Sebastiaan Naus

Our guide Tashi was just spectacular! He quickly figured out what our interests are when we travel and made modifications to the itinerary accordingly. We experienced Bhutan by talking to locals (who wanted to practice their Hindi) at the festival in Tsonga, being quizzed by a 7 year old on Buddhist dieties, chatting with a 15-year old who loves TikTok and basketball. None of these authentic interactions would have possible without Tashi's curation of urban and rural hikes. Our driver Ponshu (quite sure I misspelled his name) was phenomenal. Since my husband was recovering from a leg injury and had to slow down on the hikes, he decided to accompany us.
The Dochula Pass, and the Paro Takstang hike were fabulous experiences. The food and accommodation at Dhumra in Punakha was definitely our #1.

I cannot begin to explain how amazing my trip to Bhutan was - arranged by Sebastiaan at Windhorse. Firstly, Baas organized and reorganized my trip around flights and worked with me to understand how international travel and time zones affected my trip. When I made a mistake on arrival dates he saved me and rescheduled a flight, despite being on vacation with his family. My guide Yonten and driver Tashi have become dear friends - they got to know me and arranged food, destinations and stops all based on my personal interests! I learned so much about Bhutanese culture and life from them and had an absolutely wonderful time. They were both very patient at my attempts to overcome fears of height - offering help when needed but calmly letting me cross bridges and climb mountains at my own snail's pace without a hint of impatience! I miss my guides and Bhutan and cannot wait to return!

The trip of a lifetime! In trying to coordinating this trip with reopening of the Kingdom of Bhutan provided an extra challenge for Bas and his team, but they went above and beyond to ensure that I had the itinerary that I wanted. I will definitely travel with Kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Le Meridien Thimphu

Thimphu

The staff and service here are fantastic. The food was good and the location was central. However, being in the city center, there is quite a bit of noise like construction all day and dogs barking most of the night. If you are a light sleeper, I might look somewhere else.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean and modern.

Location

Walking distance to city square and restaurants. It felt very safe.

Staff

The front desk is welcoming and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

A very comfortable place to stay.

Dewachen Hotel

Phobjikha

This is only rated as a three star hotel, but it definitely deserves to be four or five. The location is remote but very comfortable. There are gorgeous views of the valley and exactly the kind of tranquility you travel to Bhutan to find. My room had candles and a fireplace which were perfect for the stormy evening I spent there. The bathroom was a little dated, but clean and practical. There's no WiFi in the rooms only the lobby and dinning area, which for me was an added benefit. The food was good and serving sizes were plentiful. If I ever make it back to Bhutan, this is the first place I'm booking. This place is leans heavy on charm and authenticity, but that's exactly what I was looking for. A great stay!

Authenticity & Character

This felt more like a mountain cabin getaway then a hotel experience. The staff was there when you needed them, and out of your attention otherwise.

Location

The views of the storm coming up across the valley were amazing. Likewise, the sunrise the next morning was equally as impressive. The grounds are simply stunning.

Staff

Caring and warm. They provided exactly what I needed without being too invasive or distant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They were ready for the return of tourists and had obviously kept up the place during covid. It felt like they never missed a beat.

Zhingkham Resort

Punakha

Out of all the hotels I stayed in, this was the most disappointing. While the views are stellar, the service and rooms felt cold and impersonal. The food was likewise as it lacked any identity besides trying not to upset anyone. The walls were paper thin and conversations from down the hall or out on other balconies could easily be heard in my room with the doors closed. I wasn't sad to leave.

Authenticity & Character

This was a typical tourist hotel, the exact same that's found near every great sight. Impersonal and cool interactions and rooms define this place far more than the views.

Location

The view couldn't be better. The drive to up the hotel couldn't be worse. Once you are there, you aren't going anywhere.

Staff

The staff stayed in their assigned positions without ever trying to provide more than the basic service they were tasked with.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms (specifically the bathrooms) had just been reopened after a two and half year covid closure. They could have used that time to update, or at least thoroughly clean.

Risum Resort

Ha

The Risum staff carry the reputation at this under construction hotel. From the very first interation to the very last, the staff was helpful and warm and welcoming. They obviously wanted to make a great impression. The rooms and dinning were nothing exciting (no WiFi in the rooms).

Authenticity & Character

I could tell the hotel was trying hard to improve the lodging for the guests. Lots of construction and projects happening. My room was adequate, although not impressive.

Location

Set outside of the main town of Ha, this hotel feels removed and remote.

Staff

If the rooms and location were one star, then the staff made this a three star hotel. Their service was five star. I would return here simply because they cared about me as a guest.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A work in progress, but progress is being made.

