Photographic Tour of Bhutan (18 days)

*Please note the price is based on $US which is approximately $AU. This amount in AUD may vary up or down depending on the exchange rate. The correct rate will be determined for you on booking. Please contact us for clarification. 

We need a minimum of 4 people for this trip to go ahead so please do not book flights until the trip has been confirmed. Although the tour commences on April 8th 2027 in Guwahati, India and finishes in Paro, Bhutan on April 25th 2027. 

The Kingdom of Bhutan is an extraordinary place known for the concept of Gross National Happiness. In the foothills of the Himalayas it is full of temples, fortresses, forests and has a unique culture. 

Join this amazing small group tour (maximum 10 people)  to the Land of Happiness with professional photographer Anna-Mair Francis who will be on hand for technical and compositional support. We will be entering Bhutan from Assam, India, flying into Guwahati International Airport. We will meet our guides and drive up the foothills of the Himalyas and enter Bhutan from Samdrupjongkhar, crossing the country from the East which are rarely visited by Westerners into Central and Western Bhutan. We will attend one (hopefully two) local festivals in villages away from huge crowds where we will mix with locals and monks in their beautiful traditional dress to watch masked performers who enact historic dances about the fight between good and evil. We will visit a remote mountain town where women create complex silk  fabrics in their homes which sell worldwide. We will be expecting to photograph landscapes, people, cultural scenes, magnificent Dzongs, flora and fauna and so much more along the way. 

The Kingdom of Bhutan is an extraordinary place known for the concept of Gross National Happiness. In the foothills of the Himalayas it is full of temples, fortresses, forests and has a unique culture. Our professional photographer will be on hand for technical and compositional support. 

Please note that the itinerary is subject to change but our route will be via Samdrupjongkhar, Trashigang, Khoma, Jakar Valley,  Phobjikha,  Panakha, Thimphu, Haa Valley and Paro. 

Day 1. 8/04/2027  Guwahati – Samdrupjongkhar (D)

The main party will enter arrive from Singapore but you can fly from other Cities so long as you are there for our pick up time to meet our guide. 

Arrive in Guwahati by 1440 and meet our expert guide, Namgay and drive to Samdrupjongkhar.

We will stop at a local Tea Garden for refreshment and photography en route to the border crossing. 

Overnight in Samdrupjongkhar

 

Day 2. 9/04/2027 Samdrupjongkhar – Trashigang (BLD)

 After an early breakfast, we have about  5-6 hours drive (with photo stops) up the Himalayan foothills to Trashigang, the major town in the East which nestles about a scenic valley with paddy fields above it. 

Overnight in Trashigang

 

Day 3. 10/04/2027 Trashigang (BLD)

 Day excursion to town of Trashiyangste with it's  wood turning and arts and crafts school which teaches traditional methods giving us some interesting images. We will  visit beautiful Gomphu Kora (temple) which sits on a river bank. 

Overnight in Trashigang

 

Day 4.11/04/2027 Trashigang (BLD)

Today we will head out to meet the Merak or Brokpa People. These semi nomadic yak herders have a unique culture and are known for their colourful costume and unusual headgear.   We will also spend some time in Trashigang township which is the centre for trade in the region. There will be many opportunities for street photography and to capture day to day life in Bhutan. 

Overnight in Trashigang

 

Day 5. 12/04/2027 Trashigang - Khoma (BLD)

 After an early breakfast, drive to Khoma, Lhuntsi via Mongar. Our route takes us through the valley between the Dangme Chu River and the Mountains. The drive is about 5-6 hours with photo opportunities en route. We will stop in the town of Mongar for lunch before heading North through wooded valleys to our home for the next 2 nights, the village of Khoma. Khoma is famous for it's weavers who produce the most beautiful textiles which are sold world wide. 

Overnight in Khoma Home stay

 

Day 6. 13/04/2027 Khoma (BLD)

 I opted to spend 2 nights in this village so we have time to soak up local life and photograph and documenting the women weaving Kushithara (textile) in Backstrip looms. Most homes have a loom set up on the porch on which ladies produce the most amazing fabric. We hope to visit the local school for some interaction between the local kids. In the evening we will visit the nearby Lhuntse Dzong. 

