Exclusive private journeys · Since 2008

Bhutan travel, Designed around you

Bespoke culture and nature journeys, planned and guided by Punap Ugyen Wangchuk – former monk, photographer, eco-entrepreneur and one of Bhutan's most respected guides.

Excellent Based on 168+ reviews Travellers’ Choice 2026
A family of guides, not a booking engine

Almost every journey we run is designed from scratch. Tell us what draws you to Bhutan, and we build the days around it – your guide, your pace, your dates.

We are a Bhutanese company, founded in Thimphu in 2008. Ugyen spent thirteen years as a monk and has guided since 2002; many of the abbots, farmers, weavers and cooks you'll meet have known him for years.

That is how we take you beyond the usual sights, to the Bhutan our guests write about most.

Our story

Designed around you

Every journey is yours alone – your own guide and vehicle, your dates, your interests. Our sample itineraries are only a place to start.

Culture away from the crowds

Village festivals, farmhouse kitchens, quiet monasteries and nunneries – the places most visitors never reach, with people who know us.

Through a photographer's eye

Ugyen's photographs of Bhutan have appeared on its postcards and in its books. He'll put you in the right place at the right moment.

Ugyen on guiding, in his own words (1 min 24)

Portrait of Punap Ugyen Wangchuk
Founder & lead guide

Travel with Punap Ugyen Wangchuk

Born in Thambji in the Punakha valley, Ugyen spent thirteen years as a monk, has travelled Bhutan since 1997 and has guided since 2002. He founded Gomo in 2008.

A photographer, he was asked by the Royal Government to photograph the Royal Wedding, the Coronation of the Fifth King and the SAARC summit in Bhutan, and gave his time for free. He is the author of the Authentic Bhutanese Cookbook and Bhutan Portrait and Landscape, and designed and built the Wangdue Eco-Lodge. On many journeys, he is your guide.

2002
Guiding in Bhutan since
13
Years as a monk
2
Books on Bhutan

Ugyen and the team

Tailor-made

How a Gomo journey comes together

Start planning
  1. Talk to us

    Tell us who's travelling, when, and what draws you to Bhutan. A call or a few emails is all it takes.

  2. Your proposal

    Within a few days, a day-by-day plan with a clear, itemised price – visa and Sustainable Development Fee included. A US$1,000 deposit confirms it.

  3. Refine it together

    More time here, a festival there, a different lodge, a slower pace. We adjust it until it's right.

  4. Travel

    Ugyen or one of our licensed guides meets you at Paro. From then on, everything is taken care of.

“Ugyen 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.”

Ruaridh Nicoll · travel writer
On the road

With our guests

Forest walks, festival mornings and long lunches – a few of the people we have travelled with.

The gallery
In our guests' words

“Every detail was attended to”

My wife and I have travelled extensively internationally. Our time with Ugyen 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…

John TrachtaUSA

Ugyen brings a traveller 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.

Judy ProllerUSA

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…

Ron LussierUSA
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Saksith S
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A 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!
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Barbara M
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Bhutan 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.
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Jason C
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Great 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!
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nadia p
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5 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!
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Els C
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Exploring 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
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GoodEarthEco
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Personalized 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.
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Bryan P
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Photography 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
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Arun K
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Highly recommended ! Great sights and event detailing. Local insights and perspective. Value for money while curating personalized experiences.
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jimbosfo
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Bhutan, 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.
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Leila Roach
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Ugyen 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.
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Saksith Saiyasombut
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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!
Posted on Google Google
Jason Clendenen profile picture
Jason Clendenen
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
I 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!
Posted on Google Google
nadia p profile picture
nadia p
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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!
Posted on Google Google
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Gulliver Blog
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Having 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 :)
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Arun Khanal
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Mr. 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!!!
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Mark Toor
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Gomo 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.
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Pema Wangmo
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
I really appreciate with Gomo Adventures travel and tour in bhutan
Festival calendar

Coming up in Bhutan

The full calendar
  • Goenpai Drupchen

    14–16 November · Trongsa Dzong

    Central On now

  • Mongar Tshechu

    17–19 November · Mongar Dzong

    East Plan a journey around it

  • Phuentsholing Tshechu

    17–19 November · Phuentsholing, Chhukha

    West Plan a journey around it

  • Trashigang Tshechu

    18–20 November · Trashigang Dzong

    East Plan a journey around it

As seen in

Licensed by the Department of Tourism, Bhutan · Licence 1021701

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