STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

IRENE BALCAR DILLON, ’74, MD ’77, AND S. WILLIAM DILLON, LANDS OF THE HIMALAYAS, 2012

TREASURES OF BHUTAN, AND TIBET

October 1 to 16, 2017

a program of the stanford alumni association In 1995 I led a group of Stanford travelers to the kingdoms of the Himalaya. It was a trip I will never forget—we felt as though we had stepped back through time, to the days when reincarnated and ancient dynasties ruled these mountain realms. While some things have changed since then, the most memorable have not: the spiritual nature of the people, temples and dedicated to piety and the pursuit of learning, colorful ceremonies conducted by magenta-robed monks and, of course, the breathtaking beauty of the landscape itself. This year faculty leader Liz Hadly leads our unforgettable adventure to the “rooftop of the world.” Join us!

BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY PUNAKHA, BHUTAN Highlights HIKE to the stunning VIEW more than 100 WANDER the streets cliffside Taktsang Himalayan peaks as we of Lhasa, crowded with , a place so fly past Mt. Everest and nomads in native dress, holy that all Bhutanese drive over high mountain monks spinning prayer try to visit it at least once passes into lush valleys. wheels and merchants during their lifetimes. selling amulets.

COVER: POTALA PALACE, LHASA, TIBET

TAKTSANG MONASTERY, BHUTAN Faculty Leader ELIZABETH A. HADLY is the faculty director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment, and a professor of biology and of geological sciences (by courtesy) at Stanford. Professor Hadly and her lab conduct research throughout the Americas, Asia and Africa on the ecology and evolution of vertebrates. She is especially interested in the role that environmental change exerts on the biodiversity of mammals around the world. “It’s hard to “Liz Hadly appreciate the high elevation and vastness of the Himalayan plateau and its people until you have been there,” says Professor Hadly. “The active tectonism resulting in the highest mountains was the and the deepest gorges, the glaciers that provide water to one- quarter of the planet’s people, and the biological and cultural diversity boggle the mind, as do the increased urbanization and best faculty pollution and extraordinary rates of climate change that threaten the region’s stability.” Professor Hadly is “thrilled to lead this leader ever.” program to the Himalayas” and is “already counting the months until departure!” This will be Elizabeth Hadly’s ninth trip with Stanford Travel/Study. MICHAEL WILLEMSEN, ’59, EAST AFRICA SAFARI, 2015

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

JOKHANG TEMPLE, LHASA, TIBET

SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?himalayas2017 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 Beijing C HINA Lhasa CHINA

TIBET s H i m a l a y a

Kathmandu Punakha Paro B HUTAN Thimphu N EPAL

from Bangkok INDIA

intellectuals and public figures. situated dzongs in Bhutan, TAJ TASHI (B,L,D) made famous in the West as the ItineraryItinerary key location for the movie, The THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 Little Buddha. At the National SUNDAY & MONDAY, THIMPHU / PUNAKHA Museum, learn about the his- OCTOBER 1 & 2 On our journey to Punakha, tory, culture and religion of DEPART U.S. / BANG- stop at scenic Dochula Pass Bhutan. ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) KOK, THAILAND (10,200 feet), site of 108 Bud- Depart Sunday on an overnight dhist stone shrines, or chortens. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 flight to Bangkok, arriving on Enjoy lunch at the pass before PARO Monday in the late evening. descending 6,000 feet into Hike to the iconic Taktsang After clearing immigration and the lush Punakha Valley. Walk (“Tiger’s Nest”) Monastery, customs, transfer to our airport through fields and villages to whose white temples cling to a hotel. NOVOTEL BANGKOK SUVARNAB- visit Chimi Lhakhang, a 15th- soaring cliff 10,000 feet above HUMI HOTEL century fertility temple and a key the valley. Taktsang, a place so site. DHENSA RESORT holy that all Bhutanese try to TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 (B,L,D) pay a visit there at least once BANGKOK / PARO, during their lives, marks the BHUTAN / THIMPHU FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 spot where , This morning fly to Paro, site of PUNAKHA the 8th-century Indian mystic, Bhutan’s international airport This morning visit Punakha arrived on the back of a flying and one of its most beauti- Dzong, a spectacular riverside tiger after bringing to ful towns. After lunch, drive to fortress/monastery that is the Bhutan. ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) Thimphu, the country’s capital. seat of the Jo Khenpo, the chief This evening gather for a wel- hierarch of Bhutanese Bud- MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 come reception and dinner. dhism. In the afternoon, take PARO / , TAJ TASHI (B,L,D) an optional hike past farms and NEPAL through fields to the charm- Fly to Nepal’s capital, Kathman- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 ing village of Nezigang. Climb du, set among the world’s high- THIMPHU gradually to Khamsum Yuley est mountains and located due Today explore the Third King’s Namgay Chorten, which was north of the wide plains of India. Memorial Chorten, full of Bud- built by the royal family and Vital and complex, the city is an dhist and the pri- offers superb views of Punakha ideal place for understanding mary landmark one sees when Valley. DHENSA RESORT (B,L,D) the rich mix of cultures found entering the city; the National throughout the Himalayas. Library, repository of the na- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 Visit Patan, a melange of palace tion’s religious literary heritage; PUNAKHA / PARO buildings, artistic courtyards, and the Folk Heritage Museum Depart Punakha for the drive graceful temples and ancient with its fascinating overview of to Paro. Visit the Paro Dzong, monasteries. DWARIKA HOTEL (B,L,D) traditional Bhutanese life. This one of the most beautifully evening meet with Bhutanese Beijing C HINA Lhasa CHINA

