Any of you cunts been to Bhutan? Main reason I'm going is my mum - she's always wanted to go to Bhutan so I figure surprising her with a family holiday would make a nice present for her 60th.Plan would be mostly just your typical sightseeing but I'd like to spend at least a few days doing a multiday trek of some kind.Would be going either autumn this year or spring next year, leaning towards spring so the wildflowers will be in bloom when we're trekking and we can catch the Paro Tsechu, but if there better festivals in Autumn then it'd be cool not to wait until next year. So, any advice?Main thing I'm struggling with is how to choose a tour agency. Most of my holidays in the past have been independent backpacking so the mandatory package tour aspect of Bhutan is new to me. Seems like having a good quality guide could make or break the trip but fuck knows how you choose one.
>>2879505I don’t know anything about the country except that they became a real-life Shangri-La by embracing Utilitarianism as state ideology and prioritizing maximizing happiness instead of GDP.
>>2879505Isn't that one where the government forces you to use a guide? Can you even choose what to do?
>>2879531>they became a real-life Shangri-La by embracing Utilitarianism as state ideologyMore like by embracing traditional values and active preservation of their culture.>Access to foreign media is restricted (although less so now that internet access is widespread)>The education system is expected to foster pride in the national identity>Traditional dress is mandatory for government officials>Traditional architecture is mandatory for all buildings>Tourism is built around the principle of 'high value, low volume', hence the daily fee and guides>>2879533My understanding is that a guide isn't technically mandatory if you're just wandering about the cities of Paro and Thimphu but is required for access to most sites in those valleys and for anywhere else in the country.It's not like you're prevented from travelling wherever you want within the country though, you just need to have your guide with you. You can absolutely choose what you want to do.
>>2879505I used to mess with a Bhutan girl before. Standard thirdy behavior from her
>>2879533Travel restrictions for outsiders are much more common than you realize for the Himalayan region. There are lots of areas where you must get permission to enter, and you must be sponsored by a tour agency. This region of the world is the complete opposite of idiot-proof, particularly in the backcountry. >>2879556>high value, low volumeAfter experiencing overcrowding in cramped mountain valleys that made them feel more hectic and stressful than Old Delhi, I'm almost ready to admit that Bhutan is on to something. Covering the mountain slopes with luxury resorts, parking decks, mountain view cafes, and other gentrified establishments...throwing piles of rubbish into the mountain creeks...running pedestrians off the road with aggressive driving behavior...environmental destruction everywhere you look, hardly a single acre of quality natural habitat left unraped. Instagrammers are extremely selective with their shots. They don't reveal the reality of 99% of the mountains.
>>2879505BHUTANESE passpooooooort
>>2879573?
I have been to Bhutan. I don't think there is any difference between whatever travel agency you choose, they still have the same minimum pricing and standards. The only difference is if you want to pay for extras like a fancier hotel in some places.
