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Pelden Dorji

Born and bred in Bhutan, toasted and jammed in the travel industry. I do nothing else but organize tours to Bhutan, and during free time, I play music, climb mountains, race mountain-bikes, Freedive around Asia and spend time with my wife and two lovely daughters. Simply put - I'm a huge fan of the outdoors. For me, the travel industry is not just a business but a lifestyle which I want to share with people around the world. I believe we are in the business of selling dreams and our approach has always been to serve our guests with the best possible service standards.

We always try to go the extra mile to make our guests have a WOW moment that will last a lifetime. In order to achieve this, I've brought in a fantastic team of travel professionals who understand our travel motivation and core values, and is eager to serve our guests with the best of Bhutan. Do not take our word for granted, please check Tripadvisor's rankings for best travel agencies in Bhutan, and you will see us right at the top!!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We only sell Bhutan as we want to share what we know passionately. We create unique and immersive cultural tours but with a focus on soft-adventure experiences such as Mountain-biking, motorcycling and trekking. We are also one of the few companies in Bhutan specializing in tailor-made private tours only. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"I started Bhutan Travel Club in 2008 after having worked for the Tourism Council of Bhutan for a number of years. As a research officer for the national tourism office, I was responsible for developing new experiences in Bhutan, conducting tourism impact assessments in destinations, interact with Bhutan visitors and collect visitor feedback through surveys, training local guides etc. I was also the project manager for the Tashel Online system used by the Government of Bhutan to issue tourist visas. Therefore my background has been in tourism policy and planning that focused on sustainability. Then I partnered with my younger brother who was working as one of the highly sought after tour guides in Bhutan and together we have a very good combination of the industry both as a policy-maker and field experience."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"We've created some of the most unique experiences for our guests that I believe no other travel company would have done. I've lead mountain-biking tour through the Jomolhari Trek as the first and the only travel organizer to do so. I've rode with some crazy kiwis throughout Bhutan bellowing on Royal Enfield motorcycles; Together with our clients, I organised fund-raising bike rides to raise money to support Draktsho Foundation in Bhutan; I've arranged two community weddings for our awesome couple guests and as a sustainable Tourism consultant for the government, I was hired by the national tourism office to document all potential tourism experiences in eastern Bhutan where the Govt. is trying to encourage tourism growth. This assignment made me explore every nook and cranny in eastern Bhutan where I hiked to in many places where no man might have set foot before!! My brother Sherab who is a partner in our company had the privilege to guide Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgium!!"

Pelden is part of the following groups: Bhutan Travel Agents
Sunset on Dochu La Pass
Bhutan Highlights - 7 Days

Explore the enigmatic kingdom of Bhutan on this exciting 7-day journey around the country's highlights. Visit historic fortresses, see one of the world's largest Buddha statues, hike through lush green valleys, enjoy views of soaring mountain peaks, and trek to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery. Along the way, you'll gain insight into Bhutan's fascinating history and culture.

Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro Valley
Best Luxury Hotels in Bhutan

Thanks to restrictions on independent travel, the idea of exploring Bhutan carries an air of exclusivity. Add some of these gorgeous luxury resorts into your itinerary and you'll feel every bit as royal as Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan, while traveling around this beautiful Himalayan kingdom.

A mountainside hiking trail in Bhutan
6 Best Treks in Bhutan

When it comes to trekking, Bhutan offers both beauty and variety. The kingdom is home to some of the most challenging high-altitude treks in the world, as well as countless easy rambles through the wilderness. Whether you're an experienced hiker or a novice, there's a multi-day trek in Bhutan to fit your needs.

A view of mountains and water from the hiking trail
5 Best Day Hikes in Bhutan

You don't need to have a lot of time in Bhutan, nor an exceptional level of fitness, to experience some of the best hikes in the kingdom. This selection of the best day hikes offers something for every interest and ability, from quick and easy downhill rambles to steep uphill climbs and passes.

Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days
Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days

From the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery to the sleepy streets of Paro, visiting Bhutan is all about the simple pleasures of natural beauty and a distinctly preserved culture. Experience this long-isolated country's stunning mountains, colorful architecture, and lush countryside on this comprehensive 10-day tour.

Recent trip reviews for Pelden

Nature and Culture in Bhutan - 10 Days · Bhutan - Apr 19 - Apr 25, 2019

Traveler: Ian C. - Local specialist: Pelden Dorji

Bhutan is a fascinating country. The positives about the trip were the guide and driver, (both excellent)the opportunity to see the lifestyle of the bhutanese at our own pace and the major attractions in the country including the tigers nest monastery, fortresses and the rhododendrum festival. The food disappointed with the lack of variety and blandness eg 2 buffets per day including chicken curry and rice almost every meal when we were aware that there were other local dishes that could have... read more

Bhutan is a fascinating country. The positives about the trip were the guide and driver, (both excellent)the opportunity to see the lifestyle of the bhutanese at our own pace and the major attractions in the country including the tigers nest monastery, fortresses and the rhododendrum festival. The food disappointed with the lack of variety and blandness eg 2 buffets per day including chicken curry and rice almost every meal when we were aware that there were other local dishes that could have been made more freely available. ,What we got for effectively US 190 per day per person (being the $250 charged less $60 govt tax) was not great value considering the relatively low local prices for food and accommodation.

Pelden Dorji profile photo
Pelden Dorji, local specialist, responded to this review:

Dear Ian, thank you for your review. We really appreciate you took the time to leave us a review. Throughout your trip, we were in touch with our crew to see if everything was going well, and they reported that you were having a great time in Bhutan. I'm sorry the food wasn't up to your expectation, but may I mention that during peak seasons, tourist standard restaurants rarely provide Ala Carte meals. Most hotels provide buffet/table-service with a wide variety of meals that are both local... read more

Dear Ian, thank you for your review. We really appreciate you took the time to leave us a review. Throughout your trip, we were in touch with our crew to see if everything was going well, and they reported that you were having a great time in Bhutan. I'm sorry the food wasn't up to your expectation, but may I mention that during peak seasons, tourist standard restaurants rarely provide Ala Carte meals. Most hotels provide buffet/table-service with a wide variety of meals that are both local and palatable to the western tourist. We did take you to some local restaurants for Ala Carte meals to give you more experience of the authentic side of Bhutanese culinary. May I also stress that we provided you 20% discount for your family with was worth USD 200 per day per person, and after all tourism taxes, we are left with USD 135 to provide nice hotels, meals, transport, tour guide and driver, attraction fees. as as such we also provided you a number of value-additions to make your holiday worth remembering for a lifetime, which I'm sure you will agree. We thank you for your review and definitely try to improve working with restaurants to improve the overall food quality in Bhutan. Thanking you.