We are sometimes asked this question, and our answer begins with the fact that we are not simply travel agents selling holidays in a country we happen to know.
Bhutan is our home, and it has been part of our family’s life for more than half a century.
Michael came to Bhutan in 1971, when the country was still almost unknown to the outside world. Kesang has lived through many of the extraordinary changes that have taken place as Bhutan has emerged into the modern world. Between us, we can offer our visitors two different but complementary perspectives on a country that is far more complex and interesting than its small size might suggest.
But our approach is not only about our own experiences. It is about how we use them to make your visit more rewarding.
We particularly enjoy preparing individual itineraries. We would much rather learn something about you, what interests you, what you have enjoyed on previous travels and what you hope to discover in Bhutan, than offer you a ready-made programme.
Of course, there are places that almost everyone wishes to visit. The magnificent Tiger’s Nest monastery, Punakha Dzong and the great valleys of western Bhutan deserve their reputations. But there is much more to Bhutan than its best-known attractions.
We want your journey to reflect your interests, not simply our list of places to visit.
Magical Kingdom Tours is deliberately small and personal. You deal with people who know Bhutan intimately and who take a direct interest in making your visit a success.
Michael and Kesang personally oversee the planning of our tours, working with experienced Bhutanese guides, drivers and carefully selected accommodation providers.
An especially enjoyable feature of our tours is the opportunity to spend time with Michael at our family home near Thimphu, sharing stories and discussing the Bhutan of yesterday and today over a relaxed meal or conversation.
Unlike some tour businesses, Magical Kingdom Tours does not own hotels. This is a deliberate advantage.
We are free to recommend accommodation according to your preferences rather than our own commercial property interests. Whether you prefer the luxury of a five-star hotel, the character of a smaller Bhutanese establishment or the personal atmosphere of a comfortable traditional homestay, we can build your itinerary accordingly.
Some people like early starts, full days and plenty of walking. Others prefer time to linger, take photographs, read, talk to people or simply enjoy a beautiful view.
We believe a good journey should have room for unexpected discoveries. There is little pleasure in rushing through Bhutan simply to tick places off a list.
Bhutan deserves time, curiosity and attention. We want to help you give it all three.
Our aim is not simply to arrange a series of successful sightseeing excursions. We would like you to feel that you have been personally introduced to Bhutan.
Your guide will help you explore the country’s magnificent buildings, landscapes and cultural heritage, but we also hope your journey will provide opportunities for conversation, unexpected discoveries and a deeper appreciation of everyday Bhutanese life.
We enjoy sharing the stories behind the places you visit. Why was a particular dzong built? Why does a religious ceremony follow a particular tradition? How have villages, schools and towns changed over the decades? Why do Bhutanese people sometimes see questions of development, happiness and public life rather differently from people elsewhere?
The answers can be as interesting as the places themselves.
One of the distinctive features of Magical Kingdom Tours is the opportunity to visit our family home near Thimphu and spend time with Michael and Kesang.
Having lived in Bhutan since 1971, Michael has accumulated more than fifty years of experiences, recollections and friendships, and is particularly happy to share some of them with visitors who are interested.
The conversation may range from the Bhutan of the early 1970s to the country’s monarchy, education, changing society, diplomacy, Buddhism or whatever happens to interest you.
There is no formal lecture or prepared presentation. Simply the opportunity for an informal exchange of ideas and experiences.
We hope you will find it an enjoyable part of your visit.
We particularly welcome travellers who bring their own professional, academic or personal interests to Bhutan.
Among those we have had the pleasure of assisting is the distinguished British travel writer Rory MacLean, whose visit to Bhutan formed part of the research for his book Geography of Heaven: Travels to the Hereafter.
His visit illustrates the kind of personally focused journey we particularly enjoy arranging.
You certainly do not have to be an author, academic or specialist to travel with us. But we do enjoy welcoming people who are curious about the world.