About us
Neighbours, not distant agents
A Bhutanese travel company, based in Babesa, Thimphu — planning journeys for guests who want to understand the country, not just see it.
Who we are
A small team with a long view of Bhutan
Zhidey Holidays is a travel company run from Thimphu, by Bhutanese people, for travellers who would like to meet Bhutan on its own terms.
We design cultural journeys, treks, festival trips, family holidays, honeymoons and fully tailor-made itineraries. What they share is a way of working: you deal directly with the people who plan and run your trip, and every detail — from the room you wake up in to the story your guide tells at a temple door — is chosen deliberately.
Our office is on Tshalu Lam in Babesa, a short drive from the centre of the capital. If you are in Thimphu, you are welcome to visit and talk over a cup of tea.
Our story
Why we plan trips the way we do
The word zhidey in Dzongkha is often associated with peace, wellbeing and contentment — the feeling of things being as they should be. It is the feeling we hope guests take home.
We believe the best travel is arranged by people who know the roads, the seasons and the families along the way. So we kept the company close to the ground: a small team, direct relationships with hotels, lodges and drivers, and itineraries drawn by hand rather than copied from a template.
CONTENT PLACEHOLDER — add the founders' own story here: who started Zhidey Holidays, when and why, and any milestones the team would like to share.
Our travel philosophy
Four ideas we plan around
- 01
Slow enough to notice
We would rather give you three valleys properly than seven in a blur. Itineraries leave room for the unplanned cup of tea.
- 02
Honest about trade-offs
If a drive is long, a hotel is simple or a festival will be crowded, we tell you before you book — not after.
- 03
Built around people
Your guide, your driver and the families who host you are not scenery. We choose partners we would be glad to sit down with.
- 04
Light on the land
Small groups, local suppliers and itineraries that spread the benefit of travel beyond the busiest stops.
Why travel with us
Local expertise, personally delivered
- Designed and operated from our office in Thimphu
- Itineraries built around your dates, pace and interests
- Licensed Bhutanese guides and experienced drivers
- Hotels, lodges and homestays we know first-hand
- Visa, permits and logistics handled for you
- A real person to call, before and during your trip
Our guides
People who can tell you what it means
Every guide who works with us is a licensed Bhutanese professional, trained in history, religion and culture.
The best guides do more than recite dates. They read the murals, explain why a farmer walks clockwise round a chorten, answer the awkward questions honestly and know when to stay quiet and let a place speak.
CONTENT PLACEHOLDER — add guide profiles (names, languages, specialities, years guiding) with permission.
Responsible tourism
Travelling lightly in a careful country
Bhutan's approach to tourism — licensed operators, a daily Sustainable Development Fee, protected forests — gives visitors a head start. We build on it: small groups, locally owned lodges, Bhutanese staff and itineraries that reach beyond the busiest sites and seasons.
We brief guests on respectful behaviour at sacred places and around wildlife, and we reduce single-use plastic wherever we can. Read more about our approach.
Our commitment to guests
What you can expect from us
- A personal reply to every enquiry, usually within one working day.
- Clear prices that say exactly what is and is not included.
- Honest advice, even when it means suggesting you spend less or go later.
- Support throughout your journey, with a team member you can call.
- Listening afterwards — your feedback shapes how we plan the next trip.
Licences & memberships
Start the conversation
Come and talk with us
Whether you have a clear plan or just a feeling, we would love to hear about it.