Non UK Bhutan

welshwizard645

welshwizard645

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5 weeks time we are off to Bhutan. Via Kolkata. Spending a few nights at Paro, Thimphu and Bumthang. Apart from the well know locations (Tiger's Nest etc) any lesser known photogenic attractions to look out for? Our trip is a 50:50 culture/wildlife over 14 days.
 
I can't think of any specific places or locations other than the places you have mentioned but the buildings, culture, markets and people will give you plenty of opportunities. I remember landing in Paro and as soon a I stepped off the plane the terminal building was like nothing I have seen before. If there is a festival on then they are well worth checking out too. There are some interesting murals on buildings which you won't see in any other country.

It is an incredible magical place and although it is some years since I was there I would say it is one of my favourite countries I have ever been too. And just the flight in it's self is an experience.

You'll have an amazing time.
 
I've beeb to Bhutan, many years ago. I'll have to dig out my old photos. Interesting place, and so much to photograph. You might not get to the Tigers Nest. They didn't allow people near it when I was there. Still, you will have an excellent view across the valley.
 
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Come back after 16500 images taken - a mass cull to do - <1000 images were taken in Calcutta though.

The imagery was fantastic. Could not take images inside the temples (understandable!) but Trongsa and Panukha Zhongs were incredible. The walk to Tiger's Nest is quite a feat - don't do it if you are unfit it takes 3.5 hours to go up there (taking into account stops for photography) and 2 hours down... Last 30 mins hips and knees are in agony... Cameras and mobiles are not allowed in there. worth a visit though.

Did a festival in Ura, the Pakchoe. It is a 4 day event and we ended up going on Day 4. Suggestion is to do more research than we did, we limited ourselves by our choice of flights, as we were visiting my OH's work colleagues in Kolkata. Airlines are great - Drukair and Bhutan - approach to Paro was slighly underwhelming in our ATR42 (thought Vagar was more impressive - but the take-off is quite something, then you see Everest on the flights to Delhi and Katmandu...

People are photogenic, landscape is stunning. What's not to like. It is not that expensive either. Most of the cost of the trip is the visa ($100 per person per day) and the flights to and from Paro.
 
Quick follow up, my PC is groaning at the volume of photographs at the moment, but the clear out tells me my shots were a little more successful than I imagined. Pointing the camera into foliage especially in backlit situations you rely on a large computer screen to tell you if you captured at least 1 or 2 good shots of the 'Little Black Job' or 'It's Flown!'

In Ura, during the festivals my OH was in someone's house when all the festivities were going on, each house has an altar room and she was there with the families, the local Deity etc. I don't do crowds (I don't do people, full stop!) so I was outside minding my own business, saw some bushes and loads of sparrows... Off I went and photographed said squirrels. Get back home and on computer screen thought that these sparrows shouldn't have yellow breasts. Turns out it was a Yellow-Breasted Bunting - only the second ever recorded sighting in Bhutan :woot:; our guide was inside the house so he was surprised when he learned - news has gone around to all the guides now. Once I track down the photo again, it'll crop up in the right folder....
 
I shortlisted Butan as one of the places to visit in future, but for a first visit, I would rather join a small group tour. Trouble is, They tend to be really short tours or hideously expensive. I did find one of two that were reasonably priced, but they were paired with Banglasdesh - another place I wouldn't mind visiting, sadly it looks entry to that country is a little more complex and both tour companies are only able to offer help with Bhutan visas.
Look forward to seeing your photos if you post :)
 
Strange that you see tours paired with Bangladesh, I am not aware that Drukair or Bhutan Airlines fly direct to Paro from there. We flew in from Kolkata to Paro in a Drukair ATR42 and out to Dehli on a Bhutan Airlines A319. Bhutan tend to do a circular Dehli-Katmandu-Paro which does mean on a good day you are guaranteed to see Everest.

Katmandhu gives you the advantage of becoming acclimatised with the altitude, Paro and Thimphu are already 2000m, Delhi is a blast furnace. Kolkata is brilliantly bonkers.

2 companies I know of who do tours and organise your a) e-visas and b) flights to Paro are Intrepid and Langur Eco Travels. Not aware that there are trips specifically for Photography, but our trip was done with Langur, a birding company, who were aware that a) we were photographers b) not hell bent on getting numbers/lifers c) wanted to experience culture ie homestays and festivals/monestarys and tailored our trip accordingly.

2 things to say: $100 per person per day 'sustainability fee' - this goes to infrastructure - roads and healthcare. We need to visit a hospital - no charge. Roads are better than you believe. The Bhutan/Drukair flights are not cheap either. Everything else is unexpensive. Hope that that has sold it to you James.

I am only just making a start with my images after 10 days of my PC pretending to be the 'Orange Thing', and youtube tutorials on fixing MS Win 11 errors a total waste of my time...pleased with my bird images so far, but the ones with the people resonate a good deal more.
 
I haven't visited Bhutan but it has been on the list for some time - I look forward to seeing some of the photos.

@Bletch - If you are a British national the entry to Bangladesh is pretty simple, and no need for any agency to arrange for you. Arrive in Bangladesh, fill in the form, pay US $50 (last time I was there in 2024) at the visa counter and then have a 10 minute wait for the friendly immigration official to check you in and it is done. The country is madness so be prepared!
 
Entry into India is so much easier now in 2026 than it was in 2025 with the new e-Visa, we sailed through Immigration in Dehli, whereas in Hyderabad it was quite an ordeal...
 
Hi @zaytsev. Yep, British national, I was under the impression you needed an invitation letter?? Much like Pakistan. Interesting - I will do some more research! I've got one more trip to India planned in the future first.
Speaking of India @welshwizard645, My eVisa has failed TWICE in the past (they don't give explanations but 'helpfully' point you to obtaining a regular visa instead - what a complete farce). Good job I'm not strapped for cash - What was it £50 for a 5 year eVisa? £150+ for a 1 year regular visa, makes complete sense!
 
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Completely new process for entry into India now, my eVisa was less than £10. Sailed through the airport immigration....

It's a good idea when flying to Bhutan, enter via Kolkata. Your first experience of Bhutan is a very short stop in Gelephu - 'Mindfulness City' another one of the King's 'projects' and then onto Paro. That route uses the ATR42 rather than an Airbus - selection of seats important as we had a view of the turboprops. Kolkata is utterly bonkers
 
Hi @Bletch, fortunately for Bangladesh you just need to fill in the immigration paper (last time I downloaded it and typed it out) and go through the process at the counter. If you fly into Dhaka the booth where you pay the fee is right next to the immigration counter (on your immediate right as you enter arrivals). If you fly to Chittagong/Chattogram it weird as you need to see the immigration man first to hand your form in, then walk through to the baggage collection to the exit where the fee counter is, and then back to immigration with a 'chit' of paper. There is nothing stopping you from just walking out as you also have your passport with you, albeit it with no stamp...

For Pakistan they have just tightened up - for a few of years you could get a "visa prior to arrival" online from at no cost, and it would come through in 2-3 days with multiple entry for 3 months with no other paperwork needed. They suspended this in March, and now you have to go through the full laborious process again.
 
Hi @zaytsev, Okay thanks for this - very helpful. I will do some reading on Bangladesh...I don't think there's been any recent guidebooks about the country, however, I managed without one for India :)
 
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