WWF INSIDER JOURNEYS THE EASTERN HIMALAYA TRIP ITINERARY A WWF Insider Journey through Bhutan and Nepal with Dechen Dorji, WWF’s Senior Director for Asia December 4–15, 2022 oin expert Dechen Dorji, WWF’s Senior Director for Asia, Wildlife J Conservation, to explore mountain heights and tropical lowlands on a soulful journey through the cultural and wildlife treasures of two Himalayan kingdoms—Bhutan and Nepal. With a presence in the eastern Himalaya since the early days of the conservation movement, WWF works here to combat wildlife crime, protect forests, and NEPAL mitigate the effects of climate Chitwan Kathmandu Punakha National Park change. Bhutan is one of the world’s Paro Thimpu little-known treasures, a nation dedicated BHUTAN to preserving its Buddhist traditions and pristine landscapes. Our journey will take you to ancient monasteries, Himalayan peaks, glacial rivers, and peaceable villages. Along the way, you will learn how WWF is working with the royal government on an ambitious plan to maintain almost 400,000 acres of “wildlife highways” that connect protected areas across the country. Geographically diverse, Nepal contains the world’s highest mountains, subtropical forests, and captivating cultures. During a private guided journey in Chitwan National Park, see how WWF is leading efforts to protect Bengal tigers, rhinos, leopards, and other majestic animals from poaching. You will also get an in-depth look at how WWF is working with Nepal’s government and local communities to connect 11 protected areas by restoring the forests between them. In 2022, the Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger, WWF will mark the closing of Tx2, a bold global initiative to double the number of tigers in the wild. Since 2010, WWF has worked with partners and communities in the 13 tiger range countries, including Nepal and Bhutan, to tackle the greatest threats to tigers and create conditions necessary for them to recover and thrive. Through our efforts, we have proven tigers can rebound with international support and collaboration. In Nepal, wild tigers have nearly doubled since 2009. And, numbers are also increasing in Bhutan—a recent survey found the tiger population had doubled in Bhutan’s Royal Manas Park, the oldest protected area in the country. ITINERARY AT A GLANCE 12 Days Day Date Location Accommodation 1 December 4 Kathmandu, Nepal Dwarika’s Hotel 2 December 5 Bharatpur / Chitwan National Park Meghauli Serai 3 & 4 December 6 & 7 Chitwan National Park Meghauli Serai 5 December 8 Bharatpur / Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Tour Dwarika’s Hotel 6 December 9 Bhutan / Thimphu The Postcard Dewa 7 December 10 Thimphu The Postcard Dewa 8 December 11 Punakha Valley Dhensa Boutique Resort 9 December 12 Punakha Dhensa Boutique Resort 10 December 13 Paro Le Meridien Paro 11 December 14 Paro—Tiger’s Nest & Kyichu Lhakhang Le Meridien Paro 12 December 15 Paro / Bangkok, Thailand / Depart ITINERARY IN DETAIL Day 1, December 4: Kathmandu, Nepal Arrive in Kathmandu, the storied capital of Nepal. For centuries the city has been a center of religious art and architecture in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions and is renowned for its ancient temples and urban squares. This evening we’ll gather with our Expedition Leader, WWF hosts, and fellow tra- velers for a welcome dinner in the quiet of a restored historic Rana palace. Then settle in at Dwarika’s, a heritage lodge that evokes the palaces of Nepal’s Newar kings, where we’ll sleep among artifacts dating back to the 14th century. Overnight Dwarika’s Hotel (D) Day 2, December 5: Bharatpur / Chitwan National Park This morning we will take a scenic flight to Bharatpur and transfer to our lodge, where we’ll spend the next three nights in Chitwan National Park—located in the Terai lowlands, bordering India. Our luxury safari lodge is ideally situated near Chitwan National Park in the largest area of undisturbed wilderness along the base of the Himalaya. Its location is the best in the Chitwan region for wildlife viewing, which we take full advantage of during our stay. The area surrounding the lodge has a high sighting rate for the one-horned rhinoceros, crocodile, and gharial. Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, is Nepal’s first national park and was granted World Heritage Site status in 1984. It covers 360 square miles of subtropical lowlands and is home to about 50 species of mammals and more than 500 species of birds. We spend our days exploring the park on river trips, 4x4 drives, and guided nature walks, hoping for views of the park’s most famous wild residents. While sightings are never guaranteed, we have good chances to observe rhinoceros, wild elephant, crocodile, leopard, sloth bear, sambar deer, wild boar, monkeys, and jungle fowl in their natural habitat. Overnight Meghauli Serai (B,L,D) For reservations and additional information, please contact Court Whelan at Natural Habitat Adventures at 888-993-8687, (Int’l) 303-449-3711 or [email protected] Day 3 & 4, December 6 & 7: Chitwan National Park WWF began working in Nepal decades ago in 1967, when it launched its rhino conservation program in Chitwan National Park. During our visit in Chitwan we will have many rare and exciting opportunities—that few people get to experience—to learn about the many projects WWF has initiated in the area. This includes a private guided journey to see firsthand how WWF is leading efforts to protect tigers and other majestic animals from poaching. We will learn how Nepal has accom- plished four 365-day periods of zero poaching of rhinos since 2011, including an in-depth look at some of the strategies used to accomplish that feat. And we will get an on-the-ground understanding of how WWF is working with Nepal’s govern- ment and local communities to connect 11 protected areas by restoring the forests between them. Near the park headquarters we’ll also visit the Gharial Breeding Center, home to the massive crocodile with its distinctive long snout. We will learn about the WWF-supported sniffer dog program, where special dogs are trained to help track down, apprehend, and deter poachers in and around Chitwan National Park. Additionally, we will embark on a traditional wooden boat called a “patella” for a gentle float down to Amaltari Ghat. There is a good chance to see rhinoceros, crocodiles, and many birds. At Amaltari Village, located in the park’s buffer zone, we’ll see WWF’s first piloted sustainable village in Nepal, which features a home stay program, fish and turmeric enter- prises, and a health clinic. Overnight Meghauli Serai (B,L,D) Day 5, December 8: Bharatpur / Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Tour Return to Bharatpur airport this morning for our flight back to Kathmandu. On an afternoon tour, explore some of the renowned cultural sites in the Kathmandu Valley that have earned the region UNESCO World Heritage status. Our sightseeing itinerary includes the ancient Newar city of Bhaktapur, once a kingdom in its own right. Its old city center and famous Durbar Square, fronting the original royal palace, contain some of the best-preserved palace courtyards in Nepal, noted for their intricate pagoda-style temples and renowned artworks of wood, metal, and stone. We also visit the vibrant Tibetan Buddhist enclave of Boudhanath. For reservations and additional information, please contact Court Whelan at Natural Habitat Adventures at 888-993-8687, (Int’l) 303-449-3711 or [email protected] The white-domed stupa that dominates its low skyline is the largest in Nepal and a sacred pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists from around the world. Overnight Dwarika’s Hotel (B,L,D) Day 6, December 9: Paro, Bhutan / Thimphu Fly this morning to the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”—the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but its commitment to conservation has a tremendous footprint. More than 51% of the country’s land is legally protected, providing refuge for an astounding diversity of rare wildlife. In 2017, WWF partnered with the government of Bhutan to secure its natural wonders, forever. Known as Bhutan For Life, this visionary project forged a single agreement between government, NGOs, and private partners to finance the permanent protection and management of Bhutan’s five-million-acre network of protected areas. If the skies are clear on our flight to Paro, we’ll see the highest peaks on the planet visible below in a serrated white spine, setting a striking backdrop as we approach the green trough of the Paro Valley. Rich in culture, lush in scenic beauty, and steeped in history and legend, Paro offers a bucolic welcome to the kingdom. From Paro we drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s idyllic capital and a stronghold of tra- ditional Bhutanese art, architecture, and culture. Surrounded by mountains and monasteries, this seat of government and com- merce on the Wang Chuu River is a harmonious mix of modern development and ancient traditions. It’s also the only national capital in the world without traffic lights. After check- ing in to our hotel, we visit Thimphu Dzong late this afternoon. This striking Buddhist monastery and fortress was built in the 13th century, reconstructed over the years, and has served as the office of the king and seat of civil government for the country since 1952. Overnight The Postcard Dewa (B,L,D) For reservations and additional information, please contact Court Whelan at Natural Habitat Adventures at 888-993-8687, (Int’l) 303-449-3711 or [email protected] Day 7, December 10: Thimphu Our day begins with a visit to the capital’s new Buddha statue, one of the tallest in the world at 170 feet.