Tour in general: 100%
Program: 100%
Accommodation: 100%
Guide: 100%
Vehicle & driver: 100%
Bhutan, Druk Yul, is an experience for a lifetime. It is wonderful beyond description, and Firefox are the best people and company who can take you there, guide you through this magnificent country
So it begins with an amazing plane ride. From Delhi to 'Paradise'.
And if you sit on the left, you can see the whole range of the Himalayas. Depending on luck, but it's important to get in time to the airport because it's not a plane which takes you to Bhutan, It's like an angel, You sit comfortably on the huge wings of an angel, gliding between 8000+ peaks and landing. The Paro airport is so beautiful. You don't know where to look, and the people receive you so nicely. Just have your documents (and Firefox will always assist you).
It does not feel like a border, more like a gateway to paradise. Then my 2 guides, Sonom and Dorji welcomed me. They helped me acclimatize, rest and then journey. I did personally, I think, quite a long tour - 2 days in Thimphu, 2 days in Punakha, which were especially amazing. The place in Punakha which was arranged late, turned out to be place I refused to leave... facilities, surroundings, food and wonderful staff. Add to that 3 days in Paro and 2 days in the countryside, one in a tent in the mountain that felt like a home and then the homestay in Haa was great. I was taught about Buddhism, how to live like a Bhutanese, how to sit calmly on the ground, how to trek, how to breath, how to observe, but we also talked about life. My two guides were incredible, it's beyond description. Sonam is a bit younger than me, but he was like big brother.
And my driver Dorji was just like a friend (as well as a driver, a guide and a teacher of Dzongkha) and it was so pleasant to have a young friend with whom I could talk about everything. Everything that I needed was organized by Firefox, wonderfully before the trip. We three had lots of serious time and lots of laughs and godd time, I hope they felt the same way, or close, they were the ones working.
Michal organized it as if reading my mind, what I need, took care that it will be personally fit. So it was, and also during the trip when I wanted some help and some changes, they did that seamlessly. So It was both leisure and also action. Walking or trekking through the woods in the mountains and with the expert guidance, wonderful Sonam and some more beautiful people.
The Paro-Haa ridgeline trek, the climb to Tiger's nest, were surely highlights, but there were so many. The best was meeting people, wherever whomever.
It's an experience that just grows and grows and grows. I can write a lotbut ... It's very recommended to go to Bhutan.
Some advice from personsl experience: behave kindly, be on time and let Firefox guides help you find your way. Another thing about the hotels, um, sometimes things don't work. I saw people get angry and mean, but hotel staff could calmly handle anyone. I learned from them. Sometimes hot water are not so hot and stuff like that. But if you ask for some help, everything would be alright.
And anyway, the traditional bhutanese way of washing yourself, which the traveler will find when he gets there himself, is actually wonderful, and then you have plenty of hot water. I had lots of experiences of good hot water and special water, including Hot Stone bath, which is very recommended.
Food was very good, it may not be the highlight but for me it was a joy food. I specifically ask to go to more local restaurant.
I am happy and didn't regret it. I ate a lot and I lost weight ... which was amazing and I understand that it's because of the chilli, and maybe the good air.
I think the most important thing is to be kind. If you are in trouble, if things are, uh, not going well, just be kind and ask.
And the Firefrox office, people, Firefox guides and I think most Bhutanese will be very, very happy to help you. You can go to a shop. You can walk in the streets. Nobody will jump on you. And if you ask you'll gently get help and be taken to wherever you want. So it's a really a country of wonder and no worries, an extreme unbelievable beauty.
Having said all that, it is not just a planned tour guide with all expected, lots of adventures too, depends on luck, on the will of gods and demons and the depth of prayer and belief.
And as time goes by and passes by, it just grows and grows and grows. Highly recommended.
The trekk was just perfect. Not easy for me, tough, tough and as a 57 guy It was hard. But.... with Sonam and Dorji guiding, some spirits too ... it made me stronger after.
So take Firefox and go there, before it will be flooded with people, because, I hope not, but tr may happen.
I also spent 5 days in Sikkim / Darjeeling with a sister company, it was no less incredible, my guide was the unbelievable Avinnu , my driver was like someone from a legend. Geopolitical stuff complicated things, I stayed, happily, a week more in Dekeling, was taken care of wonderfully. I strolled through the streets, markets, the lower time, the mountains - beyond Druk Yul, those extra days in Darjeeling were the happiest days of my life.