Category: Testimonials

Dear Ugyen,

Fiona and I had a wonderful trip to Bhutan and greatly appreciated everything you and your team did for us.

You were exceptionally helpful and patient over the course of many years as we planned our trip!  We thought the itinerary worked well with the obvious exception of the poor weather and cancelled internal flight at the beginning of the trip – at least the sun came out for the rest of the trip.

Tenzin was the perfect guide.  You know all this, but he is hugely knowledgeable across many different subjects.  He communicated with us well, pitching what he told us at what he sensed to be the right level.  He flexed itineraries, in consultation with us, to suit our interests and the circumstances.  We couldn’t really have asked for any more in a guide.

Sanga was a very good driver.  He drove carefully and safely, took every opportunity to look after us and was good company.  It was also nice to see that he and Tenzin got along well together which made for a good atmosphere all round.

Overall we were pleased with the quality of the hotels.  I know the drivers and guides are not keen on the hotel in Phobjika where they do not get very well looked after.  However, from the guest point of view we had a very nice room (beautiful views) and the food was perfectly OK.

The only hotel that we never felt particularly at home in was Olathang Cottages.  While the room was nice, the staff were good and the food of a high standard, the dining room and bar area were just not very welcoming.  The lighting was very bright and the two public areas were cold.  We did mention this to Tenzin during our second stay who mentioned it to the hotel and it was easily fixed!

We particularly enjoyed the Phobjika and Bumthang parts of our trip (aside from the weather in Bumthang) and in principle would be interested is spending some time in the eastern part of Bhutan at some stage.  In the meantime we will not hesitate to recommend Bhutan and BGT to friends and family.

With kind regards,

Richard & Fiona, Surrey, England

Hi Ugyen Rinzin,

The Royal Highland Festival 2025 Bhutan was high on my list of countries I wanted to visit when I want to the Destinations Travel Show in February 2025 and after speaking with Ugyen there I was sold. BGT would organise the tour and transport, all accommodation and food, the flights to and from Paro, the visa and it was all done brilliantly. Bhutan is a beautiful country with a clear vision for tourism and with the help or our amazing tour leader and guide Pema and our driver Kinga was saw many highlights. Pema went beyond expectations to make sure we enjoyed the experience from start to finish (who else would get us a selfie with the local favourite boy band!), as did the other BGT guides when we met with fellow travellers on similar bespoke tours at the Festival. The Festival was the highlight of the tour, a feast for all the senses including an address to visitors in English from His Majesty the King. The local community was so welcoming, we enjoyed a conversation with the Queen, took endless photos of the costumes and spectacular events, and the entire three days spent on the trek to Laya, camping, the Festival itself and the return journey was a joy. That’s not to say the rest of Bhutan was any less amazing – the Dzongs, Tiger’s Nest and the other temples, the view of the mountains at Dochula Pass, learning about Buddhism, chilli cheese – the list goes on. The hotels and food were great. I would definitely recommend Bhutan Green Travel and thank Ugyen, Pema, Kinga and the rest of the team for a wonderful experience.

Ken, London, UK

Hi Ugyen Rinzin,

I first met Ugyen at the Destinations Travel show in London before Covid but it has taken me this long to book a holiday. I wish I had done it sooner.It was a most enjoyable and educational trip. Bhutan is a very beautiful, calm, and peaceful country. There were just tfour of us in the group. Our Guid, Pema,was extremely knowledgeable and took time in describing the Buddhist faith to us with all the Dieties and different Buddhas. The Highland Festival was emotional, I loved it. The King and Queen visited every stallholder and spoke to visitors also. The Queen stoppped and spoke to me, I felt very honoured. The drivers we had were brilliant, very professional and safe. There had been landslides on the mountain roads but they managed them expertly. I would definitely recommend Bhutan Green Travel to friends and family. In fact, I already have. I will be looking to book another holiday in Spring in the next 2 years to take in the Rhodedendron Festival

Christine, Surrey, England

Hi Ugyen Rinzin,

I totally concur with Andrew’s review. We were in one of the groups that shared the Royal Highland Festival experience together. We also met Bhutan Green Travel at the Destinations Travel Show, although we were in London rather than Manchester. Ugyen sorted out everything for us, including ensuring that our plane seats were on the correct side of the plane so that we could see Everest as we flew past. We decided to have a mix of hotel styles so we had some 4 star & in the more rural areas they were 3 star, all were excellent. The only downside is that they are all buffet style, but you got used to that & the food was very good. On the trip to Laya for the Festival we had 3 nights camping (only other choice was a guest house) where we were joined by the other groups from Bhutan Green Travel, so there were 11 of us in total. This made perfect sense as we were all cooked for & ate together & our tents were all in the same spot. It was also lovely to meet some fellow travellers & find out how there experiences of Bhutan were going. We chose to go to the Royal Highland Festival as it was significantly more remote, hence the camping, & can only be accessed by walking for 3 hours, uphill to 4000m! Consequently the number of tourists decrease so you felt like you were getting a truly unique experience. And indeed it was! Bhutan is a fabulous country with the most amazing scenery & beautifully decorated buildings, be that a homestead or a temple. I would not hesitate to recommend both Bhutan as a destination & Bhutan Green Travel as a fabulous tour company. Just make sure you go for one of the many festivals, it’s the icing on the cake!

 

Katie and Group, Berkshire, UK

Hi Ugyen Rinzin,

I first met with Bhutan Green Travel in January this year at Destinations Travel Show in Manchester – I was looking to see what couls be offered by companies to someone who had become recently a solo traveller. After passing the stall a few times I spoke Ugyen who suggetsed that best tour for me would be the Royal HIghland Festival in October. After a number of emails going back and forward I settled on the tour and to do it just on my own, not as part of a group. Bhutan only allow local guides and drivers to take you round an have a large daily tax which goes to government supporting the needs of the country, pensions, education and health. BY the way the guide told me that health was free for tourists as well as locals in Bhutan. The organisation was excellent and the only thing I ahd to sort was to get to one of the 4 airports that fly into Paro (only a few pilots are qualified to land there). I chose ICT Delhi and had about 12 hour stop either side to allow for any changes to schedules. This made for an unhurried and relaxing arrival and departure. Everything is organised by them, Bhutan Visa, Bhutan Air travel, Accomodamtion, Food, Entry Fees, everything you could think of. As it was a trip to the Festival, walking up to Laya I was joined by 3 other other groups that Ugyen had organised and we camped together. Great to talk to others and have a laugh, sharing our experiences. Ugyen was correct the Festival was spectacular, emotional, colorful, and clearly enjoyed by the higlanders that it was designed to celebrate. We had to wait until the KIng had set off towards Laya on the day before and he and the princes walked to the site – no mena feet. The tour included Dzong (Forts), Watchtowers, Temple, Stupa, Passes and Tiger Nest Temple… to mention but a few. The people of Bhutan mainly wear national dress, are happy, helpful, will run after you if you have left or dropped something. The experience was educational, emotional, opening up to the Buddhist faith of the country. Would I go again yes – Ugyen is keen to get people to go the East which is relatively unspoilt and hardly touched by tourists. That seems like the best idea for the next travel. There are lots to see, animals, birds included and different seasons produce different sites. The March Rhododendron blooms and festivals with over 50 different types colour some of the mountains. Would I travel with Bhutan Green Travel, yes, I was cared for from the moment I first said yes to the moment I got home. I felt safe, cared for, valued and had the experience of a lifetime in a country of about 800,000 and a King that is forward thinking and loved, revereed by his people. He even spoke to me at the Festival. Look at the country, ask the questions and Ugyen will give you a wise and honest answer. Go and be amazed and transported to a completely different place.

Andrew, South Yorkshire, UK

Hello Ugyen,

We’ve been meaning to drop you a note ever since we returned home but as usual domestic life intrudes, so apologies for the delay.

We just wanted to say how much we really enjoyed our trip. Bhutan is an exceptionally attractive country with an immensely positive vibe. The country and the people were incredibly welcoming, we learned a lot, and we had an exceptionally enjoyable and uplifting experience!

Clearly this couldn’t have happened without the expert, flexible and detailed planning put in by you and your colleagues and you certainly must have listened to our request for sensible acclimatisation before things got a bit challenging!

We must of course give a special mention, in particular, to our guide Tenzin. We are fortunate to be reasonably well travelled and have an appreciation of stresses and responsibilities that can arise from both sides and can say unequivocally that he’s the best guide we have ever had the pleasure of accompanying. He’s a great communicator, immensely knowledgeable, empathetic and definitely has the necessary sense of humour! (Don’t let him get too big headed but he really made the trip for us!)

Our drivers and trekking crews were also excellent. (How they managed to produce the quality of food under the trekking circumstances is amazing!) A special mention should go to Sanga who had some seriously careful driving to do to keep everyone safe after the landslips from a couple of weeks earlier. (We were very fortunate to have excellent weather throughout.)

