|
|
TREKKING THROUGH TIME: BHUTAN, 2008
Unique Bhutan is one of the most exclusive and rare destinations in the world,
lying just south of Tibet, east of Nepal, with Sikkim to the West, Mystery surrounds Bhutan’s distant past, dating back to the 8th century. With pristine rivers, towering crags, green hills, and magnificent snow-peaked mountains, land-locked Bhutan is filled with Buddhist myths and legends.
Isolated and remote, it is not difficult for travel in this Himalayan kingdom. While India greatly influenced Bhutan in early days, eventually Tibet’s influence grew after the introduction of Buddhism somewhere between the 2nd and 7th centuries.
The Bhutanese are committed to preserving their culture and limit the number of tourists. Bhutanese respect their land; approximately 72 per cent of the country is in forests--of fir, mixed conifers, rhododendrons and over 600 species of orchids.
On November 7, a small group will travel to this enchanted land for a combination of trekking, monastery visiting, and history gathering. Our guide will be Sonam Wangmo, our tour guide for the trip, who will lead us through the history, language, religion, arts and culture.
November is a most desired time to trek Bhutan with temperatures around the mid-seventies F. Our total trip days, including travel from the U.S. are 17 days.
THE ITINERARY
| Nov 3,4
|
|
Fly
from USA to Bangkok. |
| Nov
5 |
|
Arrive in Bangkok |
| Nov
6 |
|
Bangkok on your own |
| Nov
7 |
|
Fly BANGKOK to PARO. Arrive Paro around 10:30 am. Paro offers
the calm of the beautiful landscapes, scenic villages and historic
buildings. It will take at least an hour to complete the visa and
custom formalities. We will be taken to our hotel for lunch.
After Paro Sightseeing we move on to Thimphu.
After lunch, visit the Paro Rinpong Dzong, the seat of the district administration as well as the home for the monastic school.
Visit the National Museum (Ta-Dzong), the former watch tower for the Rinpong Dzong, standing on a promontory overlooking the Paro
Valley.
Evening drive to Thimphu, the capital. (2 hours) and check into Hotel
Jumolhari
Dinner and overnight
|
| Nov
8 |
|
Visit
Thimphu Sightseeing
After an early breakfast, visit week end market or “Sabji Bazaar” where locals come to do their weekly shopping. This is a great opportunity to shop for souvenirs and also get a glimpse into the culture and heritage of the Drupka people. We visit the School of the Thirteen Arts and Crafts, the Textile Museum, and the Folk Heritage Museum. We also visit the Paper Factory where you can purchase some gorgeous hand made paper from Bhutan.
Evening: Visit the Dechenphodrang Monastic School and get a glimpse of the life of young monks engaged in their evening prayers.
Dinner: hosted by Sonam Wangmo at her residence
Overnight: Hotel Jumolhari
|
| Nov
9 |
|
Tango Monastery Hike (2-3 hours round trip)
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the base of Tango hill through Dechenchholing where the palace of the queen mother is situated. Hike for 45 minutes to Tango monastery. This is a renowned Buddhist College and also the residence of the Druk Desi Gyaltsen Tenzin Rabgye, who is the reincarnate of the 16th-century monk who built Tango. Enjoy a boxed lunch
after your descent from Tango Monastery.
Visit the National Takin Reserve, where a herd of Bhutan’s national animals reside.
Stop by an archery field to watch the irrepressible Bhutanese men folk of all ages engage in the national past time - archery.
Visit bookstore and handicraft stores
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Hotel Jumolhari.
|
| Nov
10 |
|
Thimphu to Punakha/Wangdue.
After breakfast, head towards Punakha. On the way, drive over the spectacular Dochu La to the verdant Punakha Valley. The road winds through lush pine forests to the 10,000 foot pass, which, in good weather provides a 180-degree panorama of the distant Himalayan summits.
Then it’s on to Punakha. In the town of Punakha, visit the impressive Punakha Dzong (fortress-monastery), situated at the confluence of the Pho and the Mo Rivers. This huge fortress was built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan, and served as the national capital until 1966.
Visit Punakha town.
Dinner and overnight at Hotel Zangtopelri
|
| Nov
11 |
|
Wangdue to Trongsa (5 hours drive)
After an early breakfast, visit Chimed Lhagang or the Fertility Temple in picturesque Lobesa.
Head on towards Trongsa, some 5 hours away. There will be ample opportunities for breaks, walks, and sightseeing. The route crosses Pele La (3420m), which is marked by a chorten and an array of prayer flags. If the weather is clear you should see Mt. Jhomolhari (7177 m) and other peaks from the pass. The last village before Trongsa is Tangsibji, which affords a full view of Trongsa Dzong, built in 1646.
Check into Hotel Yangkhil for dinner and overnight.
|
| Nov
12 |
|
Trongsa Sightseeing
After breakfast, visit the Trongsa Dzong which represents Bhutan's link with its historical monarchy, since it was here that the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuk, was enthroned in 1907.
After Trongsa head to Jakar in the central district of Bumthang, a 4-5 hour drive to the east. On the way, you will go over Yotongla Pass (3425m) and get your first glimpse of the Black Mountains. This drive between Trongsa and Bumthang is the most scenic and exciting leg of your journey into the clouds, as you cross rivers and streams and pass a Chorten with water-driven prayer wheels and colorful rock carvings.
