Mountains - Journeys International Group & Private Custom Travel Tours Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:37:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.journeysinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-journeys-favicon-32x32.png Mountains - Journeys International 32 32 5 Reasons You Should Consider Greenland for Your Next Trip https://www.journeysinternational.com/5-reasons-you-should-consider-greenland-for-your-next-journey/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/5-reasons-you-should-consider-greenland-for-your-next-journey/#respond Thu, 18 May 2023 17:37:33 +0000 https://www.journeysinternational.com/?p=20043 Greenland has taken to the global stage in the last few decades as “ground zero” for climate change, with scientists and environmentalists racing to understand the global phenomenon’s impacts in real time. While there has been increased international interest in Greenland, Greenland isn’t a destination for everyone – it can have a harsh Arctic climate […]

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Greenland has taken to the global stage in the last few decades as “ground zero” for climate change, with scientists and environmentalists racing to understand the global phenomenon’s impacts in real time. While there has been increased international interest in Greenland, Greenland isn’t a destination for everyone – it can have a harsh Arctic climate and formidable terrain. Still, hearty explorers have a number of options to make this adventure appropriate for their level of activity.

Those intrepid travelers that push themselves beyond their comfort zone may find themselves rewarded with fond memories of untouched natural beauty, robust cultural experiences, deep human connection, and personal transformation. A trip to “the land of the people” is a chance to capture a mental snapshot of a rapidly changing landscape at a particular moment in time.

Greenland Might be the Adventure for You

Greenland is known vaguely by many but deeply explored by few. If you’ve got a trailblazing, adventurous spirit, we’ve got five reasons why Greenland might be a wonderful trip for you:

  1. Profound Natural Beauty: Greenland boasts breathtaking natural scenery. Explore vast glaciers, monumental icebergs, towering mountains, and picturesque fjords as you traverse the island and the surrounding ocean. Immerse yourself in awe-inspiring experiences like viewing the Kangia Glacier from Ilulissat (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or taking a flightseeing tour over the Isua Glacier (the glacier responsible for producing the iceberg that sank the Titanic). If you visit in September, you may have the chance to view jaw-dropping natural phenomena like the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) from one of the best places in the world to view them.
  2. Opportunities for Deep Reflection in a Remote Place: Greenland is truly off-the-beaten-path, the type of expansive, wild place that must be experienced in person to fully grasp its vastness. Only about 56,000 people call the world’s largest island “home” and are scattered throughout small communities over the 836,330 sq. miles of Arctic tundra. They are connected to each other only by boat, helicopter, or airplane. Nearly half of Greenland is a protected National Park, and the island is surrounded by sea ice as far as the eye can see. 
  3. Cultural Richness: Greenlandic culture is deeply rooted in indigenous Inuit traditions (specifically, of the Kalaallit people) and has been influenced by Scandinavian traditions. Immerse yourself in unique local customs, history, and way of living. If you’re open to it, you may gain a profound understanding of a culture that emphasizes communalism, respect for nature, and close partnership with the land and sea. 
  4. Wildlife Viewing: Experience the unique ecological wonders that are the Arctic tundra, oceans scattered with icebergs, and the flora and fauna that characterize this biome. Greenland’s natural environment is home to reindeer (caribou), polar bears, musk oxen, arctic foxes, and several seabird species. If you’re lucky, you could spot Humpback whales, Beluga whales, seals, or other sea creatures in the substantial marine ecosystem that envelopes the island.
  5. Adventurous Outdoor Pursuits: Greenland is a paradise for adventure-seekers. Challenge yourself physically and mentally via Arctic endeavors across land, air, or sea. There are endless opportunities for hiking, trekking, mountaineering, kayaking, and boating for a reward of unforgettable views that may imprint upon your memory for life. Or navigate a Zodiac through the Southern Greenland fjords, known as “Arctic Patagonia” because of the vistas of icy blue waters set against a breathtaking backdrop of dramatic peaks, winding coastline, and lush, verdant valleys and pastures bursting with blooms.

Greenland is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime travel destination that can spark soul-shaking awe and restoration in the hearty outdoor enthusiast. For travelers looking for new perspectives, wonder, and tranquility amongst a backdrop of a challenging but pristine Arctic environment, Greenland just might be the next destination awaiting your exploration.

