Tshering with his compound bow 

I got an email this morning from my friend, Tshering, in Bhutan. Tshering is with All Bhutan Connection and is organizing my April ‘09 women’s trip there.

In addition to getting back to me on some costs for …

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Traditional Bhutanese dancer

Today marks the start of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. celebrating… Bhutan. Yeah!

The festival will celebrate Bhutan’s very special approach towards life, namely that of Gross National Happiness. Included in the program, which runs through July 6th, …

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Our 12 days in Bhutan ended on a high note – a hike to Tiger’s Nest, the Taktsang monastery which precariously sits on the edge of a cliff near Paro. Destroyed by a fire, it was …

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After leaving the beautiful Phoblika Valley, we made our way westward, towards Paro for our last days in Bhutan. Along the way, we stopped for lunch in Thimphu and had a very special guest join …

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Mural at Gangtey Goemba

We left behind the yummy cheese factory, the valley of Bumthang and the Teschu, and headed farther west and, sadly, back towards Thimphu and Paro.

After driving over Yotong La …

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Hotel Richenling in Bumthang

Bumthang was the halfway point of our 12-day journey through Bhutan. This was the first place where we got to stay for more than one night - we had been packing up …

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Tsechu Dancers

From Trongsa, we headed farther east into the Bumthang Valley. We stayed two nights in the area and spent our time visiting dzongs, going for long walks and having fondue and (too much) …

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View of Trongsa Dzong from hotel

Thus far, our visit to Trongsa was the most visually stunning day of our 12-day Bhutan adventure. We stayed at the Yangkhil Resort Hotel, perched on the side …

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Wangdue Dzong near Trongsa

After departing Punakha, our crew of 15 (including driver and guide) continued heading east, over Pela La Pass and on to Wangdue and ultimately Trongsa, a spectacular and dramatic area surrounded by …

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Punakha Dzong

Heading east of Thimphu and through beautiful valleys and agricultural fields, we landed in the town of Punakha.

The town is located at the confluence of two rivers, making it beautiful as well as …

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