Destination Doctor
Stories of my travels, itinerary examples and all things to promote wanderlust
Cuba
This is a different kind of trip report. This describes the emotions of the trip.
Mysterious, forbidden, beautiful, with wonderfully kind people ready to welcome you to their country. These are not days full of lounging but days packed with fun activities to really educate you about life in Cuba. As an American you can go to Cuba but you are going as an educational trip through various mechanisms. We utilized a company that gives to Support for the Cuban People. Think Salsa dancing, Cuban Cooking, Cocktail making classes, Art studio tours for world renowned artists who open their homes and private studios. Imagine mojitos on a private balcony with musicians playing as the sunsets over the Havana skyline.
Driving 3 hours out to Vinales countryside (and then back the 3 hours) to eat in a local family home authentic farm to table food. Driven around by Oxen and cart through the community to see life as a Cuban farmer. To see how proud they are of their homes and what they have and to realize life is so hard for these Cuban farmers but you would never know it. To see the raw emotion of hearing the stories of hurricane devastation and what it does to local farm communities and how they shelter. Crazy the hurricane shelters out in the farm land. I would not have believed it if I didn’t see it. It is no wonder a grown man cries as he tells you the story of surviving a hurricane with his family when he was 16 years old.
Then to move on to sit with a tobacco farmer in the same community and hear and smell how he dries his tobacco leaves that are mostly given to the Cuban government (90% of his product is given to the government) but hear of the secret recipe he uses to make his traditional cigars that are sold and oh so different from a government controlled cigar. To be able to purchase locally and know the money used to privately purchase items stays with the farmer and feel like the purpose of the trip has been solidified.
It is truly a blessing to have traveled to Cuba with a woman of Cuban descent and to watch your new friend walk in the church where her now deceased parents were married 59 years ago and see the emotions flood in.
And let’s be real to enjoy the mouthwatering local food that is based on availability but oh so good and fresh everywhere we went. And the drinks. Let’s not forget the drinks….The freshest mojitos, daiquiris, juices ever. The pineapple, guava, bananas… nothing like in the US.
To drive around old Havana in beautiful convertible classic cars and feel like it’s a tourist tour …. But realize as you drive down the highways and out into the countryside the vintage cars are truly a common mode of transportation. This is not for show and the ones you ride in through town may be better kept than the traditional local cars but they are the same nonetheless. To understand he pride the Cubans take in what they do have.
To start to pour your mojito in your empty water bottle as its time to move on but you don’t want to waste a drop of the delicious drink and realize your bartender is making you a to go cup from an old pickle jar…”We recycle everything. It’s a way of life”.
The passion of the salsa instructor to make sure we are comfortable and being able to break the steps down so we all felt like authentic Cuban dancers.
To sit at your villa and watch the sunrise in the morning as your host is making fresh coffee for you to sip with warmed milk on the outside terrace while he finishes your made to order breakfast.
The fear of stepping into an old taxi when we are picked up at the airport and realizing this is our mode of transportation for the next 5 days. This is Cuba luxury and it’s so different from US luxury but understanding that the 7 other women who trusted you to bring them on this trip are all good with what Cuba has to offer. They are better than all good. They have loved the immersion the trip has offered. We all felt different at the end of our 5 days.
Setting the right frame of mind early on. Wifi is spotty is an understatement. Cell coverage does not really exist. There are no seatbelts. We felt safe. I would 100% go again. It was that good!
Bhutan
Bhutan: Where Every Journey Honors the Earth
There are destinations you visit for the beauty, the activities, the bucket list moment. And then there are destinations that change you. Bhutan is the latter.
Tucked between China and India in the heart of the Himalayas, this tiny kingdom of less than one million people is unlike anywhere I have ever been. It is carbon negative. It is 70% forested. It is deeply, intentionally, and unapologetically itself. And right now is the absolute best time to go.
Getting There
You fly into Paro — the only international airport in Bhutan — and the approach alone will take your breath away. The runway sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and the landing is one you will not forget.
Routing matters here. From the East Coast of the US, Delhi is your best connection at about 2.5 hours. From the West Coast, look at Bangkok (3.5 hours) or Singapore (5 hours). Dubai is also a strong hub at about 6.5 hours. Flights connect through Kathmandu, Dubai, Delhi, and Bangkok.
Why Bhutan? Let Me Count the Ways.
Bhutan operates on a “high value, low volume” tourism model and that is not marketing speak — it is a genuine philosophy. There is a sustainable development fee paid by tourists that goes directly toward free healthcare, free education, cultural preservation, and infrastructure for the Bhutanese people. When you travel here, the entire community benefits from your visit. How many destinations can honestly say that?
