Unsung Hero: Pema, Guide from Amankora, Bhutan

The strength of a nation lies in the quiet courage of its people. Meet one of them.

There are some stories that stay with you long after the journey ends. For Pema, a veteran guide with over two decades of experience at Amankora, it was the story of a 76-year-old woman and her dream to see Bhutan’s famed Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

She had traveled alone, her heart full of quiet hope and her eyes wide with anticipation. As the two set out on the challenging hike to Taktsang, she confided in Pema that she wasn’t sure she’d make it. The path was steep and the altitude unforgiving, but her dream had brought her this far, and she was willing to try.

Pema matched her pace, never rushing. Between each pause, he shared stories of the sacred site and the teachings of Guru Rinpoche, gently weaving Bhutan’s spiritual heritage into the climb. When fatigue began to take over and the woman considered stopping, Pema offered not only words of encouragement but a hand to hold and help up the trail. He carried her bag. He walked beside her.

And finally, they arrived. The woman stood at the monastery, eyes misted with disbelief and pride. She gripped Pema’s hand and whispered, “I never thought I’d make it.”

For Pema, it was one of many treks he had guided, but this moment was different. “That day reminded me that our role as guides goes far beyond showing people our country,” he said. “It’s about helping them find strength they didn’t know they had.”

Pema is deeply committed to his work. As he puts it, “Tour guides are ambassadors of Bhutan, and that sense of purpose fuels my passion every day.” He finds joy not only in sharing Bhutan’s culture but in learning from his guests, he’s welcomed travelers from nearly every continent, and each one, he says, brings a new perspective and story.

What makes Pema’s work extraordinary isn’t just his knowledge or experience, though both are vast. It’s his deep intuition. Over the years, he’s learned how to read a group’s energy and adjust the day accordingly. He understands when to pause, when to push, and how to turn a structured itinerary into a personalized experience. His ability to make guests feel seen, safe, and inspired is a gift, and one that continues to ripple long after they’ve returned home.

This is Pema. He’s one of the reasons we do what we do.