TIBET POTALA PALACE, TIBET H y a s i m a l a SWAYAMBHUNATH , KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Kathmandu Punakha Paro B HUTAN Thimphu N EPAL from Bangkok INDIA THIMPHU, BHUTAN

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 tunities to the people affected in the shadow of an impos- KATHMANDU / BOD- by the 2015 earthquake. DWARIKA ing Himalayan peak. Once NATH / BHAKTAPUR HOTEL (B,L) Tibet’s largest monastery, At dawn, weather permitting, Drepung was founded in 1416 depart for an optional flight- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 and served as the residence seeing tour over the Himalayas. KATHMANDU / LHASA, of several incarnations of the While flying at an altitude of TIBET (CHINA) Dalai . Continue to the 26,000 feet among the highest Fly to Lhasa, capital of the Tibet great , set in peaks in the world, we find Autonomous Region and situat- one of Lhasa’s most dramatic ourselves still 2,800 feet below ed at approximately 12,000 feet mountain settings. Once a the majestic summit of Mt. above sea level. After landing at community of 5,000 monks, Everest, whose southern face the Lhasa airport, settle into our it was severely damaged by we pass within a mile. Later to- hotel and enjoy an afternoon at the Chinese in 1959 during the day drive to nearby Bodnath, a leisure. ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) Cultural Revolution; hundreds small town that boasts a World of monks were killed while Heritage-designated stupa built FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 many more fled to India. Today, by Tibetan Buddhists. Continue LHASA the several hundred resident to the medieval city of Bhakta- Spend the morning at the mag- monks conduct their famous pur, with its Buddhist and Hindu nificent Potala, winter palace of debating sessions among the temples, , palaces and the Dalai Lamas since the 7th restored buildings. This evening monuments, some of which century. From its position atop celebrate the culmination of our date back to the 16th century. Red Hill, the Potala dominates journey at a farewell reception Restoration work is well under- the landscape in all directions. and dinner. ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) way here following the devastat- Visit the holy Temple, ing 7.8 magnitude earthquake which shelters the Jowo - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 that struck the region in April of muni, Tibet’s most revered im- LHASA / BANGKOK, 2015. DWARIKA HOTEL (B,L) age, and join the procession of THAILAND pilgrims moving in a clockwise Fly from Lhasa to Bangkok. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 circuit around the Jokhang. The remainder of the afternoon KATHMANDU Continue to the Barkhor, the is at leisure. AIRPORT NOVOTEL Today visit the giant stupa of lively market district in the heart SUVARNABHUMI HOTEL (B,L) Swayambhunath with its all- of the old city, to take in more seeing eyes of Buddha, and of Lhasa’s colorful sights: tra- MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 Durbar Square, the locale of ditionally clad nomads, monks BANGKOK / U.S. Chowk, the home of holding prayer wheels, and ven- Fly to the U.S., crossing the Kathmandu’s “living goddess,” dors selling spices and amulets. international date line en route a child worshipped by Nepali ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) and arriving home the same Hindus as the manifestation day. (B) of the goddess Durga. Learn SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 about Camp Hope, which has LHASA been providing healthcare, After breakfast, travel to Dre- shelter and educational oppor- pung Monastery, which sits THIMPHU, BHUTAN

