By now, you might have already caught the first part of my experiences visiting Bhutan for the first time. If you haven’t caught the first part of my travelogue, you can catch up here.
Otherwise, read on to see what else I got up to!
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Breakfast in Paradise – Dhumra Farm Resort
Waking up in Dhumra Farm Resort on Nyilo (the Winter Solstice, celebrated on Jan 2) was by far my favourite part of the trip. Described as a pioneering farm resort focusing on high-end agro-tourism, the Dhumra Farm Resort grows its own organic fruits and vegetables on its farmland. The exclusive farm resort is located atop a hill overlooking the Punakha Valley, so when we arrived in the evening for check-in, we knew that the views awaiting us the next morning would be incredible.
We woke up bright and early to catch the sunrise and the city town of Punakha and the Punakha Dzong below us covered in a slow-crawling, morning fog. The town was eerily silent and still – beautiful! We requested to have breakfast outside on the long benches because none of us wanted to miss a single second of the view before us.
We were served a traditional porridge with cheese, eaten during Nyilo, pancakes, fruit and fresh avocado, the last of the harvest, direct from their own farm. That was the day we truly believed we were #blessed and that miracles do happen!
We didn’t want to leave! If you have a chance to request to stay here during winter, I recommend you do so, their amenities were also top notch!
Hiking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery via Bumdra Trek: I still can’t feel my legs!
Chances are if you are visiting Bhutan, Tiger’s Nest will be on your itinerary. There are a few routes that seasoned hikers use to make their way up. We opted to go for the Bumdra Trek – the shortest trek in Bhutan but by no means an easy feat.
The trek, which takes 2 days and includes an overnight stay at the Bumdra summit camp, took us to altitudes of about 3900 – 4000 m. I’ve always thought of myself as quite an active person, so naturally, I thought the Bumdra trek would be challenging but enjoyable.
I was WRONG, so wrong. The trek was tough, but once we reached the summit campsite and were finally able to take in the magnificent view that we suffered so much for, with a mug of hot coffee in our hands, it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. What altitude sickness?
Our home for the night was tucked away just under Bumdra Monastery (Cave of a Thousand Prayers). The tents for 2 were cosy – more than what we expected – and perfect for a much-needed rest! After a hearty breakfast the next morning, we made our descent towards the Tiger’s Nest.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this trek if you lead a pretty active lifestyle, especially if you are travelling together with a group of friends. The trek took about 5 – 6 hours in total and although there were lots of cries of exhaustion and complaining, the ‘torture’ was alleviated by the tons of belly laughs we had as a group with our guide and the hilarious mishaps during our journey to the summit.
My best advice to anyone who’s thinking about travelling to Bhutan
Looking back, as a closeted ‘spiritual/new age’ hippy, I truly believe travelling to Bhutan was a calling to my heart and soul. Timing is everything – for me, this trip came out of the blue at the perfect time.
Sure, anyone can buy a ticket and travel anywhere, but to truly experience the magic of Bhutan, you have to at least be open to the lessons you will learn on your travels there.
If you’re on the fence about Bhutan as your next travel destination, I would say, just go. Buy a ticket and get ready for it to change your life. Even if you aren’t into any of the spiritual mumbo-jumbo, I guarantee the natural wonders of this vast land will still take your breath away.
If you are ready to take the plunge and plan your trip to Bhutan, check back soon for more material to get you started.
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Need to catch up? Read Part 1 here
Planning your own trip to Bhutan? Here’s your checklist for everything you need to know before you go.
*Note: These rates are based on search queries made on kayak.com.my on 6 Aug 2018. The prices are quoted in MYR. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
