2 independent reviews for Nepal and Bhutan express tour
Reviews for Nepal and Bhutan express tour
James Estrada review 29 Mar 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
My tour guide and driver were very good and Bhutan itself was magical. In particular, even I prepared extensively for this trip I learned a great more about Buddhism and its philosophy from my guide.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is with a great deal of sadness and disappointment that I would not recommend this operator. Too many mistakes, “miscommunications,” and their unwillingness to take responsibility for their mistakes is the reason. They had more than one opportunity to make amends and they didn’t do it.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The best example here again comes from the Bhutan portion of the tour. My driver and tour guide both accompanied me on the hike to “Tiger’s Nest.” It took 2 1/2 hours to reach the summit and about 60-90 minutes to descend. However, on the way down the 3 of us were picking up litter, particularly plastic bottles, that other hikers had mindlessly discarded. We filled two bags with various debris. If every tour took the same action in various places both in Bhutan and especially Nepal, the respective sites would help conservation and reduce the negative environment al impacts of discarded plastic bottles and trash.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
While not perfect, I would give high marks to my Bhutanese guide Tashi and driver Norbu. When things went wrong as they routinely do on travel tours they attempted to make up for missed meals or interruptions in the tour. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing for the weak organization and poor execution of my tour in Nepal. I cannot recommend the operator and I wish I would have had the presence of mind to contact Responsible Travel when so many things went awry in Nepal and occasionally in Bhutan. If the operator had done a better job in Nepal the overall rating would have probably been 4 stars. In addition, I have wonder how vetting of the operator did Responsible conduct. There were claims made in the description that just were incorrect or exaggerated. Quite honestly I would also be hesitant to recommend Responsible Travel to my friends and fellow travelers. Just one final note. Prior to my tours of Nepal and Bhutan I had taken an 11/12 day tour of northern India with another operator. I rated their program and guide with superlatives and 5-star ratings. You would better understand my disappointments if you would take and compare the two companies.Read the operator's response here:
Dear James,
Thank you for sharing your feedback on your recent tour with us.
I'm thrilled to hear that your experience in Bhutan was magical and that you found our team there to be exceptional. Creating memorable experiences for our travelers is at the heart of what we do, and it's fantastic to hear that we succeeded in delivering that for you.
However, I'm truly sorry to learn that your time in Nepal did not meet your expectations. Please accept our sincere apologies for any frustrations or inconveniences you encountered during your trip. As a local travel company, we strive to provide authentic experiences that showcase the genuine beauty of our region. While our services may not conform strictly to Western standards, our primary focus remains on delivering authentic and immersive experiences that truly reflect the culture, hospitality, lifestyle, and natural charm of Nepal and Bhutan.
Regarding the challenges you faced, such as delays and logistical issues, I want to assure you that we take these matters seriously and are continuously working to improve our operations. Although certain factors, like road construction or occasional airport delays lasting a few hours, are beyond our influence, we strive to mitigate any inconvenience as much as possible from our side. We also strive to minimize flying on our tours to reduce environmental impacts where possible. We humbly ask all our travelers for understanding that a few hour delay is possible but it is not so common.
Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience you experienced, and your feedback is highly valued.
Thank you for sharing your experience and for choosing us as your travel partner. I sincerely wish you all the best in your future endeavors and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you once again for a seamless experience!
Best regards,
Lesia
Karen Nichols review 15 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable and exciting parts of my holiday cannot be tied to a place or a thing, but rather a feeling. There is a beautiful spirit in the people that cannot be captured in words. The world could learn lots from Bhutan about how to live life in a way that is deeply fulfilling.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you want everything to be just like it is at home, then just stay home. But if you are willing to to be open and learn, then enjoy life the way the locals do, with foods, traditions, etc.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes! I like that it's a local company using local guides and local businesses.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Greatly exceeded expectations.Holiday Reviews
You can trust Responsible Travel reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays. In addition, we don't run these holidays ourselves - our only interest is giving you the best independent advice.
