Enchanting Bhutan Trekking Vacation

Our trip was fabulous! Bhutan is a magical place, on many levels.

Zicasso’s travel company, our travel specialist, and his team—our guide and our driver—were exceptional. From planning our multiple destinations and activities to our most phenomenal guide and driver, we felt as though the travel company truly understood what we were seeking, then executed in a way that was so sensitive to our needs and made the trip exceed every expectation.

Every day was fun, rigorous (there's plenty of hiking at elevation), and culturally and spiritually enriching. And the food was delicious. We stayed at five-star properties, which were beyond lovely, had traditional meals and hot-stone baths at Bhutanese homes, and attended the Paro Tsechu—all delightful.

We cannot say enough about our knowledgeable guide and our amazing driver. We learned so much and always felt safe (even on Bhutan's back roads, which are not for the faint of heart) and cared for, whether on a challenging hike (Tiger's Nest, Longtey) or a picnic with langur monkeys—our guide and driver were the best. We looked forward to each day's adventure and can't wait to return, in part to see our new friends again.

This travel company deserves our highest recommendation! Thank you!

My son and I recently completed an incredible three-week journey through India, Nepal, and Bhutan with Zicasso’s travel company, and I can confidently say it was one of the most seamless and enriching travel experiences I’ve ever had.

From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and deep knowledge of the region. Planning a multi-country itinerary covering Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, and Paro could have been overwhelming, but the travel company made the entire process smooth and stress-free. They were highly responsive, flexible with customization, and clearly experienced in handling complex itineraries. They checked in with us regularly via WhatsApp.

Each destination was thoughtfully curated. In India, we explored the vibrant contrasts of Delhi, celebrated Holi in Agra, and experienced an unforgettable sunrise at the Taj Mahal. Jaipur was equally special, where we stayed in a beautiful heritage hotel and enjoyed a memorable cooking lesson led by the current owner, the great-grandson of the founder. Exploring the colorful spice markets added another rich cultural layer to our time there. Another highlight was visiting an elephant sanctuary. We were introduced to a 52-year-old elephant named Pinky who was rescued from a circus. Feeding and bathing her was an experience I’ll never forget.

Varanasi was a deeply moving experience. The sunrise boat ride on the Ganges, watching locals and pilgrims perform sacred rituals along the riverbanks, was both peaceful and powerful. The travel company ensured we had knowledgeable local guides who helped us truly understand the spiritual significance of these moments.

In Nepal, Kathmandu offered a fascinating blend of history, culture, and personal connection. Highlights included a private meeting with a Buddhist monk, visiting stunning temples and stupas, and a wonderful hands-on experience making momos with a local family. What truly elevated our time there was our guide, whose deep knowledge and thoughtful explanations of both Hindu and Buddhist rituals and beliefs gave us a much richer understanding of everything we were seeing.

Chitwan National Park was another unforgettable highlight. During our time there, we saw an incredible variety of wildlife. Many of the animals were with their babies: rhinos, bears, gaur, deer, and monkeys. We even came across a wild elephant on our way out of the park! The jungle safaris were expertly organized and surpassed any expectations we had. The accommodations were both comfortable and well integrated into the natural surroundings.

Bhutan was the perfect finale to the trip. Paro’s breathtaking landscapes and serene monasteries were arranged flawlessly, and the logistics of entering and traveling within Bhutan were handled expertly, which is something that can often be complicated. My son was able to hike the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which has long been on his wishlist and it did not disappoint.

What stood out most was the consistency of service throughout the trip. Every transfer, hotel, guide, and activity was well-coordinated. We always felt supported, safe, and well taken care of, no matter where we were. The guides were not only knowledgeable, but also genuinely warm and engaging, adding so much depth to the experience.

Overall, I highly recommend the travel company to anyone considering a multi-destination trip in South Asia. Their professionalism, local expertise, and commitment to creating meaningful travel experiences truly set them apart. This was a once-in-a-lifetime journey made unforgettable by an outstanding team.

Zicasso’s tour operator was a great planning and execution partner. Their guidance during planning was spot-on and the trip plan they created for us was almost exactly what we were hoping for.

During the planning, we had a lot of unknowns and imprecise aspirations. The tour operator always offered informed observations and our trip plan was modified as a result, always for the better.

During the execution of the trip, the tour operator was in constant touch to ensure any glitches or changes were being addressed and managed. They were completely supportive, available, and helpful.

The arrangements they made for us met all our requirements. The accommodations met our standards and the guiding and escort services were exemplary, with very capable, caring, and informed guides at each location. The travel-support services, cars, drivers, and welcoming representative at each arrival point were far better than we expected or hoped for. The travel execution team we had was just great.

The tour operator was very mindful of delivering to us an experience that reflected the Indian culture and the full Indian experience, both today and historically.

In our opinion, we do not think that they really could have done anything better than they did. As a result, we give them a full five-star rating, with no hesitation in any respect.

Our experience in Bhutan and Nepal was wonderful. From first planning the itinerary to needing some assistance while traveling, our Zicasso agent was wonderful to work with. All of our accommodations, guides, and drivers were exceptional. I would highly recommend our travel company. We opted for a private tour of Bhutan and Nepal. I am very glad I booked activities at our agent’s suggestion: for example, the mountain flight from Kathmandu and the visit to Chitwan National Park, which was well worth the visit.

This was an absolutely amazing trip. Zicasso’s tour company accommodated everything we wanted to do during our short, four-day trip to Bhutan. Our guide and driver were incredible. The tour company’s owner was amazing and greeted us the first night and took us to dinner. I have zero complaints about our trip! Everything was perfect and we will certainly be coming back to Bhutan with our travel company.