Bhutan Travel Forum

A very good morning,

At the moment I am trying to make my hobby my profession, being a travel photographer. And for a first official photography trip I have selected Bhutan. It is a very special country with lots of opportunities to make beautiful pictures.

- Time is restricted to max 20 days.
- I am in a good physical condition, so I am willing to invest time in trekking to secluded and beautiful areas.
- Plan is for nov-dec

1. I would love to hear from you the places where you can shoot the best pictures. Focus on ancient buildings and landscapes.
2. Can you join festivals or is it not for foreigners ? Which festival is most interesting ?

Thanks in advance for all the help, looking forward to hearing from you

Pascal Janssen

(1) Tiger's Nest Monastery near Paro is a must. Very spectacular, and photogenic.

(2) I found the Haa Valley very beautiful. Not many Westerners go there, but it is not far from Paro.

(3) If there is a tsechu going on somewhere, go to that for great photos. This is a folk dance festival.

Hi Pascal!

Glad to hear you've chosen Bhutan for this...it's amazing! I am an American living here, so I will do my best to answer your questions...

1) The entire country offers opportunities for amazing pictures. Dzongs, monasteries, and ruins are abundant, as well as beautiful landscapes. However, the further east you go, the more pure (authentic) and undeveloped the scenery and the people.

2) With 20 days to spare, I would recommend one of two options: 1) Begin the journey from the west (either fly into Paro or drive up through the Indian border) and make your way east throughout most of the country and exit Samdrup Jongkhar into Guwahati. Or 2) Travel western and central Bhutan, while doing a trek somewhere along the way.

3) Foreigners are allowed to attend festivals, so that won't be a problem. As you're planning on November, there are several small festivals in Bumthang (central Bhutan). And if you decide on December, there are festivals both in the central and eastern regions. All the festivals are quite interesting, but it really depends on your tastes. Some are grander with thousands of people in attendance, while others are smaller and more intimate.

I hope this helps! Feel free to contact me on my personal email at jamie@zirkel.us if you have any more questions. I'm happy to help however I can!

Hope all is well and take care!
Jamie

I forgot to mention that you can see Tiger's Nest Monastery behind me in my photo !

came across ur blog on this website, so since i am planning to go to bhutan as well, can u please advise me on how to reah there, i am a citizen of india, also worth knowing is that do i need to take some tour package or i can go on my own, last thing i would like to know is that, which is a better place paro or thimpu, since i have at max 3 days for travel.
regards
rajat

Just returned from ten days in Bhutan. Yes, the place is one big kodal moment, plenty of opportunities for photography.

Although Paro and the Tiger's Nest are must see places, the Tiger's Nest is also the best known of Bhutan's treasures. But it is worth making the gut-wrenching drive (and I mean gut-wrenching!) across the mountains to Bumthang. IT was only when we had gone well beyond Thimpu and the Paro region that we truly felt we were seeing the real Bhutan......

I had no problems taking photos anywhere with the exception that none are permitted inside the temples. The rule generally was if we had to remove our shoes to go in someplace, no pictures were permitted. Most people were willing to let me take their photos as well, but it is wise to ask permission.

Only other advice. Take a spare camera or camera body. It has saved me from disaster on more than one occasion, so the hassle and added weight is well worth it. Any thing else I can tell you, just ask.

dtf1947