First of all I have to say that I liked the entire trip incredibly, both in Bhutan and in Nepal, and found it very special.
The organisation worked wonderfully, I was always picked up punctually and reliably, the driver in Bhutan was very reliable and with a driving style that was very compatible with western habits 🙂 My guide in Bhutan was Dolkar, a young woman, which positively surprised me, as that is quite rare. She was very dedicated and engaged and was able to answer all my questions. For a monastery festival a Kira was even organised for me; the programme was also adapted in part a little according to my interests, and I always had enough time and never felt rushed. At the beginning in Bhutan I found the programme almost a bit too short, we were mostly back at the hotel by around 3:30 to 4 p.m. and done for the day. Since the hotels were often a bit outside the respective place, exploration on one’s own wasn’t really an option, so that as a solo traveller I initially wished for even more programme. However, I got used to it very quickly and found it very pleasant to simply have a bit of time for myself at the hotel for reading, relaxing or also for a (pleasingly cheap) massage 🙂 overall this also fits very well with the mood in Bhutan, slowing down was the order of the day!
In general, Bhutan is a very fascinating country between originality and modernity, with very lively traditions and still very unspoiled by tourism (no pushy taxi drivers or vendors, in general incredibly polite and lovely people) – sometimes you almost feel transported back to the past. You are quickly drawn into a world in which the boundaries between proven history, mythology and religious belief blur completely and the rules of Buddhism determine actions. An incredibly exciting experience like I have not had anywhere in this form before! I found the duration of the trip to be just right. Not to forget: the window seat on the flight to Paro was incredibly great, probably the most beautiful and most scenic flight I have ever had!
Nepal was a very nice complement to it, so completely different from Bhutan, but with its own exciting history and culture. The team in Nepal was also super! Incredibly nice, helpful and always available – they even exchanged my remaining ngultrum into Nepalese rupees, after not a single exchange office in Kathmandu wanted them and I was already thinking I would be stuck with them 🙂
Overall I am thoroughly satisfied with the trip and the great organisation. In Nepal I also met some other travellers who were on the way to or just back from a trek – you immediately get the urge to go on a hiking tour yourself. I think that this was not my last time in the Himalayas, and when I come back I also definitely know who I will turn to (I have meanwhile already passed on the recommendation for geoDiscovery Tours several times among friends and colleagues).
I would like to once again thank you most warmly for the great support before and during my trip!
Lena
