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Our
Tours
CULTURAL TOURS
Cultural Tours in Bhutan
offer Tourists a complete insight into the nation’s
vibrant religion & Culture. The most popular
events in the cultural itinerary are the Thimphu,
Paro, Punakha and Bumthang Tshechus/Festival.
Tsechus are weeklong festivals where the teachings
of Padmasambhava are imparted to the laity through
mask dances. For the locals, it is the time for
post-harvest festivity, a time to wear the finest
and eat the best. The Tshechus are deeply revered
and it is believed that people get blessed by
their attendance. The other attraction of cultural
tours is to meet the rural Bhutanese in their
quaint hamlets and see first hand their way of
life. Here one gets the opportunity to intermingle
with the average Bhutanese and to enjoy their
hospitality. |
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| [Please
contact us to tailor your itinerary] |
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| Birding Fishing Black
Necked Crane Festival Rafting
& Kayaking |
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| Sample Tour Itineraries |
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NOTE: Alternation of Itineraries: Bhutan Yak Adventure Travel reserves the right to modify or alter any trip itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control such as Flight cancellation, Land slide, weather conditions, Political strikes or restriction etc.
TOUR ESCORTS
All our Bhutan Tours are escorted by well-trained, knowledgeable Bhutan tour operators, certified by the Department of Tourism. Most of the guides are English speaking but Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian speaking guides could also be provided with prior information and on additional cost. |
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ECO – TOURISM
Bhutan is perhaps the best destination for eco-tourism because of the highest priority given by the government to the environment. Bhutan’s terrain ranges from the Sub-tropical foothills in the south through the temperate zone, to dizzying heights of over 7300 meters. Each zone boasts of the highest density of rare herbs, flowers, birds and animals. The ecology here is diverse, intact and well protected. Indeed, nearly one third of the nation has been declared as parks, each one boasting rare flora and fauna, most of which are only endemic to Bhutan.
A kaleidoscopic blanket of Rhododendrons on alpine slopes and the national flower, Blue Poppy, are visual delights across the country. Blue sheep, the elusive Snow leopard, the Himalayan Black Beer, the Golden Langur and the national animal, Takin, roam abundantly. Some valleys are also the winter roasting ground of the endangered Black-necked Cranes. |
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BIRD WATCHING
Bhutan is a paradise for bird watchers. On the world scale, the country is recognized as forming the major part of an area of especially high biological diversity known as the Eastern Himalayan "Hot spot." Over 770 bird species have been recorded in Bhutan so far and many more species are likely to occur. This is a large number for the size of the country.
There are ten bird species in Bhutan, which have been identified as globally threatened by Bird Life International. These include the Black-necked Crane, one of the World's rarest and least known cranes, which traditionally winters in Bhutan, the Rufous-necked Hornbill, Blyth's Tragopan, and Blyth’s King fisher, Ward's Trogon, the chestnut-breasted partridge, the white-bellied heron, Wood snipe and Pallas's Fish Eagle. In addition, Bhutan is also home to winter visitors which breed farther north, such as migrant thrushes and for many breeding summer migrants including cuckoos and flycatchers. Most of Bhutan’s resident birds are Altitudinal migrants, which move up and down the mountains depending on the season and weather conditions.
Bhutan may also be internationally important for 114 species, which may have significant breeding population in the country. These birds have breeding ranges, which are restricted to an area encompassing the Himalayas, northeast India, northern south East Asia and southwest China. |
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[Please contact us for the Birding Itinerary] |
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ANNUAL BLACK-NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL
Bhutan is an important wintering ground for the stately Black-necked cranes, one of the world's most threatened cranes. Each year, Phobjikha valley plays host to more than 230 threatened BNC adding another precious intrinsic value to its rich bio-diversity. It is now a known feature that the cranes fly every year to Bhutan around the third week of October. The local folks with the onset of winter having minimum work mark the arrival of the “Thrung Thrung” in the valley as a time for leisure.
They stay in the valley until around the first week of March foraging for bamboo tuber, insects, grains etc. The number of these Black-necked Cranes is declining every year. This is because of the drainage of their marshy habitat in some places and recent changes in traditional farming methods which have resulted in reduced availability of food for the cranes and partly because of the threats in their breeding areas. Total protection is given to the cranes in Bhutan and there are wardens at their main wintering areas in Phobjikha valley and at Bumdiling. The Royal Government has ensured that the cranes are undisturbed in Bhutan.
The Black-necked crane is important in local folklore and there are myths, legends and songs about the bird. The cranes are famous for their spectacular and beautiful dances in which they bow, leap into air and toss vegetation about whilst uttering loud bugling calls.
The Black-Necked Crane Festival is held every year in the month of November at Phobjikha valley with the following objectives.
- Raise awareness and the involvement of the public in activities that can lead to the conservation of the Black-necked Cranes.
- Foster and encourage understanding related to all phases of conservation of the rare and endangered Black-necked cranes and their critical habitat among the local population and visitors.
- Enhance opportunity for the tourists to learn more about better appreciate the local areas, natural and cultural heritage.
- Design, co-ordinate and advance community involvement in the organization of the festival, which will eventually contribute to conservation of the Black-necked Crane and economic development of the local community.
- Raise funds for ecologically sustainable economic development of the Phobjikha community and to change the attitude of the local community towards the conservation of the rare and endangered Black-necked Cranes.
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FISHING TRIPS
Bhutan is one of the rich watersheds of four main rivers namely Toorsa, Raidak, Sunkosh and Manas flowing from high Himalayan glacier of the North to the Indian plains in the South. These four river catchments practically cover the whole of Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan has rehabilitated most of the rivers and lakes in the higher altitude with brown trout imported from western Himalayas with an intention to keep water potable on sustainable basis. This program was launched during early 1950.
At present it has been observed that most of the rivers and lakes between the elevation of 5,000 to 16,000 feet above the sea level are well populated with the brown trout and the Royal Government has started culling of excess population by issuing fishing licenses as a luxurious sport based on both social, cultural and scientific plans approved by the Government.
We offer two fishing trips in and around Bhutan. Please take a look and let us know if you are interested. We recommend that you combine the fishing trip with another Bhutan tour, such as a cultural tour.
Most of the rivers are accessible by motorable roads where as the lakes are NOT. The rivers usually flood during the monsoon season starting from June to August and all the lakes are inaccessible during the winter months (November, December, January and February) due to heavy snowfalls. |
| [Please contact
us for the Fishing Itinerary] |
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RAFTING & KAYAKING
Bhutan’s districts are characterized by a river that runs through each valley. From large Sub-tropical Rivers to torrential Alpine rivulets, kayaking and rafting are growing in popularity. Rafters and Kayakers can enjoy pleasant river stretches or even face challenges that defy all grades. We organize Rafting and Kayaking as a one day event.
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| [Please contact
us for the Itinerary] |
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Other Itineraries, we can tailor make are: Festival Tours, Alpine Flower Tours, Photography Tours, Textile Tour, Architectural Tours. |
| [Please
contact us for the Itinerary] |
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