We would have been delighted to have some Bhutan Green Travel luggage labels to advertise you on the journey instead of Trailfinders but rest assured you’ll get our recommendation whenever the opportunity arises!😊😊

Very best wishes to you and your colleagues and sincere thanks again.

Cheers

Alan & Sue, South Gloucestershire, England

Good morning Ugyen,

We’ve been meaning to send you a note for ages but life keeps getting in the way.

We both just wanted to say a huge thank you for all you did to make our holiday in Bhutan last October/November so memorable and enjoyable.  Could you also pass on our thanks to Kinley who was a wonderful guide. Thanks in large part to him I’m sure our trip went very smoothly.  I’m sure there were issues along the way (there’s bound to be on such a long trip) but if there were he handled them with great professionalism and without causing us any stress at all. Thanks also to our drivers, particularly Sonam who was with us for a long time and handled the difficult drive on the East/West road (which was being widened) with such calmness – we even had a wonderful lunch at Sonam’s auntie’s house.

Bhutan is a beautiful country and you are right to be proud of it and your people – who were friendly and welcoming without exception.  We have talked about our holiday in Bhutan to all our friends and family and have told them to contact Bhutan Green Travel if they want to visit.

We would love to return to Bhutan one day (if we do then rest assured that we will contact you in the first instance), but if we don’t then the memory of this trip will remain with us forever.

Best wishes and regards.

Hilary and Andrew Schofield, London, UK

Dear Ugyen,

Thank you very much for your hospitality. We had the most exciting time.

Bhutan is a beautiful, tranquil, unspoilt country. Bhutan green travel provided an excellent package which suited us ideally for our wishes for our visit. We were able to visit temples, mountains and specially the world famous tiger’s nest monastery and go on guided hikes through this remarkable land and our guide and driver are very friendly, kept us safe, very helpful throughout our stay and taught us all about the places we visited, the culture of the people and the value of religion and sustainability.

The home stay in particular was a lovely experience, getting to know the people, food, and warm culture better and we couldn’t have asked for more.

This is an experience I will never forget, and I can’t recommend this company and trip more.

Thanks again for everything

Lalanthi, Surrey, England, UK

Hi Mr Rinzin,

We just wanted to give a big thank you to you, and your team for arranging the surprise birthday for Emma. It was a truly wonderful surprise and Emma felt so touched on her big day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this. This will be a birthday she won’t forget.

We are both having an amazing time. And we are so lucky to have Pema and Kinga as our companions. They are beyond wonderful and do everything to make our holiday a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Thank you again 🙏

With much appreciation,

Emma & Hiran, NSW, Australia

Dear Ugyen.

We are back home in Amsterdam and at work again after a fantastic trip to Bhutan. What a beautiful and authentic country, we are impressed. The hospitality of your staff was great. We will certainly recommend you to anyone who is planning to visit Bhutan. Tashi delek!

Best regards,

Michaël and Family, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Dear Mr Rinzin,

Apologies for the delay in responding to your request for feedback, but things have been rather busy at work since I returned from our holiday.

My wife and I enjoyed our trip to Bhutan enormously, and I sincerely hope that it will be possible for us to make a return visit before too long. I was initially surprised how under developed Bhutan is, but I gradually realised that this is probably a natural consequence of having a very small population and such difficult terrain, and it is one of the things which gives Bhutan a special charm.

The scrupulous honesty and integrity of everyone that we met was heart warming, and in particular our guide (Lobzang) and driver (Sanjay) who were wonderful ambassadors for your country.

The service provided by Bhutan Green Travel was impeccable, and we will have no hesitation in using your company again, or in recommending it to family and friends.

Yours sincerely

Chris, Croydon, England, UK

Dear Mr Ugyen

Hope you are well. We are now leaving Nepal and our vacation has come to an end.

We’d all  like to thank you for providing us with excellent service and making our journey through Bhutan memorable. We were well looked after.

We really enjoyed having Lobsang as our guide and Sangey as our driver. We had a lot of information and fun with Lobsang.

Suffice to say we will miss Bhutan and we wish we had done Nepal first and then Bhutan. Now we take polluted lungs back home 😂.

Thank you once again for the wine and juices which were thoroughly enjoyed by us all.

We take happy memories back.

Best Wishes

Kauser, Arif, Shees and Jyoti, England, UK

Hi Ugyen,

I had a lovely time! Tenzin was fabulous as were both drivers and the trek team. It was all organised so well and I felt very well looked after. I particularly loved the trek and having dinner with Sangay and her husband.