 Overnight in Khoma

 

 Day 7. 14/04/2027 Khoma – Mongar  (BLD)

 Today we start our drive towards Central Bhutan but we will break the journey part the way there so we avoid a massive drive.  We will stop to photograph a long wooden suspension bridge, suspended high above a raging river. It's decorated with pray flags perhaps to gaurantee a safe crossing! After lunch on Mongar we will visit Kadam temple and photograph lay monks.

Overnight in tbc

 

Day 8. 15/04/2027 Mongar – Bumthang  (BLD)

Today will be the longest drive (6-7 hours) through the Thrumshing la National Park. If we are lucky, we might see red panda and hornbills. The road is slow due to the many switch backs which wind through wooded valley following the edge of the mountain. There will be waterfalls and other photo opportunities. As we leave the high country for a while we visit Ura valley before heading to Bumthang. If time allows we will stop at the Red Panda Brewery and Cheese Factory. Entry price, a beer! The local town of Jakar offers us some great street photography opportunities. 

Overnight in Bumthang

 

Day 9. 16/04/2027 Bumthang (BLD)

 Today we will attend the Dhomkhar festival in one of my favourite locations. It is in the court yard of a village temple at which we will mix with locals dressed in their colourful traditional costumes. The festival is will be full of ancient dances about the fight between good and evil or for fertility lead by musicians with local instruments. The photo opportunities are endless. If time allows we will also visit the Burning Lake, a sacred waterhole steeped in legends. It is a pretty gorge with surrounded by steep cliffs and small waterfalls. Locals come to pray and light candles.

Overnight in Bumthang

 

Day 10. 17/04/2027 Bumthang – Trongsa (BLD)

 We continue West today stopping for a second visit to the festival before driving on to Trongsa. The town nestles in the valley with the beautiful Trongsa Dzong on the cliffside above it. The Dzong has some resident monkeys who are on the mischievous side so watch what you put down as it may not be there when you turn around! 

Overnight in Trongsa

 

Day 11. 18/04/2027 Trongsa – Phobjikha  (BLD)

 Today we will drive  on to Phobjikha Valley via Pele la mountain pass (3500 metres). This pass used to be the demarcation between east and west in the olden days and is surrounded by rhododendron forests and topped by a chorten and pray flags. It offers views of Himalayan peaks like Mt. Jomolhari if we have clear skies. We will have a special stop at our Guides home village of Tshangkha. We will stop at Gangtey Monastery, an impressive building standing proud over the Phobjikha Valley before descending into the valley to hike through the Natural Trail (approx 1.5 hours). Phobjikha Valley is a wetland of international importance and the winter home to the black headed crane. The fauna recorded are deer such as muntjacs (barking deer) and sambar plus black bear and leopards are occasionally seen.

Overnight in Phobjikha

 

Day 12. 19/04/2027 Phobjikha – Punakha  (BLD)

 We head back over the Pele la Pass through mossy forests stopping in a valley full of paddy fields to visit the Divine Madman's 15th Century Temple, Chimi Lhakhang. After a local lunch we will head to Punakha, home to the Punakha Dzong. This stunning building is built between 2 rivers and lined with Jacaranda trees. We will visit the inner courts this afternoon and return in the evening to photograph it under floodlights from the river. 

Overnight in Punakha

 

Day 13. 20/04/2027 Punakha – Thimphu (BLD)

We head to the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu , via Dochu La pass  (3150m). The Dochu La is topped by 108 Memorial white and gold Stupas, known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens, built to honour Bhutanese soldiers who died in a 2003 military operation. On a clear day we can see some of the Himalayan mountains but often the pass is covered in mist which will give us some very atmospheric shots. Once we reach the City we have options. It is not a large city and had a very traditional feel about it.  We may visit oldest dzong in the country, Semtokha dzong, a fortress with thick walls giving us some interesting shots of red robed monks in an ancient building or Thimphu's Nunnery for something different.  Zorig Chusum Art School is another option which trains students in the 13 traditional arts and crafts preserving ancient methods of carving and painted. 

 Overnight in Thimphu

 

Day 14. 21/04/2027 Thimphu (BLD)

One of the more quirking sights in Thimphu is it's famous traffic Police. They tried to install traffic lights to control the flow of traffic but it was decided that traffic lights did not fit with the Bhutanese philosophy so they were removed and a traffic policeman now directs at the busiest junction with a series of complex hand movements. 

