Bhutan: Immerse in Nature and Cultural Heritage!

Learn: At Global Family Travels, we believe that the most powerful way to learn is through first-hand experience. We let the country and its people be your teachers, while taking in the charm and history of historic Bhutanese cities and sites in Thimphu, Phobjikha Valley, Punakha Valley, Paro Valley, and more. While on the trip, you will be immersed in community, meet locals, and learn about their powerful connections to their country. You will learn via visits to educational museums such as the Simply Bhutan Museum and National Museum, as well as through organized visits to Bhutanese landmarks such as the Memorial Stupa, Big Buddha, and Temple of the Divine Madman. 

Learning themes and experiences unique to your trip include: 

• Youth development 

• Youth education 

• Combating climate change 

• Protecting nature 

• Promoting sustainable tourism 

Serve: By visiting the various communities and our non-profit partners in this unique itinerary and engaging with and supporting Maya Foundation and the Black Necked Crane Center, you are being of service! The Maya Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the “gross animal happiness” of animals throughout Bhutan. Your visit to the Royal Society for Protection of Nature, also known as the Crane Centre, will give you the opportunity to support cranes and their natural environment, as well as learn about the guiding conservation programs for the threatened black necked crane. Moreover, by participating in this thoughtful and purposeful trip to Bhutan, you are ensuring that the country fulfills its goal of promoting sustainable development. You can read more about this theme in our blog post regarding Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee. 

Immerse: While on the trip, you will be immersed through meeting members of the community, or even working alongside them in the various service project tasks. You will enjoy many meals with locals, across the multiple destinations within the country that we will visit. Throughout the overall trip, you will be led by a local Bhutanese tour guide. You will also have the opportunity to try on Bhutanese national clothes, known as the Gho and Kira. These are the traditional dresses of the Bhutanese, which are beautiful clothes that government officials are in fact mandated to wear. These immersive experiences will ensure that you will leave feeling as though you truly connected with Bhutan, beyond just the surface level. 

Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs.  In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.  

Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.    
 
Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels trip!  Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels 

The Tango University of Buddhist Studies is the highest Buddhist learning center in Bhutan. It offers a nine-year learning program as well as a three-year meditation program for aspiring monks. By visiting the center, visitors can learn extensively about the impressive journey one must embark upon to become a monk. 

The Taryana Foundation works in rural, remote villages across Bhutan to encourage community development and growth. It focuses particularly on helping vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and seeks to promote grassroots development in such places. It ultimately seeks to contribute to a happier and more prosperous Bhutan.  

The Bhutan Youth Development Fund seeks to provide all Bhutanese youth with quality educations, in order to help them reach their fullest potentials. The organization works to provide need-based youth development programs, grants management services to donors, and maintains a sustainable funding mechanism to ensure that Bhutan invests in youth empowerment.  

The Black Necked Crane Center is a small but powerful conservation site founded by Bhutan’s Royal Society for Protection of Nature, due to the urgent need to protect and conserve the Black Necked Crane. Cranes are important to the Bhutanese people as they are considered a symbol of peace and prosperity. However, they have recently become an endangered species, hence this center’s creation. The center conducts research on the special species, and gratefully, has recently found that there has been a steady climb in the number of cranes migrating. Tourists can visit this center to learn about the cranes and even study their behavior in person. 

The Bhutan Foundation and its HEROES Project fights climate change in Bhutan. The HEROES Project, short for the Himalayan Environmental Rhythms Observation and Evaluation System (HEROES) project, partners with schools and clubs across the country to educate citizens on climate change. It encourages citizens to engage in weather data collection, and subsequently analyze this data to observe their environments and evaluate how our world responds to climate change.  

The Wangsel Institute for the Deaf aims to provide holistic educations to deaf students. It seeks to ensure that all deaf students have equal access to national curriculum which is adapted and modified to their special needs, and promotes research and documentation surrounding the struggles of deaf Bhutanese citizens.  

The Druk Hotel in Thimphu is a renowned accommodation option that combines modern comfort with traditional Bhutanese aesthetics. Situated in the heart of the city, it offers guests a convenient location to explore the capital's attractions. With its warm hospitality, well-appointed rooms, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, the hotel provides a memorable stay for travelers seeking both comfort and an authentic Bhutanese experience. 

Encircled by pine forests in the beautiful valley of Phobjikha, the Dewachen Hotel is a lovely place to stay while visiting Phobjikha valley. The hotel includes a cocktail lounge, horse rising facilities, and cultural programs that can be requested for a fee. Its double rooms include modern bathrooms, soft bedding, and a restaurant with a stunning scenic view.  

The Wangdue Eco Lodge offers a luxury stay with fine dining and rejuvenating natural therapy. It is secretly tucked away on a gentle hill slop, and thereby offers stunning views of the countryside, turquoise colored river, snowcapped mountains, and magnificent Wangdue Dzong. Its traditional cottages are charming and offer an authentic, local experience to those visiting Bhutan.  

The Tiger’s Nest Camp is a certified resort with 15 safari tents. It offers the ultimate glamping experience with safari-inspired tents each with private patios. Panoramic views are available from the tents, which include a view of the fabled Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It is the perfect place to stay when visiting the idyllic Paro valley. 

Carbon Removal: According to the State of Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Report by University of Oxford, natural methods of removing carbon from the atmosphere are not enough by themselves due to the amount of pollution currently in the atmosphere. Innovations in removing and permanently storing carbon emissions are needed to conserve nature and reverse the course toward further climate change.  