An hour outside of Bumthang, you make your first sighting of the golden- roofed Jakar Dzong, known as the Castle of the White Bird, with the Chamkar river cascading in one continuous waterfall down through the valley beneath. Bumthang has great religious significance with lots of important Lhakangs (monasteries).
Overnight: Village Lodge
|
| Nov
13 |
|
Jambay Lhagang Drup festival all day
JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP. A 7th Century temple built by King Tsongtsen Geombo of Tibet. It is one of the two oldest temples in Bhutan.
The Jambay Lhakhang Drup is an annual festival organized and performed by the villagers under the supervision of a local lama. The festival will be held in the court yard of Jambay Lhakhang Temple located in the heart of Chokor Valley. The festival dances symbolize the fight between good and evil and this is also a thank offering time for harvest to the local deities.
We will experience a ceremony at the temple followed by 4 different dance programs.
|
| Nov
14 |
|
Day Three of Jambay Lhagang Drup festival
We view five different dance programs through the day. After attending the
JLD Tsechu, we take a walking tour of the temples.
Kurjey Lhakhang. This is one of the most important temples in Bhutan which
was the first site visited by Guru Rimpoche in Bhutan in the 8th Century. It was from this place that Buddhism spread in the country.
From Kurjey Lhakhang drive for 25 minutes to Tokto Zampa bridge and then
hike for about one hour to Thangbi Lhakhang. On return, visit four temples.
Nov 15. Day excursion to Tang Valley. Tang valley is located in the eastern part of Bumthang Dzongkhag. The Dzong is 1 hour’s walk from the valley and the campsite. The path leads through the Gamling village and up a small hill to the Dzong which has now been converted into a private museum by the descends of Chokey Dorji. The museum is a treasurer house of ancient artifacts used in Bumthang area.
Dinner and overnight at Village Lodge
|
| Nov
16 |
|
Bumthang to Wangdue (8-9 hours drive)
After an early breakfast, drive to Wangdue. This will be a long driving day but you will have plenty of stops for breaks. Check into hotel, dinner an overnight at hotel.
|
| Nov
17 |
|
Wangdue to Paro (5-6 hours drive)
After breakfast, visit Rinchengang village in Wangdue. This village is the home of skilled stone masons from days gone by. Drive through Dochula and on to Paro. Check into hotel, dinner and overnight at Rainbow Tours Resort.
|
| Nov
18 |
|
Paro Sightseeing
After a sleep in and leisurely breakfast, visit the village where Sonam’s farm house is located. Spend some time observing village life in Bhutan and talking to villagers. Visit Kyichu Lhagang, an old temple which is patronized by the Queen Mother. Stroll around Paro town for some last minute shopping. Lunch at a local eatery.
Dinner at an authentic Bhutanese farm house accompanied by the local rice liquor called “Arak.”
|
| Nov
19 |
|
Day excursion to Haa valley
After breakfast drive to Haa valley. (60 Km; 2 hours drive)
The drive is a gentle uphill climb through forests of blue pine, fir, oak and rhododendrons till the Chelila pass. The pass at an elevation of 3810 m. provides a panoramic view of the northern and western Himalayan mountain ranges as well as Haa and Paro valleys. From the Chelila pass it is drive downhill for 24 Km to the Haa valley and the Haa township.
Haa is western-most valley in Bhutan bordering on the Tibet region of China. The Haa valley was opened to tourism only in the year 2002.
Evening: return to Paro
|
| Nov
20 |
|
Taktsang Monastery Hike
In the morning take a hike to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest". The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800 m. Picnic lunch at Taktsang cafeteria; en route visit the Drugyel Dzong - ruined fortress. On a clear day this spot offers a magnificent vista of Mount Jumolhari "Mountain of Goddess" (Alt. 7329 m).
Dinner at hotel. After reading our group journal aloud, we can soak in a “Chhu Tsen” which is the Bhutanese equivalent of a Jacuzzi. River rocks are heated and placed in a large wooden tub. The hot rocks supposedly have medicinal values and helps a number of ailments!
|
Nov
21
Fri, Day 15
|
|
A.M.
Departure for Bangkok
|
| COSTS: |
|
| Group
of 5-7 |
|
$6100. land |
| Group
of 8-10 |
|
$5900. land |
| Group
of 11-12 |
|
$5700. land |
|
Leah Krawetz Travel in Minneapolis has found flights to Bangkok in the range of:
| |
$1638.
|
|
Albuquerque to Bangkok |
| |
$1531. |
|
Minneapolis to Bangkok (thru Tokyo) |
| |
$1666. |
|
Atlanta to Bangkok (through Seoul) |
| |
|
|
|
Leah can be reached at:
651-256-8011 (direct line)
1 800 544 0110
and
Leah@msptravelgroup.com
Additional $745. per person airfare from Bangkok to Bhutan on Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier.
A $1000. deposit will be needed from group participants by August 1, 2008.
Final payments would be due in October 1, 2008. In October 2007 we will also need to receive $600. from everyone so we can secure seats on the Bangkok-Paro-Bangkok flights (your reservation is not reserved until you pay!).
For
more information contact:
Marilyn Mason
505.820.6306
info@marilynmason.com
|
|
|
|
