BHUTAN

Imagine for a moment, a place where Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product. Travel to the Haa Valley, where you’ll be welcomed into a traditional rammed-earth home of the extended family of your guide, Phuntso Norbu. Your host family churns butter by hand, grinds buckwheat with a stone mill and shares the wonders of village life with you. Bhutan is where the old and new are alchemically intertwined, creating magic – to the delight of all who visit.

Overview

Trek through scattered villages and farmland into pristine and verdant forested valleys, to the land of yak herders, where yaks graze and lumber across the beautiful sloping alpine-mountain sides. Experience a unique homestay in a jaw-dropping setting. Also includes time to explore Paro and Thimphu, including a visit to the infamous Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

Highlights

• World-class trek in a spectacular Himalayan setting
• Rare homestay opportunity in a traditional farmhouse nestled deep in the mountains
• Experienced local guides and hosts share their lives and knowledge
• Explore temples, reserves and museums to learn about Bhutan’s rich culture

Overview

On this cultural immersion program you will be spending time living with the villagers of Dorikha, who maintain two villages – one for winter and one for summer. Learn about this traditional way of life, and enjoy highlights of this ancient kingdom including Punakha, Thimphu and a breathtaking visit to the Tiger’s Nest. The famous Paro Festival is an unforgettable part of this journey.

Highlights

• Unique opportunity to live and learn with a local family
• Witness the unfurling of the worlds largest religious Thangka scroll at the Paro Tsechu festival
• Experience an ancient nomadic culture off the tourist circuit
• Discover the Bhutanese culture through explorations of temples, reserves and museums

Overview

On this journey, you will be tracing the trails of the Dorips, who have been migrating to their warmer village in the south every winter for hundreds of years. A homestay allows you to live with and learn from the Dorips, and you’ll also absorb Bhutan’s beauty by visiting Tiger’s Nest monastery and witnessing the Thimpu Tsechu festival.

Highlights

• Unique opportunity to live with a local family
• Experience the Thimpu Tsechu Festival, Bhutan’s most revered annual festival
• Trace the trail of the Dorips, an ancient nomadic culture (with the option to trek)
• Hike to the infamous Tigers Nest Monastery
• Discover Bhutanese culture by exploring temples, reserves and museums

Crooked Trails is a non-profit organization focused on transforming tourism into a positive force in the world. We create travel programs that reflect our values and are worthy of the trust placed in us by our travelers. By traveling with us, you can be assured that your money will go to support our partner communities, the causes we support, and our on-going work to make tourism better. We do this by: