Your Guides
________________________________________________We both lived and worked in Bhutan for a combined period of three years and in that time fell in love with the country and its people. After returning to Australia, we established Our Secret Bhutan as a way of sharing the treasure trove of unique experiences we had been privileged to have with small groups of like minded travellers.
When on tour we will treat you as good friends and will share with you the personal relationships we developed with the people of Bhutan, the traditions and celebrations we witnessed and take you to some of the secret places we discovered. These are the jewels of our Bhutanese experience and we look forward to sharing them with you.
Carolyn Hamer-smith
Carolyn has a background in event management and has escorted groups of all sizes to destinations all over the world and had the privilege of working for the World Food Program (an agency of the United Nations) in Bhutan.
Michelle Hogan
Michelle has over ten years public relations and marketing experience and had the unique experience of working in an advisory role to the Royal Government of Bhutan in 2006.
Consulting
___________________________________________________Michelle and Carolyn also act as consultants on all things Bhutanese for research groups, the travel industry, the media, film companies, journalists and other groups or individuals requiring advice and information on Bhutan. Please contact them for further information on their consulting services.
Giving Back
________________________________________________________As a way of giving back to a country that gave us so much, Our Secret Bhutan supports the work of local, grass roots not for profit organisation, RENEW.
Founded by Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, in 2004, RENEW stands for Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women and is dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls in Bhutan.
RENEW actively promotes gender equality through every aspect of its work and as two young women ourselves, we share their belief that women are vital in creating a happy and stable home and in turn this creates a happy and stable community.
RENEW provides vocational training in selected skills and micro-enterprises as a way of providing opportunities to transform the lives of many women. Our Secret Bhutan, in partnership with the RENEW team, is commited to exploring meaningful ways to nurture, support and empower the women and girls of Bhutan through capacity building, advocacy work and financial resourcing. We offer guests an opportunity to meet the women of RENEW while on tour and to personally experience this support at work.
