My trip to the last Shangri lah
Bhutan | Dec 18 - Dec 24, 2022

Sreeks
Sreeks K.
Singapore | Reviewed on Dec 26, 2022

My guide was Tashi & my driver was Sonam from Windhorse travels. I couldn’t have ask for a more polite & understanding crew. Simply said: THEY WERE FANTASTIC!!
Overall, the trip was amazing & Mieke had done a marvellous job with the details and itinerary.
Highlights :
1) The Dzong (Fortress) at Punakha
2) The Kitchu temple in Paro
3) The trek to the Tiger nest monastery
4) Outstanding service at the hotels- especially Uma Punakah
6) Just the people in Bhutan.
Something that caught me by surprise:
- While the view from my room at Uma Punakha was beautiful, the size if the room (in relation to tye price of the room) was underwhelming!

Hotel Reviews
Uma Punakha
Punakha

Fantastic hotel. Great service across the board: Room service, service at the restaurant, SPA etc., Genuinely warm & friendly staff. I was a bit underwhelmed by the size of the room (I had a valley facing room). One would have expected a bit more generosity for the price tag :-)

Authenticity & Character
The property just has great character & charm
Location
Within 30-40 mins drive of most things to do in Phunakah. The location offers 100% tranquility
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa
Paro

Nice spacious rooms. GREAT SERVICE all round: room service, restaurant, reception etc., The wifi service in the room was sub-optimal!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Like the tranquility the property has to offer. Easy driving distance to most attractions in Paro.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Resort Thim Dorji
Paro

This hotel is “being built” & I used this as i used this as a transit hotel. Met my need 100%. The resort part owner and GM - Dorji was a fantastic host. The room was functional for the most part. If you looking for the “lap of luxury” this is probably not it. Having said that I will need to caveat my review - since the property is under construction.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Punakha - Punakha Dzong
Punakha - Punakha Dzong
Bhutan

A must visit location. Amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Punakha - Chorten Nebu hike
Punakha - Chorten Nebu hike
Punakha

A short hike up the paddy fields. A intriguing monument.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Punakha - Chimi Lhakhang
Punakha - Chimi Lhakhang
Bhutan

Quirky is the way I would explain this. To me this place associates with some kind of an obsession for the male phallus!! As with all monuments in Bhutan there is a story of “good over evil prevailing” A small restaurant on the way to this temple dishes out outstanding local food that is safe to eat.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Punakha - Prayer ceremony at local nunnery
Punakha - Prayer ceremony at local nunnery
Bhutan

Skipped this experience. Ive have just plugged some ratings as the web page wouldn’t allow me to proceed without a rating. Perhaps something that Kimkim should take note of. Travelers shd be allowed to skip, especially when they have not visited some aspect of their planner itinerary

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dochu La Pass - Lungchutse Lhakhang hike
Dochu La Pass - Lungchutse Lhakhang hike
Bhutan

Skipped this part of my itinerary

Quality of Experience
Zaw
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paro - Chele La pass (3988 m) & hike to Kila nunnery
Paro - Chele La pass (3988 m) & hike to Kila nunnery
Paro

Kila nunnery was nothing special. Ok to go if the objective is “have nothing else to do”

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba
Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba
Paro

Highlight #1 of my trip. OUTSTANDING.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paro - Kyichu Lhakhang
Paro - Kyichu Lhakhang
Paro

Highlight #2 of my trip. The tranquility & serenity that this 1400 year old temple presents is a must experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mieke Arendsen
Mieke
Mieke Arendsen
Local specialist in Bhutan/Netherlands | Replied on Dec 28, 2022

Thank you Srikant, for your kind words and for taking the time to review the trip and all services! On behalf of Wind Horse family, we loved hosting you here and hope that maybe one day you can bring the rest of your family as well :)
Best regards,
Mieke