Wind Horse Tours, Treks & Travel

19/05/2024

Pho village, upper Manang, once known as lost kingdom in the frontiers.

16/05/2024

From Koto , beginning of Nar Phoo trek in greater Annapurna area.

14/06/2023

The Grand trunk trail to Everest Base camp is serene and quiet in June .

09/06/2023

09/06/2023

From Namche Bazaar.

08/06/2023

Lukla to Namche on Everest trail

05/06/2023

windhorse horse riding Bumthang!

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!!

Wind Horse Team.

01/12/2022

Undoubtedly, Covid took the whole world on ransom, breeding oppressive lockdown, fear of mortality and future. Those were dark times and thankfully behind us. And the only silver lining or positive was it allowed world to heal with less pollutions and human activities. And nothing becomes more stark or conspicuous than on the trek in Bhutan, where nature swayed back to its natural best with practically no carbon and human footprints.

From Oct -04 – 23, 2022, Robin & Cindy, 2 ladies from US, aged on the wrong side of 60’ undertook “ Above the Clouds Trek” – Laya, Gasa Trek. Below is the link to the itinerary
https://www.windhorsetours.com/itinerary/laya-gasa-chomolhari/

Also I uploaded a few photos among the many and as they say “ Picture can paint a thousand words”. Surely, this will enable me to write less on subject and imagine more through these pictures.

Post trip, an excerpt from Guest’s experiences “We had the privilege of finally taking the Above the Clouds trek we had booked before Covid. It was FABULOUS. I had expected three things: that the trek would be hard, that it would be beautiful, and that Wind Horse would take good care of us. I was not disappointed.”

07/10/2022

Oct 06,22: Departure - They say “ all good or bad things have to come to an end” So did the curtain fell down on Maxim & company’s trip in Bhutan. It started from 24 Sept till 06 Oct, 22. Spanning 13 days, they had eclectic experiences such as cultural insights, day hike in form of iconic Taktsang hike in Paro, nature galore whist on horseback trek in Bumthang with outdoor camping experience under the watchful Himalayan stars. As guests had a spiritual propensity so what really stood out for them was the audience they could get from Gangtey’s Rinpoche twice.

We have a tag line “ It’s not just about seeing places, it’s who you see it with “. In this regard, I can’t thank our guide Sonam Jamtsho (A former monk turned into guide) enough. Besides his expertise in untangling intricate Buddhist iconographies, his easier access to his former masters and arranging audience to Rinpoche was truly remarkable and a game changer.

I like to believe that guests had an enriching experience in terms of their spiritual empowerment and also fulfilling on physical sense with insights on culture, tradition, nature etc.

They had an early flight to airport, as they reach Paro airport, they felt that it was only fitting to say a few words about their experiences in Bhutan. Uploaded here is a video.

05/10/2022

Oct 05, 22: Penultimate day of their trip and it is aligned with Thimphu festival – a prominent fall festival. Invariably, a festival offers insights into religious, cultural, traditional dimensions. As the people from all strata of society comes together in their best traditional attire to celebrate and rejoice the festival or perhaps a expression of life per se.

Later in the afternoon, they drove to Paro – 1 hour. As it convenient to catch flight back tomorrow.

05/10/2022

Oct 04,22: As said earlier, Maxim & company had an internal flight (Bumthang – Paro) scheduled on this day, which is a short & comfortable flight but they choose to take a long (10 – 11 hours) overland drive as the prospect of getting an audience with Gangtey Rinpoche was far too spiritually tempting than easier flight.
They spend a couple of hours with Rinpoche in Gangtey monastery and by the time they reached their destination – Thimphu, it was close to 8pm. But the guests said, “ It was seriously worth all the drives”

03/10/2022

Oct 03, 22: Padselling – Jakar. Today is the end of the horseback trek. Or one can say, back to the civilization after close to 4 days of horse ride and trek in remote valley of Bumthang. Having said that it still entails a couple of hour horse trek before they meet the driver and drive to hotel in Jakar (10 minutes).

Begins with horse ride and paths are through village roads and trail which is gradual downhill mostly. It is an easy day ride so for advance riders they can do trot and for the beginners they can do practice ride.

The uploaded photos are the mixture of horseback ride and sightseeing in Jakar.

As the latest news filter in, Maxim and company are supposed to take internal flight from Bumthang – Paro tomorrow but they choose to cancel it and rather embark on a long drive to Thimphu (10 – 11 hours) as the opportunity to have an audience once again with Rinpoche of Gangtey monastery far outweigh the tedious long drive. They plan to leave early and spend some time in Gangtey monastery with Rinpoche and again drive to Thimphu

03/10/2022

Oct 02 : Kunzangdra – Padselling – Today, it traverses through temperate forests and promontory. Using a traditional routes and feeder roads that are still widely used to travel from one village to next. Along the way, lunch and tea at makeshift wooden rest house, usually used by local people. Overnight in tents.
Around 6 hours in total including stops. Nearby the campsite are the monastery, village and temple atop the hill.
As most part of yesterday’s trek was relatively remote with almost no internet access, so I have to post it today.

01/10/2022

Oct 01,22 (Bumthang) – Horse ride trek from Tang to Kunzangdra village- Today’s ride takes Maxim & company across Tang valley through small hamlets, agricultural fields, temperate forests. Also short hike to visit a monastery and hermitage on the cliff called Kunzangdra Monastery. Overall, It takes around 5 – 6 hours on horseback. Lunch and tea on the way. Overnight in camp.

