Bhutan Photography Tour – Reflections
There is something very special in the air when you step off the Druk Air flight at Paro Airport and walk across the runway towards the arrivals building. Perhaps it is the rarefied heights of 2200 metres above sea level. Or perhaps its the pervading sense of space – you’re in a broad valley of rice-fields and terraces, surrounded by pine-clad mountains; and in the neat distance, a fortified monastery (known as a dzong) catches your eye. Perhaps its the serenity of it all — “serenity” is not a word you would normally associate with airports, but in Paro, you can feel the pervasive peace.
This tranquil feeling remains with you throughout your time in Bhutan. Though it claims to be The Land of the Thunder Dragon, there is nothing stormy or thunderous about the country and its people. There is a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere wherever you go; and the people you meet, from shopkeepers to farmers, schoolchildren to monks, are always more than happy to greet you with bright eyes, a cheerful smile and the traditional greeting of “Kuzuzang po la” — “Hello and how are you”.
Our 11 day photography tour in Bhutan in October was blessed with the most serendipitous moments. We seemed to find ourselves always at the right place at the right time; whether it was a blessing of longevity festival in Punakha Dzong, or visiting the Tang Valley Nunnery just when the nuns there were starting a mantra chanting ceremony, or being in Jakar in time for the Nya-Goe, the local strongman competition.
We stayed one night in Tshanka village, a wonderful experience which gave us time to meet with the local people and to spend time in time in homestays, experiencing Bhutanese hospitality and tasting home-made cuisine. We enjoyed many opportunities to connect with and engage with people through our photography. We truly had many wonderful moments — photographic and experiential — on this tour.
As a travel and documentary photographer, who also fosters a love for portraiture and landscapes, I found myself in a kind of photographic paradise in Bhutan. Compositions became self-evident wherever we went, and the light in so many instances was exquisite. But more than the photography, I loved the generous warmth and kindness of the Bhutanese people – who accepted this troupe of foreign photographers with open arms and a measure of curiosity.
I am planning another photography tour to Bhutan – for April 2026. If you would like to get information about this tour when it is available, please contact us.
Here is a selection of images taken during the tour. I hope you enjoy them.
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