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This is a rare trip, far off the usual tourist path. We’ll see monasteries on mountaintops, forests believed to be inhabited by spirits, high meadows covered in rhododendrons and magnolias, and ruddy faced villagers who perform sacred ritual dances and can shoot bows as well as the archers of the middle ages.  

Because the local nomads consider mountain peaks to be the sacred home of deities, Bhutan has the highest unclimbed mountains in the world.  Most of the people practice Mahayana Buddhism.  The national language, Dzongkha, is linguistically a dialect of Tibet.  Twenty distinct, unwritten languages are spoken throughout Bhutan.  Bhutan’s food, clothing and incredibly hospitable nature also separate Bhutan from its neighbors.

Bhutan opened to the west -- to the internet and TV -- only a few years ago.  It is a Buddhist kingdom whose scholar-king has chosen to consciously preserve the traditional way of life based on Buddhism’s “middle path.”   The people still live in exquisite, ancient villages and still base their lives on ancient spiritual practices such as meditation and sacred dance. 

The king bases his choices on the concept of “Gross National Happiness.”  Decisions are based on choosing a path that balances the needs of man with the powerful spirits of nature.

This is a hiking trip, not a paddling trip.  The level is easy to moderate.  We’ll be hiking to secluded monasteries, temples and villages.  As we hike, we will see some of the world’s most amazing views:  panoramic vistas of the Himalayas, high fields, rivers, and hidden valleys. We’ll see festivals such as the Jambay Lha Khang festival, where the dancers perform amazing leaps.    We will sleep in guesthouses, eat in farmhouses, and have plenty of time to get to know the hearts and lives of the Bhutanese people.

Each region of Bhutan has its own local flavor and offers something unique.  The towns of Paro and Thimphu in the west offer alpine forests and famous monasteries amid modern amenities.  Heading past the stunning views from Dochula pass, the valleys of Wandgdi and Punakha  are covered with subtropical, broadleaf forest.  The dzong (fortress) of Punakha is the most impressive in the country.  East of Wangdi is the Phobjikha Valley, the one place the Bhutanese government has forbidden the development of overground electricity so as not to interfere with the flocks of endangered Black-necked Cranes which arrive every winter, migrating from their Tibetan homeland.  In the central part of the country is Bumthang, where coniferous forests meet wide valleys. We will experience a beautiful meandering river, herbal hot stone baths, and local epicurean delights.