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The World Is Opening Up! Inspiration and Facts

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Spark Inspiration. Choose A Journey. Highly Recommend. Notes On Travel

Guest Post by our Creative Director, Susanne Smith, who creates the stunning front end of our weekly Malchimp posts and client magazines. Everyone can use a refresher on How to Travel Again!

  • Choosing A Destination
  • Getting Inspired 
  • Where It Is Safe To Travel 
  • Assembling Your Journey

The World Is Opening Up And It Is A Celebration! 

Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa

This is the perfect time to create lists of must-see, can’t die without visiting…the proverbial Wish List of travel destinations and experiences. 

Now. How on Earth do you make up your mind where to travel next? It’s part art (flair, instinct, desire, dreams) and part science (budgets, visas, distance, time…). 

The world is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The horizon for travel feels closer, every day a little bounce toward normalcy. 

After nearly 15 months of being grounded, some may feel they have taken travel for granted. Pre-Pandemic, I had composed a globe-trotting list of experiences and a month before we were so quickly shut down, I had just returned from Jordan and Egypt. My Journey began with a starlight walk under a carpet of stars to being dazzled by the Treasury in Petra, illuminated by thousands of candles; my Journey concluded at the great pyramids of Giza. 

Quarantine time provided hours of dreaming and plotting experiences. What do I want to see and what is safe? I’ve flown to Cabo, mainly because it was a three hour flight, which felt safe for my first outing. Double masked, in first class, with wipes and clear glasses, I felt surprisingly comfortable. I’m plotting a long-haul flight, but will take one more short hop to feel 100% confident of airport procedures and other tourists acting responsibly.

I have such faith in our World and can’t wait to get going! 

Buddha Dordenma Statue, Thimphu Bhutan

Choosing A Destination 

Why Exactly Do You Want To Travel It’s not always obvious. Usually, it’s because you have a destination in mind but understanding your motivations and your desires will help you decide. Begin asking questions and consider new ways to be inspired. 

It can be a fun research project; and if you’re planning an international Journey, ask yourself and your travel companions what’s most important. Safety and comfort? Adventure and lots of activities? Or both?

There are so many ways to decide where to go and what to do. Shape your experiences. Dig deep inside. Pester friends for advice. Peruse your bucket list. Inspiration for your next big Journey can be in the form of a single photo to 23andMe results inspiring a visit to your homeland!

  • Havanna Cuba
  • Native Girls
  • Men at the Valley of The Kings
  • Mykonos
  • Puglia beach
  • Bhutan Thimphu
  • The Marquesas
  • Havanna Cuba
  • Bhutan Vegetable Market
  • Bangkok RiverMarket
  • Cairo
  • Santa Fe Spanish Market

Decide Who’s Going Maybe you want to travel alone so you can do whatever you want, or you and your best friend have finally carved out time to take a Journey together. Who you’re traveling with will affect the remainder of your Journey planning. 

Pick A Time To Travel How many days can you go? Remember that the weather and season could be drastically different from where you live. Northern or Southern Hemisphere? Follow the sun or the snow? 

Estimate A Budget It helps to be honest with yourself and whoever is going with you on what you want to spend—and what your priorities are. Budgeting before you decide where to go can provide some structure when narrowing down locations and accommodations. 

Accommodations & Activities  Accommodations can range from aplenty to scarce to extremely rare. Do you feel like kicking back and letting an all-inclusive resort take care of the details or book a private villa and be more integrated with the local community? 

Share Your Travel Plans Communication. Share your travel plans with colleagues, friends and family. Keep in touch through social media and consider registering online with the U.S .Government so the U.S. Embassy has you on a locate list. 

Jumpstart Any Travel Mental Blocks Corral your friends if your own ideas are feeling a little stale, tap into the collective hive mind of your friends. Throw a cocktail party with admittance: one travel story! Social Media Influencers are a great wealth of information too. 

Dream Up An Experience Instead of country-hopping or city-dipping, concentrate on a 360-degree view of what you’ll actually do when there? Have an experience in mind as opposed to just a country. Eg. – ‘I want to go to Sydney and see free range Kangaroos at the Reptile Park,’ rather than, ‘I want to go to Australia.’ 

Sunrise Four Seasons Los Cabos Resort at Costa Palmas

Relaxation Float through vacations. Unplug. Swing in a hammock. Live in the Spa. Consider a private yacht in remote tropical locations. Move into a villa on Lake Como for the summer. 