They all told me that you’d been to visit the World Travel Market. How did you find it? I work for Genesis 3D Design and we do a lot of the exhibition stands for WTM and many others all over the world.

We often find that an in-country tourist board will book the stand space, employ a company like us to design and build it and then sells part of the space to travel agencies and hotels. This makes it a more affordable option.

If you’re considering a show as an option and need any information or advice, please just let me know.

Kind Regards

Joanne, Wallingford, England, UK

Thank you for the most wonderful trip, from the minute we arrived, we were greeted by Kinga and Tanzin, who were  professional, knowledgeable and really good fun.  Kinga’s driving was exceptional, negotiating the cows and landslides on steep windy roads is no mean feat, he did it with ease and made us feel incredibly safe.    Tanzin’s knowledge is exceptional and was always happy to answer questions we had.  He organised the trip to fit our needs,

We were treated to fantastic hotels and restaurants.

The trip was fantastic from start to finish, highlights we’re 1.  staying in the homestead with the family, the home was spotlessly clean and the food was delicious, we were made to feel very welcome.  2.  Participating in the mushroom festival, again we were made to feel so welcome.  3.  The hike up to tigers nest.  Wow!  What a beautiful sight.  4. Walking through the Takin sanctuary, bumping into a school boy, who engaged with us and offered us his packet of crisps.

This completely sums up the hospitality we felt from the Bhutanese people.  It really is a fascinating and unique part of the world.  Oh!   And the scenery is stunning.

I will definitely be recommending your company to all.

Thank you once again Ugyen.  It was a very special holiday, which did not disappoint and surpassed our expectations.

Kindest regards

Janice & Graham, Lancanshire, England

Dear Ugyen

I’m more than happy to give feedback.

I’ve been wanting to visit Bhutan for a long time. Aside from the expense, my concern was that I would be trapped with a group of fellow tourists, without the flexibility to truly see the country and its people. Thanks to your assurances, I took the plunge of travelling alone, with all the flexibility that offered, and it was amazing! Bhutan is simply beautiful. I loved the forests of the East, buzzing with life, the stunning landscapes and the country’s artistry, rich culture and spirituality. Most of all, I loved the hospitality, kindness and humour of the people I met.

Special thanks have to go to Lobzang (guide) and Sanga (driver). They couldn’t have looked after me better. They taught me about the culture of Bhutan, they taught me Bhutanese, most of all, they made me laugh. I feel that I have made friends for life.

Thank you so much for a wonderful holiday with such a varied itinerary, which ran like clockwork. The only negative was that I couldn’t stay longer. I can’t wait to visit again.

Having got to know Lobzang and Sanga, I think they would be a fantastic asset to your team at the Destinations Travel Show in  February. They would promote the fun side of Bhutan, which I’m sure would get people queuing up to visit!

I hope to meet you there again.

Thanks again

Ellen, London, England, UK

Dear Ugyen,

I apologize for the delay in responding, but our return to London has been quite hectic. We are more than happy to share our positive feedback regarding our experience in Bhutan and the excellent service we received from BGT.

To start, the cultural itinerary you prepared for us was perfectly tailored to our needs. We had the opportunity to explore the traditions and beauty of Bhutan at our own pace, taking in the peaceful surroundings and stunning landscapes. The people of Bhutan were wonderful—extremely friendly and always willing to help. The accommodations you selected met our expectations, and the guidance and support provided by Kins and Kinga were a great bonus.

Every aspect of our holiday was spot on, and we truly felt welcomed and well-cared-for throughout. We would absolutely recommend BGT to our friends and family, and we’re happy to share our positive review on any websites you suggest.

Best regards,

Paola & Alessandra, London, England, UK

Dear Ugyen

Thank you for your email. We had a wonderful trip and thank you very much for all your help and kind attention before and whilst we were on our trip. It was lovely of your sister to come and meet us and we had a great week with Namkha and Serap. They were really good at being flexible and were enjoyable to spend time with. I’m really glad we got to do all the things we wanted to in the end. We loved the hike and all the activities we did. My son said his favourite thing was the mountain biking.  I cannot remember the cycling instructors name but he was great and my son said he was a really good teacher. He took some photos of the day and I think he was going to email you them- if he did could you forward them to me?

Many thanks and all the best

Rosalind and Family, London, England

Hi Ugyen,

I am back from my travels. As promised, here is the review you can use for your website.  I will now also write a review on trip advisor.