Booking a Visit to Greenland

If Greenland sounds enticing, Journeys International has recently added new group trips to our tour offerings. Check out these Arctic adventures:

Greenland Explorer

  • A 10-day expedition with hiking, boating, kayaking, and flightseeing across Ilulissat, Disko Island, and Western Greenland
  • Enjoy the Ilimanaq Lodge Experience and dinner at a Michelin Restaurant, Koks
  • The trip includes a brief stop in Copenhagen to visit a new sustainable, energy-conscious community in Denmark

Greenland Adventure

  • Explore Southeast Greenland’s fjords aboard a luxury polar ship, the Ultramarine, over a nine-day itinerary
  • Discover Greenland by helicopter, Zodiac, kayak, and foot with endless adventure options
  • Experience the majestic landscape of the world’s second-largest ice mass, the Greenland ice sheet

We hope you’ll join us in Greenland for a scheduled expedition. If you don’t see a trip that is quite the right fit for your needs, please inquire about a custom tour. Our adventure specialists are enthusiastic about travel planning and would gladly consult with you further on your next trip.

About Journeys International

Journeys is an eco-friendly and culturally-immersive adventure tour operator and travel consultant with 40+ years of industry experience and a growing network of trusted local tour guides. We specialize in authentic, immersive, and experiential travel and learning for solo travelers, couples, families, and small groups. Journeys prides itself on its commitment to its core values, respect for natural spaces, and ability to facilitate worldwide trips that nurture human and cross-cultural connections. Let our experts book you on one of our scheduled journeys or arrange other custom travel plans to “Adventure Deeper” into the world! Explore the rest of our website for more info.

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Embracing Slow Travel on Treks around the World https://www.journeysinternational.com/embracing-trekking-trips/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/embracing-trekking-trips/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/http-blog-journeysinternational-com-author-guest-blogger/ Journeys trip leader Coco Rae has traveled with with students and adults, in groups and independently, in cities and deep in the wild. In advance of an upcoming trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro, she shares her reflections on the power of journeying by foot to deepen the impact of your surroundings. Vacations are, by definition, opportunities […]

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Journeys trip leader Coco Rae has traveled with with students and adults, in groups and independently, in cities and deep in the wild. In advance of an upcoming trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro, she shares her reflections on the power of journeying by foot to deepen the impact of your surroundings.

Vacations are, by definition, opportunities to escape our daily lives—work, chores, responsibilities, and all the associated stresses—and instead immerse ourselves in new places, cultures, foods, and experiences. Ideally, international adventures allow us to recharge, reflect, and renew before we dive back into the day-to-day on our return home. These days, however, when wi-fi is nearly ubiquitous in even the most remote village and foreign SIM cards are cheaper than ever, it can be exceedingly difficult to escape from the tyranny of email even on journeys halfway around the globe—and don’t get me started on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp. Even if you are among the valiant few who can resist the pull of social media while you’re traveling, it’s just as challenging not to pack every waking moment full of activities in an effort to get the most out of your time in another country, especially since you flew so far to get there.

I’d like to suggest an alternative form of international adventure travel: trekking trips, otherwise known as “slow travel.”

Certainly museums, restaurants, cultural heritage sites, theatrical performances, and the like are valuable experiences and enrich any trip to another country—rare is the trip that doesn’t see me eager to do these things. Yet some of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in other cultures have come when I’ve incorporated into my vacation a trek through the countryside. I once hiked England coast-to-coast, and two weeks after I dipped my boots in the Irish Sea for good luck I crested a hill and saw the North Sea at last—a memory that still brings a lump to my throat. I recall the warm hospitality I received as the sole guest of a tiny pub in a remote Scottish Highland village, despite having come in out of the pouring rain and promptly flooded their foyer. The ready smiles and easy camaraderie shared by me, my guide, and our porters as we made our way in the Annapurna range of Nepal. Falling in with three Taiwanese ladies along Switzerland’s Haute Route, who cheerfully raised their umbrellas in the midst of a snowstorm and broke into songs from the Sound of Music every time they spotted an edelweiss blossom. The bliss of meandering through the Cambodian countryside with my students and being greeted by swarms of children shouting “Hello America!” as we passed by. The inability to do anything but laugh at the staggering beauty of Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park, and the unspoken understanding of something too magical for words shared by fellow trekkers in the lodge that night.

