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Saturday, June 16 Pre tour night in Bangkok Monday, June 18 Thimphu Tonight’s hotel accommodations are not included. Our exploration of ’s Thirteen traditional crafts However, we recommend staying at the Novotel – Zorig Chusum – begins today. The government of Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel tonight in order to easily Bhutan is well-known for its policy of pursuing meet the group tomorrow morning. development, while preserving and nurturing traditional culture. We begin with a visit to the Sunday, June 17 Bangkok ––– Paro --- Thimphu government-sponsored School of Arts and Crafts, We will gather at the Bangkok Airport for the early which offers six-year courses in painting, drawing, and flight to Paro. Flight and meeting information will be sculpting. advised. Nancy and Diana will meet you at the airport . After lunch, we will visit the Royal Textile Academy and Textile Museum to learn more about weaving, the Flying west with the morning sun, we turn north from only traditional craft that is predominantly practiced the Indian plains for a dramatic landing in the Paro by women. We will enjoy a personal tour from the Valley. After clearing customs and completing RTA’s executive director, Rinzin O. Dorji. immigration formalities, we’ll be greeted by our Bhutanese guide and staff, who will accompany us Our day will wrap up with a visit to a producer of throughout the trip. traditional Bhutanese paper, made from the Daphne plant, and a visit to a well-known contemporary Bhutan’s arts and crafts will be all around us. weaving workshop run by Ao Kesang, an award- En route to Thimphu, the capital, our winding road winning weaver/designer from Eastern Bhutan. passes by the 15 th-century Tamchog Lhakhang (temple), built by Druptho Thang Thong Gyelpo, a We may enjoy a sunset drive to Khunsel Phodrang, a skilled blacksmith who is famously known as “the recently built Buddha statue perched on a ridge with great iron-bridge builder.” We will reach Thimphu in a wonderful view of Thimphu. time for lunch and a leisurely afternoon, exploring the weekend market or walking to the Memorial Chorten, Meals included today and throughout our time in honoring Bhutan’s third king, which Bhutanese Bhutan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner circumambulate morning and evening, saying their prayers. Welcome dinner. Meals included today: Lunch and dinner

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Tuesday, June 19 Thimphu ––– Paro ––– Bumthang Wednesday, June 20 (Jakar) Bumthang is famed for its sheep, as well as for the We rise early this morning to return to Paro for a 25- local nobility’s patronage of weaving. This morning minute flight to Bumthang in central Bhutan, a we visit the temple complex of Tamshing, which was journey that would otherwise take two days! founded in 1501 by one of Bhutan’s most famous Bumthang (“plain of the vase”) is one of the most saints, Pema Lingpa (“the treasure discoverer”). beautiful and sacred areas in Bhutan, and was the Richly decorated with thangkas and statues, site of Bhutan’s royal court in the early 1900s. The Tamshing is home to many young monks in training region was converted to by Bhutan’s – and has lovely 19 th -century wall paintings patron saint, (Guru Rimpoche), depicting local villagers in the traditional dress of who made frequent visits to Bhutan in the 8 th that time. century. Our destination is a weaving workshop at Dorjibi, Bumthan’s four valleys – Chokhor, Tang, Ura, and still sponsored by a local noblewoman. Dorjibi is Chume (2600-4000 m) - are studded with known for fine, handspun sheep wool which has monasteries and temples of great historic become very rare We will be treated to a lunch importance. Bhutanese say the Chokhor Valley, featuring Bumthang’s specialty – buckwheat where we land, is shaped like the holy vase for pancakes - at a local home. saffron water found on every Buddhist altar. After lunch, we enjoy a walk across a suspension After settling into our hotel and having lunch, we will bridge spanning the rushing Chamkhar Chu (river) to take a short walk to the Wangdicholing Palace, a , a 17-century temple next to which 19 th century manor house that was a summer home a spectacular new monastery has been built in for Bhutan’s royal family. Dozens of women were traditional style. once engaged here in preparing yarns for weaving and producing textiles for the household. At tonights dinner we will also sample their home- made cheese, beer, apple juice and honey. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the market or visit the Jambey Lhakhang, Thursday, June 21 Jakar to Chume one of the two oldest temples in Bhutan. It was After breakfast we set off down the Chokhor Valley built circa 750 by King Srongstan Gampo of Tibet as and across the Kiki La (9,515 feet, “La” means part of his pledge to build 108 temples to the “pass”), toward the Chume Valley. Buddha during his lifetime. Jambey is one of the holiest of Bhutan’s religious sites, and one can visit We have the opportunity for a short hike through the courtyards of the ancient temple and see people pine forest to .Our vehicles will circumambulating from dawn to dusk. The temple meet us at Tharpaling and drive us to our is a wonderful example of Bhutan’s carpentry and accommodation for the night. masonry arts.

