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The Weaver’s Trail

Bhutan is a small Himalayan Kingdom with a rich cultural heritage. Among its many hidden treasures is a mosaic of rich vibrant hues and patterns in myriad weaves which is a testament to its renowned weaving tradition. Discover this timeless tradition on the Weaver's Trail, a tour that concentrates on the textiles of Central and Eastern . While many varieties of textiles can be found in Bhutan's capitol, Thimphu, it is in the rural interior where many of Bhutan's most famous textiles are created. On this special tour, we will watch demonstrations by rural Bhutanese women practicing weaving traditions that span centuries. Different regions have typical designs and fabrics and even looms of special design. Our trip across Bhutan visits folk textile centers where we learn about the techniques of weaving, the significance of Bhutanese designs and colors, and of course, meet the weavers themselves. Combined with a festival en-route a Weaver's Trail provides wonderful insight into the arts, crafts, and rural lifestyles of this very special mountain culture.

Day 1-2 Travel To Bangkok

Day 3 Arrive in Bhutan In the morning you will fly to Bhutan. Paro is located in a flat valley awash with rice fields that lie above a narrow gorge. This fertile valley was the seat of power in Western Bhutan during the nineteenth century. In the afternoon, you will have a chance to visit the valley's largest Dzong, Paro Dzong, correctly known as Richen Pung Dzong. A dzong is a fortress that holds offices for civil officials and quarters for monastic authorities. All Dzongs were built in harmony with the land that they protect. They often rise directly out of the ridges upon which they were built. Walking through this ancient walled fortress is like taking a step back in time, a time when Bhutan had to protect itself from its neighbor, Tibet. Paro Dzong is truly a spectacular site. Within the Dzong there are many temples as well as several smaller chambers where monks gather. In Paro we will begin our exploration of Bhutan’s textiles with a visit to a local home. Accommodations: Gangtey Palace or similar Lunch, Dinner

Upgrades to Paro’s Luxury Resorts Available- Please Ask.

Day 4 Paro-Thimphu In the morning, you will drive along Bhutan’s scenic roads passing white-washed traditional Bhutanese homes, yellow roofed temples and forested hillsides as you make your way to the country’s capital, Thimphu. You will arrive in the early afternoon for a colorful textile tour of the city. You will visit Bhutan's Arts & Crafts School, Textile & Folk Heritage Museum and the textile weavers at Changzamtok, where you can observe weavers at work. This evening we will have an introduction to textiles in Bhutan with a talented local weaver. Accommodations: Jhomolhari Hotel or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note you may visit some of these sites and visit textile work shops the following day or on your second visit to Thimphu. As part of your tour we will make sure to visit the Weekend Market in Thimphu held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market is a wonderful place to shop and see local textiles.

Upgrades to Thimphu’s Luxury Hotel’s Available- Please Ask.

Day 5 Thimphu -Punakha Leaving Thimphu, you will take a scenic drive across the Dochu La (10,200 feet) to Punakha and Wangdiphodrang. Crossing the pass, there are great northern views of Bhutan's Eastern Himalayan ranges. Driving through swarms of prayer flags fluttering in the wind, you cross the pass and descend through magnificent pine, magnolia, and rhododendron forests into the sub-tropical Punakha river valley. This route offers some of Bhutan’s most picturesque countryside. Before arriving in Punakha, you will take a short hike through terraced fields of rice to . The trail leads through the fields to the settlement of Pana. You will continue your walk to the temple. This beautiful temple is known for increasing fertility in woman and in recent years Bhutanese women have been joined by women from other countries who journey to this temple in hopes of becoming pregnant. Aside from its significance to women, the temple is located in a wide-open valley making it a beautiful short walk en route to Punakha. Punakha's importance lies largely in the past, when it was Druk Yul's capitol, but the elaborate art within and the dzong's sheer size give hint to Punakha's former days of glory. After exploring the Punakha Valley by foot, you will drive above the valley floor to the Meri Puensum Hotel. The hotel has dramatic views of the surrounding terraced fields and to the north, the snow covered Himalayas. Accommodations: Meri Puensum Hotel or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The following is an excerpt from a presentation we recently did about Bhutan and -

Visitors are allowed to explore the Dzong while the royal abbot is in Thimphu. We had a chance to climb the dzong's steep stairs and enter into this ancient fortress. Walking inside any dzong in the afternoon, we were initially struck with its sheer size. The walls were at least 5-10 feet thick and towered into the sky. A central tower dominates the inner courtyard; the white washed walls were ablaze with light. In the courtyard, monks in red robes walked between their quarters and teaching classroom. At the far end of the Punakha Dzong is a grand temple under construction. Under construction we were able to enter this temple that is normally off-limits to tourists. Climbing to the second floor balcony, we looked down over the dim light and watched as artists, dangling from bamboo scaffolding constructed 40 foot clay statues that continued past our stance to the ceiling above. Between us and the statues of Buddha and Guru Rimpoche were at least 25 -- 2.5 x2.5 foot wood columns wrapped in copper adorned with intricate patterns. In front of us, it was as if time has stood still and we were looking at artisans hundreds and hundreds of years ago working together to build something of astonishing proportions. It was the answer to my question: how did they build these incredible structures such a long a long time ago?