Experiencing a country and its people via your boots is uniquely rewarding—and a guaranteed way to unplug. It’s an axiom among trekkers that you never meet anyone unpleasant on the trail, whether fellow trekkers or locals. Simply moving at walking pace forces you to slow down mentally as well as physically and makes it possible just to be in the moment. When your only task is to get from point A to point B, and you have all day to do it, your perspective changes. You listen more attentively; you have the luxury of contemplating your surroundings at length; you’re more open to engaging with strangers; you find humility and calm in your own mind.

In a few weeks I will head to Bhutan for a trek through the Black Mountains, and this July I will attempt a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The latter will be especially tough, even with a guide and porters, but whether I summit or not is beside the point. I’m more interested in what happens along the trail itself than the official “goal.” And that’s really the heart of it: you don’t have to be a world-class mountaineer or hardened backpacker to reap the benefits of slow travel. There are trekking journeys available for every level of ability and comfort: from a few hours to a few weeks, from low elevation to high alpine routes, from single guides to full camp staff and porters, from camping to lodges and even hotels. It’s important to pick a trek that matches your abilities, but it’s also important to embrace the possibilities of challenge. Most importantly of all, be open to what happens along the way, in real time. In slow time.

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What is the Best Time to Go to Morocco? https://www.journeysinternational.com/what-is-the-best-time-to-go-to-morocco/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/what-is-the-best-time-to-go-to-morocco/#respond Tue, 16 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/http-blog-journeysinternational-com-author-journeys-international-7/ It depends on what you want to do. Morocco is a land of contrasts, resulting in dramatically different climates in different parts of the country, at different times of the year. With deserts, including the vast and famous Sahara, the Mediterranean waters in the north and the waves of the Atlantic to the west, the Rif and […]

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It depends on what you want to do.

Morocco is a land of contrasts, resulting in dramatically different climates in different parts of the country, at different times of the year. With deserts, including the vast and famous Sahara, the Mediterranean waters in the north and the waves of the Atlantic to the west, the Rif and Atlas Mountains crisscrossing the country and colorful urban areas with rich cultural histories, there are plenty of activities to choose from—and what you choose will help guide when to go.

Let Your Activity Be Your Guide

Desert

In the southern part of Morocco, the country opens up to the vastness of the Sahara. We recommend visiting this part of the country February through June or September through November, with the best months being April, May and October. Avoid August—you will bake!—and know that February through April also bring more frequent desert dust storms. (And don’t forget to make time for a classic, zen-like desert experience: camel trekking).

Urban Areas

If your #1 goal is to visit the urban areas of Marrakech or Fes, then look at April to May, or September to November. You’ll enjoy a mild climate and fewer tourists. That said, if summer travel is your only option, consider visiting less-touristed areas such as Tangier, Rabat, and Essaouira; they are a bit cooler thanks to the ocean breeze.

Festivals

If your main interest is in festivals, head to Morocco during the summer months, when the majority of festivals are in full swing. May, June and July include the Gnaoua World Music Festival, the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival, and the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. But know that the peak summer months also bring the hottest weather, especially in Marrakech, Fes and parts of the southwest.

Trekking the Atlas Mountains

If you’re looking for an active adventure and want to spend some time trekking in the Atlas Mountains, the best weather will be in the spring (April / May) and fall (September / October).

Summer and winter are options, too, as long as you’re properly prepared. In the summer, be ready for a little heat (highs often exceed 86°F) and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Trekking is definitely an option during the winter months, but expect nighttime temperatures in the 30s and 40s, and any treks that take you higher than 9,800 feet will require crampons and ice-axes.

Sun & Sea

Summer is definitely the best time to be in Morocco if you’re a sun seeking water- or beach-lover. High air temps average 80°F, with water temps reaching 70°F in July. But know that beaches can get crowded in the summers since it’s peak tourist season.

In Summary…

  • January: On-Snow Trekking
  • February: Desert (more frequent dust storms)
  • March: Desert (more frequent dust storms)
  • April: Desert (more frequent dust storms), Marrakech / Fes, Trekking Atlas Mountains
  • May: Desert, Marrakech / Fes, Festivals, Trekking Atlas Mountains
  • June: Desert, Festivals, Sun & Sea
  • July: Festivals, Sun & Sea
  • August: Sun & Sea
  • September: Desert, Marrakech / Fes, Trekking Atlas Mountains
  • October: Desert, Marrakech / Fes, Trekking Atlas Mountains
  • November: Desert, Marrakech / Fes
  • December: On-Snow Trekking

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Camel Trekking Morocco—Find your Zen https://www.journeysinternational.com/camel-trekking-morocco-find-your-zen/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/camel-trekking-morocco-find-your-zen/#respond Fri, 12 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/http-blog-journeysinternational-com-author-journeys-international-8/   Imagine yourself on top of a camel, trekking through the Sahara desert. There is nothing around you, and all you can hear are the footsteps of the camel on the soft sand. During the day, the sky is vast and clear; at night, it’s full of billions of bright stars. Camel trekking Morocco: It may […]

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Imagine yourself on top of a camel, trekking through the Sahara desert. There is nothing around you, and all you can hear are the footsteps of the camel on the soft sand. During the day, the sky is vast and clear; at night, it’s full of billions of bright stars.

Camel trekking Morocco: It may be the most peaceful experience you’ll ever have, one mostly unknown to westerners. It may also be your moment of zen.

Spending your day on a camel trek is a wonderful way to introduce you not only to Morocco, but also to a traditional mode of transportation and a way of life that has endured for thousands of years. Long before the advent of the car, camels and mules were being mobilized to carry people far and wide throughout North Africa.

Morocco camel trekking takes you directly into the heart of the famous Sahara Desert. One of our favorite treks is on the dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. These are the highest and most spectacular sand dunes in Morocco, dramatically soaring 50m from the desert floor. They run in a line almost perfectly north/south to the village of Merzouga and beyond, and mark the western fringe of the Sahara Desert, dividing Morocco from Algeria. 

Both of the Morocco itineraries offered at Journeys International—Morocco Desert and Mountains and Morocco in Luxury— include camel trekking with an overnight at a camp. The route traces treks of your guide’s ancestors, where the nomads traded as far away as Timbuktu. Your lovely overnight camp is outfitted for comfort, with a private bathroom, a shower, and running water.

Our guides are very experienced and will take you to the places where you can see kasbahs, orange sand dunes large and small, oases, distant mountain summits, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the ‘Moroccan Hollywood’ and sunrises and sunsets so beautiful you will never forget them.

To become fully immersed in the ancient culture surrounding camel trekking, though, consider customizing your adventure and adding more days to your trek. Explore beyond Erg Chebbi and into the magnificent moon-like landscape of Kem-Kem Hamada (flat stony desert). At night, sit back and look to the sky to catch glimpses of falling stars or meteorites.

Camel trekking Morocco is a peaceful, fully immersive zen-inducing experience that should be on every explorer’s list. If it’s on yours, and you’re ready to start planning, let us know.

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Travel to Colombia, a Destination with a Warm Welcome https://www.journeysinternational.com/travel-to-colombia-a-destination-with-a-warm-welcome/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/travel-to-colombia-a-destination-with-a-warm-welcome/#respond Tue, 25 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/http-blog-journeysinternational-com-author-hi-travel-tales-10/ Colombia, the northernmost country in South America, borders Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, with coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Today, travel to Colombia offers renewed possibilities for adventure and tourism fun that many countries do not. This post originally appeared on HI Travel Tales, a travel blog for people interested in adventurous, insider, […]

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Colombia, the northernmost country in South America, borders Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, with coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Today, travel to Colombia offers renewed possibilities for adventure and tourism fun that many countries do not.
This post originally appeared on HI Travel Tales, a travel blog for people interested in adventurous, insider, curious, peek-around-the-corners travel.

Its darker days of crime and drug lords are past, and the people of Colombia want you to come to their country, offering a warm welcome with a growing tourist infrastructure. Journeys International offer several tours in Colombia that feature a variety of nature, culture, history, and urban and rural experiences.

HI Travel Tales had the chance to talk to first-time Journeys International travelers Judith and Clive Kamins about their February 2016 trip to Colombia. Although Journeys newbies, the retired seniors from Chicago have in fact “touched every continent except Antarctica, as our grandchildren remind us.” The Kamins started traveling because, Judith said, they simply wanted to see interesting places and meet people. Aside from wandering all over Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East, they also spent a month working on a Kibbutz in Israel at the end of the first Iraq war. Curiosity is what keeps the Kamins packing up for another trip year after year. Returning to Africa and Israel, she said, are priorities.

Here, the Kamins share some tips and advice not only about their trip to Colombia, but also about travel in general.

Choosing the Destination and Preparing

HITT: What inspired you to travel to Colombia?

