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Bhutan is the perfect destination for people interested in Buddhist art and culture. Tucked in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan, between India and Tibet, followed a policy of isolation for centuries. Not much was known about the country till the first half of the twentieth century. It was only in the seventies that the country was opened to foreigners and people in the western world began to know about its existence.

The closed-door policy followed by the Bhutanese monarchs helped in preserving the country's rich culture and traditions. We are living in the twenty-first century but in some remote Bhutanese rural villages, people still have no idea what the internet, computers, or television are. Life carries on in the same quiet rhythm as it has for centuries.

Traveling into Bhutan is like taking a journey in a time capsule. The pristine nature, traditional wooden homes, huge Buddhist monasteries, people going about their business dressed in their traditional costume of Gho and Kira, and very few signs of modernity makes this country an absolute haven for those looking for a unique cultural experience. Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, Phobjikha and Haa Valley are some of the must-visit destinations for Bhutan's cultural tour.

Every city in Bhutan has a Dzong (fortress or castle). The Bhutanese military used these huge citadels built in the traditional style to defend their territories from Tibetan troops in the bygone days, the structures now house museums, monasteries, and government offices. Punakha Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Tashichho Dzong, Trongsa Dzong, etc., are some of the most visited dzongs in Bhutan.

Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world where Buddhist thought and philosophy guide people's lives. Bhutanese are devout Buddhists and the Je Khenpo (chief abbot of the monastic body) holds an important position in the country. His advice is sought and respected by the Bhutanese King as well as ministers. Almost all the country's cultural sites are Buddhist religious structures – Tiger's Nest (Taktshang Monastery), Chimmi Lhakhang, Buddha Dordenma, Druk Wangyal Chorten, Gangtey Monastery, etc.

The nunneries and monasteries like Kila Gompa, Jambay Lhakhang, Ura Monastery, Dechen Phodrang Monastery, etc., offer a glimpse of the austere monastic life followed by the anis(nuns) and lamas(monks).

Village homestays offer great opportunities to interact with a family and learn more about their lifestyle. Living with a Bhutanese family on their farm is one of the few culturally immersive experiences you can enjoy while you are in Bhutan. You can also visit a local market and rub shoulders with the locals while buying some of the beautiful handmade items. Local men love to hang out in open spaces and compete in a game of archery or darts. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and Bhutanese are keen archers. Their games are boisterously peppered with a lot of loud singing, dancing, and laughing. A relaxing traditional hot stone bath should also be on your itinerary. This is one of the rare Bhutanese pleasures.

You can experience Bhutan's rich culture and traditions by choosing any one of our exciting city and culture tours – Bhutan Cultural tour - 5 days, Glimpse of Bhutan Tour- 4 days, Western Bhutan Tour - 7 days, Bhutan Heritage Tour - 8 days, Bhutan West East Traverse Tour - 14 days, Western and Central Bhutan Tour - 9 days, etc.

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Travellers Reviews

Travel experiences of our clients who recently returned from their trips.
Third Rock Adventures
Did this 3-day Bhutan tour and loved it. How come I have only 3 4 days leave and they offer the exact itinerary; highly thankful to them for this tour. Everything was so well organized, the guide and the driver made it extremely easy and comfortable throughout our stay. They were also very flexible about our schedule, they didn't mind staying late with us. The car they used was new and quite spacious, made the journey everywhere very comforta...
flags Noppakorn Anand  
Shortest Bhutan Tour, the name of the trip describes it. It was possibly the shortest trip but get to know and do all the basics of Bhutan. Great guide and driver and the way it was planned let me use the time and not wasting it since is was a short stay, I would recommend doing this trip if you are short of time but I would definitely recommend taking more time in this beautiful country. If you want do to longer trek, they operate Bhutan Culture...
flags Pedro Lain  
I travelled to Bhutan for 3 days with my wife. From booking to final departure Third Rock Adventures had our back! Their staff went above and beyond to ensure we had time of our life. Leena helped us in booking the flights from Delhi to Bhutan and back. The driver and guide in Bhutan went above and beyond in the same way. They even took us to hospital when we had dreaded food poisoning and we were okay in one evening! They were there for us all t...
flags Pranav Ashtekar  

Guinness World Record holder Gives Third Rock Adventures a Review!

werner berger

Werner Berger is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for being the oldest person in the World to have climbed the highest mountain on each of the seven (7) continents (incl. Mt. Everest).

I am Werner Berger and my "claim to fame" is probably best defined as being in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest person in the world to have climbed the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, including Mt. Everest.

Little did I know my life was to change forever on my first trek into the Himalaya in 1992 at age 55. It was the beginning and just a matter time before I realized I could combine my leadership and climbing skills to create a program in which people could explore their own possibilities.

So, in 2010, I began leading Transformational Life Experiences, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp and other high places.

One of the earliest keys to success is to find a company with the right mix of professionalism, support, and, of course, experience. I have used Naba Amgai and his teams on all my Nepal trekking adventures.

Naba's caring and climber support, is second to none. In my estimation, Third Rock Adventures is one of the very best in the business, in or outside of Nepal. They know the mountains. So you can relax, enjoy and transform.

- Werner Berger

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+977-9851055684 , +977-014544105
USA & Canada
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1-800-670-6480 , Steven Golden
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+33674618156 , Stuart Butler
Australia
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Sera Road/ Tashi Xintsun, Lhasa, Tibet
Bhutan
Changlam, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan