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Closed to the world for many years, Bhutan is like stepping back in time to a slower more gentle time, a place where the pace of life is more sedate and the people seem to be always smiling.
Bhutan Photo Tour
15 full days of experiencing and photographing the wonders of the isolated Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan with a small group of just 8 participants and lead by highly experienced professional photographer Adam Monk. Adam has made 11 photo tour trips (This will be No 12) to Bhutan, and he has a fantastic team of seasoned (and fun) local Bhutanese guides and drivers that will make your journey truly special.
For this year’s tour we will travel to the Far East of Bhutan and witness two of the most spectacular festivals of all, the Mongar and Trashigang Tsechus. This really will be the trip of a lifetime.
15 Days in Bhutan - The Road Less Travelled – 2024
Bhutan Photo Tour
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15 full days in Bhutan.
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Just 8 places available (Maximum)
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2 Authentic cultural festivals.
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Tour begins and ends in Bangkok.
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All your meals on Tour are included.
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Travel in cars not a bus.
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Just 2 participants to a car.
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In Bhutan we fly one way, so only half the driving!
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Highly experienced Bhutanese guides & drivers.
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Photo Tuition from Adam, a full time professional photographer who has so far made 11 trips to Bhutan.
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Extensive photography and Lightroom Notes to keep.
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AU$500 off your next Photo Tour with us
Bhutan Photo Tour Highlights
Tour Information
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Dates. TBA 2024 (tentative dates)*
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15 days in Bhutan
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Just 8 participants (Maximum)
Pricing
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Total Twin Share Price: US$tba**
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Single Supplement: US$tba***
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Booking Deposit: US$1,500
Each Year we get the Bhutan festival calendar as soon as it’s released to find the most exciting and culturally beautiful festivals for our group to experience.
The rest of the tour is then planned around the festival dates.
We don’t go to the big tourist festivals in Thimphu or Paro, where there are more foreigners than Bhutanese, these festivals lack atmosphere and photo opportunities.
Rather we head to the outlying regions where the festivals are more authentic, where we tourists are in the minority. We always encourage the group to remember that we are guests at these festivals and it is an honour to be there.
2023 Itinerary – Itinerary for 2024 coming soon.
Bhutan is a tiny landlocked nation on the Southern slopes of the Himalayan mountains squashed between Tibet (China…) in the North and India to the South, East and West. 73% of the land area of Bhutan is under forest, and its the only Nation on Earth where this figure is growing each year. The countryside is mountainous, the roads are windy (as in lots of curves, not wind) and there is spectacular scenery around every corner, from waterfalls dropping out of the forests to glimpses of snow capped mountain peaks, ancient stone fortresses and terraced rice paddies clinging to the steep hillsides.
In Bhutan they really do have a National Happiness Index to measure the wealth and prosperity of the people, it is a country where Buddhist Monks make up more than 10% of the population, and most of the Government administration buildings are 500-year-old fortresses and monasteries.
Bhutan is a visually spectacular and intimately beautiful place, as a photographer you will find continuous images to captivate you.
Two Festivals in the Far East of Bhutan
We are very excited about the 2023 Bhutan photo tour, in 2023 we return to the highlight festivals of more than 10 years of coming to Bhutan, The Mongar and Trashigang Tsechus of the Far East of Bhutan. We have been to these two festivals 3 times in the past, and though all the festivals in Bhutan are spectacular these two festivals are the pick of them all, at least from a photographers perspective.
The Far East region of Bhutan is well off the radar of most tour companies, it is a fair way out from the more populous Thimphu and Paro regions, so there are far fewer tourists around and many more locals in their festival best colourful national dress against the stunning mountain backdrops.
Besides the festivals, the superb mountain scenery in this region of Bhutan will simply take your breath away, and not just because of the altitude.
Beautiful things along the way
Along the way we to Mongar and Trashigang we meander along the mountain trails pausing at many beautiful sites of both natural and cultural wonder. There will lots of time for some slow intimate photography with loads of interaction with the friendly locals. The group is just 6 participants, so there is always time to work on your photography and get plenty of tuition and guidance, as well as learning from each other.
