Why travel with Gomo Adventures?
You are in the hands of experts. We offer tailor-made and value-added tours, providing an authentic travel experience and a stress-free journey.
Explore more of Bhutan with Gomo Adventures & an Experienced travel guide
Leila Roach2024-04-04Ugyen Wangchuck is the guide to go with in Bhutan. I’ve been to Bhutan twice for extended periods working with the Ministry of Health and met Ugyen and his family the first time I was there in 2013. Whenever I wanted to travel around the country, I always went with Ugyen because he can provide such a unique experience that is far more than a tour. He is a kind, gentle soul who knows everyone and provides the opportunity to step inside Bhutanese culture. We visited so many amazing Dzongs, monasteries, sacred sites, tshechu festivals , and mountain hikes, where we had very personal interactions with people. One of my favorites was attending a ceremony in Ugyen’s village on the Descending Day of the Lord Buddha. And the time he freed a dragonfly caught by a sticky plant as we walked up the path from a sacred, hidden monastery building in Paro. Ugyen is like family and he takes amazing photos. Words can hardly express the depth of the experience that changes you. If you want to immerse yourself in Bhutanese culture and have experiences you can’t even imagine, go with Ugyen and Gomo Adventures.
Saksith Saiyasombut2024-04-01We spent a week in Bhutan with Gomo Adventures and Ugyen as our guide. It was a wonderful time in a beautiful country with deep insights and knowledge by Ugyen. Since he's an avid photographer, he knows where the best spots in the country are for the best sights. His suggestions for places to go were great, but also did his utmost best to accommodate our wishes and preferences as well. There's still so much to see in Bhutan and next time I'm there, I'd definitely seek out Ugyen and Gomo Adventures again!
Jason Clendenen2024-03-20I went on a photography tour with Gomo a few years back and had a wonderful time. We visited several locations with everything clean and well-organized. I'm ready to go back!
nadia p2024-03-06Ugyen is an amazing guide. He is extremely friendly, helpful and funny. We had an amazing time in Bhutan thanks to him. On top of the items in our programme, he showed us many more interesting things of his home country. He also fulfilled all our extra wishes ;) As an added surprise, Ugyen is a great and well known photographer. If you book him as your guide to visit beautiful Bhutan you‘ll end up with quite a few magnificient portrait photos :) Thanks again Ugyen, we had a blast!
Gulliver Blog2024-03-05Having the chance of exploring Bhutan With Gomo Adventures and Ugyen Wangchuck is basically like winning the lottery. I have been traveling all around the world - as photojournalist - and Ugyen has onestly been the best guide I ever had. Not only because he knows everything about Bhutan and its territory, but 'cause he's a great human being who does his very best to make you have the best possible experience in Bhutan. Can't wait to go back and see more Bhutan with Gomo Adventures and Ugyen :)
Arun Khanal2024-03-03Mr. Ugyen Wangchuk provides prompt, reliable and anticipatory services. He helped me plan and organize a few in country travels and stay. Everything was top notch. Highly recommended!!!
Mark Toor2024-03-03Gomo Adventures and its owner, Ugyen Wangchuk, came highly recommended by a colleague of mine with whom I worked while in India. My wife and I spent an incredible eight days with Ugyen in early December 2023 exploring and absorbing a culture and a beauty that are a mystery to so much of the world. Bhutan is deeply buried rare gem that reluctantly but spectacularly exposes itself to the very few who make the effort to uncover it, particularly under the guidance of Gomo Adventures. Ugyen created an experience for us specifically designed around our stated primary interests: hiking and food. Ugyen is the co-author of a Bhutanese cookbook and our tour included one memorable dinner prepared for us by the other author, his wife, who brought along their three charming children for the meal. Our other outstanding food experiences on the trip included three meals (plus a snack) over the course of less than 24 hours at an idyllic home stay as well as a stop for unforgettable fried peppers at a tiny, unmarked, locals-only, far-off-the-beaten path tea shop. The natural beauty of Bhutan turns pretty much any old walk into a breath-taking experience. With Ugyen’s knowledge and intimate connection to the land, however, we got to see a spectacular place in the most spectacular ways it can be seen. Perhaps the best example of this is Ugyen’s urging that we wake early one morning in order to reach a 10,000’ pass in time to see the light against the Himalayas just as the sun was rising. So many of our other adventures over the week we spent with Ugyen highlight that his own love for his country and his attention to detail are invaluable gifts he readily shares with those who choose Gomo Adventures to guide a trip to this incredible part of the world. Ugyen also made the logistics of our trip particularly easy, whisking our visas through the process almost instantly and effortlessly scheduling our flights for us. Bhutan is a destination that is, by geography and by deliberate design, not easy to reach or to access; it is a destination, however, that is well worth the effort. Gomo Adventures and Ugyen Wangchuk helped us make the most of an experience that very few people will ever be lucky enough to have.
