Imagine entering a restaurant and being told that everybody must eat exactly the same meal, regardless of their appetite or personal taste.
That is rather how we feel about standardised tour itineraries.
At Magical Kingdom Tours, we prefer something quite different. We would like to know a little about you before we begin planning your journey.
What particularly interests you? Have you travelled much in Asia? Are you interested in Buddhism, history, architecture, plants, birds, photography or local communities? Do you enjoy walking? Would you prefer an active journey or a leisurely one? Are you travelling with children or with older family members? Would you like a little luxury, or would you prefer accommodation with more local character?
The more we know about your interests, the more successfully we can design a journey that feels like your own.
Drawing on our experience, we prepare a proposed route and programme. We will explain why we recommend particular places, how much travelling is involved and what opportunities may be available to explore your interests.
Perhaps you would like another day in Punakha, more time with local people, a visit to a school, a botanical excursion, or a more leisurely programme. We can discuss the possibilities and adjust the itinerary before you commit to your journey.
We organise the agreed accommodation, guiding, transport and other services, and remain personally involved in overseeing your visit.
Our visitors normally travel with an experienced Bhutanese guide and their own vehicle and driver, giving them the freedom and flexibility that make private travel so rewarding.
We believe the itinerary should serve the traveller, not the other way round.
Bhutan can be particularly rewarding when you travel slowly enough to appreciate it.
A conversation with a villager, an unexpected religious ceremony, a visit to a local market or simply the opportunity to sit quietly beside a river may stay in your memory longer than another hurried visit to a famous monument.
We therefore encourage visitors to allow time for the unplanned as well as the planned.
We do not regard the following as fixed itineraries. Think of them as some of the ingredients from which we might create a journey especially for you.
Explore the remarkable story of a country that emerged from centuries of relative isolation and gradually developed modern institutions, international relationships and constitutional democracy.
Visit places associated with Bhutan’s history and discuss the distinctive role its monarchy has played in shaping the country.
For visitors with a serious interest in history or contemporary affairs, Michael’s long experience can provide an additional perspective on the Bhutan of yesterday and today.
Bhutan offers a fascinating opportunity to explore Buddhist ideas in the society in which they form part of daily life.
Visit monasteries and temples, learn something of Buddhist symbolism and ritual, and examine how the concepts of compassion, impermanence, interdependence and the nature of happiness influence Bhutanese attitudes.
You do not need to be a Buddhist or have any previous knowledge of Buddhism. Curiosity is quite sufficient.
Discover the country’s dzongs, temples, traditional houses, textiles, painting, woodcarving and other crafts.
Bhutanese architecture and craftsmanship are not merely historical curiosities. They remain part of a living culture, even as the country modernises.
We can give particular emphasis to the arts, crafts and traditions that most interest you, and arrange suitable visits where opportunities are available.
Bhutan is a country of extraordinary geographical and biological diversity, ranging from subtropical valleys to alpine landscapes.
For those particularly interested in nature, we can plan journeys around birds, flowering plants, orchids, forests, mountain scenery and conservation.
Short walks, nature excursions and longer hikes can be incorporated according to your interests, abilities and the season.
For some visitors, modern Bhutan is every bit as interesting as old Bhutan.
How is the education system changing? What do young Bhutanese people think about their future? How is the country responding to technology, economic pressures and the changing expectations of a new generation?
Such questions can make for absorbing conversations and a fascinating journey. Where appropriate and possible, we may be able to arrange visits or discussions relevant to particular professional and academic interests.
Bhutan’s religious festivals are among the country’s most memorable experiences, combining ritual, music, dance, costumes and centuries-old traditions.
Where your dates coincide with suitable festivals, we can incorporate them into your visit and help explain their history and significance.
We also encourage visitors to appreciate that these are living religious and community occasions, not performances created merely for tourists.
Bhutan can be rewarding for families travelling together, especially where different generations have different interests and levels of activity. Bhutan is a great place for children.
We can balance sightseeing, gentle adventure, cultural experiences and opportunities to relax, adjusting the pace to suit your family.