Clinging to a black rock face, 800 meters above the valley floor, nestles Taktsang Lhakhang, one of the holiest sites of Himalayan Buddhism. Such is the sense of peace and serenity as the quiet approach path winds through lush meadow, oak and rhododendron forest, past quaint hamlets, fluttering prayer flags and rotating prayer wheels, and along the precipitous cliff, it is difficult to believe that Bhutan's only airport is barely kilometers away. Taktsang, the tiger's lair, acquires its name from the legend of its foundation, when in the 8th Century Guru Rinpoche, widely revered as the second Buddha, arrived from Tibet flying across the mountains on the back of a tigress. He meditated at the site for three months, from where he used the religious cycle of the Kagye to subjugate the Eight Categories of Evil Spirits, and thus converted the region to Buddhism. Over the centuries many luminaries came to meditate at this intensely spiritual place, enriching the legacy of its founding master and strengthening belief in the Buddhist faith.
Through its setting and history, Taktsang stands as a evocative metaphor for Bhutan itself, alluding to some of the defining elements of the diminutive Himalayan kingdom: a spiritual sanctuary, enriched by the thoughts and actions of its ancestors and an enduring intensity of faith; an ecological enclave, where geographical circumstance and human humility have united to preserve an abundant, multi-layered, undistracted environment; a secluded land, occupying a precarious niche in a fast encroaching modern world. Drukyul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is particularly distinctive in that it has preserved its overall identity to remain a traditional microcosm somewhat removed from wider global realities. The nation has thus far been blessed with the ability to reproduce itself through ever changing circumstances. In 1998 the Taktsang complex was heavily damaged by fire. The following year popular excitement greeted the discovery of a young boy as the reincarnation of Tenzing Rabgye, the fourth temporal ruler of Bhutan, responsible for originally building the destroyed buildings in 1692. The successful reconstruction is now nearing completion.

The Bhutanese

The Population
Buddhist traditions maintained within predominantly distanced rural agrarian communities. Low levels of population density and modernization contribute to small disparities of income and little development.

Population: 650,000
Population: growth: 3.1%
Nationality: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Ngalop (Tibetan origin), Sharchop (Indo-Mongoloid origin), Lhotsam (Nepali origin) (+ several indigenous tribes).
Religions: Mahayana (Tibetan) Buddhist, Hindu.
Languages: Dzongkha, Nepali, English (+ numerous local dialects).
Settlement: 85% rural, 15% urban.
Capital: Thimphu (30,000-40,000 inhabitants).
Infrastructure: health: 100% basic health coverage, education: 72% primary enrolment, electricity: 5% coverage, motor road: 3300kms, airport:1

History
To review Bhutan's history is to appreciate the continuing importance of the country's heritage and the ongoing interplay between the past and the present. The contemporary situation essentially remains the accumulated product of a long and isolated past. Significantly, until the modern era there had occurred no major watersheds, dislocating the country from its previous traditions and placing it on an alternative trajectory. This design tends to both reinforce a continuing intimacy and bestow an unusual degree of continuity. A steady and consistent process of internal succession is punctuated by four defining moments: the arrival of Buddhism closely followed by the profound presence of Guru Rinpoche; the birth of the nation upon unification by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal; the establishment of a monarchy under the First King Ugyen Wangchuck; and collective integration within regional and global systems and the beginning of modernization.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that the land was inhabited by around 2000BC. Not much is known about these pre-historic peoples and their cultures or their relationship with the surrounding regions. The country's demographic history is however one of ongoing migration, reflected in the chronology of the three broad ethnic groupings: first the Sharchops of Indo-Mongoloid origin; then the Ngalops of Tibetan origin; and more recently the Lhotsams of Nepali origin. Prevailing community structures - dispersed, localized, agrarian and self-sufficient - indicate a relative stability in underlying social and economic conditions. Upon this essentially constant background is placed an overwhelming and deeply interrelated religious and political overlay.
Prior to the arrival of Buddhism in the Seventh Century, communities subscribed to the Bon religion, characterized by the worship of spirits associated with elements from the natural environment. The Buddhist religion merged these beliefs within its broader framework, and through its diffusion became the first collective authority and cohesive force. Many influential religious figures either traveled through or made Bhutan their home. The nation first achieved a degree of political unity in the Seventeenth Century under the extraordinary leadership of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the hierarch of the Drukpa

Kagyupa religious order. He established a centralized theocracy of intertwined religious and secular rule, simultaneous and somewhat akin to the Tibetan Gelugpa system under successive Dalai Lamas.
Until the seventeenth century the country consisted of a dislocated collection of local fiefdoms ruled by families of noble descent. The political hierarchy implied by nobility highlights the intimate relationship between spiritual and temporal legitimacy. This was further underlined by the Drukpa theocracy, which provided an initial sense of nationhood even though it did not achieve continuing secular stability. The process of internal political unification finally reached a logical conclusion in the early Twentieth Century with the introduction of a hereditary monarchy. Having spent most of its history isolated from significant external influence, Bhutan became more intimately linked with the modern world in the early 1960s. This signifies the most far-reaching political development in the nation's history, as it becomes connected to the subtle multidimensional powers implied by the modernization process.