Culture Countries like Italy, Turkey, Greece, Peru, and China are replete with history. Customize your trip with vetted guides. 

Sacred Places Bhutan’s monks in maroon robes, prayer flags and Tiger’s Nest. Sardinia’s mysteries of Mamoiada with ancient fairy houses and giants’ tombs. Santa Fe’s red earth and strange vortexes – the world is full of sacred places. 

Bhutan

Inveterate Shoppers There are fabulous markets across the globe — from Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the flea markets of France. Plan your Journey around classic fashion cities like London, Paris, Milan, or Tokyo.

Unforgettable Architectural Sites The Colosseum in Rome, pyramids of Egypt, Barcelona for the Gaudi buildings. The best chateaux of the Loire Valley. Tour America visiting choice Frank Lloyd Wright homes or reserve one for an immersive experience.

Solo Journeys Some countries lend themselves to independent travel because they are so organized and simple to navigate like Switzerland, South Korea or Singapore. 

Off The Beaten Path Vacations Spend a week in Sri Lanka, explore Saharan sand dunes in Morocco, or see Cuba that seems to be frozen in time yet modern, utterly unforgettable. 

Explore A Specific Region Pick a region and organize an itinerary that takes you there in depth — the cities of southern France, for example. Or, use a single city as your hub and then get out to explore the region: Annecy, France can be your jumping off point to the French Alps. 

Elements of the decorations of the Temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand

Film & Book Inspirations Let a favorite film, television show, or book shape your Journey. Follow Lawrence of Arabia’s steps through Jordan, Amman, and Morocco. A River Runs Through It – can be relived at a luxury Montana Dude Ranch. Meet Diane Fossey’s Gorillas in the misty jungles of Rwanda. 

Food & Wine Sojourns It’s truly the way to a city’s heart. In deciding where to go next knowing what I want to eat and going to the birthplace of that dish is a big factor. Organize street food tours — Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are great places to start. A wine lover? That will get you to France, California, Chile, Australia, Italy… this list grows and grows.  

Follow Festivals & Celebrations Choose an event, not a destination. Consider festivals, celebrations or holidays. Food bashes, film and music festivals, or TED-style conferences can inspire Journeys to far-flung places. You won’t have to decide what to do when you get there — that part’s all planned. 

Sporty Vacations Hike the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. Ride horses through the vineyards of Argentina. Do something sporty – marathons, cycling tours, races, and Championships – X sports, golf, surfing and Olympics. 

Throw A Wild Card When in doubt, throw a dart at a map. Either you will go, or, it will help you realize where you don’t want to go! Throw it as many times as you like. Or, pack a bag and show up at the airport. Hop the first plane to a city you’ve always wanted to visit.

Where Is It Safe To Go?  More than 75 countries currently allow U.S. citizens to visit, but some restrictions apply. See resources below and view Country-by-Country Guides to Reopened Europe and Asia. 

Research the state of the virus and learn your location’s entry requirements, medical facilities and daily life.

  • Gaggan Bangkok, Thailand Vegetable Puree
  • Milano Pasta
  • The Beaumont Rye Manhattan
  • Khan El Khalili Restaurant & Naguib Mahfouz Café Cairo
  • Memphis Egypt
  • Cairo
  • Megeve France
  • Heckfield Place
  • Jordan Hot Flatbread
  • Four Seasons Cabo
  • Fritters Chef Dinner Ojai Valley Inn
  • Momo’s Amankora Bhutan
  • Four Seasons Punta Mita

Check your destination country’s official government websites—as well as the CDC website and U.S. Embassy website for the country—before and during any Journey. 

What To Pack Even as mask guidelines relax stateside, we’re still packing face masks and hand sanitizer wherever we go. Some travelers feel more comfortable with a face shield. I personally have not had a cold in over a year so may never give them up. 

Where To Get A Digital Vaccine Records

• myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

You will receive a personal QR code. Take a screen shot of this and save on your phone.

Resources

• cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices 

• usembassy.gov 

• nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• travel.usnews.com/features/where-can-americans-travel-right-now

• nytimes.com/2021/05/26/travel/travel-to-europe-restrictions-covid

Things To Know About Traveling Overseas And At Home 

Megeve France Breakfast in a Balloon Basket!

International Travel  Shifting flight schedules, varying hotel flexibility and new tech: A lot has changed since the last time you packed that passport. Flight schedules will be in flux for months to come. 

