Solo Episode - Bhutan Series w/ Breathe Bhutan - Days 1–3: Everest Views, Sand Mandala Art, Epic Walks & A Breakfast with a Lama
In this solo episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you through Days 1 to 3 of my journey in Bhutan, sharing the sounds, stories, and real travel context behind one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.
From the unforgettable flight into Paro Airport with Himalayan views stretching all the way to Mount Everest, to my first encounters with Bhutanese food, culture, and daily life — this episode is designed to give you a true sense of what it feels like to arrive and begin travelling in Bhutan.
I break down how travel in Bhutan actually works, including flights, visas, costs, accommodation standards, weather in December, and why guided travel is essential to experiencing the country properly. You’ll hear about traditional sand mandala art, gentle acclimatisation walks through the Paro Valley, and the rhythm of life in Bhutan’s cities and temples.
The episode finishes with one of the most memorable moments of the trip: breakfast at a hilltop temple overlooking Thimphu called Wangditse Lhakhang, followed by a translated conversation with a Bhutanese lama, where we talk about happiness, belief, spirituality, and life in Bhutan today. A cool way to finish the episode!
This is an audio-only episode built to let your imagination do the work — placing you right there through natural sound, reflection, and honest storytelling.
In this episode, I also mention the two accommodations I stayed at, called Tiger's Nest Camp and Access Suites Hotel, both of which were fantastic!
All in all, this is a classic episode to break down my first three days in Bhutan. For more information on Tiger's Nest, check out my immersive episode on the hike below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000744754502
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5R95iDSlJm84s1GjfMgHQK?si=bYR8RKubRWa4tX0_OWMmuA
My first episode of the series takes a deep dive into Bhutanese culture, Buddhism, and history through a great guy I met in Thimphu called Ugyen Rinzin. Check out this episode below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000743770563
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a4hmlsGoLvYmNRP52f2ps?si=x7UVHkJlRiKeczeYCKRxUA
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
- Flying into Paro and why it’s one of the most spectacular landings in the world
- What it really costs to travel in Bhutan and how the visa and tour system works
- First impressions of Bhutanese culture, architecture, and daily life
- Traditional Bhutanese food explained — from chilli and cheese to butter tea
- The meaning behind sand mandala art and impermanence in Buddhism
- Gentle walks and hikes used to acclimatise to Bhutan’s altitude
- Morning sounds and views overlooking Thimphu from a remote temple (Wangditse Lhakhang)
- A translated interview with a lama on happiness, belief, and spirituality
- Why do authentic experiences in Bhutan rely so heavily on local knowledge
Featured Conversation
🎙 Translated interview with Lama Dorji Tshering
Recorded during a morning breakfast at a hilltop temple overlooking Thimphu, discussing:
- Daily life as a lama
- Bhutanese happiness and contentment
- Spirituality in the modern world
- His perspective on belief and non-belief
🎧 If Bhutan has ever been on your travel radar, this series will show you why it deserves to be.
This entire journey through Bhutan was made possible by Breathe Bhutan, who created an incredible, deeply immersive itinerary that allowed me to experience the country far beyond the surface. From meeting local families to having honest conversations like this one, their focus on authentic, responsible, and meaningful travel is something I’ll be showcasing throughout this series.
Thanks & Credits
Huge thanks to Breathe Bhutan for creating an authentic, culture-focused itinerary and making experiences like this possible. Also, thanks to Tourism Bhutan for hosting me on this trip and making this series possible.
Breathe Bhutan
Website to book tours - https://www.breathebhutan.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/breathebhutan/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/breathebhutan/
🎧 Next up: The next episode in this series will be an interview with a female monk.
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Bhutan Series Overview
02:05 – Why I Travelled with Breathe Bhutan
05:00 – Flying into Paro & Himalayan Views
08:20 – First Impressions of Bhutan
11:10 – Bhutanese Food & Daily Life
14:40 – Sand Mandala Art Experience
18:30 – Paro Valley Walks & Acclimatisation
22:10 – Reflections on Days One & Two
25:40 – Breakfast at a Hilltop Temple
28:16 – Interview with a Bhutanese Lama
39:29 – End of Episode
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Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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