Bhutan Kingdom of Fungi
Wild Mushroom, Forest & Culture Expedition
Forage for rare mushrooms, experience beautiful pristine forests and soak up Bhutan’s unique culture, where ancient traditions and nature’s wonders entwine
Dates: 7th – 17th or 20th – 31st August 2026
In partnership with Bhutanese Tour Operator
'Bhutan Kingdom of Fungi'
Mushroom, Nature and Culture Tour
OVERVIEW
Join a small-group expedition to Bhutan’s wild forests, the mystical kingdom nestled in the Eastern Himalayas. This specially curated tour is designed for mushroom enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, blending Bhutan's incredible biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and unique gastronomic experiences.
Led by Bhutan-certified guides & mycology experts
Only 8-12 places per tour
Dates: 7th – 17th or 20th – 31st August 2026
Places are already limited, register interest now
During this immersive experience, you'll explore the serene landscapes of Bhutan, a country where mushrooms are deeply embedded in the culture and history.
For centuries, mushrooms have been an essential part of the Bhutanese diet, folklore, and even traditional medicine. Bhutan’s organic farming practices and deep respect for nature have kept its ancient woodlands and fungi-rich ecosystems largely untouched by industrialization. As you attend the highly anticipated Matsutake Mushroom Festival in Genekha, you’ll witness traditional mushroom harvesting methods passed down through generations and have the rare opportunity to taste some of the world’s rarest organic mushrooms.
With the guidance of esteemed Bhutanese photography guide Ugyen Wangchuk (@bhutan_photography_guide), you'll refine your photography skills—capturing the hidden beauty of Bhutan's fungi, landscapes, and cultural wonders. From macro fungi photography workshops and UV nighttime mushroom walks to foraging and cooking wild mushrooms outdoors, this tour offers an immersive connection with Bhutan’s nature, traditions, and the rich role mushrooms play in its heritage.
Tour dates: 7th – 17th or 20th – 31st August 2026
Places are already limited, register interest now
Prices from $5,500pp
Includes expert mushroom guides, exclusive festival access, photo workshops, private transfers, all meals, accommodation, specialist equipment and more.
Matsutake Mushroom Festival
Celebrate Bhutan’s prized Matsutake mushrooms at this vibrant cultural festival in Genekha.
Macro Photography Workshops
Learn the art of macro fungi photography—covering framing, lighting, editing, and identification.
Photography Workshops
Capture Bhutan’s unique culture with renowned Bhutanese photographer Punap Ugyen Wangchuk.
Guided Nighttime UV Walks
Experience Bhutan’s bioluminescent fungi under UV light with expert-led night walks.
Foraging & Cooking Wild Mushrooms
Hunt for Matsutake, boletes, and chanterelles, then cook and eat them in the outdoors.
Meet Local Foragers
Learn and engage with Bhutan's still prevalent forest foraging culture from villagers.
Explore the wilderness
Be on the frontline of nature conservation and discover the importance of fungal to the ecosystem.
Indentify & Conserve
Collaborating with the National Mushroom Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan as well as the iNaturalist mobile app. We will be recording data of our finds to aid fungal conservation research projects.
Mushroom Momo Cooking Lesson
Learn to make traditional mushroom-filled momo dumplings with a local Bhutanese chef.
Camp Amongst Nature
Spend two nights glamping on the edge of the forested mountains.
Stargaze in the Himalayas
Feel closer than you ever have to the stars on clear Himalayan nights.
Rafting in Punakha
Raft down Punakha's famous river towards their beautiful Dzong.
Group One
GENEKHA FESTIVAL TOUR
7th – 17th August 2026
The Genekha Matsutake Festival Tour (7–17 August 2026) explores western Bhutan’s lush valleys and forests, including Thimphu, Punakha, and Phobjikha, culminating in the lively Genekha Mushroom Festival near the capital.
Group Two
URA FESTIVAL TOUR
20th – 31st August 2026
The Ura Matsutake Festival Tour (20–31 August 2026) ventures deeper into central Bhutan, flying to Bumthang to forage in Ura’s highland forests and experience the rural charm and celebrations of the Ura Mushroom Festival.