Hotel flexibility will vary, so read the fine print. Prepare to schedule and commit, rather than wing it. There are now laws in place in some countries allowing hotels and other travel companies to issue credits, rather than cash refunds, for canceled bookings. 

Places you may be returning to may not be the same – realize that Paris won’t look exactly like the Paris you remember. 

Update your tech and tap into App tech updates. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken your phone overseas, research your wireless provider’s options to avoid roaming charges. Companies, including Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, have per diem travel passes that include unlimited data and texting and certain calling benefits. 

Many tickets and entry passes are digital. There are several new travel-friendly bells and whistles from Google Maps introduced more tailored maps that “know” when a user is at home or traveling: A London vacationer who fires up the app at noon, for instance, will see nearby lunch options as well as local tourist attractions. 

Passport renewal services have resumed, but prepare for potential delays, we have services to expedite passports and visas. Here’s what to know if your passport expires any time within the next year. Plus, why a growing number of Americans are looking for second passports. As of late July, travelers can enroll in Global Entry again. And the deadline to apply for Real ID, a new federally approved identification all Americans will soon need for domestic travel, has been extended.

Countries in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea were impacted early on, they’ve also been earlier to peak, earlier to flatten their curves, and, generally, earlier to reopen. Some places, including Singapore and Taiwan took enough preventative measures to avoid a full lockdown altogether.

Resources

Havanna Cuba

• cntraveler.com/story/asia-reopening-guide-coronavirus 

• nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• https://www.cntraveler.com/story/asia-reopening-guide-coronavirus 

• https://www.nytimes.com/article/travel-to-europe 

• nytimes.com/2021/05/26/travel/travel-to-europe-restrictions-covid 

Domestic Travel  Keep in mind, you don’t need to leave the country to have a memorable vacation. While international destinations are tempting, there are plenty of enjoyable places to safely vacation around the U.S. Trade the Maldives for Maui, Hawaii, the Swiss Alps for Vail, Colorado, or an African safari for an adrenaline-filled Jeep ride through the desert of Sedona, Arizona.

There are many lesser-known destinations around the country – such as St. Augustine, Florida; Leavenworth, Washington; Holland, Michigan – that feel more like Europe than America. 

Choosing a domestic vacation has its perks, especially during a pandemic. You won’t have to worry about visa restrictions, issues with entry or last minute country closures ruining your Journey (though note some states are imposing their own travel restrictions and quarantine rules). Not to mention, you might find a little slice of paradise close to home that you can continue to visit. Highly Recommend touring our National Parks and their early 1900’s lodges, or domestic UNESCO sites. 

Brown Bear in the Wilderness

Perks of a Travel Consultant  Emergencies. Expertise. Extras. Air Travel. Better Journeys. Planning your Journey is a juggling act of timing, travel goals, budget management and coordinating real-time logistics. Every detail needs attention for the big show! It can be likened to choreographing a ballet or planning a wedding. Travel advisors offer unique services – they vet your Journey, save you time and reduce stress, understand ambience, staff, hotel suite size, best dining options, and can create customized experiences. 

Travel advisors are your advocate. Whatever hurdles rise before the most solid itinerary, your travel agent solves the problem and coordinates any domino effect changes. 

Travel advisors add a human element — and an element of trust.

They are invested in their clients’ happiness and want to make sure each and every Journey is packed full of positive lifelong memories. They listen, suggest, adjust, understand and become a friend. They are with you before, during and after your Journey. 

Like any professional advisors, they really do know more than you do. 

Travel Consultant Wandering the World, in Wadi Rum Jordan

Resource

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2020/01/26/5-reasons-why-you-need- a-travel-agentmore-than-ever/?sh=43bea6c45343

Planning My Personal Journeys My visit to Bhutan reinforced my goal of seeing countries with well-preserved cultures with customs that haven’t been touched by outside influences. As much as I love Paris and Italy, at this point in my life, I’m drawn to lands that feel raw and less explored. Tribal traditions all around the world, understanding the culture of people who live so differently, the remoteness and physical natural beauty of foreign lands are always beckoning. 

Morocco I am planning to return this November wanting to immerse further into the culture and landscape, beyond Marrakesh and the medina.

Ethiopia Talk about my ideal Journey; the origin of mankind, their own calendar that says it’s still 2010 instead of 2021, the ancient architecture, sweeping gorgeous landscapes, people, cuisine…I cannot wait to begin planning!

