Gentle Walking Bhutan Traveller Reviews

Gentle walking in Bhutan. A warm welcome everywhere, arrangements went perfectly. Culture, history, festivals and walking were excellent and well supported by information

Excellent attention to detail and very approachable

Very well organised, and much attention to detail.

Very supportive with information, bookings, any changes of plans, easy to communicate with

A wonderful combination of easy(ish) walking amid stunning scenery and fascinating cultural insights. Everything we hoped for and more, thanks in no small measure to faultless local organization and our superb local guide for whom no praise can be too high.

Advance info from MK in Uk, and local organisation by their agents in Bhutan/Nepal were both absolutely faultless. A wonderful expereince with an excellent compamy.

MOUNTAIN KINGDOMS GENTLE WALKING IN Bhutan

Beam and Nema our driver could not have been more delightful and helpful.

A perfect mix of walking, guided visits to temples and dzongs and a festival.

Mountain Kingdoms provided esxcellent service and a thoroughly well-organised trip.

A great two weeks spent exploring Bhutan with a great guide--Karma.This is my third visit to Bhutan and I was happy to be seeing new places. Everything went to plan and both Guide and Driver could not do enough to ensure we were well cared for.We had some super "spontaneous" experiences----came across the semi-final of an Archery competition; a darts match; and even met and spoke to the King!! Also stumbled upon a Buddhist ceremony involving a bonfire and firecrackers. The walking was challenging, being at altitude, but there was always an alternative if you couldn't or didn't want to walk.

Mountain Kingdoms organisation is first rate. From booking we were given all the information necessary to ensure we were well prepared for the trip. Everything went to plan, we were met and transported with no waiting around. Comfortable hotels and transport and information given at every point.

Bhutan itself was very different from India and Nepal, quite fascinating. I enjoyed the holiday and opportunity for some walking, even if I, along with others in the group, couldn't do all of it, rather than sitting in a tour bus most of the time.

Booking and communications efficient. Hotels of not so good to excellent. Not so good had bags of character but freezing bedroom. Bathroom so cold no showering. However, they did supply cosy blankets and hot water bottle. Excellent was Dwarika in Kathmandu. A real treat and helpful staff. All hotels provided kettles but limited supplies - take your own. Guide and driver were excellent and did a good job for us. Itinerary: Poor in that little or no account taken of some visits not being possible because it was student winter holidays, winter closing times and that it got dark earlier in winter. MAJOR GRIPE - 2 of walks were treks rather than walks and definitely not GENTLE. Brochure described holiday as suitable 'if you enjoy weekend walking in the British countryside' That is a complete misrepresentation. You need to be able to contend with steep, some long, hills, and get in some hill walking before you go.

Bhutan is a country of superb beauty, culture, devotional art and lovely, generous people; thankfully, the general itinerary of this trip, the sites visited and walks programmed, gave a fine introduction (but be advised that many of the walks on this trip are not "gentle" but moderately strenuous, especially when taking altitude into account). BUT... this was a winter departure (Dec 2015) which imposes complicating seasonal constraits, e.g., fewer daylight hours, early closings of some venues as well as hotel closures, and, frequently, overnight temperatures below freezing; these factors, or their consequences, were not made sufficiently clear (or not within adequate time to cancel without losing our money) - SO BEWARE! This is true also of road conditions which due to construction are, and will be for some time, awful throughout almost all the area travelled: from Dochu La Pass to Punakha, and especially from there to Trongsa; thence on to the entrance to the Bumthang valleys; and then going over to Phobjikha/Gangtey. These factors combined to cause frequent delay and discomfort, including some accommodations having very little heating; and several programmed activities to be cancelled. There is, however, very real benefit to visiting Bhutan in winter: the skies were mostly brilliantly clear during the day (nights tended to be socked in with cloud, so sadly, few stars seen); our group was small, only 8; and there were very few other tourists around so the pricipal sites - dzongs, temples and monasteries (except Taktsang) - as well as the Trongsa Tsechu (exceptional, an unforgettable experience) were blissfully uncrowded. But overall, and in significant details as recounted here, this trip with Mountain Kingdoms was unsatisfactory. It can clearly be splendid to visit Bhutan in winter IF you're aware of these limitations AND are confident that your tour operator has done the work needed to minimise problems!

Of greatest concern and consequence were Mountain Kingdoms’ inaccurate representation of, and inattention to basic details in the planning and preparation for this winter trip to Bhutan. Winter weather conditions (freezing temperatures, reduced hours of daylight), available accommodation, winter opening hours as well as general road conditions (throughout the year) – matters that Mountain Kingdoms should be very well aware of – seem not to have been taken into proper account. Consequently, some site visits and walks had to be omitted, heating at lodgings was frequently inadequate and we were often rushed in what we did do; and, there was insufficient time for other activities such as shopping. In addition, I do not believe the trip's grading, as "gentle", their lowest level of difficulty, is accurate; the trip has several quite challenging walks and when high altitude is taken into account I felt the trip was overall moderately strenuous, especially given this operators numerous levels of grading. To be completely fair, the especially strenuous walks are noted in their detailed itinerary, but the general rating is what people see when initially evaluating the suitability of the trip; it's all too easy to minimize bits of walks; and this results in some people pushing themselves too hard or having to omit walks or portions thereof. Together these issues left me, and others I believe, too often frustrated, uncomfortable, stressed and potentially at risk.

Bhutan is one of those secret places tucked up high in the Himalayas. Who goes there? Well me for a start. I travelled in early November 2014 and took the long flight to Kathmandu. There are various ways of getting to Bhutan, either via Delhi or Kathmandu and depending on what flight you take, there can be a long transfer time. I took one of the longer options but wanted to overnight in Kathmandu both ways mainly because on the way back I would have more time to go shopping in Thamel and visit Kilroys famous bar and restaurant. Whatever option you decide, Mountain Kingdoms are very flexible. The best entry into Bhutan must be the flight from Kathmandu to Paro. I begged the check in lady at the airport to give me a window seat on the left hand side. I wasn't disappointed - the whole range of the Himalayas stood before my eyes and there above them all was Everest. Then you enter the Kingdom of Bhutan and life will never be the same. What a beautiful country steeped in its Buddhist traditions. Everyone smiles a welcome and nothing is too much trouble. I was with a select party of four. All of us good friends who have travelled together for many years. We had a guide Tashi who was marvellous and a driver who used to chauffer the Royal Family until he retired. Good job as the roads are apt to be unmade, very windy and strewn with avalanche debris. I won't give details about my holiday in Bhutan as it is waiting there for anyone to enjoy. I just want to say that Mountain Kingdoms came up trumps. This is the first time I have used them and it won't be the last.

Right from the beginning when this trip was just an idea, Mountain Kingdoms came up with suggested itineraries until everything came together. They have been very supportive and provided top quality staff. They have always been available to answer last minute questions. I think they are an excellent company.