Jun 18, 2025
Raven: The Best Bhutan Tour Company - I had an absolutely amazing experience in Bhutan with Raven Tours—they are offering by far the best, most unique, and most personal visits to the Dragon Kingdom. I initially contacted several tour operators and received sample itineraries and pricing. Raven cost a little bit more than some of the other companies I looked at, but with excellent reason—every day was thoughtfully planned to maximize my experience in Bhutan and to connect fully with the amazing people, cultural, wildlife, and natural beauty of the country. We saw so many highlights, but they offered so many additional special moments that other operators do not.
I spoke to the director, Deepak, right from the start, and he customized and amended the itinerary based on my goals for the trip. I had an amazing day in Thimpu, a fantastic monastery stay, a wonderful visit to a local farm stay with a great family. These moments and some of the terrific ecolodges we stayed at were all facilitated by the great personal relationships that Deepak and Raven have throughout the country.
My guide, Yeshi, and my driver, Chencho, were both fantastic. They were equally comfortable joking in the car and offering deep naught into the amazing places we visited. They brought to life each monastery and dzong we visited with rich history and stories, and they were great at spotting examples of Bhutan’s unique wildlife as we explored.
I’ll never forget the people I met in Bhutan, and I can’t wait to return to visit the news friends I made during my short time there. What a wonderful country, and so many thanks to Raven for bringing each moment there to life for me.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 12, 2025
Amazing journey with Raven team 9 days of culture and soulscape to Bhutan- if interested reached complete review please - The connection with raven team dates back to Dec 2019 when the first plan for my very first international journey and as called the bucket list I had made.
Deepak guided and had given very insightful plan.
However Covid struck and the plans were derailed. Here starts the professional but a compassionate approach of raven. Deepak refunded entire amount and also assured to connect back when normalcy has been restored.
Finally after the normalcy and hectic years we again connected recently in December 24 , redraw same plan for may 25. The values (costing) had nearly doubled , so was the urge for visitings
The raven team professionalism by now had also impressed us a lot with use of technology and proper technique to communicate, however this was also done with a passionate interest for customer engagement.
Me and wife landed finally to Paro on 3rd may and were greeted by Keshab Neopani guide and Choten Tshering our chauffeur for entire Journey.
The arrival was made in such a condition that the tourists should get quite comfortable very quickly. The entire trip happened very well, due to this amazing team, as if they had been known quite long but was with very professional approach and a proper understanding.
The pair toured the journey quite effectively, properly informing every aspect about location, ancient history of the place, spiritual and religious traditions etc.
Local delicacy, food as per our need (being pure vegetarians), and of course the tea/ coffee service in between as needed. The team carries plenty of water bottles, hot water thermos and coffee sugars sachet during the journey.
Commendable driving skills of Choren taking the country sides easily made the complete drive looked easy of course from the rear seats 😊
Keshav’s excellent guiding and his experience has no doubt made ha well known face amongst many up coming young guides. We were surprised and happy to note that he is also an assessor for guides and an instructor as well.
The places picked up by Raven team and the stays were all awesome , specially would put the special mention for Aum Passang , young up coming lady entrepreneur for a home stay at her very own home, Gaselo Eco Lodge again a unique place, with fantastic view overlooking Nyezergang monastery and the valley view at right hand, simply stunning and breathtaking.
We returned back on 11 may with a very strong urge for revisiting again after a long time for the remaining places we could not visit,
Our visit plan in brief was to Thimpu, Punakha, ( special mention of OM kitchen where we got a perfect hot meals, proper Indian still👍), Phobjika ( should be a must have visit) , Gangtey,, Paro and if course unforgettable Tiger Nest with. A. Hot stone water bath after the trek.Do not miss to visit Indian Masala restaurant in Paro( for all veggies specifically, thanks to Keshab again)
The icing was visiting HAA valley thru Chelela pass - we had make make shift young buzzing guide Sonam since Keshab had some emergency meeting
This guy is simply awe some , a total non stop running commentary and conversation, made sure we enjoyed the difficult roads as well
There’s too much to be said, however signing off on this very long run script, with a complete satisfaction of being able to get the most best team , good luck to you all team raven
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 8, 2025
Bhutan April 25 - My friend and I went with Raven Tours on a personalised private tour which encompassed highlights of Bhutan such as the Paro Tshechu festival as well as hikes and various other facets of Bhutan that we were interested in- such as homestays and Tiger’s Nest. We were fortunate to have a knowledgeable and earnest guide in Kencho, who was attuned to our various needs and interests. For example we really wanted to see snow, so he switched the itinerary around so that we could go to Chele La Pass on a day that it had snowed (we were thankful that weather was on our side as well!). Our driver, Tshering, was not only funny and humorous but also very kind in taking care of us (eg when ill) or slowing down so that we could take photos. Overall, we had such an eye opening trip and we were very touched by the generous and kind spirits of the Bhutanese people, as embodied by our driver and guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 4, 2025
Beautiful Bhutan with the Raven team - We had the most beautiful Bhutan trip with the Raven team of guide Keshab and driver Choten
All was very well planned and made so enjoyable for us
From hotels, sightseeing to hikes - the team made sure that all was perfect
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed exploring Bhutan with Raven - Over the times, I have come to enjoy slow travelling. If I like a place or a moment, I like to savor that, take my sketchbook out and capture it. The Raven team were flexible to accommodate this in the schedule that they planned. Though, I was not looking forward to a lot of excursion and hikes, but the way that they paced those activities (by starting with easy and then gradually increasing the intensity), we never felt rushed. Pema, our guide was always mindful of our every need ( infact we felt thoroughly spoilt by the end of the tour). Jeevan, our driver, was always calm behind the wheel, never hurrying unnecessarily. As a result, we could focus on the beautiful country and enjoyed our time to the fullest.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 27, 2025
Great trip! - We had an amazing experience with Raven Tours for our Bhutan trip - the itinerary covered everything we wanted - from hikes in Bhutan's beautiful nature to opportunities to immerse ourselves in local cultural experiences. Thanks Deepak!
Kencho (our guide) and Tshering (our driver) truly made this trip a memorable experience with their attention to detail and professionalism. We learnt a lot about the Kingdom of Bhutan and Buddhism via our guide, and our driver is very skilled in traversing the mountain roads. Overall we had a great trip, highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 15, 2025
Amazing trip !! - Thank you to Dawa and Bim for taking care of me on my small group tour. The Culture, religion, scenery and the people will never be forgotten. I reached Tigers Nest thanks to the kindness and flexibility of Dawa and Bim…. I was sick and missed the first opportunity, but they were kind enough to arrange a second climb for our group. I was so grateful and could not be happier that I did it ! The Paro Festival, sleeping at the Monastery with the monks, the farm stay, Thimphu and all in between….. all amazing and I would highly recommend these guys as guides. Did I mention that they laughed at our jokes and voted us the best group ever !!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 13, 2025
Amazing experience - I had an incredible experience with Raven Tours. Dawa, our guide, was professional, knowledgeable, and very attentive to make sure we were all taken care of and comfortable. Thank you Dawa, for sharing your culture and beautiful country with us! This was an unforgettable trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 11, 2025
A Journey Through Bhutan Made Unforgettable by Dawa and Raven Tours - From the moment we arrived in Bhutan, Raven Tours ensured that our experience was seamless and enriching. Our guide, Dawa, was the cornerstone of this incredible journey. His deep knowledge of Bhutanese culture, history, and traditions brought each site to life, turning every visit into a captivating story.
Dawa's professionalism and warm demeanor made us feel welcomed and well-cared for throughout our trip. He was always attentive to our needs, ensuring our comfort and safety, and was flexible in accommodating our interests and pace. His passion for his country was evident and infectious, enhancing our appreciation for Bhutan's rich heritage.
Highlights of our tour included the breathtaking hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery, where Dawa's encouragement and insights made the challenging trek incredibly rewarding. Exploring the vibrant streets of Thimphu and the serene landscapes of Punakha with Dawa's guidance allowed us to connect deeply with the local culture and natural beauty.
Raven Tours' organization was impeccable, with every detail thoughtfully arranged. The accommodations were comfortable, the transportation was smooth, and the itinerary was well-balanced between sightseeing and relaxation.
We are immensely grateful to Dawa and the Raven Tours team for crafting such a memorable Bhutanese adventure. Their dedication to excellence and genuine hospitality exceeded our expectations. We wholeheartedly recommend Raven Tours to anyone seeking an authentic and unforgettable experience in Bhutan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 8, 2025
Bhutan: Land of Cultural Wonders - I could not be more pleased with the depth and breadth of our 8-day tour of Bhutan. From arrival to departure, I was impressed with the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that Raven Tours clearly displayed at every turn. While I expected to tour several Buddhist temples and monasteries — all of which, incidentally, sit atop mountains and hills — I was pleasantly surprised by some of the other activities. Among my favorite non-temple activities, I had a yoga session on a mountain next to a monumental Buddha atop a hill; I planted a tree at a monastery also high in the mountains; and I hung a prayer flag at another sacred site. Watching an archery competition proved far more interesting than I expected, while white water rafting with the Himalayas in the background was exhilarating.
A visit to the Takin Preserve was a wildlife enthusiast's dream. The Takin, an endangered species that looks like a bull with a goat's head, is Bhutan's national animal. Another nice touch was donning traditional Bhutanese dress on a visit to a monastery. Those photos will amaze my future grandchildren one day. A sleeper activity that appealed to my intellect was a visit to the postal museum, where I learned that Bhutan is a world leader and innovator on postal stamps. The museum printed one of my photos on actual postage stamps that I then affixed to postcards I sent friends. Imagine, my photo on a real postage stamp.
The highlight of the tour, however, was the last day, during which I hiked up to the iconic Tiger's Nest — Bhutan's equivalent to France’s Eiffel Tower — a monastery perched precariously high on a cliff. The steep three-hour hike was rewarded with a tour of eight of the temples inside the monastery. It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience. The hike was followed by a hot stone bath — a traditional Bhutanese bath where the water is heated by burning-hot stones — that soothed my aching muscles from a week of hikes. I capped that night with a beer tasting at the local brewery that featured eight different beers and a non-Bhutanese menu. While I fell in love with Ema Datshi, Bhutan’s national dish consisting of chilis and cheese, I welcomed the Western menu after having Bhutanese food all week.
Throughout the eight days, my guide and driver were both incredibly helpful, courteous, and accommodating of my many requests. Each day had a minimum of five activities (the itinerary was an unbelievable 30 pages long) and our guide implemented the schedule with aplomb and savvy, ensuring that everything we wanted to do somehow got done. Our driver showed incredible skill navigating the treacherous, narrow, two-lane mountain roads. I understood at that point why we had a specially trained driver. On several occasions, I had 12-hour days and both guide and driver accommodated me with good cheer and not a trace of a complaint. All in all, it was one of the best tours of my life (85 countries and counting) and I could not recommend Raven Tours more highly. A trip to Bhutan is pricey, but it’s money well spent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor