More than trekking it is the cultural tours which are popular among visitors. One obvious reason is that often people come together with their families and it is difficult to to find a trek that caters to all- the tired father, the small child, the tired grandma and the I-want-to-do-the-Snowman-trek-teenager.

But the main reason why tours are popular is one gets to indulge in the local culture, the unique Bhutanese architecture, the friendly natives, the ceremonious festivities, basically immerse oneself into Bhutan and everything Bhutanese without exerting oneself too much.

Culture and Bhutan are two words which can be said together. Bhutan is one place where developments have not caught up yet. The Bhutanese are a happy-go-lucky lot. Let me mention how many families live their lives. In their farm early in the morning after a quick breakfast they go and work on their fields. Sometimes all the villagers work on one person's fields. That evening the benefiting farmer will serve dinner and drinks and the evening culminates in dance and song. The next day it's another farmer's fields and so on. It's just party every night. And when the annual festival called tsechu comes all are eager to partake in the festivities. This is just pure joy, the simplest life possible, no big worries, living life as it comes. Work and play, work and play...

The advantage of Cultural Tours by Bhutan Rebirth is that it can taken anytime of the year. Very comfortable vehicles, an English speaking guide and a friendly driver is provided and the size of the vehicle (Japanese and Korean vehicles) depends on the group's size. The friendliness of the Bhutanese is one thing that every visitor to the country gets very impressed by.

During the tsechus various chams are performed. You can read about it more in detail on our website.

Let me just talk about the fun the Bhutanese have. It's usually the women (of course ;) ) who dress up for the occasion. The expensive kiras they have been saving for just this occasion come out and it's like a fashion show while each women sizes each other up either with a "look at her" or more likely with a "look at me" ;). It is all in fun though and the atsara or clown at the dances proves just that. A big nosed mask on his face and dressed all, well, in a jokery fashion and wielding a wooden phallus (this is not a thing to be ashamed of but a tribute to the very holy Drukpa Kuenley of the historical past known for his sexual prowess). This atsara loves to wield the phallus in the faces of women while the crowd laughs at this simple tomfoolery. Everyone brings pack lunches and sits on the lawns and have a picnic. All I can say is it is fun. You can check out some packages on the Bhurtan Rebirth Home Page. In the villages, these tsechus maybe smaller but the fun and worship is no less. Some are unique.

Can I talk about Gom Kora and Chorten Kora Tsechus? I'll talk about the former since once some years ago I spent three days in a drunken stupor there. I'll do this in the following module since this one has turned out a bit large... ;)

Three days of festivities it is, the Gom Kora Tsechu. You can read about the legend of Gom Kora on the website mentioned above. But here on Squidoo I wish to talk about my own experience.

Well, there I was. The Drakpas and Tawangpas of Arunachal Pradesh in India (and claimed by China as China always does. Naughty, naughty China. Down, boy!!) come there too. They have no border problems and they just walk and walk here, together with their mules and horses through mountainous terrain. The unique dresses of the Tawangpas together with the Brokpas of Merak and Sakteng make them stand out. Anyway, during the day there are monks chanting and praying and devotees circumambulating the huge chorten complex, with heads bowed in prayer. There's also a fair (as in games of luck and money and so on) happening just nearby where games are going on and alcohol is flowing. Yes, for better or worse, alcohol is steeped into the culture.

Then, there are devotees trying other activities. There's a huge stone around the rock upon which Guru Rinpoche meditated and if you can carry the stone around this rock your sins are cleansed. I watched many young men try without success. Then this village woman just picked it up and walked around! Next, in this rock again, there's an opening to enter from. The tunnel narrows and the exit is very small that one has to crawl through. They say if a person is sinful the passage narrows such that one can get stuck but if a person is devoid of sins then even a fat one can exit the tunnel. It was such a small exit that I bet a 6 feet huge friend to try it and he succeeded. Guess he was sin free after all, though I doubt very much he is that way these days. Maybe I should take him back there ;)

Anyway, eventually the sun bid us all goodbye and darkness fell. The circumambulation (koras) began but this time things were different. It was only the women, old and young doing the koras. Holding hands, going faster and faster around the temple. The men sat on the sides, many with torchlights. Covering the light slightly the men endeavored to check out the face of the girls doing the koras. Then once they decided on a date they quickly joined the kora and started talking to the girls while continuing their koras. Suddenly the man and woman would disappear, into the jungles (I could not follow them there) and consummate the kora in the way that is accepted at this tsechu.

I believe many parents send their daughters of marriageable age here hoping that she'll find a husband. I guess some do but for most it is just, well, a party night.

I have to mention that the Chorten Kora Tsechu is similar and is up in Trashi Yangtse town and this chorten is believed to have had a Dakini Princess from Tawang buried inside alive. Hence a lot of Tawangpas attend this Tsechu. However, Gom Kora is closer so the more popular. Both are in Yangtse but the Gom Kora Festival takes place usually in late March while the Chorten Kora takes place in late February-early March.

It is open to visitors. Wangduephodrang (called Wangdue or Wangdi in short) is just next to Punakha (11 km or so). Only ruins remained of the once beautiful Wangduephodrang Dzong built in 1638, a once lovely example of Bhutanese architecture. It has now been renovated and is open.

The tour would be totally private in the sense that the moment you land at Paro airport the guide, the driver and the vehicle is at your beck and call.

What all is included in the fare? Accommodation? meals? Airport transfers? Guide? Entrance fees to the Dzong?

Most things as mentioned in the previous query. All logistics and meals. We have found it not advisable to deal with tourist budget hotels, poor standard vehicles or guides ;) In fact, if you wish, you can also stay at high end hotels in Bhutan such as Uma Resorts (Paro and Punakha), Aman Kora (Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey [Wangdue] and Bumthang), Zhiwaling (Paro only), Naksel Boutiques and Spa (Paro), Terma Linca (Thimphu) and Gangtey Goenpa Lodge (Gangtey/Phobjikha). The charges for these hotels are the exact what the hotels charge and we would remove the cost of three star hotels from your tariff if you chose this option.

Will you be able to also book DrukAir and Tashi Air tickets for us?
Yes. Again we would charge you the exact fare only. Please note that whether you book the hotels or airfares directly or through us it makes no difference in the costs.

Did anybody happen to watch the movie "A Walk in the Clouds"? With Keanu Reeves. Bhutan is where the movie should have been shot. Would have got a 100% for title relevance ;)

Keanu Reeves did come. To shoot a different film. It was called "Little Buddha". Never got to watch it but saw Keanu at the airport. And nobody knew who he was. Fair enough. He didn't know any of us either.