Tomorrow’s Air: Global Family Travels is passionate about encouraging tourism that is not only sustainable but regenerative. To help with our mission, we seek to partner with like-minded brands such as Tomorrow’s Air, which operates within the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).  

Tomorrow’s Air is a collective of carbon removal innovators that work to permanently remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. Travel is a large contributor to global emissions, and we feel it is important to educate and empower travelers to support efforts that combat climate change! Therefore, as of January 2024, Global Family Travels will include a $25 contribution to Tomorrow’s Air into every trip. Clients may opt out of the $25 donation by emailing us to request its removal from your invoice. 

Welcome to Bhutan!  

• Experience the exhilarating descent into Paro Valley and feel the difference as you exit the airplane.  

• Begin the journey to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, which is about an hour's drive from Paro Valley. 

• Make a stop at Tachogang, where you can take a walk across the bridge and up a small hill to the Tachogang Temple.  

• Along the way lunch will be planned for you at a local farmhouse in Wangsisna village. This traditional Bhutanese farmhouse, known for its exquisite architectural beauty, offers a serene and authentic setting where guests can savor delicious local cuisine. 

• Upon arrival in Thimphu, check into Druk hotel and settle in and refresh.  

• In the late afternoon, visit the Tango University of Buddhist Studes, the highest Buddhist learning center in Bhutan.

Accommodation: Druk Hotel 

Meals: L, D 

• Visit the Tarayana Foundation office, dedicated to fostering holistic community growth & development.

• Next visit the Bhutan Youth Development Fund, which provides grants and scholarships to Bhutanese in need.

• Head on to the awe-inspiring Big Buddha, a colossal statute soaring to an impressive height of 54 metres.

• Enjoy lunch at the Folk Heritage Restaurant where you can try traditional Bhutanese cuisine.

• Plant trees with non-profit projects to grow Bhutanese forests.

• Continue by exploring the Crafts Bazaar to purchase handmade crafts & souvenirs made by local artisans.

• Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the Thimphu valley. Leisurely walk around the Kaja Throm, a bustling market area.  

Accommodation: Druk Hotel 

Meals: B, L, D 

• Begin your day by visiting the Bhutan Foundation.

• Learn about the foundation's Himalayan Environmental Rhythms Observation & Evaluation System (HEROES) Project. 

• Visit Simply Bhutan, an interactive living museum which introduces traditional life in Bhutan.

• Enjoy lunch at the Secret Garden.

• Visit Draktsho, through which the Royal Government of Bhutan provides health, prevention, medical rehabilitation, and social services free of cost to all citizens.
• Next, visit the Motithang Takin Preserve and observe takin, Bhutan's national animal.

Accommodation: Druk Hotel 

Meals: B, L, D 

• Begin your journey to Phobjikha valley. This is a scenic drive that will take approximately 3 hours.  

• Make a stop at Dochula Pass, where you can see 108 stupas built in order of Bhutanese soldiers.  

• Stupas are Buddhist monuments that house sacred relics associated with the Buddha. They are hemispherical dirt burial mounds usually covered with stone. Stupas are generally found throughout India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal.  

• Enjoy lunch at a beautiful location overlooking paddy fields and little hamlets. 

• Make a second stop at Nobding, where you can take a break for drinks and snacks while chatting with locals. 

• Upon arrival at the Phobjikha Valley, take the Gangtey Nature Trail. This is one of Bhutan’s best hiking trails. 

Accommodation: Dewachen Hotel 

Meals: B, L, D 

• Embark on a morning visit to the revered Phobjikha Nunnery, which will present a profound spiritual odyssey. Discover a haven of spiritual growth where nuns engage in prayers, meditation, and the pursuit of inner harmony.  

• Head to the Black Necked Crane Center to learn about Bhutan’s Royal Society for Protection of Nature.  

• Journey to Punakha Valley, the fertile and temperate valley considered the rice bowl of Bhutan.  

• Upon arrival, visit Rinchengang Village, famous for its proficiency in traditional means of stonework.  

Accommodation: Wangdue Eco Lodge 

Meals: B, L, D 

• Head on your way to Paro Valley via the Dochula Pass. 

• Enjoy lunch at the Babesa Village Restaurant, a 600-year-old heritage home.  

• Upon arrival in Paro, visit the Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, dedicated to empowering & educating individuals with hearing impairments.

• Explore Paro Town, a charming and picturesque destination.

Accommodation: Tiger’s Nest Camp 

Meals: B, L, D

Choose to either stay in Paro Valley or visit Taktsang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest). You can also extend your visit and do all of these! 

Tiger’s Nest Excursion 

• This temple is one of the most holy sites in the kingdom.  

• It clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 hundred meters above the Paro Valley.  

• You will spend most of the day hiking to the temple at your own pace while your trip leader entertains you about the history and legend of this place.  

• It will be one of the unforgettable experiences of a lifetime and one to cherish. 

Paro Valley Experiences 

• Visit the National Museum, housing many antique and precious objects from across Bhutan.  

• Admire the Paro Dzong, a high point of Bhutanese architecture that now houses the monastic body and district government offices. 

• Visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan. 

• Enjoy lunch at the Mountain Café, a charming spot with a cozy and rustic ambiance. 

• Take a short drive north to Drugyel Village, enjoying a delightful escape where visitors can take leisurely walks and immerse themselves in Bhutan. 

• End your day at a traditional farmhouse, followed by a captivating cultural show.  

Accommodation: NOT SPECIFIED 

Meals: B, L, D 

• Say goodbye to Bhutan, bidding farewell to your new friends across the country.