Introduction: First class travel of a lifetime to Bhutan and other destinations in Asia

It's finally time to unpack the trip of a lifetime I took last year to nine countries in Asia, including five nights in Nepal and five nights in Bhutan. This would be a great travel report.

First class travel to Asia including magical Bhutan

My trip consisted of flying Singapore Airlines A380 from New York via Frankfurt to Singapore in Suites Class. Singapore now operates a 777-300 on that route, and I was determined to try a flight in Suites class to enjoy the flight first.

It's rare to find points space (148,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles at the „Advatange” level) one way, but if you do find it, it's one of the best deals in terms of points versus retail price. This product costs over $12K one-way and regularly sells out.

I did not stop in Singapore on my way out, but chose to continue to Bali instead. I spent a week starting the trip before heading home via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. I was traveling with a friend who stayed behind while I was on my way home (can't be out for weeks at a time with a wife and kids at home…).

After a week at home, I headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia via San Francisco, Taipei, and Singapore (no extra stop planned in Taipei). We spent several nights in Siem Reap before continuing to Kathmandu via Bangkok.

Kathmandu was interesting… and a pleasure to visit… but the highlight of my time there and the highlight of the entire trip was the helicopter ride to Mount Everest.

We flew from Kathmandu to Barrow and my five nights in Bhutan were incredible (and I wish I could have spent weeks here). I would take my family here…it's one of the most unique places I've ever been and I loved every moment of it beyond the low speed limits.

Finally, we returned to the US via New Delhi and Dubai, sampling Air India and United to Newark.

it is a very long Statement, but also fun:

• JetBlue A321 Mint Class Los Angeles – New York (Redeye)
• Blade Charter from New York JFK to Manhattan
• Casa Cipriani Hotel New York
• Singapore A380 Suites Class New York – Frankfurt
• Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt (FRA) Terminal B
• Singapore A380 Suites Class Frankfurt – Singapore
• Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore (SIN)
• SilverKris First Class Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Singapore 787-10 Business Class Singapore – Bali
• Hyatt Regency Bali
• Andas Bali
• Great coffee in Bali
• Bali Four Seasons Resort on Jimbaran Bay
• KLM 777 Business Class Bali – Singapore
• Great coffee in Singapore
• My flight simulator experience in Singapore
• A trip to Chelydar Airport
• Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Qantas First Class Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• British Airways Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Qatar Airways Premium Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Cathay Pacific Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Malaysia Airlines 737-800 Business Class Singapore – Kuala Lumpur
• Alila Bangsar Kuala Lumpur
• Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
• Coffee, Nandos and Taco Bell in Kuala Lumpur
• Malaysia Airlines Platinum Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
• Malaysia Airlines A350 Business Class Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo
• Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay
• JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo Haneda (HND)
• JAL 777-300 Business Class Tokyo – San Francisco
• United's Connection Saver Fails Me in SFO
• United 777-300 Polaris Business Class San Francisco – Taipei
• Plaza Premium Lounge + Hotel – Taipei (TPE)
• EVA Air Infinity Lounge Taipei (TPE)
• EVA 777-300 Economy Class Taipei – Singapore
• SilverKris Business Lounge Singapore (SIN)
• Singapore Airlines 737 MAX 8 Business Class Singapore – Siem Reap
• Raffles Grand Hotel d'Anchor
• Park Hyatt Siem Reap
• The best coffee in the bean harvest
• Explore Angkor Wat
• Plaza Premium Lounge Siem Reap (REP)
• Bangkok Airways ATR-72 Siem Reap – Bangkok
• Oman Air Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Turkish Airlines Lounge Bangkok (BKK)
• Nepal Airlines A330 Business Class Bangkok – Kathmandu
• Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
• Dwarika Hotel Kathmandu
• Mount Everest Helicopter Tour
• Photo essay: Kathmandu
• Executive Lounge Kathmandu Airport (KTM)
• Drukair A320 Business Class Kathmandu – Paro
• Le Meridian Thimpu
• The six senses are Thimbu
• Photo essay: Bhutan
• There is no cultural quota in Bhutan
• Trekking to Tiger's Den
• Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Indian visa scare at Barrow International Airport
• Bhutan Airlines A320 Business Class Paro – New Delhi
• Air India Maharaja Lounge New Delhi (DEL)
• Air India 787-8 Business Class New Delhi – Dubai
• Grand Hyatt Dubai
• United Airlines 777-200 Polaris Business Class Dubai – Newark
• United Airlines 777-200 Premium Plus Newark – San Francisco

I teased some elements of the trip while I was on the ground, but now I'm going to share every detail. The return to Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Taipei, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan) was great after a long pandemic-induced hiatus.