About Wind Horse Tours
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Wind Horse was founded in Bhutan in 1998 by two local guides. More than 25 years later, it is still owned and run by the people who lead the journeys — in Bhutan, Nepal and India, the Himalayan lands we call home.
Our story
Grown carefully, one office at a time
- 1996Our guides start leading journeys in Nepal.
- 1998Wind Horse is founded in Bhutan by two guides.
- 2002Minneapolis office opens, close to our North American guests.
- 2005Wind Horse India opens in Delhi.
- 2011Sales and support team opens in Phuentsholing.
- 2022Wind Horse Nepal opens at Boudhanath, Kathmandu.
- TodayPhuentsholing team moves to Jaigaon, now covering Sikkim, Darjeeling and Assam.
The middle path
Bigger is not always better
A company that is too big turns travellers into booking numbers and loses the personal touch. A company that is too small can't stand behind you when plans change on a mountain road or a flight is cancelled in the monsoon.
So we chose the middle path. We have a real team in every country we work in, large enough to give you security and support. We are still small enough to know your name, your interests and your guide. Flexibility is what sets us apart: we adapt to each guest gladly, not because we have to.
We try to breathe life into every journey.
What we believe
How we travel
Travel builds understanding
Travel means getting involved with a place and its people: joining a festival, sharing a meal in a farmhouse, learning a prayer at a temple. We have seen it bridge faiths, cultures and continents.
Guides come first
Our journeys begin with a guide’s dream trip, refined with what past guests tell us. Our guides are local, experienced and caring, chosen for honesty and warmth as much as knowledge.
Small groups. Less is more.
Our small group journeys usually have no more than 8–9 travellers, opening the doors of villages and private homes. Departures are guaranteed from just 2.
Comfort, your way
Small group journeys stay in comfortable, well-run hotels, including family-run ones with character. On private journeys you choose, up to the finest luxury hotels, at our preferred rates in Bhutan and Nepal.
Locally owned, locally shared
Owned and managed by local partners. Many of our team are shareholders and share in our profits, which is why the best guides stay with us for years.
A light footprint
We respect sacred sites, local traditions and the communities who welcome us, and keep the trails as clean as we found them. Travelife accredited.
Honest and fairly priced
Legendary support, honesty and transparency, and fair prices without cutting corners on quality or comfort.
Our offices
A Wind Horse team nearby, wherever you are
Our senior managers are available 24/7. Once your trip is confirmed, you will have direct contacts for the people looking after your journey.
- USA Minneapolis Marketing, sales and trip design Meet the office →
- Bhutan Thimphu Home office and Bhutan operations Wind Horse Bhutan →
- Bhutan–India border Phuentsholing–Jaigaon Booking support, cross-border travel; Sikkim, Darjeeling and Assam Visit office page →
- India Delhi Journeys across India Wind Horse India →
- Nepal Kathmandu (Boudhanath) Nepal treks and tours Wind Horse Nepal →
- Netherlands Nijmegen B2B office for travel trade partners in Europe Trade enquiries →
Wind Horse in Minneapolis · since 2002
The bridge between you and the Himalaya
Our Minneapolis office looks after marketing, sales and product development: listening to what you hope to experience and shaping a journey around it.
Ugen runs the office. Born in Bhutan, he began as a local guide in 1992, went on to lead groups across India, Nepal, Tibet and Central Asia, and then ran journeys on the ground in Bhutan. He still travels widely, for pleasure and for exploration, and always comes back with new ideas. More than 30 years of travelling and meeting travellers has given him a feel for what people hope to find on a journey, and how to shape a trip around it.
Our Thimphu and Phuentsholing teams handle bookings behind the scenes, so in Minneapolis we can spend our time on what matters most: talking with you and understanding what you want from your trip.
“I've travelled a lot myself, so I know the difference between seeing a place and really experiencing it. That difference is what we plan for.”
Start a conversation
Every journey starts with a talk
Tell us a little about the trip you have in mind. We read every message ourselves and reply within one working day.
- Office hours
- Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm (Central Time)
- By phone, every day
- Toll free (USA & Canada) +1 888 834 6773
- WhatsApp +1 612 869 4949
- If we miss your call, leave a message and we'll call you back.
A community of travellers
Most of our guests come through word of mouth
Over the years, our guests have become a community of people who share our love of the Himalaya. Many return to travel with us again, or send their friends and family.
Hear it from our guests
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Upper Assam Tour & Eastern Bhutan Tour (video)
Linh Duong Auberger -
Jon Prosser & Nina Sikkim Trip (video)
Jon Prosser -
Dagala Trek – 2018 (video)
Martin James Malley
Latest reviews
- TripadvisorSep 2026 Lovely trip to Bhutan “Tenzin and Gembo were a perfect match and catered to my every needs making this trip quite magical.” — Henry P
- TripadvisorAug 2026 A trip of a lifetime “We felt safe, cared for, and genuinely welcomed the entire way through.” — charlotte b
- FacebookAug 2026 Mustang, Nepal “They genuinely do take care of their clients and work with them to tailor the itinerary to their needs and budget. My request came last minute, yet they were able to prepare a week-long trip to the most beautiful part of Nepal.” — Sarka Zimova
- Guest storyMay 2026 Mera Peak Climb “From start to finish, the trek was as seamless as could be. Although we faced some challenges, predominantly weather related, the team were excellent in managing them.” — Samantha
- Guest storyMay 2026 Job very well done “Kumar quickly arranged an alternative route… we ended up visiting places we had never seen before, meeting interesting people.” — Clare
- FacebookNov 2025 Second trip, Haa Valley & Jomolhari trek “Our excellent guide, Pelden Wangchuk, really took care to ensure our well-being, safety and happiness… We’ve done a few Himalayan treks and were impressed by the quality of equipment and service provided by Windhorse.” — Anne Frigon