Kamins: We were interested in going to a temperate climate to get away from Chicago’s chill, and we had heard about Colombia for a long time. Our daughter-in-law had done business with the Flower Growers Association even in the times when there was violence and she had nothing but good things to say about the country and the people. So since it seemed that the political climate was calmer and the upheaval had abated, we looked into this trip. We were aided in our decision by my brother’s and sister-in-laws’ interest in joining us, and a friend who had gone the previous fall. We contacted Journeys International about our planning because our friend had done business with them several times.

HITT: What were your biggest concerns about packing and preparation for your trip to Colombia?

Kamins: We planned a month-long visit that would give us the opportunity to visit many different areas. This causes a bit of a problem since the temperature in Bogota (for example) was about 60 degrees Fahrenheit while in Cartagena it was in the mid to upper 90s. Then, too, the variety of urban sites versus more rural or jungle areas caused the need for a variety of clothing & footwear. Overall, it was not a problem at all. It just required making decisions!

Local Recommendations and Advice

HITT: What day or experience in Colombia did you enjoy the most?

Kamins: I really enjoyed our visit to Medellin. We were told it is the city of eternal spring and the weather & temperature were lovely. It is hard to comprehend the fact that the city was under the control of drug dealers (like Pablo Escobar, known as the “King of Cocaine” when he was alive) when we experienced the improvements to the lives of the poor on the mountainside barrios. There is so much of interest to see, for example the escalators and the cable cars that connect the residents to the city where there is work available. Our hotel was lovely and dining was excellent & inexpensive.

We also loved the stay at the end of our trip at Punta Faro. It is a 20-minute boat ride from Cartagena and so quiet and peaceful. It was just a beautiful way to end our travels.

Colombian cooking classHITT: What optional sites or places do you absolutely recommend travelers experience or see when traveling to Colombia?

Kamins: We all really enjoyed the visit to the market in Cartagena and the cooking lesson, where we made a meal of fish soup, rice with coconut, fried plantains, and fish. It was fun & enlightening to be with the family of the cook.

HITT: If you could change something about your experience or something you did during your travel to Colombia, what would it be?

Kamins: I would not recommend the visit to Tayrona National Park for older travelers like us. While it was described as a 45-minute walk to the beach at Arrecifes, the day was very hot and the walk involved what we found to be a difficult scramble over boulders. The walk took more like an hour and a half for us to reach a beach, which was unfortunately mostly closed to swimming due to rough seas. Also, Mompox was interesting but be prepared for high temperatures. It is however historically significant, so if one has the time it is absolutely worth doing.

Colombia bread baking with stone ovenHITT: What advice would you give to other folks who are going to travel to Colombia?

Kamins: I have been telling everyone to put Colombia on their list. We loved the country and the people are so nice and welcoming. They are so anxious for tourists to know that they are safe and welcome.

HITT: What was your favorite Colombian food?

Kamins: The food was very delicious everywhere we visited, but I fell in love with the traditional soup Ajaico (Ed. Note: local chicken, potato and herb soup). But all of the different cuisines were delightful. Great seasoning without being too spicy.

Surprises and Changes

Man grabs drink off counterHITT: What changed about how you thought about Colombia? What surprised you? 

Kamins: I was a little concerned about safety issues. I had been to Rio de Janeiro and did not enjoy the visit because of all the worries about safety. I wasn’t anxious to repeat that. There was no such feeling in any of the areas we visited. Of course it is important to be alert and cautious everywhere, but there was no excess concern. I was most surprised at how good the food was and how inexpensive. Also it was so nice to be with the people and feel so welcome.

Read the full article on HI Travel Tales.


Want to learn more about Colombia?

Let us know, and an Adventure Specialist will be in touch soon to answer all of your questions about travel to Colombia.


About the Author, HI Travel Tales

Two lifetimes of globetrotting across several continents and dozens of countries fueled the love of people, places and cultural explorations for travel journalists Therese Iknoian and Michael Hodgson. Their blog, HI Travel Tales, was launched in 2014 to share their experiences and discoveries, not only as a married couple but also as solo travelers. They love collaborating with other travelers to communicate their stories, too, and have a growing slate of contributors, including many now from the Journeys International family.

