Colors of Bhutan Land of the Thunder Dragon Featuring the Gom Kora Festival in Trashigang

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

“It was a fantastic, fascinating and memorable trip that Stanford facilitated beautifully.” Lori Covel Clelland, '77, Lands of the Himalaya, 2010

March 27 to April 13, 2012

a program of the stanford alumni association I’ll never forget the first time I visited Bhutan with a Stanford group: the people welcomed us with genuine, open smiles and the sky was such a clear, crisp blue it literally took my breath away. One of the world’s most isolated countries, Bhutan still possesses an unparalleled mystique and charm for the intrepid traveler, filled with treasures few tourists ever see. A highlight of our 2012 sojourn is the chance to enter Bhutan from its eastern border and drive through to Paro in the west – a journey seldom undertaken by western visitors. Stanford history professor Mark Mancall, a royal appointee and resident of Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, guides our understanding of this incredible land and its people. We hope you can join us!

Brett S. Thompson, ’83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study Highlights

DISCOVER Bhutan’s ADMIRE the impressive hike to the 10,000-foot- seldom visited far eastern dzongs (monumental high Taktsang (“Tiger’s section and attend the fortresses) and artifact- Nest”) Monastery, perched vibrant Gom Kora Festival filled museums in Punakha, on a cliff 3,000 feet above in Trashigang Trongsa and Paro the valley floor

Punakha dzong H s i m a l a y a TIBET Punakha Bumthang C HINA Trongsa Paro Thimphu Samdrup Trashigang Jongkhar Mongar

B HUT A N

to I N D I A Bangkok, Thailand putra R i ver ma ah Guwahati Br BANGLADESH from Kolkata, India

across the border into Bhutan. to see the last of the festivities Itinerary Arrive in Samdrup Jongkhar, at the Gom Kora Festival. the gateway to eastern DRUK ZHONGAR HOTEL (B,L,D) Bhutan. TLT HOTEL (B,L,D) Tuesday & Wednesday, Tuesday, April 3 March 27 & 28 MONGAR / BUMTHANG Saturday, March 31 U.S. / KOLKATA, INDIA SAMDRUP JONGKHAR / Drive west towards Depart the U.S. on an TRASHIGANG Bumthang, crossing over overnight flight to Kolkata, Spend the day traveling along Thrumsela Pass (12,400 feet arriving late Wednesday Bhutan’s national highway above sea level). Look for evening or early Thursday through seldom-visited eastern brightly colored rhododendron morning. oberoi grand HOTEL Bhutan. Pass through rolling flowers in bloom. Arrive in foothills, over mountain passes the village of Jakar, a district Thursday, March 29 and by villages that have of four mountain valleys. KOLKATA changed little for centuries. Spend the afternoon sight- GONGKHAR LODGE (B,L,D) RANGJUNG GUEST HOUSE (B,L,D) seeing in Kolkata, including Wednesday, April 4 the impressive Victoria Sunday, April 1 Memorial, with its vast BUMTHANG TRASHIGANG Explore the area around collection of artifacts from Partake in the vibrant Gom Bumthang, visiting the the days of the British empire; Kora Festival, one of the most royal monastery of Kurjey and the Botanical Gardens, important festivals of eastern Lhakhang and stopping at with its 200-year-old banyan Bhutan and a sight rarely a traditional country house tree. Join fellow travelers at seen by westerners. Locals to see how puta (buckwheat a welcome reception and from all over Trashigang noodles) are made and dinner this evening. District gather to attend the to sample ara, the locally oberoi grand HOTEL (B,L,D) annual festivities centered brewed rice wine. around the 400-year-old GONGKHAR LODGE (B,L,D) Friday, March 30 Gom Kora Monastery. KOLKATA / GUWAHATI / RANGJUNG GUEST HOUSE (B,L,D) SAMDRUP JONGKHAR, BHUTAN Fly to Guwahati in the Monday, April 2 northern Indian state of TRASHIGANG / MONGAR Visit the Trashigang Assam then board a coach Dzong, the monastic and and travel north for approxi- administrative headquarters mately four hours through for Trashigang District. Depart small villages and tea fields, for Mongar, stopping en route H s i m a l a y a TIBET Punakha Bumthang C HINA Trongsa Paro Thimphu Samdrup Trashigang Jongkhar Mongar