Day #01: Fly Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan. Head to Thimphu
The tour begins in Bangkok, where you will board your flight to Paro. You make your own way to Bangkok, and you may consider a night at a hotel there before the flight to Bhutan. The flights from Bangkok to Paro return, are all included, and we book these for you as part of the tour package, you don’t have to pay extra for these flights.
The flight from Bangkok to Paro leaves very early in the morning, so you will often be treated to a magical sunrise over the Himalayan mountains as you fly and, depending on which way the chosen flight path goes, you may be lucky enough to glimpse Mt Everest with the sunrise glinting off its flanks. The arrival into Bhutan is spectacular, as the plane descends through steeply wooded valleys before levelling out in the broad Paro Valley on the way into Paro airport.
The flight to Paro is 4.5 hours, so you will arrive in perfect time for lunch. At Paro airport, you will be met by Adam and our crew of Bhutanese guides & drivers and we will all head to to a lovely spot for a cup of tea and a freshen up then lunch. After lunch, we head off on a scenic drive through the beautiful Paro valley to the Bhutanese capital city of Thimphu, where we will spend the rest of the day settling in and wandering around.
Day #02: Explore the Thimphu Valley
Thimphu is the bustling city of Bhutan, but it is really just a big town filled with an amazing mix of the old and the new side by side. The ancient culture of Bhutan is alive and well in Thimphu, and we have many options of things to see an photograph here, including the lovely old Monastery and temples of Chari just a short drive out of town.
It’s about 1.5 hours walk up the hill through the Pine trees to reach the historic 13th century Chari Monastery and Buddhist Collage. Here we can spend all morning exploring and photographing the temples and Monks, before a picnic lunch at the edge of the forest and a sunset shoot of the magical Thimphu Valley with the incredible Thimphu Dzong as foreground.
Day #03: Thimphu to Punakha
Onwards to Punhaka and the Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of the Divine Madman. This Temple was built to honour the Lama Drukpa Kunley, whose outrageous and often sexual methods of sharing Buddhism are a legend all over Bhutan and thus he is known as the Divine Madman.
We will end today with a sunset shoot of the spectacular Punakha Dzong built at the confluence of the Mo-Chu and Po-Chu (Mother and Father Rivers). The following day we will spend exploring some of the many Temples, Monasteries and Palaces in the Punakha Region as well as the stunning Punakha Dzong.
The Punakha Dzong was built in 1637 to command the confluence of the Po Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers (mother and father rivers). The full title of the Punakha Dzong is Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, which means the Palace of Great Happiness. In the past it has been the seat of Bhutan’s Government and is now the home Je Khempo the head of the Buddhist Monk body of Bhutan and more than 1000 Monks.
The Punakha Dzong has many levels and corridors to explore as well as two stunning Temples. There are many great viewpoints of spectacular architecture of stark white walls contrasted beautifully with the deep red robes of the Monks as they go about their daily rituals. The Punakha Dzong also makes for a spectacular sunset and twilight shot.
Day #04: Punakha to Gangtey
From Punakha, we continue East and then South to the wide glacial valley of Phobjikha and the lovely town of Gangtey with its beautiful 17th Century Monastery and Temple. The Phobjikha Valley is unlike anywhere else we visit in Bhutan in that it was formed through glacial action and it is wide and open with gentle slopes and woodlands on both sides. The town of Gangtey is situated on a high promontory at one end of the valley and has wide sweeping views right down the valley on all 4 sides.
The Phobjikha Valley is actually a sanctuary for the endangered Black Necked Cranes that migrate here each year, and by the time we get there, we should see the first of them coming into their winter home. We also know a few of the locals quite well in Phobjikha, so it’s always nice to visit in the afternoon to experience village life first-hand.
If we are lucky, we will be able to photograph the novice Monks at prayer first thing the following morning.
Day #05: Gangtey to Trongsa
Onward today to the steep and heavily wooded Trongsa Valley and the biggest and most spectacularly situated Dzong in Bhutan. The Trongsa Dzong is perched on a sheer mountainside commanding the valley in both directions.
