be vegetarian main dish at each meal as well as non-veg options.
• Beef, chicken and pork are the most popular meats, there is no butchery in Bhutan, it’s imported from India. 

Helpful Links and Resources about Bhutan

• Tiger’s Nest Monastery– Paro Taktsang, the most famous destination in Bhutan and in the Buddhist world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang
• About Bhutan-The Land of the Thunder Dragon. Editorial Highlights, Monarchy, Heritage, Policies and more https://bhutan.travel/about
• History of Gross National Happiness (GNH) https://www.gnhcentrebhutan.org/history-of-gnh/
• Buddha Dordenma-2nd Largest Seated Buddha in the world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Dordenma_statue
• Bhutanese favorite pastimes, Hot Stone Baths: https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/hot-stone-baths-the-bath-culture-of-bhutan

Cancellation must be approved by us in an email–these dates apply if you have already sent us your wire transfer plus an admin fee. The refund wire transfer charges are covered by the receiving beneficiary . The SDF will be fully refunded by the Government of Bhutan at any point. Updated August 2024.

a) If notification of your tour cancellation is received within 45 days prior to arrival in Bhutan, 25% of your Bhutan tour cost shall be deducted as cancellation charges.

b) If notification of your tour cancellation is received within 30 days before your arrival in Bhutan, 50% of your Bhutan tour cost shall be deducted as cancellation charges.

c) If notification of your tour cancellation is received from 29 -7 days before your arrival in Bhutan, there is no cash refund for the tour cancellation, however change date is permitted. Admin fee applied.

d) If notification of your tour cancellation is received 7 days before your arrival in Bhutan, there is no refund