Day 6 Punakha -Trongsa This morning you will visit the Souvenir Production Unit in Kabisa. The Project was founded by Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem (Bhutan's Queen) who is also the President of the Youth Development Fund. Here you will observe weaving, traditional doll making, and other handicraft production. Shortly after departing Punakha you will arrive in Wangdiphodrang where you pass the Wangdiphodrang Dzong. Located on a narrow windswept bluff above the junction of the Sankosh and Tsang Ch u Rivers. This impressive fortress holds much of Bhutan’s history, and in the past was Bhutan’s secondary capitol. In the afternoon continue over the Black Mountain to Trongsa. Accommodations: Yangkhil Lodge or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Trongsa-Bumthang In the morning you may visit the (outside) and its watch-tower which were built in 1648 AD as the ancestral home of the royal family. Built on split-levels on a narrow spur, this dzong is Bhutan's most architecturally complex. Sitting above the Mangde Chu River the Dzong's and its neighboring watchtower's view extends for many miles displaying its historically strategic location. Driving along Bhutan's most beautiful stretch of road you arrive in a region of several interconnected valleys called Bumthang. Home to numerous temples and monasteries, Bumthang lies between 8,000 and 10,000 feet and is considered Bhutan's most sacred valley. In the evening we will join villagers and town's people as they meet to celebrate one of Bhutan's most vibrant festivals. Celebrated at the dzong we will watch as monks and lay people join together to perform dances and plays for crowds of Bhutanese onlookers. Accommodations: Yoedzerling, Mipham or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Bumthang The vibrant celebration continues today in Jakar, Prakar, or Ura. Celebrating with the local Bhutanese we visit Bumthang's Dzong to watch the dancing and festivities. You will be part of the festival enjoying brilliant mask and sacred fire dances with locals from Jakar and its surrounding villages. While staying in Jakar there will also be plenty of time to walk to local sites, tour ancient temples, and visit local weaving workshops. Bumthang is acclaimed for weaving with sheep wool. The weavers here produce heavy twill fabrics made into blankets, rain cloaks, shawls and winter garments. All weaving is done on horizontal frame looms. Plaid woolen fabrics whose predominant color is red (mathra) are trademarks of Bumthang’s textiles. Bumthang is also the home of yathra -a woolen cloth patterned with traditional designs. Accommodations: Yoedzerling, Mipham or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Bumthang – Lhuntse The journey continues eastwards, winding through more rugged terrain. The drive, with spectacular views, will take about six hours. Pass through Ura village before climbing sharply to the highest motor road pass in the Kingdom, The Thrumshingla pass at 12,465 feet. Gradually drop down to Shongar. The ruins of Shongar Dzong can be viewed amongst the thick jungle. The dzong was once one of the most important dzongs in Eastern Bhutan. Along your route enjoy cascading waterfalls and spectacular scenery. The incredible descent ends at 2,130 feet when you cross the river. You then climb again through pine forests and maize fields to the region of Lhuntse, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family. In the evening, visit (built in 1654) which sits high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Kuri Chhu valley. Accommodations: Lhuntse Guest House or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Lhuntse – Khurbazam – Kurtoe - Khoma After breakfast, drive to Khurbazam. Here you will enjoy a three hour walk from Khurbazam to Khoma village where some of the most famous and expensive textiles in Bhutan are woven in silk and cotton. In Khoma you may also get acquainted with the Bhutanese tradition of receiving and sending off guests, an elaborate but fully satisfying experience which has disappeared in other parts of Bhutan. Accommodations: Lhuntse Guest House or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

For guests interested in a short trek / village visit we may add an overnight visit to the villages of Khoma and Ngangladung. In the villages you will stay with a rural family and have a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture of the weavers.

