We unlock the secrets of the dzongs, Druk Path trek and Buddhist festivals in our Bhutan travel guide.
Vacation information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modeled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, traveling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. For those with limited time, a small group tour will save valuable time in planning, and on vacation.
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1 Reviews of Small group tour to Bhutan
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Reviewed on 29 Nov 2024 by Jessica Williams
5 stars
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
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.
People
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.