Bhutan Green Travel is an outstanding travel agency. I felt ambivalent about travelling solo but was very keen to do the 5-day Druk Path Trek at the beginning of April, when no group tours were available. It turned out that travelling solo was a great choice and I’ve got so many lasting memories – never mind the incredible photos. Ugyen, the owner of the agency, was a great communicator and highly responsive to my requests and worries. He created the perfect itinerary, incorporating trekking, sightseeing, and 2! Festivals. Bhutan is not cheap to travel to and in, but I felt Bhutan Green Travel was great value for money: The accommodation was thoughtfully selected and special; The drivers were careful, professional, very kind and polite – and so was the trekking team of 5! My guide throughout the two weeks was Tenzin and I am still in contact with him! I think he enjoyed the 2 weeks almost as much as me. He made me feel at ease straight away. We had great conversations and were also comfortable with being silent. I’ve learned a great deal from him about Bhutan’s nature, history, future, and Buddhist culture and traditions, as well as about everyday life in Bhutan. Bhutan is an incredibly beautiful country and so are its people. Everyone I’ve met was very kind and seem so content.

I am planning to return to Bhutan once I retire in a few years to do another multi-day trek in the East of Bhutan. Without hesitation, I will choose Bhutan Green Travel again – and Tenzin as my guide.

I wish you all the best for your business.  Please stay in touch and please give your team my regards.

All the best

Martina, London, England, UK

Dear Ugyen,

Thank you for patiently waiting for my review – everyday life in Germany caught up with me faster than expected!

You’re welcome to publish my review anywhere it fits or seems appropriate.

In April 2025, I experienced a wonderful 10-day holiday in Bhutan, full of impressive moments and experiences. I’ve been wishing to visit this hidden gem in the Himalayas for over 20 years – and I’m still deeply moved by the experience.

BGT, with Ugyen as the organizer and contact person, was the perfect choice. I would plan my trip with BGT again at any time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to meet him in person during my stay, as he was away at the time. Instead, his friendly sister joined me for a shared meal and, after our conversation, organized a beautiful scarf for me – a heartfelt thank you for that! I wear it with great joy. Overall, people in the country were very kind, open, and warm-hearted.

I was deeply impressed by the calm atmosphere everywhere, the nature, the pure air, and the actively practiced Buddhism in everyday life. The food was very delicious, with many vegetable-based dishes (I’m a vegetarian). I especially liked the fern vegetable, which I had never tried before.

Accustomed to planning my travels independently, I was initially unsure about traveling with a dedicated driver and guide. However, any hesitation quickly vanished upon meeting Dorji and Pema. They created a peaceful and communicative atmosphere in the car at all times. Dorji drove very safely, and reliably, and was always helpful, open, and courteous. Pema as a guide demonstrated extensive knowledge of Bhutan’s culture, history, and spiritual traditions. He answered every question with patience and insight, shared fascinating stories about dzongs and temples, and ensured every aspect of the trip was seamless and enriching. His photographic talents also gifted me with a collection of stunning memories captured through his lens. He took great care of everything, kept an eye on the details, and made additional short hikes possible for me. I felt completely safe and well taken care of throughout the trip. At the same time, my wishes were accommodated as flexibly as possible, and my needs were taken into account.

I can wholeheartedly recommend organizing a trip to Bhutan with BGT to anyone. I look forward to returning—hopefully to explore the eastern regions of this extraordinary country next time.

If anything else is needed to be told, just let me know! Kind regards

Marja, Mainz, Germany

Dear Ugyen

Where do I begin?

On behalf of my son and myself THANK YOU for organising a truly wonderful experience. Your country is so beautiful and full of amazingly kind and attentive people. The sites and experiences we had will remain with us for a life time. Of course, a huge thanks must go to Kinley for looking after us so well, understanding when he needed to impart knowledge and facts and when to give us our own free time. I felt he went out of his way to give us those extra touches and experiences that others may not have been so lucky to receive. Please thank him so very much. And also our experience was enhanced by Sonam, our driver, who was always so courteous and greeted us every morning with his beaming smile – what a team!!

We will have no hesitation in recommending Bhutan Green Travel to our friends and fellow travellers and we very much hope that maybe one day in the future we will return to Bhutan as there is still so much more to see.

Thank you Ugyen for your time in organising this holiday, keeping us informed and updated all the way through our journey from our initial enquiries, to meeting you at Olympia earlier this year and your correspondence right up to the point of our departure.

A truly amazing and remarkable holiday.

With all our good wishes and sincere thanks

Kevin and Tom, Dorset, England, UK