Guides of Bhutan specialise in crafting uplifting and imaginative adventures for travellers in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Our community of friends, family and colleagues have been guiding adventures in some or other incarnation, for over 30 years.
offering a full dmc service, Partners Ugyen and Phil are based between Paro and London. we thrive on challenging requests (the more outlandish or involved the better!) and relish every opportunity to create an unforgettable adventure for visitors to our Himalayan home - specifically tailored to their wishes and interests but always with a sprinkling of that enchanting, quirky Bhutanese serendipity…
‘Venture “through the looking glass” into the Realm of the Thunder Dragon by way of pristine forests and fiercely protected national parks, past myriad temples and monasteries tattooed with vivid sacred murals, where the purest air is awash with blessings from fluttering prayer flags and the pursuit of happiness is cherished above all.’
THREE QUESTIONS WITH PHIL
What makes travelling with Guides of Bhutan so unique and special?
‘Our mission is to ensure travellers make the most of their precious time in the Land Above the Clouds in the most authentic and sustainable way possible. We endeavour to take travellers deeper, to fully engage with the Kingdom, its people, culture and landscapes through a whole range of immersive and life affirming experiences and encounters.
Now more than ever, we believe in travel as a force for good (enriching the lives of both our guests and the local community in equal measure) and share a vision for what it takes to transform a tour of Bhutan into the journey of a lifetime for our guests’.
Tell us about one of the most interesting people you have met on your travels…
‘The Divine Madman, Drukpa Kuenley has always fascinated me ever since my first pilgrimage to his fertility temple Chimmi Lhakhang. A rebel shaman and archer from the 15th century who spread the tenants of Buddhism along with a healthy scepticism for the institution of power and personal ego. He was a man of the people, who revelled in casual sex and drunken fun, smiting demons with his “flaming thunderbolt of wisdom”. My sons were bequeathed their middle names (Jetsun and Kinley) by an acolyte monk of the Divine Madman and who were we to argue?!’
Which is your best loved national park?
‘In the Kingdom of Bhutan yetis (known locally as migoi or strong men) have a national park of their very own. The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary extends far out across the blue, pine-clad mountains of Eastern Bhutan allowing the migoi to roam free.
In the Himalaya, the legend of the migoi has been around for centuries and appears in ancient Tibetan and Bhutanese texts. These supernatural creatures are bigger than yaks and avoid detection by having backward-facing feet and the ability to become invisible.
Apparently, if you remain respectful during your encounter with a yeti, you might not get carried away. Otherwise, if the yeti is male, you should escape uphill - males trip over their hairy feet if they try to run uphill. On the other hand, if the yeti is female, you should run downhill as her heavy sagging breasts slow her down.’
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‘As you might have gathered, our quirky kingdom is a wild, happy, otherworldly, deeply spiritual and intoxicatingly beautiful corner of the world where tranquillity reigns and everywhere is “off the beaten track”. Our Himalayan home is often seen as the Last Shangri La – offering sanctuary from the craziness of the outside world, a precious opportunity to refocus on what really matters. ‘
– Phil Bowen