The Bhutanese core values are Happy, Clean, Green, Safe — and you feel every single one of them the moment you arrive. The people are kind, soft-spoken, and genuinely proud of their country and their culture. All Bhutanese wear traditional formal dress — a Gho for men, a Kira for women — when at work, and it creates this incredible feeling of stepping into a different time while also being entirely in the present.
What makes Bhutan special is not just the beauty. Beauty, as I always say, you can find anywhere. It is the way of life that is uniquely Bhutanese. Lives here are intertwined with nature and mysticism in a way that feels ancient and completely authentic. It is not commercialized. It is not performative. It simply is.
A Suggested Journey
Thimphu: 1–2 Nights
Your first stop is the capital. I would recommend just one night here unless you want more time to explore. The city is fine but the shopping area, honestly, is a lot of the same trinkets and it felt less authentic than the rest of the country — my one and only complaint about Bhutan, and a small one at that.
Hotel-wise, if you want to be walkable to the city center, look at the Taj or the Oberoi. If budget allows and you don’t mind being further out, the Aman and Six Senses are both spectacular —
While in Thimphu, do not miss the Buddha Dordenma — one of the largest sitting Buddha statues in the world, filled with over 125,000 smaller Buddhas — and the Royal Textile Academy, where you will learn about the incredible role weaving plays in Bhutanese culture.
Punakha: 2–3 Nights
This is where Bhutan really opens up for me. On the way, stop at Dochula Pass to see the 108 stupas built to honor Bhutanese soldiers who died in a 2003 military operation. On a clear day, the views of the Himalayan mountains framing those stupas are absolutely breathtaking.
Check into the Punakha River Lodge — serenity, luxury, and authenticity all in one place. Do not leave without spending time in their spa and specifically their stone bath. It is a do not miss.
In and around Punakha there is so much to experience. The Punakha Dzong is one of the most beautiful fortresses I have ever seen. Chimi Lhakhang is a fertility temple where you can go to be blessed — whether for fertility or simply for enlightenment. The Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Nunnery offers blessings for personal empowerment and wish fulfillment. You can hike across suspension bridges and place prayer flags to blow in the wind, and spin prayer wheels (always clockwise!). And if you can arrange a visit to a local village to learn how Ara — the traditional rice wine — is made and share a glass with your host, do it. That moment is what travel is all about.
Paro: 2–3 Nights
Home of Tiger’s Nest, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world, and one of the most extraordinary hikes I have done anywhere.
Now, the hike. Set your alarm early and be at the trailhead by 6:30am. I cannot stress this enough. We were the first ones up to the temple and had it to ourselves, which was just magical. By the time we came down, the crowds were arriving. The hike is hard and the elevation is real — pace yourself slowly and wear layers. It is cold at the top.
For those who cannot make the full climb, there is a teahouse about halfway up with gorgeous views of the Tiger’s Nest itself. You will still have earned something special. Ponies are also available for those who want to reach the summit another way.
What Kind of Traveler is Bhutan For?
This is a trip for the culturally curious. The adventurous. The conscious traveler. The person who wants to come home different than when they left.
If you love hiking and outdoor activities, every valley here is designed for it — hiking, mountain biking, and in the right season, class 3–4 river rafting. If you are drawn to Buddhism and spiritual experiences, you will visit temple after temple and leave with a full heart. If you simply want to be somewhere that feels untouched, authentic, and deeply peaceful — this is it.
It is not a beach vacation. It is not a city trip. It is an immersion.
Things to Note
Travel shoulder season. Less expensive, less crowded, and honestly just as beautiful. Unless you are set on attending one of Bhutan’s incredible festivals, shoulder season is the sweet spot.
Before you go, read about the Divine Madman and his flaming thunderbolt. I promise you this will make complete sense once you arrive and will help you appreciate one of the most fascinating cultural juxtapositions I have ever encountered — a deeply conservative, spiritual country that reveres the phallic symbol as a protector of the people.
Also consider adding the Gangtey Valley for serious hikers — at 10,000 feet with at least 3 nights, it is extraordinary. You can even attend a night ceremony at the temple there.
The Bottom Line
Bhutan leaves you with something I struggle to put into words. There are places you visit and places that visit you. The serenity of the people, the beauty of the land, the depth of the culture — it all adds up to something rare. I left with a love for the Bhutanese people that I did not expect. Kind, funny, good-hearted people who are proud of exactly who they are.
Go. Go before the energy begins to shift. Go while it still feels like a different time. I promise you will come home a little different yourself.
As always, I am here to help you plan every detail. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Antarctica
Commentary to follow soon. In the mean time…Go. You will not regret it!