Excellent Guide & Driver - I had a very enjoyable and memorable nine-day tour of Bhutan with Bhutan Swallowtail Tours. My guide (Kinzang) and driver (Dorji) were exceptional. They were professional, punctual, flexible and fun. I spent a few wonderful days at the Dodeydrak Monastery. And when I tired of sightseeing, Kinzang improvised several inventive volunteer activities. We painted a stupa/shrine, cleared a trail to a temple and, best of all, harvested rice alongside locals. Kinzang is smart, educated and fluent in English. As well as being an outstanding guide, she would also make an excellent tour company manager. Dorji is a very safe and helpful driver and has his own high quality vehicle. All highly recommended!

Swallowtail made it amazing! - We are a family from Israel, just got back from 10 amazing days in Bhutan, after we planned to visit Bhutan with Swallowtail already in March 2020, and then COVID came... Swallowtail team made sure that I got all my money back, and that I am smiling. The owner Tashi and her team kept in touch with me in the last 3 years, and once the borders got open, we immediately made plans to make this tour happen. All of us (parents and teenagers) were fascinated by Bhutan, its culture, its smiling friendly people, the Paro festival (WOW!), the monasteries and nunneries in both the cities as well as remote locations, the relaxed atmosphere, the beauty of nature while doing short treks, and how everything was organized. A big BRAVO to our guide KD and the driver Jimmy who took good care of us for 10 days with any request about sites, food, change of plans, teaching us Archery, and were even attentive to our special crazy requests (e.g. buying a Drum and transfer it to us from another location). Swallowtail is highly recommended.

The Perfect Bhutan Experience - all thanks to the Company, Comms Officer, Guide & Driver ! - * The company * Having wanted to visit Bhutan since 1998, I finally checked TripAdvisor in late 2019 and selected Bhutan Swallowtail Tours, having found that it topped the list among 185 other contenders for Outdoor Activities in Thimphu. It seemed a good choice back then, and as I write this review having completed my tour now 3 years later, I can now confirm that it was indeed an excellent choice! * The comms officer / travel agent * In 2020, Covid happened and the Communications Officer, Singye Wangmo had the unenviable task to break the news to me and many others that the trip was an indefinite no-go due to Covid. In the 3 years that followed, I researched Bhutan with a vengeance and bugged Singye for all things big and small. Hats off to her for being the epitome of tolerance and grace all this time. Let me start by saying that travellers want a travel agent who is detail-oriented and who can anticipate their needs. One that can plan every aspect of their trip, from flights and accommodations to ground transportation. Someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in the destinations they are interested in visiting. Able to explain complex travel arrangements in simple terms and respond promptly to questions and concerns. Someone with integrity, honesty and transparency. Someone who listens to our needs and preferences, and who can tailor our travel plans accordingly. Available when we need them, responding promptly to any questions or concerns. What Singye was admirable … why? because she did all this for 3 years, very promptly and without a single complaint! Her attitude and her responses were what kept me with Swallowtail for 3 years! But last but not least, a good travel agent should be able to handle unexpected situations, such as flight cancellations, and should be able to quickly find solutions to minimize the impact on the traveller's itinerary. On the day I was scheduled to fly to Bhutan, this was unfortunately exactly what happened to me as my Thai airways flight got messed up due to a flight confirmation email from the airlines that it did not honour, which caused us to be sent back home with our luggage. I remain ever-thankful that Singye took the initiative to call me to reassure me at the airport, to expedite the flight changes and all other arrangements such that I could start my tour in Bhutan the very next day. I shudder to think what would have happened if not for her quick mind and her resourcefulness. And throughout, she was extremely patient and kind. * the guide * We travellers typically look forward to the same qualities in our guides: subject-matter expertise, good comm skills, passion, flexibility, safety and security. My 9 days with Yeshi Dorje has proven beyond any doubt that he checks all these boxes with distinction. At the risk of repeating what has already been shared, I would still re-iterate that Yeshi is indeed a man of many talents. Not only is he very learned in Buddhist theory, practice and history, he is also great at singing and guitar. I was particularly impressed by his ability to answer nearly every question I threw at him - not only on Bhutan’s Buddhism and natural history, but also its history, culture, and customs. For the 1% of questions I asked that were new to him, he always came back with very detailed insights the next day as promised without fail. His passion to do his best for us clients is only matched with his devotion to be a good Buddhist. Hence, he “ran the extra mile, in fact many extra miles for us” just to ensure that we had the best experiences. We merely shared what we wished for on the first day, and he saw to it that he fulfilled those wishes on the 2nd day .. which subsequently completely changed our itinerary on the 4th day. What made Yeshi stand out from other guides we engaged in the past was firstly his understanding of our needs. His EQ was phenomenal. He intuitively sensed our needs and by day 2 or 3 could propose things we liked without us even asking. Secondly, Yeshi himself has had a colourful yet tough past, and what I found was that his perspective had been shaped by his life experiences and the people he had encountered. Which became fodder for the very interesting conversations that followed. Thirdly, Yeshi is super-experienced, having started his tour / trekking guide career in 2006. Yet what warmed our heart was that his years of experience and the scores of clients he must have guided had not dampened his passion to be a great guide for us. Fourthly, he is a great story-teller, whether for first-hand accounts, or second- or third-hand accounts. Just ask him about supernatural encounters, and he will leave you hooked wanting for more. Fifthly, he is well-connected with locals, meaning that it is easier to get or buy certain local products since he know the people dealing directly with these products. I shall not spoil it for you by telling what products, else this will spoil the suspense, but ask him and you will find out! * the driver * Having had 15 years of tour driving experience behind him, Dago Dorji is one of the most skillful drivers we have ever encountered. Being driven by him, we felt extremely safe and in very good hands. While the roads criss-crossing the mountains and passes were hardly easy, there wasn’t a single time we felt unsafe. Dago was a very decent guy, soft spoken, didn’t smoke nor drink, and very straightforward. He was precise in everything, hence it is no wonder he is a competitive archer participating in national competitions. His impeccable knowledge of Bhutan’s roads and routes at the back of his hand ensured that we were never late for anything. Always early, we never had to wait for him at all throughout our 9 days. He was ever respectful and kind, delighting us with small yet heartwarming gestures such as opening and closing the car doors for us, helping us with the luggage, etc. In the trip up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, he took it upon himself to guide and look after my wife and ensured that she go to the Tiger Nest café, which was no small feat considering her severe lack of physical fitness! Dago was really a pleasure to be with, and we were so happy to have him in our tour group. * summary * In summary, I unreservedly recommend Swallowtail as the tour agency of choice for Bhutan. The couple of Swallowtail staff I had the fortune to meet during our trip all really seemed pretty decent .. but if you want the best, based on the above account, you’d know who I’d recommend!