Pema Wangmo2024-01-26I really appreciate with Gomo Adventures travel and tour in bhutan
OUR SPECIAL TOURS & EXPEDITIONS
Every Gomo adventures tour is carefully crafted to provide our clients unparalleled and genuine experiences and holds exceptional distinctiveness.
THE COLOURS OF SPRING
Saksith S2024-04-01A fantastic week in Bhutan We spent a week in Bhutan with Gomo Adventures and Ugyen as our guide. It was a wonderful time in a beautiful country with deep insights and knowledge by Ugyen. Since he's an avid photographer, he knows where the best spots in the country are for the best sights. His suggestions for places to go were great, but also did his utmost best to accommodate our wishes and preferences as well. There's still so much to see in Bhutan and next time I'm there, I'd definitely seek out Ugyen and Gomo Adventures again!
Barbara M2024-03-31Bhutan trip with Gomo Adventures I spent 3 weeks in Bhutan with Gomo Adventures and Ugyen as my guide. Bhutan is a beautiful country and my trip was wonderful. Having a friendly and extremely knowledgeable guide like Ugyen can truly enhance the travel experience. I am interested in photography and Ugyen was showing me the most amazing Bhutan places, with no tourists, driving me there for sunsets. I could not wish for a better guide.
Jason C2024-03-20Great trip! I went on a photography tour with Gomo Adventures a few years back and had a great time. We visited many beautiful locations, including those off the beaten track. Everything was clean and well-organized. I'm ready to go back!
nadia p2024-03-065 stars ***** Ugyen is an amazing guide. He is extremely friendly, helpful and funny. We had an amazing time in Bhutan thanks to him. On top of the items in our programme, he showed us many more interesting things of his home country. He also fulfilled all our extra wishes ;) As an added surprise, Ugyen is a great and well known photographer. If you book him as your guide to visit beautiful Bhutan you‘ll end up with quite a few magnificient portrait photos :) Thanks again Ugyen, we had a blast!
Els C2024-03-05Exploring Bhutan with Gomo Adventures Gomo Adventures is a very reliable and experienced tour operator. I had a great experience from this vacation. The CEO and team are very flexible, open minded so we had agenda according to our own interest. Regards Els
GoodEarthEco2024-03-05Personalized tour agent in Bhutan Gomo Adventures is a personalized travel service company with in depth knowledge about Bhutan and it's people. If you want to have an authentic experience it's highly recommended.
Bryan P2024-03-03Photography Workshops/GOMO Adventures Bhutan Five-Star Ugyen Wangchuk is the owner of Gomo Adventures and I am a photographer who conducts photo-workshops around the world and to date, I have done 6 Bhutan Photography Workshops, and each time I called on GOMO Adventures and Ugyen Wangchuk. Ugyen is in every respect a Five Star Guide, Humanitarian and Photographer. There is not a day that goes by that he doesnt make it clear that he is there to serve the customer and he does it so well-Five Star Service! Bryan F Peterson/Photographer
Arun K2024-03-03Highly recommended ! Great sights and event detailing. Local insights and perspective. Value for money while curating personalized experiences.
