Silver Travel writer, Petra Shepherd, ventures into the little known Kingdom of Bhutan
The term “bucket list” can feel overused but a trip to Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan Kingdom sandwiched between the giants of India and China was a 60th birthday present to myself and was the ultimate dream destination to mark such a milestone. Keen to always experience the road less travelled, my plan was to explore a few of the cultural highlights, take in one of the many festivals and indulge my love of hiking.
Experience the spectacle of the Paro Teschu and Haa Spring festivals
Bordered by forested mountain peaks, Paro is a town in western Bhutan, home to the international airport, it’s where you’ll fly into. It’s also home to the Tsechu (festival) held annually in late March or April to honour Guru Rinpoche, the founder of tantric Buddhism in Bhutan, a culturally rich event that reflects the deep connection between the Bhutanese people and their Buddhist traditions. The Paro Teschu didn’t disappoint. I’d planned my trip around this particular festival (one of Bhutan’s most impressive and colourful) but there are more than 160 festivals throughout the year, and you should be sure to build at least one into your itinerary. Thousands flock, all wearing their finest national dress, from the whole region to the open-air festival ground near the Paro Dzong (fort). For four days there are masked dances and ancient traditions being carried out. It didn’t matter at all that I had no idea of the stories being re-enacted within the dances, the general carnival like atmosphere and pure joy of the audience was infectious and the vibrant colours a visual feast for the eyes.
Climb up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Like the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is the one defining image of Bhutan and a must on every itinerary. Sitting precariously 900 metres above the Paro Valley, the Paro Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) was built in the late 17th century on the site of a cave set into the cliff. You’ll probably wonder how on earth to get there. Bhutan is a destination for physically fit silver travellers; you’ll encounter endless steps and climbs but it’s well worth the extra leg work. I took the overnight Bumdrak Trek, glamping overnight before descending to Tiger’s Nest early in the morning. However, most travellers will start early with a two hour, well-trodden but steep climb, prayer flags strung across the gorges and fluttering on every hillside, feeling the excitement mount as they climb ever closer. Afterward there’s a tremendous sense of achievement along with a ton of photos and many will take up the offer of a hot stone bath to soothe any weary legs and aches and pains.
Enjoy rural life on a scenic and peaceful hike
With a modest population of just over 765,000 the Bhutanese enjoy a sustainable lifestyle passed down through generations. The population lives in close-knit communities, with approximately 70% engaged in subsistence farming across the rugged Himalayan terrain. Buddhism, a cornerstone of Bhutanese life since the 7th century, continues to pay a central role in their peaceful existence and to get a feel for this life, and village life in general I trekked The Samtengang Winter Trek. It’s a shorter, easier trek compared to some others in the region and takes place in the Punakha and Wangdue valleys, passing through forests and offering views of the Himalayas. Staying initially in a homestay where I was welcomed as very much part of the family, sleeping in the family’s temple room, taken proudly on a tour of the village by my host’s sweet and unbelievably polite children.
On a short low altitude village trek, there’s always plenty of see and sit for two minutes and someone will offer you cup of tea. It’s not often you have a trek to yourself, on my four-day trek, I came across only two other westerners and although there are more popular and challenging treks, to get a flavour or rural life, The Samtengang Trek was hard to beat.
Happiness is a way of life in Bhutan. Bhutan is committed to protecting its natural environment and has a policy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that prioritizes environmental sustainability and well-being over economic growth. In a world that is always on the go or currently not the kindest of places, I found discovering the timeless wonders of the mountain kingdom not only fascinating but was wonderfully restorative as well.
Next steps
To plan and book a once in a lifetime trip to Bhutan, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.