and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip Information Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges DATES Personal items such as internet access, tele- October 1 to 16, 2017 (16 days) phone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities SIZE for non-group services 29 participants AIR ARRANGEMENTS U.S./Bangkok and U.S. domestic airfare is COST* $13,695 per person, double occupancy not included in the program cost. Round-trip, $16,195 per person, single occupancy economy-class airfare on United Airlines between *Association nonmembers add $300 per person San Francisco and Bangkok is approximately $1,010 as of January 2017 and is subject to INCLUDED change without notice. 14 nights of deluxe or best-available ho- tel accommodations 14 breakfasts, 13 WHAT TO EXPECT lunches and 10 dinners Welcome and Although this program is not a trek, we consider farewell receptions Gratuities to guides it to be strenuous, covering rugged terrain, with and drivers for all group activities All tours considerable walking at high altitudes. There are as described in the itinerary Transfers and several arduous travel days with early departures. baggage handling on program departure Daily excursions consist of up to three miles day Visas for Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet of walking, including navigating stairs without Flights within Asia: Bangkok/Paro, Paro/Kath- handrails. The excursion to Taktsang is a rigorous mandu, Kathmandu/Lhasa, Lhasa/Bangkok hike. For those who are susceptible to altitude Minimal medical, accident and evacuation sickness, note that Lhasa is 12,000 feet above insurance Educational program with lecture sea level. Medical treatment and care are series and pre-departure materials, including not always available or up to U.S. standards. recommended reading list, a selected book, Accommodations are first-class or best-available; map and travel information Services of outside of the larger cities on our itinerary, our professional tour manager to assist you lodgings are basic. We expect that participants throughout the program will be a self-selecting group whose interest in the places we visit will far outweigh the need for NOT INCLUDED creature comforts. Participants must be physically International and U.S. domestic airfare fit, active and in good health. We welcome Passport fees Immunization costs Meals travelers 15 years or older on this program. DURBAR SQUARE, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment if you purchase your policy within war, quarantine, force majeure or A $1,000-per-person deposit is 14 days of written confirmation of other causes beyond our control. required to hold your space. Sign your participation on the trip. All such losses or expenses will up online at alumni.stanford.edu/ have to be borne by the passenger trip?himalayas2017 or call the Travel/ Eligibility as tour rates provide arrangements We encourage membership in the Study office at (650) 725-1093. only for the time stated. We reserve Alumni Association as the program Final payment is due 120 days the right to make such alterations cost for nonmembers is $300 prior to departure. As a condition to this published itinerary as may more than the members’ price. of participation, all confirmed be deemed necessary. The right is A person traveling as a guest paid participants are required reserved to cancel any program prior for by a current member will not to sign a Release of Liability. to departure in which case the entire be charged the nonmember fee. payment will be refunded without Cancellations & Refunds For more information or to purchase further obligation on our part. The Deposits and any payments are a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ right is also reserved to decline to refundable, less a $500-per-person goto/membership or call (650) accept or retain any person as a cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to 725-0692. member of the program. No refund departure. After that date, refunds can will be made for an unused portion be made only if the program is sold Responsibility of any tour unless arrangements The Stanford Alumni Association, out and your place(s) can be resold, are made in sufficient time to avoid Stanford University and our operators in which case a $1,000-per-person penalties. Baggage is carried at the act only as agents for the passenger cancellation fee will apply. owner’s risk entirely. The airlines with respect to transportation and concerned are not to be held Insurance exercise every care possible in doing responsible for any act, omission or Stanford Travel/Study provides so. However, we can assume no event during the time that passengers all travelers who are U.S. or liability for injury, damage, loss, are not onboard their plane or Canadian citizens with minimal accident, delay or irregularity in conveyance. Neither the Alumni medical, accident and evacuation connection with the service of any Association, Stanford University nor coverage under our group-travel automobile, motor coach, launch our operators accept liability for any insurance policy. Our group policy or any other conveyance used in carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred is intended to provide minimal carrying out this program or for the by the purchase of a nonrefundable levels of protection while you are acts or defaults of any company or ticket in connection with the tour. traveling on this program. You may person engaged in conveying the Program price is based on rates in choose to subscribe to optional trip- passenger or in carrying out the effect in January 2017 and is subject cancellation and baggage insurance. arrangements of the program. We to change without notice to reflect Information such insurance cannot accept any responsibility for fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs will be provided to travelers with their losses or additional expenses due or fuel charges. to delay or changes in air or other welcome materials. The product services, sickness, weather, strike, offered includes special benefits

© COPYRIGHT 2017 STANFORD ALUMNI TELEPHONE (650) 725-1093 ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. EMAIL [email protected] PRINTED ON RECYCLED, FSC-CERTIFIED California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 PAPER IN THE U.S. STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY “This was“This truly anincomparable Stanford Travel experience—one of the best trips we have ever IRENE BALCAR DILLON, ’74, MD ’77, AND S. WILLIAM DILLON, WILLIAM ’77, S. ’74, MD AND DILLON, BALCAR IRENE LANDS OF THE HIMALAYAS, 2012 HIMALAYAS, THE OF LANDS been lucky enough tobeen lucky have taken.” Stanford Travel/Study Nonprofit Org. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center U.S. Postage 326 Galvez Street PAID Stanford, CA 94305-6105 Stanford Alumni (650) 725-1093 Association

TREASURES OF BHUTAN, NEPAL AND TIBET

October 1 to 16, 2017 STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY