Overview
The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chilis are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that was not spicy. Join this tour to eat your way through Bhutan — from dried yak to complex chili sauces— you will be impressed by how unique and delicious Bhutanese food can be. Be prepared for a spicy, yet memorable food experience. Number one on the list to try will be Ema Datshi – the National Dish of Bhutan. It is a spicy mix of chilies and local cheese. This dish is a staple of nearly every meal and can be found throughout the country. Join this tour to eat your way through Bhutan — from dried yak to complex chili sauces— you will be impressed by how unique and delicious Bhutanese food can be. Be prepared for a spicy, yet memorable food experience.
Recipes are
- Ema Datsi, the staple in Bhutanese cuisine, spicy stew made with chili peppers and a local cheese .
- Phak Sha Laphu: This is a stewed pork recipe that combines tender pork with radishes.
- Momos are delicious dumplings filled with various ingredients such as chicken, pork, or cheese
- Kewa Datse features potatoes cooked in a creamy cheese sauce
- Barthu refers to fried noodles or noodle soup
- Ezays are spicy dips or condiments commonly found in Bhutanese cuisine.
- Khur-le are buckwheat pancakes serve with honey
Itinerary
Once you arrive in Paro, you will have tea/lunch and then drive to the Haa Valley via the Chele La Pass which is the highest motorable point in Bhutan, sitting 3,988 meters. The Haa Valley is scenically one of Bhutan's most enchanting places to visit. You will also have the option to stop at the Kila nunnery on the way for sightseeing. You will have the rest of the day to explore Haa town at your leisure. We will overnight in a Farm House.
Overnight in Farm House.
This morning we will take a short 50-minute hike to Juneydrak hermitage (also known as Juneydrag). This cliffside retreat contains a footprint of Machig Labdrom, a female Tibetan tantric practitioner. Later we will visit Lhakhang Karpo (the White Temple) and Lhakhang Napo (the Black Temple) believed to have been built in the 7th century by a Tibetan king. Lunch will be Indian Dishes at the GREF Canteen. In the afternoon you will learn how to make Hoentay, which is a traditional Buckwheat dumpling special to the valley of Haa.
Overnight in Farmhouse.
After breakfast, we will drive to Thimphu (approx. 3 hours). For lunch, we will feast on momos at the famous Momo Corner. Bhutan’s beloved momos are a dumpling of Nepalese origin and are good any time of the day! After lunch, we will visit some sites including the weekend market, and the memorial stupa which was built for world peace. You also may visit the textile weaving center and the Tashichodzong also called "fortress of the glorious religion." Dinner will be at the hotel where you can enjoy a variety of favorable Bhutanese dishes in Famous Kelden Restaurant.
After breakfast, we will drive to the Great Buddha Dordenma, a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains above Thimphu. We will then take a scenic two-hour hike above Thimphu which ends at the Changangkha Temple. At the end of your hike, you can visit the Changangkha temple, an ancient fortress-like temple that is strategically located on a ridge above the city of Thimphu built in the 12th century. Later we will visit the Takin zoo, home to the national animal of Bhutan. Lunch will be a simple Bhutanese luncheon with a cultural program. After lunch, we have the option to visit the Jungshina handmade paper factory, the Changlimithang stadium to witness an archery match, or visit an authentic Bhutanese craft Bazaar to look for Bhutanese handicrafts. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.
Today we will drive east to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan, across the Dochula pass. We will stop at Dochula to enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas and to enjoy a cup of milk tea. Once we arrive in the village of Sopsakha we will take a short walk to Chimi Lhakhang, a monastery dedicated to Buddhism's "Divine Madman." We will have a picnic lunch by the river and, after lunch, we will tour the Punakha Dzong which is situated at the confluence of two rivers. We will also take a short walk from the dzong to see/cross the oldest and longest suspension bridge in Bhutan. Then a short drive to the village of Labtsakha where your host family will be waiting for you. Tonight, you learn how to make Ema Datsi and Kawa Datsi with your host family and enjoy your cooking creation!
Overnight in Farm House.
This morning you will enjoy breakfast with the host family and then drive back to Paro. We will make a short stop at the Royal Botanical Garden and then continue to Paro. En-route we will visit the Tamchog Lhakhang and see the Iron Chain Bridge build by Thangthong Gyelpo. Lunch will be served at the Organic Hotpot, famous for multi-cuisine. After lunch, we will visit the National Museum and the Rinpung Dzong, where the movie “Little Buddha” was filmed. Dinner will be at the hotel at your leisure.
The culmination of your tour will be the trek to Taktsang or Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Tiger’s Nest is stunning in its beauty and location. A trip to Bhutan is not complete without seeing Tiger’s nest. This excursion will take most of the day. You can expect a 4-5-hour hike (total) with about a 1-hour tour of the monastery. If you do not feel you can make the whole walk, we can arrange a horse ride for you to the cafeteria (about ½ way up). However, you must be physically able to walk the entire way down. A relaxing hot stone bath awaits you after a long day of hiking. We will stop at the hotel for a change of clothes and then head to a local farmhouse for an authentic hot stone bath and dinner. Dinner will be served with Ara, a traditional Bhutanese alcoholic brew for you to sample.
Depart to onward destination
Trip Cost Include & Exclude
Cost Includes
- Bhutan Sustainable fees
- Accommodations in 3 Star hotels
- All meals, evening tea/coffee with snacks
- All land transfers and transportation
- English speaking Bhutanese Tour Guide/Leader
- Daily Tourist Fees & Taxes
- Bhutan Visa and all applicable permits
- Sightseeing with entrance fees to all monuments
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Hot stone bath experiences at end of trip
Cost Excludes
- Flights into and out of Bhutan
- Optional Travel/Medical Insurance
- Personal expenses such as bars, beverages in the hotel, telephone, laundry, trips, and others
The daily tariff that you pay, pays for your tour guide, driver, hotels, and all your meals. The only money you need to budget for is for alcohol, souvenirs, and tips. It is best to bring cash and exchange it for local currency at the airport in Paro. There are ATMs available in some locations, but they work sporadically.
It depends on what time of year you go. The fall or the spring are the best times to travel to Bhutan. Typically, the days are cool and sunny, and the nights are cold. Some places, like Punakha are sub-tropical and you can expect warmer temperatures.
Druk Experience provides vehicles based on tour size. For small tours we provide 4 door SUV type cars, for larger tours, we provide smaller tour buses that can accommodate 8-10 individuals. Our cars are in excellent shape and our drivers are always safe and careful. All vehicles will be equipped with air conditioning or heaters.
Pack light for all of our tours, soft suitcases/duffel bags are best. Dressing up will not be necessary, dress for comfort. Layer, layer, layer. Wear sturdy shoes for walking/hiking. When we visit holy sites, you will be asked to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Yes, please feel free to take as many pictures as you would like. However, you will be asked to not take pictures in our temples. If you have any questions about when you can take pictures, please ask your guide.
No, the package includes daily expenses for all meals. nevertheless, if you wish to upgrade to dine in luxury hotels you need to pay yourself directly.