We will arrive here for lunch and spend the whole afternoon photographing and exploring, with lots of great shooting opportunities with Bhutanese Monks in striking saffron robes. Followed by a leisurely walk back to the hotel along the rim of the Trongsa Valley for the sunset and twilight light.
Trongsa Dzong was built in 1648 and has many levels cascading down the mountain on whose side it is precariously perched. It was once the primary seat of power over Central and Eastern Bhutan as the Dzong commands the only connecting trade route in both directions. Both the first and second Kings of Bhutan commanded the country from the ancient seat of Trongsa, and even today is customary for the Crown Prince to serve as the Trongsa Penlop (Governor) prior to ascending the Throne of Bhutan.
Day #06: Trongsa to Jakar
Starting with an early morning shoot of the Trongsa Dzong in the valley, hopefully with a bit of mist, is a great way to begin the day. Followed by a substantial hot breakfast, before heading further East to the Central Bhutan Region of Bumthang.
We will spend a little time investigating the beautiful region of Bumthang around Jakar, in particular the lovely Jakar Dzong. This Dzong was built on a ridge overlooking the Chamkar valley in around 1549 on the site of an even more ancient temple. It is thought to be the biggest Dzong in Bhutan with a circumference of more than 1500 metres. We also have a spectacular sunset and sunrise viewpoint of this Dzong from the site of our hotel just across the valley.
Day #07 : Explore Jakar & the Chamkar Valley
Jakar in the Central Bhutan region of Bumthang, the province where, according to my guides, the most lovely women in all Bhutan are from. Bumthang is a beautiful region of open valley woodlands and small scenic villages.
Jakar and the surrounding regions have many possibilities for us to explore and we have many plans for this day, some of the many stunning Monasteries that surround the town of Jakar in the valleys of Bumthang.
Day #08: Jakar to Ura Valley
From the Bumthang Region today we move to the Ura Valley. We travel through verdent green countryside (hopefully with some snow in the high passes) exploring lovely small villages and Monasteries dotted along the length of the valley, amongst fields and Yak farms. Ura is the fourth and most remote valley of the Bumthang region.
Here we will leave the cars outside the valley and walk down the trail through beautiful autumn countryside and forested hills along the old walking trails that used to be the only link for these remote locations. We are walking downhill, so it’s not a strenuous walk, rather it is a chance to breath the fresh Himalayan air and listen to the sounds of birds, while photographing the beautiful views across the valley along the way. As we reach the bottom of the valley we walk into the outskirts of the traditional rural town of Ura.
The walk ends at the beautiful Ura Lhakhang Temple, where our cars and drivers will be waiting for us with a picnic lunch. The Ura Valley is Bhutan at its most real, daily life as it has been going on for centuries, and a fabulous place to experience it.
DAY #09: Ura to Mongar
From the Ura Valley and onto the far East province of Mongar. This is the heartland of Bhutan, Bhutan at it’s most real, daily life as it’s been going on for centuries. Today will be a long drive, but the scenery is stunning.
Lunch and afternoon tea we will carry with us to picnic in a lovely roadside location. We may arrive with time to catch the last of the markets as they set up for the Mongar Tshechu, depending on how many stops we make along the way.
Day #10: Mongar Tshechu begins Mongar Tshechu – Day 2
A day of exploring in the far Eastern province of Mongar. We will see and photograph a lot of lovely small villages and Monasteries dotted in the countryside, while our guides and drivers explain the significance and meaning of all we will be seeing. It’s also the first day of the Mongar Tshechu, the day when everything begins to warm up and you will get your first glimpse into the true spiritual beliefs of Bhutan.
Day #11: Mongar to Trashigang – (Trashigang Tshechu Begins)
Further East and North today to our furthest destination of Trashigang where we will be witnessing the First and second days of the Trashigang Tshechu (religious festival). Be prepared, this is not like any religious festival you will have ever seen! Spectacular costumes, wild dancing, awesome Gods and intimidating demons. All the locals will be there in their traditional finest dress and everyone will be smiling and happy.