Papua New Guinea Here tourism is a fairly unexplored area of the world which is very appealing to me. The culture of Papua New Guinea is complex. There are more than 7,000 different cultural groups mostly with their own language. I definitely plan to experience a celebration with the Mudmen of the Asaro tribe.

Botswana Although I’ve visited Africa eight times and trekked for several days with the magnificent gorillas in Rwanda, Botswana will be my next safari. From the Okavango Delta to the large elephant herds in the Chobe National Park and the unpredictable Savute Channel, which runs dry and floods seemingly at random – Botswana has some of Africa’s most beautiful reserves and exceptional wildlife.

Potato Farmer Bhutan Amankora

Amankora Bhutan, the lodges

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A continuation and completion of the numerous activities offered at the five Amankora Lodges in Bhutan.

Amankora Gangtey
Truth be told, my love of Gangtey is close to the Amankora Punakha Farmhouse for different reasons. Gangtey truly provides a look at a very typical Bhutanese life: agriculture and farming; as the lodge is surrounded by potato and turnip fields.

Views from my Soaking tub at Amankora Gangtey, Bhutan

The eight suite Amankora Gangtey provides an exclusive hideaway, with broad sweeping views of the stunning valley landscape, fields of dwarf bamboo and potato crops, the 16th century Gangtey Goemba Monestary is in the nearby village. The lodge accommodation and guest areas are encompassed in one rammed-earth building with a combined living and dining room filled with cozy chairs, sofas and family style dining tables, with phenomenal views through the floor to ceiling windows over the valley and surrounding mountains. The spacious suites are identical in layout to those of Amankora Thimphu, with an open plan living and bedroom area, and have stunning views across the valley. There is a small spa at Amankora Gangtey with exceptional offerings. Floor to ceiling windows frame majestic views, you’ll wake, dine and bathe with these breathtaking views, leave your shutters open to wake with the exquisite morning lite. Meals are enjoyed inside and on a massive sunny terrace, soak in deep tubs with expansive valley views from the patchwork of small local farms to the blue pine forest that towers from the mist.

Authentic hot stone wooden soaking tub set amidst a turnip field near Amankora Gangtey, Bhutan.

The Gangtey village is home to the ancient altars and ramparts of the massive Gangtey Goemba. The massive wild rhododendrons grow in forest size plots, spring time blossoms set the hillsides ablaze in color. The list of activities is varied including hikes, romantic dinners in an authentic potato shed, a hot stone soak in a wooden tub, situated in a candlelit stone hut on a hill, a ten-minute walk from the lodge. You have the unique opportunity to soak in a wooden tub out in the open and enjoy this traditional Bhutanese healing experience. The sliding bamboo doors allow full privacy yet offer open views of the magnificent Phobjikha Valley. Your body will benefit from the minerals in the heated stones and the healing effects of the local Khempa herb. Sit back and unwind in the bath for as long as you wish as you sip on a cup of hot apple cider and watch the sun set.

Our Travel Group dinner in a hand built Potato Shed, Amankora Gangtey, Bhutan.


If you are looking for a picturesque hike through some of the most beautiful parts of Gangtey, this is the one. A 30 minute drive will take you to the starting point in Longtey village, and the hike takes about 3 – 5 hours. The trail initially takes you through a small village where the Nomad yak herders put up their camps in the winter. Seeing the Nomads was part of my enchanting visit to Bhutan, the story of their Himalayan mountain life, small villages inhabited by locals who live pretty much off the grid, happy in their pursuits of herding yak and wandering the high mountain passes and arriving every fall to sell their Yak based products.
From here you continue upwards through mystifying old-growth rhododendron forest. For the next two hours or so, you might feel like you are in the settings of Lord of The Rings surrounded by towering ancient trees which appear to be living creatures surrounding you. The last section through the forest is slightly steeper uphill until you reach the pass with impressive views of the Gangtey Goemba, the Shedra (monastic school), the lodge and the rest of the valley. This is a lovely spot for lunch before you continue on the path as it slopes down the valley towards the idyllic Kumbu village. Many days we would pass locals enjoying picnics or taking a moment for, as my guide Sangay explained ‘”taking a sun bath, Aum Gwen.” Living in the moment is a traditional Bhutanese lifestyle.


The Phobjikha Valley is part of the Black Mountains National Park, one of Bhutan’s most important wildlife sanctuaries. Each winter it is home to a flock of 300 rare black-necked cranes which arrive from Tibet. The arrival of the cranes carries much symbolism in Bhutan.
Bhutan is a country shrouded by religion, superstition and ancient myths. Rules of social behavior are age-old. Ancient methods of conducting rituals and caring for their environment and for each other as well as the codes of behavior, manners, sensibility and religion haven’t changed much in lifetimes. We hiked above the valley nesting grounds and heard the honking calls to the flock.

