Getting Iraqi Traveler to Bhutan Just Before Visa Restrictions Took Effect

In early spring of 2024, I was reviewing a travel inquiry email from Iraq, signed by Haider. This 65-year-old Iraqi businessman wrote in slightly hesitant but sincere English that he had seen 7 days Bhutan travel itineraries on our website. This place known as the "happiest country in the world" deeply attracted him.

In his email, Haider revealed that he held dual citizenship of Dominica and Iraq and currently ran an import-export business in Baghdad. I could imagine the difficult environment in post-war Iraq, where infrastructure had not fully recovered, and the air seemed to still carry the dust and unease left by the war.

This elderly man yearned to travel to the Buddhist kingdom nestled deep in the Himalayas, renowned for its happiness, and I couldn't help but be curious about his story.

Hoping to Purify His Soul in Bhutan

Through our exchange of emails, I gradually learned Haider's story. He had lived through the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, personally witnessing his homeland being rebuilt time and again, only to be destroyed once more by conflict.

Although the wars had ended, the entire country was still struggling to recover. He said that every day, walking the streets of Baghdad and seeing the unrepaired bullet holes and ruins, his heart felt heavy. Bhutan's pure natural scenery and the peaceful smiles on its people's faces were like an oasis in the desert for him.

"I need a trip that can cleanse my soul," Haider wrote in one email, "the kind of heartfelt joy that the Bhutanese people possess is something we Iraqis have lost for too long." Reading this sentence, I could almost see his tired yet still hopeful eyes through the screen.

Sudden Iraqi Visa Restrictions

The visa application process was initially smooth, until the Iraqi government suddenly announced that all departing travelers must obtain visas for their destination countries before April 7th, otherwise they would be barred from leaving.

When I received Haider's anxious email, there were only a few days left until the deadline. I could feel his disappointment and helplessness. This long-awaited spiritual journey was on the verge of vanishing like a bubble.

I immediately activated the emergency plan. The entire team worked day and night, contacting local Bhutanese authorities, preparing visa materials, and following up on the approval progress. During those days, the office phone rang incessantly, and the glow of computer screens often lasted late into the night.

Finally, on the evening of April 6th, we received Haider's Bhutan e-visa. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders as I pressed the send button, transmitting this precious document to him.

Haider's Bhutan Journey Went Ahead as Scheduled

Haider started his Bhutan journey as scheduled. He later told me that when the plane landed at Paro Airport and he saw the surrounding valleys through the window, all the anxiety and waiting before the trip had been worthwhile.

In Thimphu, he stayed in a traditional guesthouse, waking up in the early morning to the sound of distant temple bells. In Punakha, he strolled through ancient fortresses, chatting warmly with schoolchildren on their way home. In the Gangtey Valley, he followed the guide on hikes, watching black-necked cranes gracefully foraging in the wetlands.

"You know," Haider wrote in his thank-you letter after returning home, "what touched me the most was the genuine peace in the hearts of the Bhutanese people. An old woman selling fruit gave me two extra apples because I was from Iraq, and monks passing by offered warm smiles to strangers. This most simple kindness between people reminded me of Iraq before the war."

Reading his words, I felt as though I had followed in his footsteps, rediscovering the country of Bhutan. This was truly a journey of healing for the soul. Haider said he brought back Bhutanese prayer beads and tea, but more importantly, he brought back a renewed understanding of life - that even in the most difficult circumstances, people can still choose to maintain the light within.

As a travel consultant, I have handled countless itinerary arrangements, but Haider's story gave me a new perspective on this profession, allowing a battle-weary heart to find long-lost peace and hope in a foreign land.