Why Us? – the original company
Our trips are original! It is reflection of your individuality – your originality. While maintaining the classic nature of some of the adventures, we strive to provide experiences that is like no other, that is unique to your preferences and pace. Be it group or single traveler, none is alike. Originality of our trips make us original! The long experience of the team and the passion for travel combined with care of your needs, enables us to deliver trips that imbues the magical nature of Bhutan, world class comfort and life changing interactions. These interactions with the locals have been woven into the spirit of our trips that not only enriches the journey but also simultaneously gives back holistically to these places and their people. This is our speciality – the essence of our originality.
Such originality of the trips is also because of our partners within the industry, both within and aboard. Our professionalism, as a premier nationally registered company, is reflected in the choice of our partners, be it the hotels or the horsemen or many others, that support our team. Our team, that has some of the oldest hands of the Kingdom’s tourism industry as well as passionate fast rising professionals – gives soundness and dependability along with a side of freshness to our trips.
The spirit of our team and partners are indomitable as even global pandemic could not dampen our love for travels and fellow travelers. While these are difficult times, it was also found to be opportune time to bolster our team by handpicking professionals that had become free. Original Bhutan remains to be an anchor during these times and have looked to harness other potentials of our team members besides curating travel, while keeping the love of travel alive.
Our Team
Humor, Willingness & Preparations
Our team, whether from field or core office, is known for their willingness, sincerity and ‘extra mile’ that each of us strive with every task and service during, before and after trips. You will never see them without smile and trademark Bhutanese humor. The masters of ceremony are our anchors at the office, led by Ugyen Wangmo. The reservations and core office team are the best in placing bookings, keeping track of permits, arranging events and numerous backends that makes those in field stand proudly while delivering the services. Like them, our drivers, trekking crew, guides make sure that they have their vehicles, equipments, gears or information in order and prepped as they remain safety oriented throughout.
Guides & Trip Leaders
Giving Back
Beyond our sustainable practices and as part of it, Original Bhutan Travels and the team feels that the spirit of any tour is greatly influenced by the interaction with people, as such most of our programs and itineraries highlights interactions with locals that not only brings about life-long human connections but most of the time translate also into benefits for the locals and their community.
Besides such general feature of our trips, seperately Original Bhutan Travels have been engaged in helping a group of rural women in creating means of livelihood through tourism. A community based tourism product engaging these women was created with help our team, particularly our Managing Director Tsewang. Tsewang helped Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators and Tourism Council of Bhutan, as funded by Austrian Development Cooperation, to bring together group of rural women from village of Gidawom (near Thimphu) and create tourism product that highlights Bhutanese customs and farm based activities that guests can participate in. Tsewang created an innovated way of distributing income from the product, part of which is used by the group to address issues in regard to 3Ws – Women, Water & Waste in their locality. The guests get to interact with the locals and participate in activities in very authentic local Bhutanese environment.
While such package is first of the kind that Original Bhutan Travel actively participates and promotes, there is bound to be more as Tsewang and the organizations have been asked to replicate the product in different villages around the country.
So, Original Bhutan Travels does its bit in issues related to Women, Water & Waste of this particular locality, with potential to be expanded across the country. This inset activity can be featured in your trip, if you like.
Our sustainability commitment
Original Bhutan Travel believe that it is our responsibility to be a champion of our land and earth. We strive everyday in our operations, be it in office or field, to tread ever gently on the earth to protect this one planet we have, by upholding the values of sustainability.
Our efforts have been recognized with Travelife Partner award. The Travelife Partner award is a recognition for the long-term efforts of Original Bhutan Travels regarding sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.
As noted by Travelife, Original Bhutan Travels complies with more than 100 criteria, related to an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relations; and is formally recognized as in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.
More details of our efforts in sustainability are in our ever evolving Sustainability Policy.
Our Logo
In our logo, check out whether you are able to make out the grey ‘alpha’ symbol to denote our originality or the Buddhist symbol of wheel (with 8 spokes akin to 8 sided stars of other faiths to show universality) to denote our love and mastery of travel, enclosed within infinity sign to show timeless nature of adventure and wish fulfilling gem as we cater to your wishes. The primary colors are not only to show the originality or beginning but also the national colors of our country as we show our love for this land to you.
Vision & Mission
Vision: Original Bhutan aims to be among the leaders in Asia for providing informed travel that is original, holistic, inclusive and that connects lives, thereby enriching all living beings involved.
Mission:
- Provide world class informed service to all customers with safety as paramount at any stage of process.
- The experiences and products be fulfilling, holistic and unique – reflecting individuality of customers underlining our name original – originality
- Be inclusive and stand for not only rights and welfare of customers but also of staff, local and all living beings involved.
- The services and products would be imbued with best of human values throughout (before and after), with no discrimination of any kind, ensuring those vulnerable and minorities are protected.
- Through tailor-made experiences, enrich lives of traveller, staff and service people, communities – enhancing the destination in the process.