Bhutan Discover The Spirit

Your departure from home will need to be April 23 or prior in order to arrive in Bangkok, Thailand April 24, and then connect with the group on the 25th to Bhutan.

In order to experience such a remote country, it is necessary to fly into Paro, Bhutan on Druk Airlines. The group airfare from Bangkok-Paro-Bangkok has been included in your land cost. Pending changes by Druk Air, your group will need to be at the Bangkok Airport at 4AM on April 25. Therefore we recommend you book at least one night stay in Bangkok, Thailand. Although there are many hotel choices in the city center, we recommend spending the evening of April 24 at the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel (reservations and payment made through hotel website which will be sent upon enrollment).

Note – The flight from Bangkok to Paro departs very early. If your flight into Bangkok is delayed by even just a few hours, it would be easy to miss the group departure flight to Paro. You may want to take advantage of visiting a few of the Bangkok sights, recovering from jet lag, and assuring yourself that you will be on time for the Bhutan flight, by spending additional evenings in Bangkok.

This morning return with Karen and Joel to the BKK airport via the hotel shuttle service or the air-conditioned walkway from the Novotel Hotel. You will present your e-tickets sent to you prior to departure (business class has been included for additional baggage limit and faster group check-in). The flight departure time is currently 6AM on Druk Airline.
Upon arrival in Bhutan you will be met by your guide and driven an hour and a half to the capital, Thimphu. After checking into the hotel and lunch, spend some time in town. Thimphu has a population of approximately 45,000, composed mainly of monks, the Kingdom’s royal family, government civil service, and a growing middle class. Its emergence as a capital city began in 1952.
Begin the next day after breakfast, photograph the National Memorial Chorten, with its sun-catching golden finial, making it one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu. For many people it is the focus of their daily worship. Chortens are Buddhist reliquaries and memorials to the teachings of the Buddha. Sometimes stupas carry relics of the Buddha or revered monks. Whether or not there are relics inside, the stupas mark the landscape with reminders of the Buddha’s teachings. It may be possible to enter Tashichho Dzong (dzong is a fortress-monastery), the most important monastery in the kingdom. In addition to housing the offices of the king’s government, Tashichho is also the summer residence of the central monk body.

After lunch visit a traditional weaving studio and the Choki Traditional Art School (if school is in session), which focuses on education of Bhutanese traditional painting, woodcarving, and embroidery for socially and economically disadvantaged youth of Bhutan. These visits will be wonderful photographic opportunities in the long-established art and craft techniques of the Bhutanese people. Overnight Thimpu (L, D; B, L, D)

Today continue your journey across the Dochu La Pass, from where you will get your first look at the chain of Himalayan peaks strung along the northern horizon. The pass has 108 chortens, honoring those who laid down their lives while flushing out insurgents from southern Bhutan in December 2003. Next reach the Pelela Pass, which was, during ancient times, the boundary between western and central Bhutan. From Pelela, drive down through dwarf bamboo vegetation, grazed by the migrating yaks during winter. En route visit Chendebji Chorten erected in the eighteenth century by a Tibetan over the remains of an evil spirit that was subdued at this spot. The chorten has painted eyes at the four cardinal points.

Drive another hour after lunch, reaching the spectacular landscape of Trongsa and its impressive dzong. There is a viewpoint to see the dzong stretched along a ridge above a ravine. This town is right in the middle of the country, separated from both east and west by high mountain ranges. A large influx of Tibetans immigrated here in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Overnight Trongsa (B, L, D)

The Trongsa Dzong is considered one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture in Bhutan, and the strategic location gave it great power over this part of the country. The only trail between eastern and western Bhutan still leads straight through Trongsa and used to run directly through the dzong itself. Given time visit the Ta Dzong on the hillside above the town. During ancient times, Ta Dzong used to be a watchtower to guard Trongsa.

Drive further east, taking time to photograph the beautiful landscape of this region. Arriving to your Bumthang hotel in the late afternoon, have a bit of time for rest, dinner, and perhaps some evening photography. Experience rare opportunities not afforded other travelers, such as being invited to a private monastery in the Bumthang region. Here join monks during their evening candlelit prayers. Visit a traditional farmhouse, providing opportunity to interact with the local families and learn more about their lifestyle. Overnight Bumthang (B, L, D all days).

After breakfast in Bumthang you will move on to Gangtey, with photographic stops along the way; you may even see the red Panda at Pelela. Driving through the mountains and over a high pass, you will enter Phobjikha Valley, popularly known to be the home of the black-necked cranes. The Bhutanese have great respect for these heavenly birds. Visit Gangtey Goenpa, the only Nyingmapa (oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Bhuddhism) monastery in western Bhutan. Overnight Gangtey (B, L, D)

After breakfast, continue to Punakha, stopping for lunch and photography from a viewpoint of the nearby Wangdiphodrang Dzong. Like many other dzongs, it is situated on a dramatic promontory overlooking the valley, because its first purpose was that of fortress, protecting the valley against potential raids from Tibet. They later took on their second purpose, that of a monastery for the training of monks and places of worship for laymen in the vicinity. In addition to photographing in and around the dzong, you will also take advantage of its setting to photograph this fertile, lowland (4,400’) valley, with its quaint houses and terraced fields.

Wangdi sits in the heart of the Punakha Valley, and you will devote a full day today to exploring this valley. The Punakha Dzong dates back to the seventeenth century and was the winter seat of the highest lama in Bhutan until the 1950’s. It is spectacularly situated at the confluence of the Mo and Phu Rivers. After lunch walk to the fifteenth century temple of the Divine Madman, walking through rice fields and farmhouses. It will provide opportunity for those wishing to photograph the phallic paintings on the houses; these paintings are believed to keep away the evil spirits and bad luck. Overnight Punakha (B, L, D both days

After an early breakfast return to Paro, arriving in the afternoon. Depending on weather and photographic opportunities along the way, you may have time to visit the Ta Dzong, once a watchtower, or the Rinpung Dzong, built in 1646. The southern approach to the dzong has a traditional roofed cantilever bridge called a Nemi Zam. A walk across the bridge offers a spectacular view of the architecture and an opportunity to tread the same path as the ancient warriors.

Your last day the group will have a full day walk to the Taktsang Dzong, more commonly known as the Tiger’s Nest. At the halfway point is your first viewing of the Dzong. There are usually donkeys at the head of the trail for those who wish to take an optional ride to this point. Those that continue can enter the Dzong. It was established in the eighth century when Padmasambava, the country’s patron saint, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of his mythical tigress consort to meditate. The main buildings sit astride a sheer rock cliff face more than 2000’ above Paro Valley. The most prominent building burned to the ground in 1998 but was rebuilt with no visual architectural differences from its predecessor. Our hike begins at roughly 8,000’ and goes to just over 10,000’; return to the valley floor late this afternoon and enjoy a farewell dinner with our local guide this evening. Overnight Paro (B, L, D both days).

After breakfast transfer to the airport for a morning flight back to Bangkok, arriving at approximately 3:30PM (subject to change by airline). The majority of carriers have flights returning to the States around 10PM (landing May 7 in U.S.). You can choose to stay at the airport until your return flight, return to Novotel via the shuttle or walkway, or travel onward to other destinations. (B)

Please note: We cannot be responsible for miss-connections between Druk Air and your other flights. Careful attention needs to be paid to flight times, and dates of travel.