jimbosfo2020-04-15Bhutan, Incredible Country, People and Experience There is so much of Bhutan that is more a feeling than anything else. It is such a unique and authentic experience that it is difficult to articulate, but I will give it a go. Anyone that has visited Bhutan knows that you really have to want to visit. You don't just step off a plane, clear customs and Bobs your uncle ... it takes a great deal of planning and more than a few dollars, but well worth the effort. Bhutan has a tourism policy of 'High Value-Low Impact' and in order to accomplish this, every visitor must arrange their visit through a licensed Bhutanese tour company. For me, I chose Gomo Adventures (gomoadventures.com), and it's not an understatement when I say it was the trip of a lifetime, made possible by our incredible tour guide Ugyen Wangchuk. I've known Ugyen as a friend for 19 years and he has been encouraging me to visit Bhutan for that long and I am only sorry that I waited so long. Bhutan only opened up to tourism in 1971 and they limit the number of tourists, which protects their environment (Bhutan as a country has the only negative carbon footprint in the world), people and way of life. You pay a flat fee of between $200 and $250 a day, depending on when you visit. But, although this seems high, as I said, it's a high-value vacation. From the time you step off the plane until your guide waves goodbye, you are well taken care of. The fee covers your visa, hotels, food, transportation in country and, best of all, your guide. When you decide to visit, your first step is to contact a tour company such as Gomo Adventures. Planning is the key. You will work with the company to decide on an itinerary, based on your interests, such as hiking, trekking or a more relaxed pace of visiting the main sites and enjoying the stunning scenery. Once you have your itinerary and dates settled, the tour company will invoice you for the entire cost, including the flight into Bhutan (more on that later). You pay everything up front and then relax as your tour company goes to work arranging your flights, hotels, meals, and everything else. There is a limited number of 'jump off' points to fly into Bhutan, including Bangkok, Singapore, Kalkata etc. There are only two airlines that fly into Paro, the only international airport in the country ... Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. As you fly by views of Mt. Everest, it's one of the most spectacular and scary landings you will ever encounter and there are less than 15 pilots in the world authorized to land in Bhutan. Once you land and clear customs and immigration, you will be met by your guide, who will make sure your every need is met and ensure your comfort and health. Once in Bhutan, your adventure begins by taking in the incredible mountains surrounding Paro. Depending on your itinerary, usually your first stop will be your hotel to freshen up and then, without a moment to waste, off you go for one amazing experience after another. After greeting Ugyen at the airport, we immediately headed for Thimphu, the nation’s capital. Along the way, we stopped at a small store to use the facilities and ended up having a lovely (and unscheduled) visit with a family that lived nearby. That is how it is in Bhutan, yes, you have a schedule and itinerary, but when you have a tour guide like Ugyen, the day is filled with surprises. Your guide will make suggestions on how the day will progress, but will remain completely flexible to other options, such as stopping for photos, a snack, a monastery or, just visiting a random family. The people are incredibly friendly and almost always pose for a photo if asked. They are generous, gentle and always willing to lend a hand if you need a little assistance. The country is 75 percent Buddhist and the people truly live their religion, without being imposing. Everywhere you will see Stupas, Dzongs, Monasteries and Monastic Schools, all woven into their everyday life. Your guide will instruct you on how to respectfully visit each without being dogmatic and will laugh with you if you happen to make a faux pas. Each of the main sites, such as the Tigers Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong or the Monastery of the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kunley etc. hold an interesting history and your guide will explain all and answer your questions, such as "why do we see so many phallic symbols painted on houses?" All of the hotels and restaurants meant for tourists and locals alike have to meet a certain standard and be approved by the government. I felt extremely comfortable and well fed with the large rooms and abundant and delicious food, plenty of hot water and very adequate WIFI. Since all of your basics are taken care of in advance, you do not need much money, but you will want to take back some souvenirs, pay for laundry and tips, especially your guide and driver. Exchanging money can be a challenge, but there are ATMs in the larger cities, such as Paro and Thimphu. Your guide will assist you when needed. When you visit, it won't be long before you step into the peaceful rhythm of this beautiful country and when you do, you will understand what I mean by your visit being more a feeling. With views of the Himalayas, valleys, quaint towns, ancient monasteries and authentic, sincere and wonderful people, you will soon wonder, why can't the rest of the world live this way. Bhutan has come a long way in the past 50 years, introducing television, the internet, and yes, even Pokemon Go, but it retains the same charm as it always has. It truly is paradise found.