Druk Air Schedules
Undoubtedly the best way to visit Bhutan is arriving by air. Druk Air is the only airline allowed to fly into Bhutan so there is not much choice there, but it is a good one. The Druk Airline consists of two British Aerospace jets, BAe 146s, perfectly designed and crafted for high altitude landings and takeoffs. Druk Air has a spotless safety record due to the fact that all pilots are specially trained and internationally licensed for mountain flying. The aircraft are impeccably maintained. 

The flight to Bhutan has to be the most spectacular in the world offering spectacular views of the Himalayas, Mount Everest and Chomolhari. Flights into Paro International Airport, one of the highest in the world, arrive several times a week from Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi & Calcutta and sometimes Dacca. Check our schedule page for the latest dates and times. Druk Air Schedules

We will book your Druk Air reservation in and out of Bhutan as a compliment to our tour services without the added commission that outside travel agents charge. To do this we book in advance as soon as you confirm your trip so we can avoid the peak season rush of the spring and autumn festivals. Tickets can only be issued once your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of Bhutan. Don't worry about getting approved our staff will hand carry your passport details and personally book your tickets. Make sure the visa information you send for your ticket is EXACTLY the same as it is on your passport or you won't fly. Druk Air is very sticky about that.

The alternative of coming in to Bhutan by road is now allowed to tourists wanting to combine their visit to Bhutan with other places in India such as Sikkim & Darjeeling. Entering and departing Bhutan by surface road through the border town of Phuentsoling is the only official point of entry other than flying. Now travelers are also allowed to fly into Bhutan and exit by road through Phuentsoling, or vice versa. 

Air tickets will be issued only after your visa is approved by the Home Ministry of Bhutan. To expedite this procedure, it is essential that you send us all passport information required to apply for your Bhutan visa (see below). The air-tickets cannot be issued until the visa is approved - and this process takes a week or more. 

Tourist Visas
Your visa has to be approved prior to air ticketing and your arrival in Bhutan. Once your are ready to confirmed your tour arrangements we will apply for your visas. We will need all of the following details of visa forms

Your full name (EXACTLY as it appears in your passport)
Occupation
Nationality
Permanent address
Date of issue and expiration of passport
Date and place of birth
Your Bhutan visa will be stamped in your passport only when you arrive in Bhutan. You will have to pay US$ 20 cash upon arrival and present a passport photo with your passport number written on the back. We can process a visa extensions for you if necessary.

Accommodations 
The cost of all accommodations are included in tour costs. In the major towns of Thimpu, Paro, and Phuentsholing, comfortable hotels are available for the visitor. In smaller towns, modest, but adequate, hotels, lodges and guest houses are readily available. We will ensure that the best available accommodations are arranged for you. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB), regulates hotel standards and all travel regulations in Bhutan. 

Food and Drink
Traditional Bhutanese food is hot and spicy. For our visitors, however, Chinese, Indian, and Continental fares are served. The more adventurous can try the local delicacies like the tasty and fiery the national dish of Bhutan, Emma Datshi which is made with chilies and Local Bhutanese cheese. Meals are normally served buffet style in the hotels. On trekking tours a trained cook will accompany your group to provide simple but nutritious dishes. All meals while you trek or visit in Bhutan are also included in the daily tour cost. Other services include trekking arrangements. Your only extra expenses will be, liquor, laundry, souvenirs and tips if you choose. 

BHUTAN TOUR

We hope these virtual tours of Bhutan give you a sense of what it might be like to come travel in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. They are not meant to be accurate depictions of any one trip. Enjoy them, and if you have questions or would like to plan a trip, please feel free to use our contact us.

Festivals
Bhutan's vibrant Buddhist culture is joyously expressed through it's many festivals. From small village ceremonies to the grand "Tsechus" of Paro and Thimphu, the Bhutanese revel in these colorful celebrations. These festivals usually take place over several days and consist of a variety of masked dances performed by monks and laymen.
Touring
"Touring" is traveling by vehicle through the Bhutanese countryside, with optional walks and day hikes to visit temples, monasteries and villages.
Trekking
Treks are basically backpacking trips without the heavy packs. Trekkers carry just a light daypack with the day's essentials while all other gear is transported from camp to camp by pack animals. Nor do trekkers have to fuss with setting up camp and cooking. A well trained staff sets up the tents, prepares the meals and generally takes care almost everything except for the walking! Everything from dining tents to thermarest mattresses and comfortable sleeping bags are provided and First time trekkers are often amazed by the level of creature Comforts possible on a well organized trek. With these aspects taken care of, you are left free to enjoy the hike and the spectacular scenery.