06/06/2026
A QUICK STORY (If you read my newsletter, you may have already heard about this. If not, subscribe at wanderingearl.com)
On a recent Wandering Earl Tours trip to Bhutan, the itinerary was built around a specific festival in a remote part of the country. That was the main highlight. Then, 2 days before the tour started, the government suddenly cancelled the festival. The grounds where it was to be held wouldn't be ready in time.
In such a situation, the easy thing to do is shrug, call it a free day on the itinerary, and move on. But that was never going to happen.
As soon as we heard about the cancellation, our entire team kicked into action, including our wonderful local network on the ground in Bhutan. Within 36 hours, in that same remote area, in a village where tourists never visit, we managed to put together our own celebration. It was a real celebration of culture - not something fake for foreigners. And it brought our guests and the local people together in a remarkable way.
Villagers came to observe, to share their traditions, to dance, to eat, to talk. What started as a "we have to do something" scramble turned into one of those days you’ll never forget - eye-opening, completely unscripted, full of the kind of human exchange you can't manufacture. The kind of day that, honestly, ended up being better than the original festival would have been.
That's the part I'm most proud of. No matter what gets thrown at us, nobody on our team is willing to write off a single day. Our tour leaders, local guides, local friends, partners on the ground… they are all so dedicated and passionate about making every single day matter as well. That’s the difference.
If Bhutan is on your list, we have a Bhutan trip coming up in October this year!