W W W . ESPRITTRAVEL . C O M CST #1020919-40 entry into Eastern Bhutan. Although the east is the Friday, June 22 Chume ––– Ogyen Choling most densely populated part of the country, it has After breakfast, we take a short drive to Nimalung steep terrain and few good roads. Many regions Monastery to witness the annual dances that are accessible only on foot. Eastern Bhutan also celebrate the conversion of Bhutan to Buddhism by has relatively few facilities for visitors (all are Guru Rimpoche. Monks in elaborate masks, primitive), and is visited by very few tourists. As we appliquéd boots and bright silk robes re-enact the descend from Sengor village, lovely waterfalls subduing of local spirits, and young women from plunge from the cliffs as we approach the Kuri Chu nearby villages, dressed in their hand-woven finery, bridge (1,864”). The road then ascends another perform folk dances. 3,000’ to the market town of Mongar, where we will stay for the night. After lunch, we head east, past the Chokhor Valley and up the scenic Tang Valley to the aristocratic Sunday, June 24 Mongar ––– Khoma/Lhuntshi manor house of Ogyen Choling. Our hosts, Kunzang Our destination today is Lhuntshi (formerly known and Walter Roder, will greet us and share their as Kurtoe) District. Considered remote even by wonderful efforts to preserve Kunzang’s ancestral Bhutanese standards, Lhuntshi is the ancestral property as a “heritage home” destination for local home of Bhutan’s royal family and features and international visitors. Ogyen Choling’s history scattered villages high above its steep river valley. begins with the visit of the great Tibetan masters The princesses of the royal family were famous as of Buddhism Longchen Rabjampa (1308-63), a patrons of fine silk and cotton weaving, and celebrated writer and philosopher. We will learn popularized the most elegant style of wraparound how this site became important for the saint Dorji dress (kushuthara), decorated with a distinctive Lingpa, whose descendants have the responsibility style of extra-weft patterning, that is still favored for of upholding religious traditions (see www.oling.bt formal and festive occasions in Bhutan. We head for more information). Kunzang is also a renowned for the village of Khoma, where weaving remains a Bhutanese author of books on topics from cooking major source of income for many women, who to fairytales. produce textiles for sale and for clients in Thimphu.

Saturday, June 23 Ogyen Choling --- Mongar A cluster of stone and wood houses built close After an early breakfast, we continue east through together, on a rough road off the main road, Khoma the Ura Valley with its neat, sloping fields, and into has no hotel, so we will have the privilege of staying more rugged terrain toward the highest pass in in homes. Bhutan. The virgin Himalayan forests in this region are within a national park – massive Explore the village this afternoon, and enjoy a rhododendrons, pine, and holly-leafed oak. unique evening, being welcomed in the traditional manner by women bringing home-made ara Crossing the Thrumshing La (12,300’) marks our (moonshine) to offer us, as they dance and sing.

W W W . ESPRITTRAVEL . C O M CST #1020919-40 800-377-7481 wooden containers. The people of Merak Sakteng, Monday, June 25 Khoma/Lhuntshi called Brokpas, come regularly via Radhi to This morning we drive to Lhuntshi Dzong, a fortress/ Tashigang to exchange their goods for textiles and palace dramatically situated on a hill overlooking other items; they also trade with Arunachal Pradesh the Kuri Chu. It was built in 1654 by Trongsa Penlop in India. The Brokpas are easily recognized by their Chogyal Minjur Tempa on the site of an older temple dress and unusual yak hair hats. The women of built by Nagi Wangchuck, the progenitor of the royal Radhi is famous for the skills of its weavers, women family, in 1552. After visiting Lhuntshi Dzong , we who work mainly with wild silk yarns and color them continue north to the village of Dungkar, home of with local indigo, lac, turmeric, and other forest Bhutan’s first king, on a recently constructed road. products. Women are at work on back-strap looms Leisurely exploration of this charming village and in almost every household. We may also be able to opportunity to see rural life, and uses of crafts, up see the dyeing of yarns. close. Thursday, June 28 Trashigang to Mongar repeating Tuesday, June 26 Lhunste to Trashigang via the same road. Mongar Today we head back to Mongar, a 4-hour drive, Lhuntshi is known for preserving some pre-Buddhist climbing back up through banana groves and corn traditions, such as annually honoring the local fields to the village of Ngatsang, with a lovely old mountain gods, which we may learn about while manor house. We plan to reach Mongar in time to visiting Takila Tangmachu as we return to Mongar explore the town and its market. and continue to the east. The final leg of our journey to the east takes us over one more pass and Friday, June 29 Bumthang across two rivers, before climbing the steep crag on Today is one of our longest driving days, as we which Tashigang is perched. retrace our steps back toward Bumthang. We have periodic stops along the way to break the journey, The governor at Tashigang Dzong administered all of including an opportunity to walk ahead of the bus to eastern Bhutan until the early 20 th century, and the stretch your legs. By evening, we arrive at a rustic town is still an important market for the region. but comfortable guesthouse, with a hot stone spa. Tashigang has a modest bazaar where hand-woven fabrics of wild silk and hand-turned wooden bowls Saturday, June 30 Jakar to Paro made in the surrounding hills are sold. Our morning flight from Bumthang brings us to Paro in time to check into the Gangtey Palace Hotel Wednesday, June 27 Visit Radhi village before lunch. The hotel is the ancestral home of Nestled among terraced rice fields, Radhi lies on the local nobility, where Bhutanese baskets and pottery traditional walking route to the high altitude valleys and other crafts are on display in the home’s temple of Merak and Sakteng, whose inhabitants are and courtyard. The hotel’s garden has a lovely view herders known for producing butter, cheese, and of Paro Dzong and town.

