Our Bhutan trip with through the Wild East

Family Meister Berlin, M.

Dear Berghorizonte team,

When we returned from our first trip to Bhutan in 2019, we had only one question: How do we get back to Bhutan as quickly as possible?

We were completely satisfied with our trip via Berghorizonte and immediately booked a reunion with Bhutan for 2020. The pandemic delayed our trip by three years and we were overjoyed that we could finally go on it.

On our first visit, we explored the west as far as Punakha. This time we took a domestic flight from Paro to Trashigang and then drove across the country back to Paro. Eastern Bhutan is much more original and even more relaxed than the parts of the country that we got to know on our first visit - with plenty of space for encounters with nature and breathtaking landscapes.

A special highlight right at the beginning was the visit to a monastery festival in Trashigang (see photo). Only seven foreign tourists were standing close together with hundreds of locals in a small temple courtyard when the dancers entered the square one by one. Unforgettable.

Our guide Tashi impressed us with his broad knowledge of religion and nature and was able to name every species of bird we encountered. He was flexible in responding to our requests on site and mastered every difficult situation (see the buried road). He made everything possible: we ate with locals, drank tea with monks and visited remote mountain monasteries. The hikes were as varied as the landscapes. At 40 degrees between cacti and wild turmeric, between cows and butterflies across the pastures and meadows or 500 meters down through a pine forest jungle on a trail that the big cats use at night.

We were able to observe monkeys (three different species) twelve times, saw a special peacock and roamed through tiger territory. For me, the two sightings of a white-bellied heron were an emotional highlight. There are probably fewer than 300 of these animals left in the world.

A trip through eastern Bhutan is definitely an adventure. Be prepared for things not to always go according to plan. There were heavy downpours almost every night, but it stayed dry during the day. We got stuck in the mud twice with the car, and once the road was covered in mud. It is important to check the beds every evening for potential insects to avoid unpleasant surprises.

On a trip across the country in Bhutan, you also have to be prepared for long car journeys on extremely bumpy roads. Lunch and dinner are tasty, but breakfast is very monotonous. If you can't stand rice, toast with jam and scrambled eggs for breakfast for more than a week, you should definitely pack alternatives.

On our trip we also had a homestay overnight stay, which gave us a little insight into life on a farm. We ate with the family and slept on thin mattresses on the floor. The family was very hospitable. If you are also planning a homestay, you should think about small gifts for your guests.

Earplugs are a must in Bhutan, because the dogs that sleep peacefully in all squares and streets during the day cannot be ignored at night. Speaking of night: the temperature differences between day and night can be quite significant. You should be prepared for this when packing your suitcase. Hotel rooms and guest rooms only have electric heaters.

Listing all of our experiences would go beyond the scope of this letter.