Ogyen Choling Manor

taking a Bhutan trip to the next level

If you want to push your Bhutan trip to the next level, then you should consider including a few nights at the fabulous Ogyen Choling Manor.

Set in the Tang Valley, immediately to the west of the better-known Bumthang Valley, this fabulous manor house was historically the seat of a local ruler, who exerted taxes and tithes over a vast and very remote region.

The house is owned and operated as a low-key lodge by family matriarch and renowned author, Ashi Kuenzang Choden, who you can find on YouTube and who has even delivered a TedTalk. Her family has been living here for around twenty generations, since around 1450.

Kuenzang is married to a Swiss national and speaks English very fluently. If she is around during your stay, it would be an honour to spend time with her.

The manor is very extensive and completely authentic, with guest accommodation in 14 rooms.

In all honesty, the accommodation and the food are extremely simple. This place only suits guests who value authenticity and getting off-the-beaten-track above all else.

Bhutan is almost always explored by private-guided overland safari, starting into the more westerly Paro Valley and exploring eastward through the valleys of Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Tang.

There are scheduled flights between Paro and Bumthang, so it is possible to drive out and fly back, or vice versa.

The best way to include Ogyen Choling Manor in a trip is usually to split 4-6 nights between the Bumthang and Tang valleys.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit Bhutan is generally considered to be Sep-May, avoiding the warm and wet Jun-Aug monsoon season and the Jul-Aug fly season.

If you want to include a lot of outdoor activity such as high altitude treks and mountain biking, then it is best to head for the two shoulder seasons of Mar-May (Spring) and Sep-Nov (Autumn).

If you are looking for a trip with a more general focus, of scenery and culture, then you can also consider the Dec-Feb (winter) season, when the clear skies and very low rainfalls often deliver the best mountain views, although the landscapes can be a good deal less colourful.

Getting there

The Tang Valley is usually reached by road from Bumthang, a relatively short and easy drive.

If you want to get out of the vehicle and stretch your legs, then It is possible to hike up through the forests between the two locations, which is a particularly romantic way to arrive.

easily added onto the end of a longer exploration