Month: September 2018

Overdose of happiness in Bhutan

By  Srinivas Krishnan

Perhaps Pharrell Williams made a trip to Bhutan before he wrote and performed his monster hit of a song, Happy.

Because I’m happy…
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Well, that truth seems to be clear to the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Because their national philosophy is famously called Gross National Happiness!

Because I’m happy…
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Do you know what happiness is to you? Well, Bhutan says confidently, ‘Happiness is a place.’ Now, who wouldn’t want to go to a place like that?!

Because I’m happy…
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Clap along, sing along, or simply read along, if that’s where you wanna go…

Tiny Kingdom, Large Heart
Located in the southern foothills of the mighty Himalayas, Bhutan is about 46,500 square kilometres in area and has a population of less than eight lakh people. It may be tiny – even more so, considering its neighbours are the most populous and second-most populous nations on Earth – but it’s a country that’s bigger than the two when it comes to sheer happiness!

A remarkable way of administering a country, here the enlightened Bhutan government prioritises the happiness and well-being of its people as a form of governance. Given that, they make tourists who visit their country a happy bunch too.

Bhutan is a country which has its origins surrounded in mystery, an enigmatic Shangri-La perhaps. It’s a magical land blessed by nature, with an abundance of culture, religion and beauty everywhere you see. Take in the vibrant architecture of the monasteries, dzongs and the temples in the countryside. Walk in the Himalayan wilderness or balance your way through lush green fields. Get up close with God’s own creations. And meditate, like the wise old man at the top of the mountain…

Takes Your Breath Away

How do you do justice to a land as blessed as Bhutan? On the one hand, its beauty seems to be divinely ordained, and on the other, it’s packed with cultural attractions that put your faith back into mankind! Ask us, and we’ll tell you.

We at The Wanderers have put together a Bhutan package that ensures you not only bask in nature’s bounties but also wonder at the marvels made by man. It includes a visit to the gobsmackingly located Tiger’s Nest Monastery as well as to valleys which have views that can make Switzerland jealous. You can get up close with the Takin – a unique goat-antelope – and the Black-Necked Crane as well as marvel at the strategic location of the Punakha Dzong that plays an important role in Bhutan’s history. All this, done in great comfort and with The Wanderers’ attention to detail.

The highlights of Bhutan Escape with The Wanderers

• Visit the Taktsang Lhakhang or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Be warned: It will take your breath away in more ways than one!
• Visit the Motitang Takin Preservation Centre to understand the uniqueness of Bhutan’s national animal
• It’s permanent peak season here: have your fill of the mighty mountains here, including Mt. Gangkar Puensum, which at 24,590ft is the tallest in Bhutan
• Sing happy dzongs! Visit the Punakha Dzong, Rinpun Dzong, Wangchulo Dzong as well as other Lhakhangs and Gompas
• Watch beautiful birds strut their stuff at the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre, situated at the edge of the forest and wetlands in the Phobjikha Valley
• Drive through lush blue pine and rhododendron forests and via the majestic Chele-la Pass to the stunning landscape of Haa
• Pay obeisance at the Memorial Chorten at Thimpu as well as offer prayers to the largest statue in the country of the Buddha, at Kuensel Phodrang (Buddha Point)
• Comfortable accommodation at the three locations of Thimpu, Punakha and Paro and a well-crafted itinerary that brings Bhutan alive to you

Even if you are not Pharrell Williams, we are sure you would like to be happy. Click below to know more about how The Wanderers can make you happy by taking you to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan!

Simply contact us at the following coordinates.

Sharad: 8291445737

Email Id: sharad@thewanderers.co.in

Check out our latest group tour on Bhutan 

Get Antarctica off your Bucket list Now!

By Alifiya Calcuttawala


To go boldly where no man has gone before!
If you are a Trekkie then this statement probably brings the same shiver of anticipation and
excitement down your spine that it did all those many years ago watching Captain Kirk explore
new galaxies on TV.
To embark on your own personal adventure, both inwards and to the last truly unexplored
continent, Antarctica.


Where the land lies under many feet of ice, huge glacial mountains reach for the sky, penguins,
sea lions and whales cavort in the icy cold sea, untouched by commercial tourism, and without
busloads of tourists jabbering in every language known to man. Antarctica.
Head off on your own Columbus-like exploration, brave cold winds, sea swells and rubber
dinghies, to make landfall. Antarctica.

Explore long forgotten whaling houses, abandoned science camps watch the only place on
earth where the countries of the world work with everyone else, in a spirit of togetherness.
If adventure is your thing, you crave solitude and enjoy the journey just as much as the
destination then Antarctica should have been on your bucket list.

But it is now time to take it off the list and move to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
This physically demanding trip requires a higher level of fitness than your usual run of the mill
cruise or holiday. Drills to help you in emergencies form part of your daily routine.
Unpredictable wind conditions coupled with the icy cold seas make it more of an extreme
adrenaline pumping adventure than a pleasure cruise. Physically demanding conditions,
temperatures below freezing, choppy and stormy seas just add to the allure of the journey.


The Antarctica adventure begins from the minute you board the ship. The icebreaker ship,
will be your home for the whole trip, making excursions aboard the all-weather Zodiac
to the last unexplored continent. Evenings will be spent learning more about the place you’re about to visit, watching movies, documentaries and listening to biologists share their knowledge with you!
Starting your journey through the scenic Beagle Channel, heading for the open South Atlantic
Ocean. You will cross the Tierra del Fuego or the Land of Fire before heading South on your
way to Antarctica.


Going through the Drake Passage, the South Shetland Islands come into view, moving between
Greenwich and Livingstone islands through Macfarlane Strait, landing on Half Moon Island
where the Argentinian Camara station is located, marking your first step on Antarctica!

Be prepared to be surprised by the Gentoo penguins and their babies, and fur seals
That will be the first of three or four landings across the whole trip. Imagine that! Going into
territories that were available only to explorers of old, men and women who took adventure to
the next level, with belief in their hearts, charting their course with the help of the stars to lands
they only saw with their eyes closed.

The whole idea of knocking this off your bucket list early is basically to make this entire trip
when you are resilient to deal with the vagaries of the weather, strong enough to acclimatise to
the biting cold and have enough chutzpah to give your friends FOMO.
The trip is said to be soul changing, and puts you in touch with yourself. If that is true, and it is,
wouldn’t you benefit from life changing experiences earlier in the day rather than later?
Finally, let’s face facts, if you don’t experience this fantastic journey now, then when…
because ultimately You Only Live Once!!

Check out our latest Antarctica Expedition.