We will also visit the Centenary Farmer's Market and the nearby covered bridge for some interesting people and cultural shots. The takin is the national animal of Bhutan, a very strange looking animal that looks like a cross between a yak and a goat with a bit of deer thrown in. We are unlikely to see them wild so we will make a quick stop at the Motithang Takin Preserve to photograph them. Towering over Thimphu is one of the largest Buddha stupas in the world at 54 metres,  the Buddha Dordenma Statue. It is made of bronze and gilded with gold. It gives us a great vantage point for the surrounding area. 

 Overnight in Thimphu

 

Day 15. 22/04/2027 Thimphu – Haa Valley (BLD)

We depart Thimphu and drive towards an area which was off limits to travellers for many years and it still few visit. It is an agricultural area with  untouched alpine forests, traditional villages, and rich cultural heritage so we should get some great people and landscape photo opportunities

Overnight in Haa

 

Day 16. 23/04/2027 Haa – Paro (BLD)

We will get up early for the soft light and explore the village and photograph farmer doing their morning chores before driving over the Chele La Pass the highest motorable road in Bhutan (3988m). There are often yak grazing on the side of the road as we wind up the mountain to the summit which is covered with pray flags. We will had descend towards Paro where we will explore the town for street and architectural photography.

Overnight in Paro

 

Day 17. 24/04/2027 Paro (BLD)

Our last full day of photography will start with a hike to the most famous of Bhutan's monastery, Taktshang or Tiger's Nest. The trek is a round trip of around 6 km and is described as moderate, it's path snakes through pine forest past waterfalls, pray flags and shrines. There is an option to hire a horse (approx US$20) for those under 85 kg. The horse ride will go part the way up the path as far as the cafeteria.  Although there is no photography within the monastery itself there will be so many photo ops on route. For some of the group walking to the top of the monastery steps is reward enough for the trek whilst others will want to commit to the extra distance to visit the iconic building. 

After our day of trekking we will go to a farmhouse to soak our muscles in traditional hot stone bath at a farmhouse. There will also be an opportunity to try your arm at archery before we have our final dinner together. 

Overnight in Paro

Day 18. 25/04/2027 Departure (B)

Departure for Paro International Airport to your chosen transfer hub and then to your home country. For those traveling to Australia, Bangkok is probably the best option although there are other choices. 

Lok Jay Gay (see you again)!

 

Costs: USD $ (approx AUD $)per person twin/double* room 
 
*Single supplement addition of USD $(approx AUD $) applies

#Pay a $AUD2000 deposit (AUD $500 of which is non refundable) on this site to hold your place and we will instruct you how to pay the balance in US Dollars once we have reached minimum numbers. If we do not reach minimum numbers we will return your deposit in full. Please do not book flights until we confirm departure.  This price are subject to change until we pay in full with our Bhutanese Agent.

Includes:

• 17 nights and 18 days in Bhutan

• Visit to Merak to meet the semi nomadic yak herders

• One (hopefully two) authentic cultural festivals

• Visiting traditional weavers in Khoma

• Small group size 

• All your accommodation and meals on Tour


• Highly experienced Bhutanese guides and drivers


• Photographic support from internationally renowned photographer Anna-Mair Francis.

What’s not included:

• Flights to Guwahati or from Paro to your home city


• Alcohol or soft drinks with meals


• Photographic equipment


• Laundry, gratuities, etc


• Horse ride up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery café  if required.

• Entry to sites not on the itinerary 


• Excess baggage


• Travel Insurance

• Bhutan or Indian Visas

Please note that the main group will fly from Singapore and return via Bangkok but if you are travelling from Europe then flights should be arranged via India. 

Payment schedule: Deposit of AUD $2000 to secure the booking (AUD $500 of which is non refundable). Please note that the trip is not locked in totally as far as the Bhutanese agency is concerned until the total balance is received. So the balance will need to be paid as soon as practical. We need 4 people for the trip to go ahead, if we cancel the trip we will refund your full deposit to you. Please do not book flights until we confirm departure. 

See our Terms and Conditions

 This price are subject to change until we pay in full with our Bhutanese Agent.