B HUT A N to I N D I A Bangkok, Thailand putra R i ver ma ah Guwahati Br

BANGLADESH from Kolkata, India costumed dancers in bhutanese festival

Thursday, April 5 Sunday, April 8 Museum, view historical BUMTHANG / TRONGSA PUNAKHA / THIMPHU and cultural exhibits about Continue westward to Depart for Thimphu, stopping Bhutan. Trongsa. Explore the Trongsa en route at Dochula Pass ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) Dzong, the great ancestral (10,200 feet) with its views home of Bhutan’s royal of the Himalayas on clear Wednesday, April 11 family, and tour the dzong’s days and 108 chortens, PARO watchtower’s museum, with small religious monuments Hike to the famous Taktsang relics and artifacts from that symbolize enlightenment. (“Tiger’s Nest”) Monastery. the royal family’s archives. Visit the Memorial Chorten, The sight of the white temples HOTEL YANGKHILL (B,L,D) which dominates the skyline at an elevation of 10,000 and overflows with Buddhist feet and clinging to a cliff Friday, April 6 iconography. 3,000 feet above the valley is TRONGSA / PUNAKHA TAJ TAshi HOTEL (B,L,D) spectacular. Alternatively, view Depart for Punakha, stopping the monastery from afar, then to visit the Wangdi Phodrang Monday, April 9 visit Kyichu, a 7th-century Dzong. Descend into Punakha THIMPHU monastery; and Dungtse Valley and walk through crop At the Arts and Crafts Lhakhang, housing beautiful fields and villages to visit Chimi School, see Bhutanese wall paintings. Celebrate the Lhakhang, a 15th-century students learning the conclusion of our adventure fertility pilgrimage shrine. traditions of wood carving, at a farewell reception and ZANGTO PELRI HOTEL (B,L,D) painting and weaving, then dinner. see examples of weaving ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) Saturday, April 7 and traditional clothing at PUNAKHA the National Textile Museum. An optional morning Thursday & Friday, Enjoy dinner with Bhutanese April 12 & 13 hike takes us to Khamsum dignitaries and scholars. PARO / BANGKOK, Yuley Namgay Chorten, a TAJ TASHI HOTEL (B,L,D) THAILAND / U.S. monument festooned with Depart early Thursday on colorful images of Guru Tuesday, April 10 a flight to Bangkok and Rinpoche, “the second THIMPHU / PARO check into our airport hotel, Buddha.” Continue to the Visit the Paro Dzong, one of connecting to international 17th-century Punakha the most beautifully situated flights to the U.S. late Dzong, winter fortress of fortresses in Bhutan. As the Thursday evening or Friday the Je Khenpo, traditional location for the movie, Little morning. chief hierarch of Bhutanese Buddha, this dzong is one AIRPORT NOVOTEL SUVARNABHUMI Buddhism. of the most recognizable in (B, both days; L,D, 4/12) ZANGTO PELRI HOTEL (B,L,D) the West. At the National

