Bhutan: The Ultimate Inspired Adventure

Here we sit just minutes from boarding our plane back to the rest of the world and all I can think is, "do we really have to go?" The last ten days have been full of enough first-time experiences to last a lifetime and yet it feels as if there is so much more to discover. "Bhutan gets under your skin," a new friend told us, "and once you've been you just can't seem to stay away."

 

At the same time, however, it is impossible to pinpoint what, exactly, fuels that feeling. Like so many Inspired Adventures trips there is a certain "thing" that separates the experience from any other trip abroad. Usually, it is everything else that comes with an Inspired Adventure. There is the 12 months of fundraising and getting fit, the charity-focused purpose, and perhaps a much deeper personal goal. Those elements turn the trip from just an adventure into an Inspired one.

 

Here in Bhutan the same pervasive feeling lingers even without those elements. Maybe it is the warmth and genuineness of the people. Maybe it is the mind-boggling natural beauty. Maybe it is the air of peace and happiness tha seems to permeate the air.

 

In just ten days we have followed trails crossing the depths of valley floors and climbed to the highest pass in the country at 4000 meters. We have played archery with classic bows and arrows and enjoyed a five-star resort that helps fund universal healthcare. We have milked cows, churned butter, and creamed cheese just as naturally as we have dined with relatives of royalty. The whole time, however, nothing felt like it didn't fit. Nothing felt out of place. The entire nation, no doubt through hard work and a commitment to preserving a unique national identity, is at ease with itself in a way I have never experienced.

 

So then, what happens when you dare to combine this innate purity of heart with a commitment to a charity you feel deeply about? I believe you just might create the Ultimate Inspired Adventure. I know what you are thinking: Who, what, and when? All I can say is, stay tuned. For now, enjoy a few more spectacular pictures of this incredible place.