Le Meridien Riverfront Paro

Paro

Although not a nice as the Le Meridian in Thimpu, this hotel is near the airport and has a nice view of the river. It is more geared towards business than tourist travelers. My stay was adequate for a three/four hotel star but by no means exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

There are small touches which go a long way. The serving of hot apple cider upon arrival was nice, but didn't take away from the fact that the atmosphere was business.

Location

You're near the airport, but not near anything else.

Staff

Helpful but not warm or wanting to go above and beyond.

Cleanliness & Comfort

By far the best/newest rooms I stayed in. Very modern and professionally serviced.

Activity Reviews

Thimphu City Walk

Thimphu

Arrived too late to for this experience.

Trying out bicycles

Thimphu

Arrived too late for this experience. I took the bicycle I was offered.

From Thimphu to Phobjikha by car and bicycle

Thimphu

Good climb out of Thimphu, the weather held off but the clouds obscured any views. The road was wide and traffic was light. 99% of cars and trucks gave us lots of room on the road. The descent from the pass was smooth and fast. We got off the bikes in Wangdue and took the truck up to Lawa La Pass. The road was very narrow and under construction. From Lawa La Pass the ride down into the valley was easy and beautiful. A good day on the bike.

Quality of Experience

Great way to get acclimated to the elevation.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide struggled with the climbing at points. Blamed the bike, previous injuries, weather, gear, but really, I don't think he was expecting me to be fit enough to ride at these elevations.

Transport

Felt safe even on the narrow roads.

Phobjikha - Gangtey Goenba

Phobjikha

Gorgeous temple. Worth the stop!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable guide. Enjoyed learning from him.

Transport

From Phobjikha to Punakha by bicycle

Phobjikha

Great climb on quiet road going back the way we came into the valley. The descent from the pass was a bit hair-raising at points as the speed of the traffic and the narrow road made this no place for beginner road cyclists in some places.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Punakha - Punakha Dzong

Bhutan

This is why you travel all this way. A stunning fort and temple rich with history and culture. I enjoyed every minuted here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable.

Transport

Punakha - Prayer ceremony at local nunnery

Bhutan

We missed this because of a change in our schedule. While the views from the nunnery were spectacular, I don't think this was worth the time to get up to the site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Punakha to Thimphu by bicycle

Punakha

Huge climb! Loved every pedal stroke. The roads were in good condition and we made great time up to the Dochula Pass.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again the climb was too much for my guide who abandoned after 19km. I climbed the rest of the way solo. He supported from the vehicle every 3-5km, but I would have felt more comfortable riding with someone on the busy highway.

Transport

Thimphu - Trashichu Dzong

Thimphu

We did not make this stop because of schedule.

Thimphu - Memorial Chorten

Thimphu

We did not make this stop because of the schedule.

From Thimphu to Ha Valley by bicycle

Thimphu

By far the longest day on the bike. The guide said it was downhill, an uphill, and then flat. But it was really hilly the whole way with over 1200m of elevation gain in the first 75kms of the 105kms. From 50km the road was under heavy construction and turned from a decent highway into barely passable farm/back road comprised of a single lane of mud and rough riding.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide rode the downhill section and got off the bike at 19km when we started the climb. At 50km the truck stopped for the restroom and that was the last I saw of them for 25km as there was a series of bottlenecks and moving road closures. If I had known I wouldn't see them again for 2 hours, I would have taken on more sunscreen, water, and food at 50km when we stopped together. Both the guide and driver seemed surprised by both the extent and magnitude of the road construction work too.

Transport

Driver did the best he could under the circumstances to stay with me as I rode, but the conditions did not allow him to keep up with me.

From Ha to Paro by bicycle

Ha

Big climb up to majestic heights! I loved every second of this ride. Stunning views and a real sense of accomplishment to crest over 3990m. I'd come back to Bhutan just to do this ride again. We covered 60km and climbed 1100m in just over 3 hours. A great day on the bike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba

Paro

Stunning views and the temple visit is well worth the big hiking effort after the ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Memorable trip! We had a fabulous experience with Sonam as our guide, and Prem as our enthusiastic, very skilled driver (how we navigated those narrow roads without a scratch, I'll never know!). Bas and the team were fantastic in tailoring the trip to our specific dates and needs, including arranging for my flight tickets to and from Kabul (which proved to be much more problematic than I'd anticipated). I'd indicated a preference for photography and hiking, and the team managed to provide us with lots of memorable experiences! Highlights include meeting the Queen on a hiking trail, doing an ad hoc photo shoot with a flurry of nuns at a convent, and of course the march up to Tiger's Nest. Thank you muchly to Sonam, Prem and Bas!