Ugyen Wangchuck
Tour guide, photographer and founder of tour operator Gomo Adventures. Ugyen has decades of experience photographing the most important people in Bhutan from the royal family, Buddhist spiritual leaders and remote nomadic peoples.
Ru & Peter
Partnering with Ugyen to run this trip, mushroom enthusiasts Ru and Peter lead community workshops and promote fungi education in London. They aim to showcase the diverse world of fungi in Bhutan and encourage a deeper connection with nature. Committed to responsible foraging, they highlight Bhutan’s pristine ecosystems—one of the few places left untouched by commercial overharvesting. Through this carefully curated tour, they hope to inspire guests by exploring Bhutan’s rich fungal diversity, untouched wilderness, and deep-rooted traditions.
Sabitra Pradhan
Sabitra is an Independent Fungi Researcher as well as a Mushroom Supervisor at the National Mushroom Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan. Her local knowledge and expert guidance on Bhutanese mushroom species will be invaluable as we forage for both edible and scientifically interesting species.
Bhutan Kingdom
of Fungi
Wild Mushroom
& Photography Expedition
Forage for rare mushrooms, experience beautiful pristine forests and soak up Bhutan’s unique culture, where ancient traditions and nature’s wonders entwine
Dates: 7th – 17th or 20th – 31st August 2026
Matsutake Mushroom Festival
Celebrate Bhutan’s prized Matsutake mushrooms at this vibrant cultural festival in Genekha.
Macro Photography Workshops
Learn the art of macro fungi photography—covering framing, lighting, editing, and identification.
Photography Workshops
Capture Bhutan’s unique culture with renowned Bhutanese photographer Punap Ugyen Wangchuk.
Guided Nighttime UV Walks
Experience Bhutan’s bioluminescent fungi under UV light with expert-led night walks.
Foraging & Cooking Wild Mushrooms
Hunt for Matsutake, boletes, and chanterelles, then cook and eat them in the outdoors.
Mushroom Momo Cooking Lesson
Learn to make traditional mushroom-filled momo dumplings with a local Bhutanese chef.
Explore the wilderness
Be on the frontline of nature conservation and discover the importance of fungal to the ecosystem.
Indentify & Conserve
Collaborating with the National Mushroom Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan as well as the iNaturalist mobile app. We will be recording data of our finds to aid fungal conservation research projects.
Camp Amongst Nature
Spend two nights glamping on the edge of the forested mountains.
Stargaze in the Himalayas
Feel closer than you ever have to the stars on clear Himalayan nights.
Meet Local Foragers
Learn and engage with Bhutan's still prevalent forest foraging culture from villagers.
Rafting in Punakha
Raft down Punakha's famous river towards their beautiful Dzong.
Group One
GENEKHA FESTIVAL TOUR
7th – 17th August 2026
The Genekha Matsutake Festival Tour (7–17 August 2026) explores western Bhutan’s lush valleys and forests, including Thimphu, Punakha, and Phobjikha, culminating in the lively Genekha Mushroom Festival near the capital.
Group Two
URA FESTIVAL TOUR
20th – 31st August 2026
The Ura Matsutake Festival Tour (20–31 August 2026) ventures deeper into central Bhutan, flying to Bumthang to forage in Ura’s highland forests and experience the rural charm and celebrations of the Ura Mushroom Festival.
Ugyen Wangchuck
Tour guide, photographer and founder of tour operator Gomo Adventures. Ugyen has decades of experience photographing the most important people in Bhutan from the royal family, Buddhist spiritual leaders and remote nomadic peoples.
Ru & Peter
Partnering with Ugyen to run this trip, mushroom enthusiasts Ru and Peter lead community workshops and promote fungi education in London. They aim to showcase the diverse world of fungi in Bhutan and encourage a deeper connection with nature. Committed to responsible foraging, they highlight Bhutan’s pristine ecosystems—one of the few places left untouched by commercial overharvesting. Through this carefully curated tour, they hope to inspire guests by exploring Bhutan’s rich fungal diversity, untouched wilderness, and deep-rooted traditions.
Sabitra Pradhan
Sabitra is an Independent Fungi Researcher as well as a Mushroom Supervisor at the National Mushroom Centre in Thimphu, Bhutan. Her local knowledge and expert guidance on Bhutanese mushroom species will be invaluable as we forage for both edible and scientifically interesting species.