One of the local turnip farmers, I met her walking back from my soaking tub at Amankora Gangtey, Bhutan
We came upon beautiful surprises every day on our explorations with our guides. This dancer at Wangdue Phodrang dzong was perfecting his skills before his dance master monk left on a three year retreat.

Amankora Bumthang
A five-hour drive on a mostly paved road through dizzying mountain passes, dramatic landscapes and plunging gorges, precariously perched farmhouses and temples on the country’s only east-west highway. Pass through these impressive landscapes to Bumthang and stop to visit Trongsa Dzong, the middle point and a wonderful picnic location at the ancestral home of Bhutan’s Royal family. The drive with gaping canyons, cascading waterfalls, small rest stops crosses two mountain passes: Pele La at over 11,200 feet and Yotong La at 11,236 feet. A pre-modernization view of this road can be enjoyed by watching an old film “Travelers and Magicians”, an award-winning Bhutanese film. The film is a tender reminder of the gentleness of the Bhutanese, we went to Karaoke with our drivers and guides, most of the songs were sweet Asian love songs.

Along the drive, there is a surprise at every corner in Bhutan, if you are a photographer, a 2 hour drive can turn into a 5 hour drive!

The 16-suite Amankora Bumthang sits across a sunny terrace from the Wandichholing Palace, built in 1857 as the Kingdom’s first palace that served as the Royal residence until it was moved to Thimphu in the 1950s. This is now the residence of a small monk colony and you will often catch glimpses of them walking across the orchards.

Amankora Bumthang sits across a sunny terrace from the Wandichholing Palace, built in 1857. Neighboring monks pass through the orchards. Our archery field was adjacent to the Palace at Amankora Bumthang.

The four valleys of Bumthang – Choekhor, Tang, Ura and Chhume offer numerous experiences whether you want to hike, bike, discover temples, watch wildlife, or learn more about the Bhutanese lifestyle and culture. You should not leave Bumthang without experiencing at least a few of them, Amankora provides an extensive list on visiting shops where the locals make hand made paper, hiking, personal experiences, bird watching..a plethora of activities.

Have you milked a cow? To get real insight into how farming is done without machines and modern technology, get an early start and visit one of the local farmhouse in the valley. First, you will be given the opportunity to take part in milking the family’s cows. Back in the farmhouse, you will get to see and participate in butter churning and local cheese processing. You will also get the chance to taste the freshly made dairy products. If you wish, the farmhouse owner will prepare a traditional Bhutanese breakfast for you.


Bhutanese name giving ceremony at Sey Lhakhang. Coming to Bhutan is an enthralling experience and getting a Bhutanese name is a onetime opportunity. Should you wish to have a Bhutanese name from Sey Lhakhang, we can arrange a small ceremony followed by name giving by Lama. You will have to provide your date of birth. After Lama receives your date of birth he will perform a Buddhist name calculation and present you with a name. Then he will explain the meaning of your name. With the new name and blessings, you will light the butterlamps for wellbeing. This blessing will take place in the private altar room of the monastery. Monks will serve you some milk tea with Bhutanese snacks.

Among the many hikes offered here, this one is a favorite. Shugdrak is one of the four holy cliffs which every human being should visit during the course of their lifetime. The hike up to the temple is easy and the view from the top is beautiful beyond words. The drive to the starting point for the Shugdrak hike takes you along the river down Choekhor Valley. The trail starts shortly after passing Thangbi Goemba on your left. Initially, you will walk upwards through flower meadows before catching a smaller trail which leads towards a handful of farmhouses. It continues past an old water mill and then straight up to Shugdrak, beautifully situated on a cliff overlooking the surrounding valleys. Steps imprinted in the mountainside lead up above the roof top of the temple where hermits reside in a charming farmhouse surrounded by prayer flags, and with spectacular views in several directions. This is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch before continuing on your journey back to the lodge.

Visit a local farmhouse to understand Bhutanese life and enjoy a home cooked lunch prepared by the owner. If you wish to experience not just traditional Bhutanese food in authentic surroundings, but also Bumthang specialties made from local products such as buckwheat, we would like to take you for a very different lunch experience. The family you will visit has cooked for the Royal Family for generations, and their idyllic farmhouse is located in Dorjibi village nearby the river further into Choekhor valley. By the time you arrive at their house, the lady of the house, Aum Tshomo, will have spent the entire morning preparing a range of local dishes, including some of the Royal Family’s favorites for you to enjoy along with a taste of their homemade local wine, ara.