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Travel to Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon https://www.journeysinternational.com/travel-to-bhutan-land-of-the-thunder-dragon/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/travel-to-bhutan-land-of-the-thunder-dragon/#respond Tue, 12 Apr 2016 05:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/travel-to-bhutan-land-of-the-thunder-dragon/ Not very many people travel to Bhutan, but when they do, fabulous stories of this isolated and exotic destination emerge. From forests to monasteries and everything in between, read what these four travelers experienced on the Fall Festivals of Bhutan trip, one of the Bhutan travel packages we offer at Journeys. More great Bhutan reads: HuffPost Travel: Bhutan is […]

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Not very many people travel to Bhutan, but when they do, fabulous stories of this isolated and exotic destination emerge. From forests to monasteries and everything in between, read what these four travelers experienced on the Fall Festivals of Bhutan trip, one of the Bhutan travel packages we offer at Journeys.


More great Bhutan reads:


We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Bhutan: Druk Yul: the land of the thunder dragon, the most isolated and exotic land in the Himalayas. Roughly the size of Switzerland, it is almost entirely mountainous, ranging in altitudes from as low as 350 feet to as high as 24,000 feet. This helps to explain Bhutan’s long-term isolation from the rest of the world until the 1960’s.

A nation of forests

About 70 percent of Bhutan’s 18,000 square miles is forested, and the nation treats nature with admirable respect. The king is young and environmentally sensitive, and many of the country’s higher regions remain nearly free of the footprints of man, untouched examples of the fast-disappearing Himalayan environment.

Buddhism abounds

Bhutan is a very Buddhist country, so it is no surprise to see monasteries everywhere you go throughout the country. They are mostly perched way up high on the mountaintops and hidden deep in the river valleys. It is the intent of the location to give the monks peace and solitude so they may meditate their lives away in trying to achieve the final Nirvana.

Silence at the Tiger’s Nest

The most revered and also the most famous monastery—and most famous piece of architecture in the country—is the Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest. It is the destination of all reverent Buddhist pilgrims in Bhutan at some time in their lives. Located about 3,000 feet above Paro Valley in western Bhutan at an elevation of 10,200, it was founded in 747 AD by Guru Rinpoche (previous teacher), the second Buddha. Legend has it that he landed on this spot from neighboring Tibet astride a flying tiger, bringing the tenants of Buddhism with him. The monastery almost defies gravity as it seems to literally hang on the edge of a sheer drop of over 3,000 feet below. Needless to say, it was a bit scary once we got into the structure and looked out and down. The location is startling, with nothing breaking the silence except a waterfall, the call of a raven, the fluttering of prayer flags, and the chanting of a few monks.We started our hike up at the trailhead about 7,500 feet and went up a trail of about 2 miles to the site at 10,200 ft. We were told it would take about 3 hours; we did it in 2.25 hours, but were very winded along the way, as it was only our second day in Bhutan and we had hardly acclimated to the altitude. It was certainly the hardest hike we have ever undertaken. Even in Bolivia and Peru, on hikes over 4,000 feet higher, the trails were never as steep as this. But the end result and views were worth every step. Unfortunately, you are not allowed cameras inside the monastery which would have made for some spectacular shots out across the Paro Valley.

Witnessing the Tschechus

One of the reasons for planning trips to Bhutan in the fall is to experience their traditional festivals, called “tshechus.” These take place in the great dzongs—the fortified monasteries that remain the centers of religion, education and local government in each district of the kingdom. They are not staged for the benefit of visitors, who consider themselves privileged to witness these events, which have remained unchanged for centuries.


Interested in travel to Bhutan?

Let us know and we’ll call or email you to answer all of your questions.


About the Travelers

Rick and Paula Vogel and Larry and Judith Miller met on a Journeys trip and soon realized what great travel companions they were. So, they signed up for more trips together. This particular trip was a customized and private departure of Fall Festivals of Bhutan. Many thanks to the Vogels for sharing their stories for this blog post.

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Getting Off the Beaten Path https://www.journeysinternational.com/getting-off-the-beaten-path/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/getting-off-the-beaten-path/#respond Thu, 10 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/http-blog-journeysinternational-com-author-will-weber-4/ Journeys International Director Will Weber knows where to go to find a different perspective. Travelers set out to plan adventures for varied reasons. I hear from people who are focused on their ideal destinations, and others who choose trips based on the guide or the right season to go. Sometimes, it’s about needing a new […]

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Journeys International Director Will Weber knows where to go to find a different perspective.

Travelers set out to plan adventures for varied reasons. I hear from people who are focused on their ideal destinations, and others who choose trips based on the guide or the right season to go. Sometimes, it’s about needing a new vantage point on the world. There are times when the best routes to fresh thinking, creative problem-solving, and escape from the confines of chronic, everyday routine is an imaginative trip.