Bas organised a fantastic trip for us through Bhutan, India and Nepal.
The accommodation was world class and the tour ran really smoothly!

Background: I was originally supposed to do the 12 day Laya Gasa Trek, but we had to abort after 3 days (at Mt Chomolhari Base Camp), due to heavy snow on the passes. Consequently, we completed on alternative trek. Either side of my visit to Bhutan, I stayed in Kathmandu for 24 hours while waiting for my flight to Paro. Dates for trip 1/4/19 until 22/4/19.

Comments on KimKim: In short, the service from KimKim and Bas in particular was superb. I cannot fault it. Since this trip encompassed 3 weeks, several towns and two countries and I was very specific about what I wanted to see and do, this holiday could have been a nightmare to organise. However, it was so easy: I merely inputted my wishes and needs, then was allocated Bas, who organised everything, including the visa for Bhutan and flights between Nepal and Bhutan. Any queries were answered expertly and punctually. I also really appreciated their flexibility: when I needed to change the dates for my guided tour in Kathmandu, it was dealt with rapidly and seemlessly. I cannot thank Bas enough. Due to the fantastic organisation of the holiday by Bas, everything apart from the weather went smoothly in that the guides were waiting at the airport for me and hotel rooms were ready when I arrived. The accommodation was satisfactory, with the exception of the Druk Hotel in Thimpu, which was fantastic; a real bit of luxury after the rigours of hiking and camping.

Comments on Windhorse:
Kimkim allocated Windhorse Tours to look after me on this trip. They provided me with a guide (Pema), cook (Long De Bu), assistant cook and horsemen. I was very happy with the team. They went out their way to put me first and make my holiday special. The equipment provided was satisfactory and did the job. The only thing I would say is that the eating tent has quite a lot of mould on the covers: it either needs to be replaced or scrubbed between trips.

Special mention must go to my guide, Pema, and the cook. Pema was punctual, knowledgeable and passionate about trekking and Bhutan. His English was brilliant. Even though he was super fit and I was super slow, I never felt rushed while walking. The cook, Long de Bu, was amazing. I never thought that, at 4100 metres, I would be eating popcorn, pizza, noodles etc. The food was so good and I was so well fed that I actually gained weight despite a total of 10 days of hiking! Despite being away from the their families and coping with tough weather conditions, the team were always singing, laughing and smiling.

Comments on Bhutan: in contrast to Kathmandu, which was dirty and overcrowded, Bhutan was clean and fresh. It was so quiet and the scenery wherever you look is breathtaking. The Bhutanese are the friendliest people in the world. They are full of song and laughter, yet are also softly spoken and gentle. Whenever I looked a bit lost, the locals were quick to stop and give me directions.

Bas did a wonderful job of planning a fabulous week for us in Bhutan. What a beautiful country it is and we were lucky to enjoy everything in perfect weather. Our trip included some beautiful hikes away from the Tourist coaches ...they started out short and easy, through planted farm lands and worked up to the ultimate..Tigers Nest which was our reason for the visit. The challenge we had was the altitude (coming from our home in San Francisco at sea level) but our expert guide; Nomgay and land pilot; Sonnam took it nice and easy. Bas chose a perfect team for us! We even fit in a nice bike ride! Our luck held as we had clear skies to admire the mighty Everest on our flight out. We highly recommend KimKim aka Wind Horse.

Wonderful itinerary and accommodations! Lovely caring and professional guide (Namgay) and driver (Sonam). Will cherish my memories and would go with Bas and Windhorse again and highly recommend to utilize those interested in visiting Bhutan either via biking and trekking.

If you decide to go to Bhutan, Windhorse is a good choice for anyone. They customize, advise and will comply to your needs, budget and visits you want to make along your way. The pick ups were very important; we don't know who to trust, so we don't have this worry. Bas was dependable and pleasant at all times and that gave us the opportunity to have the trip we desired. The Bhutan staff was super-professional, prompt, informed and tried to accomodate our desires. Yentin was crystal clear and all of these things and we were grateful!

Additionally we visited Agra, New Delhi, Kathmandu and Chitwan. All of the ground staff was prompt and courteous. in Agra was accommodating. Laxman in Kathmandu was very helpful and pleasant. He stored some bags while we took a flight so we could travel lighter and he generally understood our needs.

The Resort in Chitwan was very lovely and memorable! Our naturalists/guides Saki and Krishnan were amazing. They made certain we had a memorable time!

Incidentally, I cannot fault Kimkim for anything but I don't think Kimkim was helpful. In fact, they didn't answer the phone when I needed something. I don't know if Kimkim cares at all! It's hard to understand what they do(?)