Small group tour to Bhutan,
Highlights
Paro | Thimphu | Punakha | Dochu-La pass (3,048m) | Chimi Lhakhang | Punakha Dzong | Tiger's Nest Monastery |
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Small group adventure
What is a small group adventure?It's a great way to travel! Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner or with friends, a small group trip is a fantastic way to see the world. You'll travel on a fixed itinerary that has been designed to help you discover the best of region. From the known highlights, the hidden gems that you won't find in the guidebooks.
Itineraries run on set departure dates, accompanied every step of the way by an English speaking local group leader. You chose the itinerary and the date that suits you best and you book on.
Why travel on a small group adventure?
Small groups allow us to explore where larger tour groups can't. Our maximum group size of 16 travelers allows us to use local transport to get from A to B, to visit rural villages, spend time with the locals and even stay at a local home overnight, and it allows us to give our travelers genuine, real life experiences of the countries we are visiting; what you'll be doing and how you'll travel depends entirely on your chosen itinerary.
Is an adventure right for me?
The word adventure means something different to everyone, and our range of trips reflects that. Whether you want to explore local markets, visit out of the way temples and meet local people or go on an early morning safari drive searching for the 'big five', we'll have a trip for you. If you are looking for a physical challenge such trekking the Kokoda Track or summiting Kilimanjaro, we can help with that too.
So what can I expect on this trip?
This is a classic style of small group adventure. You'll find your trip combines a good mix of included activities and free time, with some meals included as per your itinerary. We don't want you to feel chaperoned, it's your vacation not ours. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with organising anything you might wish to do in your free time, but how you spend it is up to you. Anything listed as included in your itinerary will be included in trip price; whereas anything listed as optional will be at an additional cost should you wish to take part.
These trips are great value, including things that you would struggle to organise independently, such as a night at a homestay in a remote village, or local guides around a remote place of interest. Transport will be a combination of private vehicle and public transport, whichever is the most appropriate for the route we are traveling; this might include train, plane, camel, tuk tuk, bicycle, boat…
On a majority of these trips you'll stay in 2-3 star accommodation, locally owned and reflective of the region you are traveling through. All solo travelers will be automatically roomed on a twin share basis with another group member of the same sex, unless you opt to pay for your own room at time of booking. There are no compulsory single supplements for solo travelers willing to share. Single rooms aren't available on camping trips, and you will be expected to help out with camp tasks such as setting up and breaking down your camp.
Can I book my flights with you?
Yes! We are a fully ATOL bonded tour operator meaning that we can book flights from the UK as part of your vacation package. Just ask us for a quote including flights when you make your inquiry.
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species, as well as their habitats, and it’s become increasingly more important due to the negative effects of human activity on the environment. The national animal of Bhutan is the takin, which is associated with religious history and mythology. It’s an incredibly rare animal with a thick neck and short muscular legs. They live in groups and are found at altitudes of over 4,000 metres in north-western and far north-eastern parts of the country. They also feed on bamboo and can weigh more than 200kg when fully grown. The Motithang Takin Preserve is a wildlife reserve created to protect these unique animals. Originally a tiny zoo in Thimphu, it contained a small number of takin, but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep animals in captivity. So, they were later set free and the zoo was shut down, but for some reason the takin refused to leave the area. When visit the reserve, we remind our guests that feeding or getting too close to the animals is not allowed.
Due to rapid socio-economic development, increasing population and urbanisation, Bhutan is seeing a significant rise in the amount of solid waste produced – a large proportion of which is non-biodegradable. To do our bit to help, we opt for biodegradable bags rather than non-biodegradable ones. We keep rubbish bins in our transportation vehicles to allow our travelers to dispose of their waste properly and during shopping trips, we also advise passengers to use paper or reusable bags, instead of plastic ones.
The Impacts of this Trip
We always encourage our travelers to shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, which helps to keep customs alive. Whilst in Bhutan, passengers will have the opportunity to buy local wares such as hand-woven cloths, furniture and locally-grown produce. Bhutanese arts and crafts are usually handmade, and we visit several places selling them including a craft center where profits support the crafters.
An important part of exploring somewhere new is about interacting with the local people, in order to gain an understanding of their culture, heritage and customs. On day five of this trip, we spend the evening at a Bhutanese homestay where travelers will enjoy a home-cooked meal and have the chance to experience a real taste of local life.
On several occasions the group will visit important Buddhist temples, and when doing so it’s essential for our travelers to behave respectfully. For instance, when visiting the world-famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, a very sacred and holy place, our leaders will remind passengers to remove their shoes and backpacks before entering as well as advising them against taking photos of the inside of the temple.
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species, as well as their habitats, and it’s become increasingly more important due to the negative effects of human activity on the environment. The national animal of Bhutan is the takin, which is associated with religious history and mythology. It’s an incredibly rare animal with a thick neck and short muscular legs. They live in groups and are found at altitudes of over 4,000 metres in north-western and far north-eastern parts of the country. They also feed on bamboo and can weigh more than 200kg when fully grown. The Motithang Takin Preserve is a wildlife reserve created to protect these unique animals. Originally a tiny zoo in Thimphu, it contained a small number of takin, but the King of Bhutan later decreed that it was improper for a Buddhist nation to keep animals in captivity. So, they were later set free and the zoo was shut down, but for some reason the takin refused to leave the area. When visit the reserve, we remind our guests that feeding or getting too close to the animals is not allowed.
Due to rapid socio-economic development, increasing population and urbanisation, Bhutan is seeing a significant rise in the amount of solid waste produced – a large proportion of which is non-biodegradable. To do our bit to help, we opt for biodegradable bags rather than non-biodegradable ones. We keep rubbish bins in our transportation vehicles to allow our travelers to dispose of their waste properly and during shopping trips, we also advise passengers to use paper or reusable bags, instead of plastic ones.
The Impacts of this Trip
We always encourage our travelers to shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, which helps to keep customs alive. Whilst in Bhutan, passengers will have the opportunity to buy local wares such as hand-woven cloths, furniture and locally-grown produce. Bhutanese arts and crafts are usually handmade, and we visit several places selling them including a craft center where profits support the crafters.
An important part of exploring somewhere new is about interacting with the local people, in order to gain an understanding of their culture, heritage and customs. On day five of this trip, we spend the evening at a Bhutanese homestay where travelers will enjoy a home-cooked meal and have the chance to experience a real taste of local life.
On several occasions the group will visit important Buddhist temples, and when doing so it’s essential for our travelers to behave respectfully. For instance, when visiting the world-famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, a very sacred and holy place, our leaders will remind passengers to remove their shoes and backpacks before entering as well as advising them against taking photos of the inside of the temple.
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