Bhutan
Your independent specialist tour operator for individual, luxurious and authentic Bhutan tours
With Select Luxury Travel, your experts for tailor-made private tours to the Kingdom of Bhutan, guests can discover the pristine kingdom in the Himalayas individually, intensively and perfectly planned down to the last detail.
No other country in the world is so authentic, unique and unspoilt. For centuries, access and entry opportunities were restricted, allowing the culture to remain unadulterated.
Dirk Gowin
Travelling through this up-and-coming niche destination promises not only luxury, but also a profound connection with the country's natural wonders, moving culture and hospitable Bhutanese people. Our Bhutan tours touch all the senses and create unique encounters with locals and experiences that you will never forget.
Impressions
Bhutan is considered one of the most authentic and unspoilt destinations in the world. The country organises tourism in a consistently sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The law requires pre-booked tours with tour guides via tour operators; backpacking or individual internet bookings are not permitted and are also not possible. Living in harmony with nature, true to the principle of Gross National Happiness, in the Land of Happiness. Nature conservation and culture take centre stage.
Select Luxury Travel's privately guided tours with private, German-speaking driver-guides focus on luxurious accommodation such as small boutique hotels and lodges like those of Aman, Six Senses, Como, andBeyond, but we also offer charming, very authentic homestay options. All hand-picked hotels are jewels of Bhutanese architecture, always in exceptional locations. There, travellers immerse themselves directly in the local culture.
The journeys include the impressive Gangtey Valley. The crossing over the Dochula Pass offers breathtaking views of the Himalayan ice giants and cultural highlights such as the 108 stupas that line the way. Once in Gangtey, travellers experience the full beauty of Bhutan's untouched, long-protected natural landscape and the black-necked crane conservation project initiated by the king himself. Together with experts and nature guides, our guests can get very close to the impressive cranes. In Bhutan, they are regarded as "birds of happiness" and are called sky birds, as it is believed that they carry the souls of the deceased on their backs to heaven.
Valleys in the middle of the Himalayas are surrounded by huge, unspoilt forests, including ancient rhododendron forests, and meadows and exude absolute tranquillity and unspoilt nature. Active holidaymakers in particular get their money's worth here. Breathtaking hikes and pilgrimage trails to ancient Shangri-La, such as the Monpa Trek or the Lingshi-Laya Trek, lead to secluded mountain villages and yak herders, while the Gangtey Nature Trail leads through blossoming, ancient rhododendron forests to Buddhist temples.
Our exclusive visits to monasteries such as Gangtey Goempa, the largest Nyingmapa monastery in the west of the country, provide a deep insight into the soul of the country. Here, travellers accompany the monks during morning prayers and engage in intensive personal exchange over shared meals. Visitors can spend some time with the monks, learn more about their traditional way of life and light butter lamps in the monastery.
Especially in the more remote Bumthang with its secluded valleys, Bhutan's millennia-old culture is revealed in an impressive way. Thanks to difficult accessibility in the past, the nature and culture here is absolutely unspoilt. The largest collection of temples and holy cities can be found here, including the first royal palace. The various homestays here offer an unforgettable opportunity to experience the deeply rooted rituals and customs.
Authentic, up close, cosy and personal: homestays serve as living museums where visitors can share everyday life with the Bhutanese, paint prayer flags and meet monks. It becomes particularly clear that the real luxury of travelling lies in meeting the people and in the opportunity to explore a country in the most authentic way, off the beaten tourist track in the Himalayas.
Bhutan, a country known for its emphasis on happiness and spiritual well-being, offers exclusive wellness experiences in addition to outdoor activities in unspoilt nature and culture. Luxurious spas that integrate traditional Bhutanese healing methods invite you to relax and regenerate. Yoga retreats in idyllic mountain landscapes and meditation in ancient monasteries create a spiritual atmosphere for those in search of inner peace. Another highlight is the traditional hot stone bath, where glowing stones bring healing power to the water. Select Luxury Travel's luxury hotels offer the hot stone bath and other heavenly spa experiences.
The magic and masks of the Bhutanese are best experienced at one of the important religious monastery festivals. The Bhutanese love to celebrate and continue to live their traditional customs and traditions authentically with today's generation. The festivals are not made for tourists, but are a gathering of locals among themselves, where guests are also allowed to come and participate. Eating, drinking, dancing and celebrating together demonstrates the openness, cordiality, warmth and hospitality of the Bhutanese in a very special and intimate way.
Travelling to see rhododendron trees in bloom in Bhutan is truly unique in the world! Rhododendron trees are considered the national flower of Nepal, but Bhutan offers around 50 species of this ancient Himalayan plant, often found in whole forests, displaying beautiful colours in all shades, surrounded by a lovely fragrance that touches all the senses.
