Anonymous Post - edward[at]ordman dot net Country: Bhutan Region: Thimphu Cost: Generally a minimum of $200 per person per day Website: www.pbs.org Date: 04th October 2002

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Location: Bhutan limits the number of tourists and is very expensive. There is no effective choice (unless you are a citizen of India) but to organize through a travel agent and fly into the little airport at Paro on Druk Airlines - flights from Bangkok via Calcutta or Delhi via Kathmandu. You'll pretty much have to travel with a guide, whether trekking or staying in hotels.

I went with an affinity group (a dozen people) and had an absolutely fantastic time, visiting religious festivals (Buddhist and Bon) and towns at the 8000 - to - 12000 foot leval. It'a a great place for photography; you'll find some of mine at //ordman.net (->travel photos -> Bhutan). Note that internal travel in Bhutan is very slow - narrow roads clinging to mountainsides, often a car goes 15 km in an hour. Niceties like toilets and hot water tend to be in short supply. Expect hotels to be about 2-star (on scale of 5). But our group had several (adventurous) 80-year olds in it and managed to do fine, so it isn't just for the youn