5
/5
(Written a year ago)
AV Tours is a very professionally operated service. Sunil Tamang was transparent with all information about Bhutan, patiently heard out my preferences and planned an itinerary accordingly. He was very (Read More) flexible with the payment options and helped me with the logistics before the trip started. He had arranged for pick up/drop from Bagdogra to Jaigaon and made sure I was on time for arrival/departure. He assigned me a guide (Sonam) and a driver (Chogyel) from Bhutan for the time I would spend there , as is mandated.
Sonam is highly skilled and trained as a guide and he kept feeding me detailed history of all places we visited - fortresses, monasteries, tourist points like passes, mountains, valleys and even the best restaurants - he seemed to know it all. He also came across as an amicable person with whom I could have an open conversation, which helped me overcome the boredom of solo travelling. He was very patient with me while we did 4 challenging hikes on 7 days - obviously, I was the less fitter one and he bore me out while I acclimatized to the high altitudes. Together, we had some unforgettable memories like sighting fresh snow and rich fauna of the Bhutanese Himalayas, to name a few.
Chogyel is a highly skilled driver who seemed to navigate the winding roads of Bhutan with considerable ease. I witnessed his experience especially when he drove in thick fog with near zero visibility towards P'ling on the last day. He also had a spacious and comfortable EV, which made me feel relaxed through the trip. I was fascinated with his knowledge on multiple subjects and pleasantly surprised to discover the popularity of South Indian cinema, especially Rajnikanth in Bhutan.
Both Sonam and Chogyel were very punctual, helped me in every step of the journey, showed the courtesy and also made me feel comfortable with their warmth and friendliness. Finally, Bhutan is a wonderful place to visit and it cannot be covered in a week like I did. I hope to make another trip to cover the remaining places and wish I could relive the wonderful 7 days I had with both of them.
I am happy to recommend Sunil, Sonam and Chogyel as your tour team and they do the best in their job.