Bhutan Is Best Experienced with a Group: Shirish's Bhutan Trip with Thrillophilia
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PNR: BKDZU9QPIC8
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Shirish Sabnis, Shital Sabnis, Shriya Sabnis & Shravya Sabnis
Trip Duration: 7 Days | 6 Nights
Date of Travel: 27 Oct 2024 - 02 Nov 2024
Package Booked: INSTAGRAMMABLE Bhutan Group Tour | Excursion to Chele La Pass
Bhutan is a country that demands a group trip, not a solo one. The rhythm of the blowing winds, the sunrises, the mountains passing by the windows of the car, and a fair amount of driving in between, and that rhythm settles in more easily when other people are sharing the journey.
Shirish Sabnis booked a 7-day, 6-night Bhutan tour package through Thrillophilia for himself, his wife Shital, and their daughters Shriya and Shravya. The itinerary took them from Siliguri into Phuentsholing, on to Thimphu and Punakha, across to Paro, and back out again, with the family travelling as part of a larger twenty-member group for most of it.
Once the trip was over, Shirish’s review on Thrillophilia’s platform and on Tripadvisor left little doubt about how it had gone.
“Absolutely thrilling experience with Thrillophilia. Every single thing explained before booking the group tour was experienced by my family. May it be the travel arrangements, hotels, rooms, food and hospitality by the guide and all support staff, everything top-notch. The guide, Sangey Khandu, and the bus driver, Mr Pompom, were too good, always cool and calm; however, they were very punctual with keeping the 20-member diverse group on check with timekeeping. We covered all the spots per the itinerary within time and covered a few additional spots as well. Overall, an outstanding experience. I look forward to more such experiences with Thrillophilia in future.”
Check out Shirish complete review on Tripadvisor.
Phuentsholing Set the Tone Early
The trip started on October 27th, when they arrived in Siliguri and were then transferred together in a tempo traveller to Phuentsholing, about a four-hour trip that began at 9 am. At 2 pm, the family had already settled into their hotel, and the rest of the day, they were free to do their own exploration.
Phuentsholing gave them a gentle introduction of their Bhutan tour package rather than an overwhelming one. The Bhutan Gate, with its detailed Bhutanese craftsmanship, was an easy first stop, and the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang offered a quieter moment before the rest of the trip picked up pace. Some in the group also made their way to the Amo Chhu Crocodile Breeding Centre and the Alapan View Point before the evening settled in.
Thimphu, Then Punakha’s Mountain Pass
The group took a coach to Thimphu on 28th October. The journey lasted approximately 4 hours. This way, the afternoon was free again. Dechen Phodrang Monastery, which is located above the city and offers views of the valley, was a very attractive spot, plus the Cultural Museum and the stroll in Clock Tower Square.
The next day was all about Punakha. The road trip there was via Dochula Pass, a place where the Himalayas reveal themselves in such a spectacular manner that it's hard to capture the full essence even in photos. After that, the group headed towards Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility shrine famous for its unique rituals, and then arrived at the Punakha Dzong. This impressive dzong, steeped in history and nestling at the confluence of two rivers, was one of the few days that Shirish's family kept reminiscing about, even a long time after the trip.
A Full Day of Thimphu, Then On to Paro
On October 30th, we devoted the day to a detailed sightseeing tour of Thimphu before the group headed to Paro. We first visited the National Memorial Chorten. After that, we saw the Buddha Dordenma Statue, which is very visible from nearly all parts of the valley because of its great size. The Motithang Takin Preserve, Tashichho Dzong, and Simtokha Dzong completed a morning that saw us covering quite a lot of ground.
By the afternoon, the group had arrived in Paro, where they would be staying for the next two nights. Here, Sangey Khandu, the guide mentioned by name in Shirish's review, had become comfortable in his role with the group, and the mix of a twenty-member tour with different ages, paces, and interests was no longer seen as a difficult logistical problem but rather as a part of the experience.
Tiger’s Nest Was the Day Everyone Talked About
The 31st of October was the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, the cliffside structure that most people picture when Bhutan comes up in conversation. It is not an easy climb, and a twenty-member group with a wide range of fitness levels needs patience from everyone involved, guide included. By most accounts, that patience held up well.
After going down, the group explored Ta Dzong, which is currently a museum exhibiting Bhutanese artefacts, and also Paro Rinpung Dzong, before coming back to their hotel at night. In fact, it was an extremely busy day by any standard. Still, the kind of day that makes one feel happy and not only exhausted, of course.
Chele La Pass and the Journey Back
On the 1st of November, the group departed Paro for Phuentsholing via Chele La Pass, one of the higher mountain roads in the region and a stretch of the trip that lived up to the tour’s name.
The afternoon in Phuentsholing was light-hearted with the visits to Karbandi Monastery and walking along the Torsa River, first giving everyone a chance to relax before the trip ended.
The last day, November 2nd, was simple. After checking out, the group was transferred to Siliguri, and the trip ended very much like it had started, peacefully and without any problem.
How Thrillophilia Made the Bhutan Trip Better
A Bhutan tour package for twenty members: a great deal depends on the people running the show day to day, and that was the part Shirish chose to highlight most. Sangey Khandu and the bus driver, referred to in the review only by a nickname, kept a diverse group on schedule without ever making it feel like a schedule was being enforced.
Every stop on the itinerary was covered within time, and the group even managed a few extra ones along the way. For a family that had read through the inclusions and promises before booking, the trip matching what had been described was, in itself, worth something. Shirish came home already looking forward to the next one.
Also Checkout: Towards the Dragon Kingdom- Murali’s Bhutan Trip Review with Thrillophilia