Day 11 Lhuntse - Mongar Morning drive to the eastern hamlet of Mongar. Along the way you will pass by several villages, Tangmachu, Palangphu and Autso. Arriving in Mongar you’ll have a chance to wander through town and enjoy a typical eastern dinner. North Central Bhutan is famous for cloth decorated with Kushu, a regional style of continuous supplementary –weft patterning on a wide field. The area is also known for mathra (plaid cloth, predominantly in a red pattern). The most celebrated of Kurto’s supplementary-weft pattern weaving is the woman’s dress called Kushuthara (brocaded dress), decorated in the Kushu technique also seen on bags and other textiles. Accommodation: Wangchuk Inn or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Mongar - The road from Mongar to Trashigang, the eastern most region, begins traveling through lush forests and ferns passing over the Korila at 8,000 feet. After about an hour journey you will reach the village of Ngatshang, the site of the fiefdoms before unification of the nation. Descending rapidly through cornfields and banana groves, you reach Yadi village. Follow the Garmi River until Dramatsi. Nun Choden Zangmo founded this temple, perched atop a steep hill in the 16th century. This is the place from where Drametsi Nga Chham, a festival mask dance with drums originated. En route visit Yayung or Sherchu to see how lac is reared on the twigs of S.Monospermo. About 20 miles onwards lays Trashigang. View the Dzong, built strategically on a spur over the Gamri River. Accommodations: Druk Deyjong or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Trashigang - Trasi Yangtse The drive from Trashigang to Trashi Yangtse takes about 2 hours. Visit the temple of Gom Kora, set on a small alluvial plateau over looking the Kolung Chhu river. Gom Kora is the famous place where Guru Rimpoche mediated in order to subdue a demon. Further ahead reach Doksum Village where you can see women busy weaving traditional Bhutanese fabric such as Serthra, Tsangthra and Mentsematra. En-route visit the old Trashi Yangtse Dzong. It was established just after the Drukpa conquest of 1656 and later renovated in 1976. Trashi Yangtse is a small pretty town and is one of the two locations where black-necked cranes migrate. The area is also known for its exceptional woodcrafts such as wooden bowls and containers. Accommodation: Local Inn Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 Trashi Yangtse – Trashigang After Breakfast Visit Chorten Kora, one of only two chortens built in a style prevalent in Nepal (Bodhnath) and the spot where Guru Rimpoche is believed to have had a vision that a temple and chorten would be built. Visit a bowl making center and if possible visit Yangtse school with a local school teacher. In the afternoon return to Trashigang. En- route stop at Doksum once again to see a 15th century iron chain-link bridge, the last surviving bridge of those built by Tibetan Saint Thangthong Gyalpo, popularly known as the builder of iron bridges. In the evening watch the weavers making silk Kiras on their back strap looms. Accommodations: Druk Deyjong or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 Trashigang – Kaling –Trashigang Today we will take a day excursion to Khaling where the government has established the country’s only handloom center. The center is known for its innovative designs, incorporating both traditional and modern designs and colorings. Returning to town there will be a chance to enjoy more sites and an afternoon hike. Visit . Accommodation: Druk Deyjong Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 Trashigang - Bumthang Today you will be driving back to Bumthang across two passes: the Korila and Thrumshingla. After Mongar, the road descends spectacularly into rich semi-tropical rainforest near Lingmithang one of greatest birding area in South Asia. You may encounter Golden Langur in between Lingmithang and Yongkola. From Lingmithang, the road leads gradually up to the Thrumshingla Pass and to Bumthang leaving behind the most beautiful and rich forest in the entire Himalayas. Accommodations: Yoedzerling, Mipham or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 Bumthang – Phobjikha Drive to Gangtey after visiting sites in Bumthang you may have missed on the trip out east. Gangtey which is located in one of Bhutan’s most picturesque valleys, Phobjikha. Visit Gangtey Gompa, which now houses one of the only Nyingmapa Monasteries in Bhutan. The valley is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes, which migrate from remote parts of Tibet, China and Siberia to winter in this valley. In the evening visit a small locally owned carpet manufacturing factory which produces carpets very similar to Tibetan carpets. Accommodation: Dewachen or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Phobjikha –Thimphu - Paro After early breakfast, you may explore Phobjikha and enjoy a beautiful walk around the valley before continuing to Thimphu. Today is Thimphu’s weekend market where we can spend some time mingling with the Bhutanese and shopping. In the afternoon continue to Paro. This evening enjoy a festive dinner at a local Paro farm house. Accommodations: Gangtey Palace or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19 Paro-Taktsang Excursion After an early breakfast, you will drive up to Satsam Chorten for a half-day walk to Taktsang Monastery. The name Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest.” This magical monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. Legend says that Guru flew to a cave on this cliff riding a tiger, hence the name, to meditate. The tiger was actually his favorite consort, Yeshe Tsogyel, whom he transformed into a tiger for the purposes of this journey. They meditated in the cave, and when the Guru left, he instructed that the monastery was to be built. Other possible excursions include visiting the National Museum, Ta Dzong. The museum is housed in Paro Dzongs watchtower. It has a beautiful collection of thangkas and a great assortment of artifacts from around the country, but most impressive is the building itself. Another possible excursion includes visiting . Built in 659 by King Songsten Gampo, the monastery was one of 108 built to help spread Buddhism through the Himalayas. It is located just outside of Paro and is one the country's most sacred places. The remainder of the evening is free to relax in Paro or at the hotel. Accommodations: Gangtey Palace or similar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20 Depart Bhutan (or do an A World Away Extension) Early morning free to explore the neighboring hillside before departing Bhutan. Breakfast

Day 21 Arrive Home

Including: -Superb Guides -All Tours -Accommodations -Meals Noted in Itinerary -Entrance Fees and Permits -Private Ground Transportation -Airport Transfers in Paro -Bhutan Airport Taxes

Price does not include: -International and Domestic Flights -Visa Fees -Transit Airport Taxes -Alcoholic and Bottled Beverages -Meals or Accommodations at Bhutan’s New Five Star Hotels & Resorts (available for an extra fee) -Tips -Personal expenses (telephone, email, laundry, etc.)

** Itinerary will vary slightly depending on departure date and festival.