Female guides rising in Bhutan

The 122 female guides of Bhutan are emerging as ambassadors for their country.

Certified and validated by Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, they offer cultural experiences, personalised tours and trekking expeditions. But their input goes even deeper, as they aim to foster genuine appreciation for Bhutan’s traditions and natural wonders.

A Department of Tourism spokesperson says: “In a society where women have always played a strong role, the rise of female guides is a testament to Bhutan’s commitment to inclusivity and gender equality in the workforce.” The number of female guides has increased by more than 25 per cent since Bhutan reopened to tourism in September 2022 — part of 1809 certified and validated guides in Bhutan.

Dorji Bidha, an experienced female guide, explains: “Guiding is not just a job; it’s a passion that transcends boundaries. Whether leading treks across mountain passes or unveiling the hidden gems of Bhutan, it’s about inspiring others to explore and connect.”

The female guides of Bhutan are increasingly asked for, particularly by solo female travellers. They are being celebrated for their ability to create camaraderie and a sense of safety.

Companies like Trans Bhutan Trail combine all this in trips like their 12-day Central and Western Bhutan adventure. The all-women tour is led by a female guide, and travellers visit temples, consider culture, and taste local cuisine. They stay in locally-owned three and four-star hotels.

The Trans Bhutan Trail is a not-for-profit social and tourism enterprise, with all profits supporting communities and individuals along the route, and maintaining the trail.

Heavenly Bhutan has seven-day “ladies special tours” led by local female guides. It visits Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and Paro. They visit farm houses, spend time with locals and experience rural Bhutanese life. A Heavenly Bhutan spokesperson adds: “The group of like-minded women creates a space where laughter, fun and open communication begins.”

In additional to cultural guiding, the female guides are also specialists in niches, from bird watching to other natural wonders. They are leading treks in the Himalayas and other adventure tours.

The story of Tshering Choki, 28, the first female river guide in Bhutan, has been reported by The Bhutanese online. The only female river guide alongside seven men in Panbang, Zhemgang, Tshering was quoted as saying: “At first, I wasn’t that interested to be a river guide as I felt that it is a job of a man. It is wrong to have the perception that it is something got to do with just man. If a man can do then why can’t a woman?”

Dorji Dhradhul, director general of the department of tourism, adds: “The increase in female guides is reshaping Bhutan’s tourism landscape. They are pioneers, enriching our visitor experiences while championing the role of women in our cultural and economic fabric.”

COMMITTED TO INTREPID WOMEN

Intrepid Travel is committed to helping and employing female leaders and guides.

In 2017, the Intrepid team set a goal to double the number of female leaders globally by 2020. In some societies, recruiting women is challenging, but Intrepid met the goal six months early, in 2019. By 2023, Intrepid had 275 female tour leaders and crew — 30 per cent of their tour leaders. In 2024, they launched a new campaign to recruit more female trip leaders in Morocco, offering mentorship and training to 24 women.

Intrepid spokesperson Jenny Gray, who is senior product manager, systems and processes, has been the pioneer of the company’s Women’s Expedition range.

She says: ”Travel has a pivotal role to play in breaking down barriers and fostering acceptance, compassion and celebration.

“We’re committed to supporting women with opportunities through travel and have doubled the number of female trip leaders in our business in recent years. We’re also the largest employer of female guides in Morocco and India, where the tourism industry is still largely dominated by men.

“Our Women’s Expeditions in countries like Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are designed to open dialogue and foster connection between women from different backgrounds and unearth stories through an entirely new lens.”

Jenny adds: “All Intrepid trips aim to provide women employment opportunities through locally-led experiences, while also supporting female-owned and operated businesses in our supply chain.”

There are tangible results.

With Intrepid behind them, local female leaders are empowering other women and inspiring them to follow in their footsteps.

The spokesperson adds: “We’re committed to providing a working environment that encourages people of all ages, physical abilities, cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations and genders to have the same opportunities.”

In Nepal, Sumitra Acharya leads Intrepid travellers on high-altitude treks, like the 14-day Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Sumi is helping to break new ground in the tourism industry in Nepal, as women here are traditionally expected to work close to home and family. She says that, while things are changing, society still has expectations when it comes to women’s roles.

She started with Intrepid as a porter in 2019, getting a feel for Intrepid’s values and customer expectations — and carrying up to 25 kilograms on her back, supported by a strap over her forehead. There are few female porters.

But the Intrepid porter group taught Sumi how to walk, how to tie her duffle bag and head strap, and how to balance with her neck and control her pace while walking. She worked as a porter for two seasons, and then worked a season as an assistant guide — all the time watching how leaders worked and gave daily briefings. She even recorded those briefings, to study.

During the quiet pandemic time, she took on additional studies in bird watching, navigation, rock climbing and first aid.

After the pandemic, she was promoted to trekking leader, and leads trips to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and on the Annapurna Circuit.

READ MORE