30/09/2022

This is in continuation to my previous post. Facebook didn’t permit me to post video and photos at one go. So I am uploading only photos this time of today (30 Sept, 2022). Some of sights and memories, that Maxim & company could garner along their journey.
Photos are of Kurjey Lhakhang & Tamzing monastery in Jakar. Also of Mebartsho (Sacred Burning Lake) on the way to Tang and nunnery in Tang.

30/09/2022

Sept 29,22 – Long drive from Phobjikha to Bumthang, enroute visited historical Trongsa. Also it entails passing a few high mountain passes along the course.

Sept 30, 22 – Today is the drive to Tang valley (one among the 4 valleys that constitute Bumthang), which is relatively remote than other three. But before the drive, the morning hours is devoted for sightseeing in Jakar (Bumthang) . Bumthang is called spiritual heartland of Bhutan as it is dotted and laced with many beautiful and historical monasteries and Lhakhang.

On the way to Tang valley, Maxim and party stopped at Mebartsho or sacred burning lake. They offered their prayers along with monks.

In Tang is where our Wind Horse Ranch and Riding club is located. We are the pioneers in Bhutan. Mainstay or essence of their Bhutan trip is the Horse Back Trek for Maxim & party. It begins tomorrow.

As I write this, they are already in Tang and if time permits, they will have a practice rides and also get acquainted with the horses.

Uploaded photos are of monasteries in Jakar valley and also of sacred burning lake on their way to Tang. I will keep you posted with more.

29/09/2022

Sept 28, 22; - Phobjikha – It’s a glacial, quaint and charmingly old-fashioned valley. Far removed from humdrum of modernity and concedes an impression as if time has comes to standstill long time ago.

Lush green and wet rolling meadow offers a near perfect habitat for the avian guests (Sacred Black Neck Crane) that migrate in winter (2nd week of Oct – early March) from Tibetan plateau.

Maxim and company arrived on 27, Sept, although the vast meadows were devoid of Black Neck Crane, as they are yet to arrive but they were well compensate as they got fortunate, to get an audience with head abbot (Rinpoche) of Gangtey monastery. Our guide – a former monk turned guide could arrange this. Learning the intricacy of Buddhist iconography, spirituality and greater interaction with monks and head abbot could take most of the time. But they still could find some time for nature walk and interaction with locales in the valley.

As I write this, they are on the way to Bumthang (Spiritual heartland of Bhutan) across historical Trongsa. I will try to keep you updated further.

28/09/2022

Bhutan reopens its tourism officially on 23 Sept 2022. And on 24th Sept, we had our first guests arrived after almost over 2 years for Wind Horse US office. A group of 3 – Maxim and party journey starts from western Bhutan and progressively builds up to visit Bumthang for beautiful Horse Back trek in Tang valley (Bumthang), along the way the caravan stops at some beautiful valleys such as Punakha and Phobjikha. The photos in context are of Khamsum Yuelly Namgyal Chorten in Punakha. It located at northern edge of valley at the crest of the hills. It takes around 45 minutes of short hike across terraced rice field initially and a slight mount to reach there.

Punakha is a beautiful sub-tropical valley in west. Some of unmissable edifices are historical Chimmi Lhakhang and Punakha Dzong.

As I write this, they are in Phobjikha. I will keep you posted for more.

23/09/2022

Bhutan reopen its international land Border, along with its tourism officially

For over 2 years, Bhutan international borders were all closed to curb the influence of dreadful COVID 19. Strict measures and protocol were implemented
to keep COVID at bay. Which was successful to the most extent. However, life as a force has to move on or atleast make an attempt to rise above the adversities.
Thus, in this regards, today ( 23 sept, 2022) mark as a momentous day. As international gate was opened much to the happiness of people from both sides ( Bhutan and Indian). Excitement were palpable, infact it had a festive ambience. It was a sight to behold!!....

31/07/2022

23/12/2021

Christmas and New Year are round the corner, amidst yet another year of ongoing pandemic. It has thrown in continued trying and difficult times for people from all spheres of live and sectors. Tourism being at the forefront.

Any element of already thin optimism in terms of improved situation is rendered fragile with new Omicron variant, dictating its terms far and wide. But we as humans have persevered as history holds testimony for our tenacities to fight against adversities. And we like to believe that this Christmas and New Year festive season brings hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Any situation, whatsoever, should not deter us from celebrating a new beginning. On this note, entire Wind Horse Family joins in to wish you and dear ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022.

18/05/2021

Hopefully if all goes well. 🙏🙏🙏

Meanwhile, TCB is hopeful that by October 2021 the country will be able to begin receiving visitors

05/04/2021

Opportunity to take part for the first time in Bhutan for the mountain bikers enthusiasts coming December 2021.

http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=146709&fbclid=IwAR2SVKF7X9fb_EaD_E-1XAsopu7v8qfp-BqXPJG7OZlCzW7NGfjGlSEt6Hk

Bhutan is planning to host its first edition of the Asian Enduro Series in Punakha this year. Enduro is an off-road mountain biking sport, held on extended cross-country off-road courses. The event was supposed to be held last year but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

24/03/2021

One of the most spectacular spring fest, Paro Tsechu.

28/02/2021

28/11/2020

Sandakphu trek November 2020 from Manaybhanjang -Tumling - Kalpokhari-Sandakphu-Phalut-Rammam-Rimbik. A medium to difficult trek a sight of the sunrise over the Himalayan range with an imposing and stunning view of Mt Kanchenjunga. Trek along the Indian and Nepal border engulfed in mist and dense Rhododendron forest along Singalila range.