Day #12: 2nd day Trashigang Tshechu
A full day of the Trashigang Tshechu. Don’t worry, you won’t get bored, every day is different and every dance is different with more and more elaborate costuming. The Tcheshus is a local holiday in Bhutan, and everyone comes in from the outer countryside to participate. Make sure you have plenty of memory cards, you won’t want to miss a thing.
If you feel like a break from the festival and dancing you can always wander around the beautiful village of Trashigang. It’s perched right on the side of a steep valley with winding streets and wonderful sights at every turn, including spectacular glimpses of the Himalayan foothills.
Day #13: Fly back to paro from trashigang -1hr Flight
Today we leave our cars and drivers, though not our guides, in Trashigang to board our scenic flight back to Paro in the far West of Bhutan where it all began. The flight normally departs at a very civilised time Flight time yet to be advised) for the 60 minute flight over the foot hills of the Himalayas, viewing the areas we have just driven through from the air. It’s now you will get to see just how many curves those roads really have, and how precariously perched those small mountain temples are. We also get to experience again that stunning approach and landing at Paro airport, really it’s worth it just for that.
We will arrive in time for an afternoon of wandering through Paro town, which is the best place to buy those beautiful Bhutanese textiles and festival masks to take home, and also to explore the Paro Dzong. It’s a good time to relax a little and prepare for the Tigers Nest walk the following day
Day #14: Paro – Tiger’s Nest scenic “walk” (pilgrimage) – 800m ascent
We have saved one of the best until last… the hike to the Taktsang Monastery and the Tigers Nest. It is quite a long hike up, especially if you are stopping every 5 minutes to make photographs, which you will be. It is an amazing place built right on the edge of the cliff and every step of the walk up through the conifer forest is beautiful, take lots of memory cards!
You do have the option of a horse trip up to the Cafe at the half way point, but I think the walk is just too good to miss. Our wonderful guides and drivers will bring a picnic lunch up for us to a great spot on the side of the mountain, there is even hot tea.
After we decend the afternoon is free to have a hot stone bath at our Hotel, or wander a bit more around Paro town. For those who have been missing their coffee, Paro also has the best coffee since Thimphu, and a great atmospheric little cafe to enjoy it in. This evening will be our last together, and the time to really say goodbye to our guides and hosts for this amazing adventure. We end the evening with a hot rum punch, a speciality of the Hotel barman, and a slideshow of memories.
Day #15: Depart Paro to Bangkok – 4.5 hr flight
Our last breakfast together, then pack and off to the Paro airport for final goodbyes for our flight to Bangkok. Prepare to shed a tear or two here where you will say goodbye to our guides, our constant companions and friends from the last two weeks. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself back in Bhutan in the very near future!
The itinerary created by photographers
This Bhutan tour itinerary has been researched and created by Adam, by visiting and photographing each location.
It’s not just about arriving in beautiful places, Bhutan is full of those, it’s about being there at the right time for the best light and the festivals, the times of year and the weather.
We never jam in loads of locations for each day. Rather we spend more time in fewer more unique locations, allowing you to get the feel of a place, talk to some locals and get some great images that tell a real story.
This all takes experience and practical research, something that can’t be done from behind a desk.
Just 8 in the group equals a better experience
Have you ever seen those tours that turn up at a peaceful location in a huge bus with an enormous group of people?
Our photo tour to Bhutan is not like that.
Our Bhutan photography tour now has a maximum group size of just 8 people. Which means you get to experience the life and culture of Bhutan more closely without intimidating the locals, and you won’t get in the way of each others shots.
Many people forge lasting friendships on these Bhutan photo tours and this always works better when the group is kept small.
This tour really is all inclusive
There are no hidden extras on this Bhutan photo tour, no meals that are not included or nights you have to find your own Hotel.
The flight from Bangkok to Paro and return is included, as is the domestic flight back from the far east. We arrange your Bhutan visa and even all your bottled drinking water is included.
Our Bhutan photo tour begins and ends in Bangkok, so you just have to make your own way to Bangkok and back home at the end.
The only additional money you need is for extra beverages and any souvenirs you may want to buy along the way.