Red robed monk along the road anticipating the arrival of a famed yogi from India. Bhutan

Amankora Paro

Take a short flight back to Paro and end your Bhutanese adventure here, the climatic Tigers Nest hike awaits you. Amankora Paro offers elegant dining which takes places either in the communal dining room or outside in the grounds surrounded by open fires and beautiful views. Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. Sited in Balakha Village, just a 20-minute drive from Bhutan’s International airport and Paro town, Amankora Paro lies beneath the shadows of the imposing ruins of the 17th century Drugyel Dzong (fortress-monastery), nestled within a blue-pine forest of glistening conifers. The 24 suites are designed and built in a traditional Bhutanese style with natural rammed-earth walls, gently sloping roofs and wood-paneled interiors. Each room has a contemporary yet cozy feel, comprising of a king-size bed, traditional bukhari wood-burning stove and large terrazzo-clad bath.

Paro’s administrative center, Rinpung Dzong, is one of the most sacred Dzongs of Bhutan, and in this beautiful valley you can find some of the earliest temples in the Kingdom such as the 7th century temple Kyichu Lhakhang. Adjacent to this temple is a unique round building where you can lite 108 Butterlamps, a traditional ceremony.

Amankora Paro, Bhutan.


Again Amankora offers their top ten list of local activities, one could spend a month in Bhutan, hiking, biking, temple hopping, museums, and enjoying instructional classes.

Local Bhutanese man who is well known for his hand made prayer flags. Make your prayer flag with him to extend on your Journey to Tiger’s Nest. Amankora Paro, Bhutan

Bhutan talks more about Gross National Happiness (GNH) than Gross National Product. Gross National Happiness is considered to be the measurement of performance for the well-being of all Bhutanese. This concept was introduced by the fourth Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in the early 1980s and has been considered revolutionary by the global leaders around the world. We can arrange for a private lecture with Khenpo Phuntshio Tashi, director of the National Museum, who is an expert on this topic.

For biking enthusiasts, we recommend that you follow the main road about 6 kilometers downhill to Zhiwaling Hotel. From here, turn right and conquer the steep hill upwards before turning left after a small chorten. Continue on the gravel road parallel to the main road which takes you thru tranquil village surroundings and provides insight into the valley’s farming traditions and rural life. After 14 kilometers, you will end up in town where you can enjoy a beer and momo (local dumplings) in the frequently visited Sonam Trophel restaurant.

Lighting of108 Butterlamps in one of the Bhutan’s oldest temples dating back to the 7th century, Kyichu Lhakhang is an experience of a lifetime. The Butterlamp or karme represents the dispelling of the darkness of ignorance. The lighting of butterlamps is an offering of light to the deities and is one of the most common means of increasing one’s merit. It also helps to focus the mind and aid meditation. The sacred and incredibly beautiful Kyichu Lhakhang is located a 20-minute drive down the valley and is a tranquil and appropriate location for this ritual. The 7th Century temple is beautiful, and the courtyard has rare orange trees, the only area of Paro where oranges grow is in this sacred courtyard.

Butterlamp lighting at 7th Century Temple Amankora Paro, Bhutan

Tiger’s Nest is one of Bhutan’s most revered monuments. It literally hangs off the face of a cliff 10,240 feet above the valley floor. The legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew from Singye Dzong in Kurtoe to the present day Taktshang on a mythical tigress and meditated in the cave before bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. Hence, the Taktshang Goemba is built around this cave. The four-hour round trip offers spectacular views of the Goemba and the valley below. Horses or mules can be arranged on request to help lighten the journey.

I enjoyed many of these experiences combined with massage treatments, shopping for local crafts and antiques and cooking classes.

Bhutan’s Amankora Lodges are truly marvelous, it’s not only their unique locations, their distinct architecture and amazing guides, it’s a combination of the authentic inspired lodges, the genuine cultural offerings at each location and the warm Bhutanese people that make a trip to Bhutan so memorable.

The Bhutanese people are particularly quick to laugh, share their culture and welcome visitors. After all, Bhutan has been ranked number one in the world for Gross National Happiness.

I ended my Journey wanting more of this unique Kingdom.