W W W . ESPRITTRAVEL . C O M CST #1020919-40 800-377-7481 After lunch, we will visit Dungtse Lhakhang, an holy cave here. According to Tantric Buddhist unusual three-story temple built in 1433 by the iron- mythology, the vanquished local deities became the bridge builder Drupthop Thangtong Gyelpo. The protectors of Buddhism. three tiers represent hell, heaven and earth and the paintings inside are said to be some of the best in You have several options – walking for about one Bhutan. The National Museum was severely and a half hours through blue pine forest to a damaged in an earthquake a few years ago, and is teahouse and excellent vantage point. Some may under renovation, but we can view some of their want to continue another 45 minutes to the collections in a smaller building nearby. monastery itself, and return to the teahouse for lunch. A short walk takes us to the base of the dzong and across a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge. After lunch, we hike down to our vehicles and visit We walk by Ugyen Pelri, a small jewel-like palace Paro Town or . This temple, built in that belongs to the royal family. Designed after the the 7 th century by the Tibetan King Srongstan celestial paradise of Padmasambhava, the building Gampo, pins down the left foot of the “demoness” was completed in the late 1800s. No alterations whose left knee was held down by Jambey have been made to the structure of the building or Lhakhang in Bumthang. We will return to the hotel the beautiful carvings and paintings within the in time for a farewell dinner. palace. Nearby are some archery grounds, where Bhutan’s national sport is practiced by men who Monday, July 2 Paro ––– Bangkok grow up learning how to shoot with wooden – or After breakfast we will report to the airport for our compound tension – bows. flight to Bangkok. The tour ends and accommodations are not included this evening Sunday, July 1 Paro We take a very short drive today to see – or hike to – one of the most important religious sites in the Himalayas, Takstang Lhakhang, known as the Tiger’s Nest. This magical monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor.

The legend of Taktsang dates to 747 AD when Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), in the wrathful form of Guru Dorji Droloe, is believed to have arrived at this site on the back of a tiger and subdued the evil spirits in the region. The Guru then meditated in the

W W W . ESPRITTRAVEL . C O M CST #1020919-40 800-377-7481 ♦ 15 nights hotel accommodaons in carefully selected comfortable guesthouses and hotels, with one homestay. Hotel names will be advised in the final tour documents. ♦ Touring, transportaon and admissions per the inerary ♦ Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Bhutan ♦ Round trip flight Bangkok to Paro to Bangkok ♦ Domesc flights in Bhutan ♦ Local transportaon and admissions per the inerary

A single supplement of approximately $450 will apply. Single rooms will not be available at the homestay

• Internaonal flights to and from Bangkok (We will provide the necessary informaon to book your flights) • Accommodaons before and a er the tour • Personal Insurance for health, baggage and trip cancellaon • Items of a personal nature, including laundry, alcoholic drinks and ps to Bhutanese staff

The inerary will be finalized approximately 30 days prior to departure and is subject to change at any me.

The tour is moderately strenuous and includes several long days of travel by road, and stops at high altude.

For informaon and registraon forms, contact Nancy Cra : nancy@espriravel.com

* Based on a minimum group of 10. The price may also be adjusted for fluctuaon in the included flight fares.

W W W . ESPRITTRAVEL . C O M CST #1020919-40 800-377-7481