Cars, not a bus…
In Bhutan we travel in a small group of comfortable cars, not a bus. Each car is driven by a qualified and experienced Bhutanese driver and accompanied by one of our Bhutanese guide team.
We have just two participants per vehicle, so there is plenty of room for camera gear and everyone gets a window seat.
Having several vehicles instead of a bus makes for a more comfortable trip with much more flexibility for timing and locations. So you get to see more of what interests you.
As we are just 8, that’s only 4 cars, so we are a very compact group indeed.
Great guides make for a great experience
You will be very well looked after on this Photo tour to Bhutan, we have a guide or a driver for every person on tour.
All our guides and drivers are hand picked certified professionals, who speak excellent English and are a vast store of historical and cultural knowledge. More important, they are all great people to hang out with.
They stay with us for the duration of the tour and become an integral part of the experience as they share the beauty of their country and culture.
The Bhutanese have a wonderful sense of humour and our guides and drivers will become your friends, you won’t want to say goodbye to them at the end of the tour.
A hot shower and a good night’s sleep
We stay in clean well managed 3-4 star hotels all across Bhutan. They range from ancient royal palaces with wonderful wall murals to brand new very western style hotels.
Each hotel room has a private bathroom and a comfortable bed and each hotel has been hand-picked by us through the experience of actually staying there. Of course, each hotel also has excellent food!
We don’t stay in the 5 or 6 star hotels, even though Bhutan now has a few of those. We are here to experience and photograph the life, culture and landscape of Bhutan not to hang out around the pool…
Food glorious food…
Our meals in Bhutan are usually Buffet style cooked fresh just for our group, with lots of choice and mostly mild Indian flavours.
The food quality is excellent and it is abundant, but Bhutan is not a foodies destination like Vietnam or Japan.
Traditional Bhutanese food is fairly basic seasonal farmer style meals with lots of rice and lots of chillies!
We will have the opportunity to try many traditional Bhutanese dishes as we travel including the national chilli dish, Ema Datshi (Chilli and Cheese), Momos (steamed buckwheat dumplings) and buckwheat pancakes.
If you like Chilli, then Bhutan is your place, the Bhutanese eat chillies like a vegetable. The chilli isn’t seasoning, it is the main dish!
Being Vegetarian in Bhutan.
Being a vegetarian in Bhutan is easy. Our meals are buffet style so you can choose what you eat and most of the dishes available are vegetarian anyway.
There will be one or two seperate meat or fish dishes with every meal so just avoid those in the line-up. Vegetarians eat very well in Bhutan.
What you need to know before you go
The best way to ensure you enjoy this trip to Bhutan is to be fully prepared before you leave. “What weather should I expect, what clothes are appropriate, both for the climate and to be culturally sensitive? What is the exchange rate, how is the tour organised and what about my camera gear?“
All these and just about any other questions you can think of are clearly answered in the pre trip notes.
If you have questions after reading the notes we are always available via email or over the phone to help out.
The better prepared you are the more fun you will have and then the more fun we will have.
Photography in Bhutan
This photo tour is for anyone with a keen interest in photography and a love of adventure.
It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned professional or a complete beginner, all levels of photographers are welcomed, and in fact the diverse experiences of the group are an integral part of what makes it so much fun.
Our group size is just 8 people, so you are always assured of personal interaction and tuition, whatever your needs.
All of the Important Tour Details
Introducing Adam Monk
Meet Your Photo Guide
Photography in Bhutan
This photo tour is for anyone with a keen interest in photography and a love of adventure.
It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned professional or a complete beginner, all levels of photographers are welcomed, and in fact the diverse experiences of the group are an integral part of what makes it so much fun.
Our group size is just 8 people, so you are always assured of personal interaction and tuition, whatever your needs.
Plenty of walking, but no hiking
Bhutan is in the Himalayan Mountains, but the altitude rarely causes any issues besides needing to walk a little slower.
A basic level of walking fitness is essential, but this tour is not a hiking tour or a trekking tour and you are able to set your own limits.
