It is my second time planning for a trip to Bhutan with Breathe Bhutan. The first time was so special, which made me bring my mum to the country again. However, it was our first time visiting Central Bhutan. The process of getting a visa, booking of hotels/homestays and the booking of domestic flight are fuss-free. Jigme has assisted us in the currency exchange and prepared local currency for us when we arrive.

Pelden (tour guide) and Kinzang (driver) warmly welcomed us at the airport and accompanied us through our journey in Bhutan. Kinzang is a safe driver and is always ever so cheerful. Pelden is knowledgeable and caring. Every morning, he would remind my mother to take motion-sickness pills and from time to time during the day, he would ask how she is feeling. He also ensures our safety during hikes and encourages us to hike at our own pace; to slow down and take more rest if needed. He also prepared several snacks and ginger tea for us during hikes to prevent us from getting altitude sickness. I felt very assured and trusted Pelden with my mother’s safety as he showed me that he has my mother’s back by supporting her throughout the hikes.

Though the itinerary is planned, Pelden and Kinzang are very flexible with it. We manage to squeeze in a day trip to Haa town in search of a bag that I bought 4 years ago. However, as many shops had converted to cafes due to the pandemic, we were unable to find the bag that we wanted. Pelden assured us that we will likely be able to find the bag in another city. He accompanied us from shop to shop in search of the bag and we were elated when manage to find it.We also had lunch with Kinley at his residence. It was lovely as we got to interact and get to know each other personally. The homestays (Damchoe’s Homestay, and Gaselo Eco Lodge) that we stayed in are comfortable and it gave us the opportunity to interact with the host on a personal level. Hotels that we stayed in are also comfortable with friendly staff.I will continue to entrust Breathe Bhutan in planning my trips to Bhutan in the future.