OUR EXPERTS, MISSION AND VISION...
Our experts and guide
Many of our tours are accompanied by our experts guide and the drivers, who has passion for showing their country – Bhutan with their deep knowledge and expertise for enriched your travel experience.
Our mission
Curate transformative, authentic journeys in Bhutan that connect travelers with its heart and soul, while preserving its natural and cultural heritage responsibly
Our vision
Lead as the premier provider of authentic, excellent, and sustainable travel experiences in Bhutan. Guide through captivating landscapes, inspiring mindful travelers, and leaving a profound legacy.
ABOUT GOMO ADVENTURES
Gomo Adventures, a Bhutanese enterprise, was established in 2008 and holds a license from the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The company draws its name from the guardian deity of Bhutan and operates its central office on Wogzin Lam, Thimphu City, Bhutan.
Ugyen Wangchuk, the visionary behind Gomo Adventures, commenced his career as a cultural tour guide in 2002. After a span of six years, he decided to establish his own venture, reflecting his principles, expertise, capabilities, and innate strengths. He chose to honor Bhutan’s protective deity by naming the company after it.
The founder of Gomo Adventures, Ugyen Wangchuk, initiated his journey as a cultural tour guide in 2002. After six years, he envisioned and actualized his own enterprise, grounded in his values, knowledge, skills, and strengths. The company’s name pays homage to the guardian deity of Bhutan.
Guiding is our Profession and Passion.
Beyond his role with Gomo Adventures, Ugyen Wangchuk is an accomplished author and photographer. His publications, such as the Authentic Bhutanese Cookbook and Bhutan Portrait and Landscape, reflect his dedication to portraying his cherished homeland through words and images. His photographic work often serves as inspiration for Bhutanese postcards. He is presently crafting a coffee table book titled The Essence of Bhutan, scheduled for release later this year.Ugyen Wangchuk is also deeply committed to environmental preservation and ardently supports responsible tourism. A prime example is the development of Bhutan’s inaugural eco-friendly lodge (www.bhutanecolodge.com). Currently, he is engaged in establishing Community Based Tourism in the Punakha region, a pivotal stride toward sustainable consumption and production in Bhutan. Ugyen Wangchuk’s unwavering dedication to responsible tourism and environmental conservation drives the essence of Gomo Adventures.
The inception of this company is rooted in the founder’s firsthand experience as a tour guide. Ugyen Wangchuk’s transformation from a cultural tour guide in 2002 to the architect of Gomo Adventures after six years was driven by his values, knowledge, skills, and strengths.
Ugyen’s fervor for photography and writing about his cherished homeland is palpable. His literary creations, including the Authentic Bhutanese Cookbook and Bhutan Portrait and Landscape, echo his profound connection to his homeland. His photographic works have also found their way onto numerous postcards across Bhutan. He is presently compiling The Essence of Bhutan, a coffee table book slated for release later this year.
Ugyen Wangchuk, the driving force behind Gomo Adventures, is equally passionate about environmental preservation and fervently advocates for responsible tourism. This commitment is exemplified through the establishment of Bhutan’s first eco-friendly lodge (www.bhutanecolodge.com) and his ongoing endeavors in developing Community Based Tourism in the Punakha region—a significant stride towards sustainable practices in Bhutan’s consumption and production.