We have several scenic walks planned and the climb to the top of the Tigers Nest is exhilarating and spectacular, but you go as far as you feel comfortable, there is no requirement to reach the end of anything.
This tour does involve some walks over uneven ground and lots of stairs on the way to the Tigers Nest, so you just need to let us know if you have any health issues or doubts and we will work with you to ensure you are comfortable.
Non photographers & partners are welcome on this tour
Non-photographers are very welcome on this tour, whether as a partner to a keen photographer or someone who just loves the slower pace of travel and intimate perspective that this photography tour provides.
Bhutan is an intensely beautiful place with a rich culture in architecture, history, dress, language, and Buddhism, so there is never a shortage of things to see or explore.
And the great thing about travelling with photographers, is that we like to be at the beautiful locations at the best times to see them and we are not in a rush to leave.
We must warn you though, an obsession with photographing beautiful places and interesting people is highly addictive.
You may begin as a non-photographer thinking it’s not for you, but by the end of the tour this may well have changed…
You’re only as old as you decide you are
The age group for our Bhutan photo tours is very diverse, we have people from 30 years old to 78 years old (he was very fit) on the same tour and it seems the more diverse the age group the better.
Photography is one thing that is not limited by age, you simply adjust the way you shoot.
At 25 you may want to hang upside down off a balcony (we don’t recommend this) to get the perfect shot, but at 50 that probably won’t seem like such a great idea any more.
That doesn’t mean you won’t get that perfect shot though, it has just matured.
Provided you can get around unassisted and are reasonably fit for walking, you will be just fine in Bhutan.
Our priority is you
Our group is small so you are assured of personal interaction and tuition, whatever your needs. Some people just like to be taken to the great locations at the right time of day and set free to roam.
Others are looking for more guidance with everything from composition or how to approach locals for portraits, to getting the most out of their camera gear.
Most evenings we run informal photography workshops on various photography topics.
Such things as low light photography, street photography, photographing movement, landscape to more technical based subjects as downloading images, key-wording and Lightroom post processing, to the all important composition and the decisive moment.
We also look at examples of everyones images every few days, demonstrate some post production techniques and some tips for improvements.
One of the best things about photo tours is seeing the diverse images different people make from the same locations.
We cater for all levels and with a small group and our diverse photographic expertise, we will ensure you get exactly what you need.
Adam will be shooting a few images along side you, but your images, your tuition and your experiences will always be the priority.
Your Camera Gear
There is really no limit to what camera gear you take other than your ability to carry it.
Everything from Digital SLRs, professional and consumer, simple point and shoot cameras, even medium format digital and film. Whatever level of camera equipment you have, we will ensure you get the most out of it.
After you book the tour we will send out a detailed recommended gear and packing list, and we are very happy to discuss the camera gear you have and how to best make it work for you.
Any Special Camera Gear?
No special or exotic camera gear is required for this photo tour, it’s not great cameras that make great images after all, and we are big fans of getting the most out of what you already have.
Photography & Lightroom E-Books to keep
In the months leading up to the tour we will send you out all the information you will need to prepare for the adventure ahead.
This includes several comprehensive E-Books on Photography techniques & workflow, plus an in depth guide to using Lightroom to manage and edit your images.
We will be running workshops on many photography topics, and we use Lightroom to demonstrate post processing tricks and techniques.
These E-Books help cement this knowledge and are yours to keep.
Custom made Bhutan Lightroom catalogue
Just before tour departure we will send you a fully functioning Lightroom catalogue (you will need to have your own Lightroom software) with a complete set of Bhutan Keywords – including all the complex spellings for locations, and Smart Collections already loaded.
Since keywording is rather boring (but important) having keywords already loaded makes the job very quick and easy so you can get on with the fun and creative stuff.
Even if you already have a Lightroom catalogue, it’s easy to merge catalogues together. How to achieve this is set out in our Lightroom E-Book.
What if I use Capture One?
Don’t worry if you use Capture One instead of Lightroom, we also give you the keyword file that can be directly imported into Capture One.
Adam has been using Capture One extensively for years, so he can help you with this too.
Should you go on this Bhutan Photo Tour?