Information What to Expect Dates We consider this to be a fairly strenuous March 27 to April 13, 2012 (18 days) program that is at times demanding and busy. Participants must be physically fit and Size Limited to 24 participants in active good health. Travel in Bhutan puts us at high altitudes, from approximately cost* 5,000 to 12,400 feet above sea level. Daily $10,495 per person, double occupancy programs involve several early-morning $13,495 per person, single occupancy departures, and most excursions require *Association nonmembers add $200 per person a considerable amount of walking, often on uneven terrain such as that found at INCLUDED temples and fortresses, where elevators 16 nights of hotel accommodations 16 breakfasts, are unavailable and stairs are very steep 15 lunches and 15 dinners Welcome and farewell and may not have handrails. Roads in cocktail receptions Bottled water on excursions Bhutan are winding, narrow and often Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers for all undergoing repair, and our journey at group activities Bhutan and Indian visas for U.S. times requires long travel days in small citizens All tours and excursions as described in minibuses (up to 8 or 9 hours on the the itinerary Flights between Kolkata and Guwa- longest days). We make occasional rest hati on March 30 and Paro and Bangkok on April stops, but often toilets are not available 12 Transfers and baggage handling throughout and nature’s facilities are more inviting and program Minimal medical, accident and evacua- abundant than those that are man-made. tion insurance Educational program with lecture The hotels we use are the best-available; series and pre-departure materials, including rec- all are clean, safe and comfortable, but ommended reading list, a selected book, map and a few (with the exception of the hotels in travel information Services of our professional Thimphu and Paro) are considered quite tour manager to assist you throughout the program basic by Western standards. We expect that participants will be a self-selecting group NOT INCLUDED whose appreciation for the places we visit International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport outweighs the need for creature comforts. fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages We welcome travelers 15 years of age and other than those specified as included Independent older on this program. and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as email, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Taktsang Monastery Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment and Terrorist Acts if you postmark beyond our control. All such losses A $1,000-per-person deposit your insurance payment within or expenses will have to be borne by is required to hold space for Colors 15 days of the date listed on the the passenger as tour rates provide of Bhutan. Final payment is confirmation letter. arrangements only for the time due 120 days prior to departure. stated. We reserve the right to make Eligibility such alterations to this published We encourage membership in the Cancellations & Refunds itinerary as may be deemed Alumni Association as the program Deposits and any payments are necessary. The right is reserved cost for nonmembers is $200 more fully refundable, less a $500-per- to cancel any program prior to than the members’ price. Parents person cancellation fee, until 120 departure in which case the entire and their children under 21 may days prior to departure. After that payment will be refunded without travel on one membership. For date, refunds can be made only if further obligation on our part. The more information or to purchase a the program is sold out and your right is also reserved to decline to membership, visit alumni.stanford. place(s) can be resold, in which accept or retain any person as a edu/goto/membership or call case a $1,000-per-person member of the program. No refund (650) 725-0692. cancellation fee will apply. We will be made for an unused portion recommend trip-cancellation of any tour unless arrangements insurance; applications will be Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, are made in sufficient time to avoid sent to you. Stanford University and our penalties. Baggage is carried at Insurance operators act only as agents for the owner’s risk entirely. The airlines Stanford Travel/Study provides all the passenger with respect to concerned are not to be held travelers who are U.S. or Canadian transportation and exercise every responsible for any act, omission citizens with minimal medical, care possible in doing so. However, or event during the time that accident and evacuation coverage we can assume no liability for injury, passengers are not onboard under our group-travel insurance damage, loss, accident, delay or their plane or conveyance. Neither policy. Our group policy is intended irregularity in connection with the the Alumni Association, Stanford to provide minimal levels of service of any automobile, University nor our operators accept protection while you are traveling motorcoach, launch or any other liability for any carrier’s cancellation on this program. We strongly conveyance used in carrying out this penalty incurred by the purchase of recommend that you subscribe to program or for the acts or defaults a nonrefundable ticket in connection optional baggage and trip-cancella- of any company or person engaged with the tour. Program price is based tion insurance. A brochure offering in conveying the passenger or in on rates in effect in June 2011 and such insurance will be mailed with carrying out the arrangements of is subject to change without notice your confirmation about one week the program. We cannot accept any to reflect fluctuations in exchange after we receive your deposit. The responsibility for losses or additional rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As product offered in this brochure expenses due to delay or changes a condition of participation, all includes a special Waiver of in air or other services, sickness, confirmed participants are required Pre-Existing Conditions and weather, strike, war, quarantine, to sign a Release of Liability. coverage for Financial Insolvency force majeure or other causes

California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50

mark mancall trained at Harvard University in Chinese studies, specializing in Sino-Russian relations in Siberia and Mongolia. He came to Stanford in 1965 and has taught hundreds of students in such diverse courses as Chinese history, Buddhism, Buddhist social and political theory, South Asian history, the history of socialism and Marxism, and Israeli history. For more than 15 years now, “Mark’s expertise Mark’s primary focus has been in the Himalayan regions of Asia, including India, Bhutan and Tibet. Appointed and perspective director of the Royal Education Commission of Bhutan, couldn’t be more Mark resides most of the year in Bhutan’s capital, valuable in helping Thimphu. He has led over 35 Travel/Study programs us learn and be- since arriving at Stanford.

gin to understand Director, Stanford Overseas Studies Program, Bhutan’s history 1973 – 1985 and current state Founder and director, Stanford Program in of affairs.” Structured Liberal Education (SLE), 1973 – 2007 Has taught at Harvard University, El Colegio de Cora Lee Mack, ’72, Mexico and the University of Haifa, Israel Bhutan Suitcase Seminar, 2009 BA, UCLA; PhD, Harvard University

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“ STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY beautifully.” memorable trip that Stanford facilitated Lori CovelCelland,'77,LandsoftheHimaaya, 2010 It was afantastic, fascinating and Stanford Travel/Study Nonproﬁt Org. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center U.S. Postage 326 Galvez Street P A I D Stanford, CA 94305-6105 Stanford Alumni (650) 725-1093 Association Colors

of Bhutan Land of the Thunder Dragon Featuring the Gom Kora Festival in Trashigang

March 27 to April 13, 2012