Family journeys

Bhutan is one of the gentlest places on earth to travel with children. The distances are short, the food is mild when it needs to be, and every farmhouse, monastery and archery ground seems to produce another child to play with. Guides here are patient, and so is the pace.

We keep hikes short and optional, add pony rides and river picnics, and swap the fourth dzong of the week for an afternoon learning to make momos or shoot a bamboo bow. The Tiger's Nest is possible for most children over eight; younger ones can ride a pony to the halfway cafeteria.

Children under six are exempt from the Sustainable Development Fee and those aged six to eleven pay a reduced rate, which makes Bhutan more accessible for families than it first appears. Verify against https://www.bhutan.travel before launch. Family-friendly lodges with connecting rooms are limited, so we plan early.