Testmonials
John Trachta
"My wife and I have travelled extensively internationally. Our time with Ugen
and Gomo Adventures was one of the best adventures we have ever had. Every
detail was attended to. At the outset we were presented with a detailed
itinerary printed on beautiful handmade paper. Ugyen was not afraid to
change this itinerary when even better opportunities arose. For example, we
had an unplanned visit with an 11year old Lama, the reincarnation of the
mind! I looking forward to the day I can return to beautiful Bhutan and stay
in Ugyen's brand new ecolodge."READ MORE
Sorel Solkaer
"I travelled Bhutan for two weeks in March 2023. I am a professional photographer and was recommended Ugyen, who has worked as a guide and a photographer for two decades. Ugyen is a standout Bhutanese travel guide whose dedication and expertise make him an invaluable asset to any traveler. His deep knowledge of Bhutanese culture and tradition is evident in every interaction. "READ MORE
Lara Bancroft
"Discovering Bhutan through the lens of a camera was an unforgettable experience, all thanks to my incredible guide, Ugyen. His deep knowledge of Bhutan's rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and hidden gems made every moment a photography and travel enthusiast's dream come true.” READ MORE
Department of Tourism
"Ugyen Wangchuk, popularly known as Punap Ugyen Wangchuk - a nod to his birthplace, Punakha - is a tourist guide who is also an accomplished and passionate photographer. For most people, it’s their love for a craft that takes them on their career journey, but Punap Ugyen Wangchuk believes that it was fate that led him to photography and guiding."READ MORE
Ruaridh Nicoll Thomas
" As a travel writer, I work with guides (and photographers) on a monthly, often weekly basis. Ugyen Wangchuk, who I met on an extraordinary and constantly evolving journey for the Financial Times last week, immediately placed into my top three guides of all time. His range of knowledge, across nature, religion, myth, history and culture, runs very deep. It emerges naturally and gently. " READ MORE
Judy Proller
"Ugyen brings a traveler into the heart and soul of Bhutan. His knowledge of the history, culture, and spirituality of Bhutan is outstanding. His infectious laughter adds warmth and joy to this unique opportunity. His attention to detail makes the experience seamless. Don't hesitate to sign up for this memorable trip!"READ MORE
Justin Kerr
" I had the amazing opportunity to travel with Punap Ugyen Wangchuk through west and central Bhutan. He was an excellent guide and really helped me feel connected with the communities we visited."READ MORE
Bryan F Peterson
"I truly enjoyed my photography trip to Bhutan organized by Ugyen. Everything was taken care of, and Ugyen was a very good and thoughtful guide who worked hard to make sure everyone was happy. I would certainly use him again on my next trip to Bhutan!"READ MORE
Ron Lussier
" Ugyen guided us with a deep knowledge not only of his country’s history, but also seemed to be on a first-name basis with most of the citizens. He had spent the first part of his life as a monk, and was still greeted warmly at the monasteries we visited. He introduced us to abbots and we were warmly welcomed wherever we went."READ MORE
GALLERY
Frequently asked questions
Bhutan is a small, landlocked country located in the eastern Himalayas between India and China. Its landscape ranges from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the high Himalayas, peaks are best and popular trekking destination. Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist country and is known as the last stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism. Even the most privileged travelers consider Bhutan a special destination. Its secluded location, limited accessibility and preservation efforts have shielded many from visiting this jewel in the Himalayas.
There are a number of airports where you can fly into Bhutan from, Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai (India) Dhaka, (bangladesh) Kathmandu, (Nepal) Singapore and At present two airlines operate to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Also, there are three land border crossings, which you can travel into the
kingdom overland. All crossings are along the Indian border only – Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar
All International tourists are required a visa which must be pre-arranged through a license Bhutanese Tour Operator Visa clearance must be obtained through your tour operator prior to travel
The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chilies are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that’s not spicy. Rice and potato the main body of most Bhutanese meals. It is accompanied by one or two side dishes consisting of meat or vegetables. Pork, beef, fish and chicken are the meats that are eaten most often. Organic fruits like apple, oranges, mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, avocado, kiwi are available. A wide selection of western Chinese and Indian cuisine is also available in many of the restaurants around the country.