If you’re seeking inspiration, don’t just leave your own familiar surround. In my experience, the most eye-opening experiences take place far off the tourist-trodden path. Here are a handful of experiences that have given me new eyes.

Bhutan – Black Mountain Trek: Few tourists get to Bhutan despite its Gross National Happiness fame. Even fewer go trekking, and almost no one treks to Black Mountain. You will find rare Golden Langurs, Great Hornbills, virgin forests and friendly local people who will be surprised, but pleased to see you.

Burma – Trek to the Last Village: Northern Myanmar has been off limits to recreational travel for most of the past seven decades. Here at the eastern end of the Himalayas there are still tigers, vast uninhabited forests, and tribal villages thriving outside the reaches of media, electricity and motor vehicles. Four days of trekking take you back four centuries in time.

Ladakh— In Search of the Snow Leopard: Snow Leopards are the most elusive, rarest, and most majestic of the large cats. Few people have seen them in the wild, but our guides in Ladakh have been very successful finding snow leopards for our clients capable of handling the high altitude and harsh climate where they live. For many, the sighting of a snow leopard in the wild is the ultimate wildlife experience. We can’t promise a sighting, but we can promise unforgettable Himalayan immersion.

Arctic – Three Arctic Islands: This trip is a 14-day expedition cruise that puts you in contact with Arctic wildlife, fjords, volcanoes and spectacular icescapes of Greenland, Norway and Iceland. Expect to see Musk Oxen, walrus, several species of whales, seals, thousands of nesting sea birds and polar bears. Five days of the cruise explore the very seldom visited east coast of Greenland. You will feel like a modern day Viking, but travel with a spirit of appreciation and discovery rather than conquest. Exploring the wildlife and cultures of the Arctic still tops my own travel wish list.

Indonesia – Savoring Sumatra: Sumatra is Indonesia’s least touristed large island. A land of volcanoes, ancient cultures and extensive forests. You can meditate on an island in the caldera of the largest known volcano, raft through tropical jungles or be the only occupant of tropical beaches. Elephant treks are optional. I’m looking forward to my own exploration of Sumatra in July.

Nepal— Fall Festivals East of Everest: Nepal is well known as the most popular Himalayan trekking destination, but western hikers never travel most of the trails east of Mount Everest. Follow an abandoned Tibet trade route with evolving views of four of the five highest peaks in the world and visit isolated tribal villages during the fall festival season. Here the pace of life invites reflection, contemplation and appreciation for natural beauty and the virtues of lifestyles very different from your own.

Nicaragua – Three Gems of Nicaragua: Rejuvenate in comfortable, contemplative accommodations in choice locations, including the volcanic island of Ometepe in the middle of enormous Lake Nicaragua. There are small towns and only a few adventurous travelers on the island, but dozen of trails, miles of beaches and thousands of acres of forest invite your quest for a connection to the primal forces of nature.

See you on the trail.

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Bhutan’s Happiness Seeks New Directions https://www.journeysinternational.com/bhutans-happiness-seeks-new-directions/ https://www.journeysinternational.com/bhutans-happiness-seeks-new-directions/#respond Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://journeys.829-devl2.com/bhutans-happiness-seeks-new-directions/ Bhutan has long been that idealized Kingdom where life changed little and people liked it that way. That romanticized notion may be a fading mirage. A recent feature in the Wall Street Journal suggests that some officials would like to see more foreign investment and conventional development. Two new airports, another airline, more hotels and […]

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Bhutan has long been that idealized Kingdom where life changed little and people liked it that way. That romanticized notion may be a fading mirage.

A recent feature in the Wall Street Journal suggests that some officials would like to see more foreign investment and conventional development. Two new airports, another airline, more hotels and local branches of foreign universities all seem to be in the plans for this decade and possibly the next two years. Those of us who find the existing simple hotels quite adequate and the absence of extensive roads and air services part of the charm are concerned. Especially, since the inevitable impacts of climate change, glacial melting and disruptive weather are making it a challenge to maintain Gross National Happiness under the present simplified infrastructure. Recent floods wiped out extensive wetland habitat utilized by the rare Black-necked Cranes contributing to a continuing population decline of this object of local and tourist veneration.

It may not be fair for residents of over developed nations to make judgments about how other countries should shun modern technologies and conveniences. If nothing else the message you might take from these events is that if you have not seen and experienced the wonders of Bhutan personally, you should visit soon. We can help.

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