Local Gastronomy Tour

Nestled in the majestic Himalayan range, Bhutan's cuisine unfolds like a hidden treasure, mirroring its dramatic landscapes and celestial altitudes. Bhutanese food is a testament to the resilient spirit of its people, an enchanting medley of flavors crafted under the constraints of its rugged terrains and high elevations.

The simplicity of Bhutanese cuisine is its defining charm. Rooted in the farm-to-table philosophy, every dish serves as a vibrant mosaic of the country's bountiful harvests. Chilies, not just an ingredient but the heart of Bhutanese gastronomy, flourish in the valleys, creating a kaleidoscope of flavors ranging from the fiery Ema Datshi to the milder Kewa Datshi.

At higher altitudes, where rice paddies yield to buckwheat and barley fields, the cuisine takes on a more hearty demeanor. Savor the earthy Bja Sha Maroo, a dish of chicken and local buckwheat noodles, and experience the rustic essence of high-altitude cuisine.

The limitations posed by Bhutan's terrain have given birth to culinary masterpieces like Haa, a unique delicacy prepared by fermenting and drying yak meat, demonstrating the Bhutanese knack for creating feast from famine. Yak cheese, with its rich and intense flavor, becomes an essential part of dishes such as Datshi, enhancing its hearty charm.

Bhutan's distinct altitudes also foster the growth of diverse plant species, like the Sichuan Pepper or the Bhutanese Cordyceps, lending an exclusive layer of complexity to the country's food palette.

As you embark on our food tours, you will be unravelling the intriguing tapestry of Bhutanese cuisine, where each dish carries an imprint of the land it came from, each ingredient resonates with stories of survival and ingenuity, and every meal celebrates the harmonious balance of nature and nourishment. Dive into the symphony of flavors that is Bhutanese cuisine, an epicurean adventure defined as much by its geographic constraints as by its cultural richness.

Guide

Accommodations

Transportation

Meals and Drinks

Entry Fees

Permit Fees

Sustainable Development Fee

Hot Stone Baths

Spa Time

Meditation with Monks

Visa Processing

Day 1: Arrival & Food Philosophy Introduction

• Arrival at Paro International Airport

• Traditional welcome with Bhutanese ara (rice wine) and ceremonial food offering

• Transfer to Thimphu with stop at local market

• Introduction to Bhutanese food philosophy

• Welcome dinner featuring key elements of Bhutanese cuisine

• Evening orientation on journey themes and food mindfulness practices

Day 2: Foundations of Bhutanese Cuisine

• Morning meditation focusing on food gratitude

• Visit to traditional Bhutanese kitchen to learn basic techniques

• Hands-on lesson in making ezay (chili paste) and other fundamental condiments

• Lunch featuring your morning creations

• Afternoon visit to National Traditional Medicine Institute to learn food-medicine connections

• Cooking class focusing on everyday Bhutanese family meals

• Dinner featuring dishes prepared during class

• Evening discussion on Buddhist principles of food and consumption

Day 3: Sacred Foods & Monastery Kitchens

• Morning visit to monastery kitchen to learn about sacred food preparation

• Participate in preparing food offerings with monks

• Learn about the spiritual significance of various ingredients

• Vegetarian lunch prepared according to monastery traditions

• Afternoon tea ceremony with meditation on mindful consumption

• Visit buckwheat farms to learn about this staple grain

• Evening cooking class focusing on temple foods

• Dinner featuring monastery-style cuisine

• Discussion on fasting and feasting in Bhutanese tradition

Day 4: Journey to Punakha & River Valley Cuisine

• Morning bread-making workshop learning Bhutanese khule and other varieties

• Departure for Punakha Valley

• Scenic drive with picnic featuring handmade breads and local produce

• Arrival in Punakha and introduction to river valley agricultural traditions

• Visit to rice fields to learn traditional farming methods

• Afternoon cooking class focusing on rice dishes and preparations

• Dinner featuring the diversity of rice in Bhutanese cuisine

• Evening food meditation practice

Day 5: Foraging & Wild Foods

• Early morning market visit with local guide to select ingredients

• Foraging excursion with local expert to gather wild herbs and vegetables

• Wilderness cooking demonstration using foraged ingredients

• Picnic lunch featuring morning discoveries

• Afternoon visit to traditional water mill

• Hands-on preparation of wild food preservation techniques

• Dinner featuring preservation methods (drying, fermenting, pickling)

• Evening discussion on seasonal eating and food sustainability

Day 6: Healing Foods & Traditional Medicine

• Morning session with traditional medicine doctor on food as medicine

• Workshop on medicinal herbs and their culinary uses

• Hands-on preparation of healing broths and tonics

• Lunch featuring medicinal ingredients

• Afternoon visit to hot springs with discussion of water properties

• Cooking class focusing on therapeutic meals for different conditions

• Special dinner emphasizing balancing foods

• Evening discussion on personalized nutrition in Bhutanese tradition

Day 7: Regional Specialties & Celebration

• Morning visit to local organic farm for harvest experience

• Traditional earth oven (thup) cooking demonstration

• Learn to prepare ara (traditional rice wine) and other beverages

• Special lunch featuring earth oven cooking

• Afternoon preparatory workshop for evening feast

• Learn festival food preparations and special occasion dishes

• Prepare complete celebratory meal with local family

• Farewell dinner feast with cultural performances

• Evening gratitude ceremony and reflection

Day 8: Integration & Departure

• Morning food meditation practice

• Integration workshop: creating your food wellness practice

• Recipe compilation and resource sharing

• Final cooking session focusing on adaptable home techniques

• Lunch featuring simplified versions of favorite dishes

• Traditional blessing ceremony

• Transfer to Paro International Airport

Choose from Comfort Accommodations at no additional cost or Luxury Accommodations with an added supplemental cost per night.

After booking, we will send an email requesting a copy of your passport page. Processing takes just a few days.

There are only two airlines, DrukAir and Bhutan Airlines, which fly into Bhutan and only from specific connecting airports (Bangkok, Singapore, New Delhi, Dubai, Kathmandu, Kolkata and a few others). If you would like us to arrange your flight into Bhutan from these connection points, please email us. It is your responsibility, however, to book your flight to one of the connecting airports. From there we handle the rest.