I love Bhutan and royal family. - This is from far one of the best travel agency in Bhutan. The tours guide Mr. Kindley, Mr. Dagoo and Mr. Tatoo are very profesional, kind, polite and strongly recomanded. Use this tour agency and you will be very satisfied with their servicies.

Amazing trip made even better by guide and driver from Swallowtail - My brother and I stayed 9 nights and 10 days in Bhutan with the help of Bhutan swallowtail tour agency. We were in touch with the agency a month and a half prior to discuss our itinerary and stays for the trip. The staff was very responsive and gave all information in a timely fashion. We felt supported and taken care of from the start. They took care of our visa and other booking needs. We were greeted as we arrived by Sonam (guide) and Passang (driver) in Paro on their National Day. We had the opportunity to take part in the festivities right away. Both S&P were always flexible with the any day’s itinerary and took care of us in case we were feeling under the weather or needed something out of the ordinary (more on this later). We stayed in two hotels booked by swallowtail and two of our choice. We would’ve liked a different one for our last stay in paro but it still was nothing to complain about. S&P were always on time and available for anything we might need. They were also easy to communicate with and get our needs met, if any. We insisted we wanted to hike a lot and see Bhutan that way. Sonam acquiesced with the best trails and ideas for excursions possible. She joined us and led us through some unknown paths. We had so many unexpected and pleasant experiences on this trip because of Sonam like a prayer at a nunnery and intense hikes with amazing views. I accidentally soaked my work laptop on a drive and had to get it repaired. Sonam was with me every step of the way to deal with that and it was all ok at the end which was a relief. My brother was ill with a cold and every stop Sonam made sure he was comfortable and doing ok. We were able to go out a couple of nights and enjoy the bar scene with S&P. Don’t miss out on booking these guys for your trip to Bhutan!!