Guided Tour (Seat-in-coach) HK$62,950up起 Bhutan 不丹 9 days 8 nights 九日八夜 Himalayan Photography Expedition COMO Hotels and Resort’s x Michael Turek Jun 1, 2019 Como Uma Paro Como Uma Punakha 2nd Best Hotels in Asia 3rd Best Hotel in the World & 1st Best Hotels in Asia Condé Nast Traveler 2018 Readers’ Choice Award Condé Nast Traveler 2018 Readers’ Choice Award Michael Turek professional photographer, will be sharing philosophy and general film photography techniques throughout the whole journey in Bhutan. Each participant will be provided with 10 rolls of Kodak Portra film and a 35mm SLR camera to use. Know more about Michael: Freelance photographer based in New York City. His photography focuses on documentary assignments and personal projects. As a Kodak Ambassador, he also leads workshops with the Kodak Camera Club. Each participant will also provide with 1 index backpack and 1 Maka (waist pouch bag) by Arc’teryx. License No.:350001 PBH-CXKB9071F Tel: 3151 8888 Email: [email protected] Website: www.connexustravel.com Day Itinerary Day 1 Hong Kong – Bangkok Trashi Chhoe Dzong Monastery Take the flight to Bangkok and check-in the hotel in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport by self. Day 1 (Hotel offers 24-hour complimentary shuttle service at Gate 4, Arrival Level, Level 2. Guest could also access to the hotel by 5-minute covered walk.) Overnight in Bangkok Bangkok - Paro (L, D) Rinpung Dzong & Pa Chhu River Take the early flight to Paro. The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. On arrival, greet by local representative and drive for 10 minutes to hotel. You will meet up with rest of the group and specialist leader Michael Turek. After the briefing, we will be taken on a short orientation tour of Paro, then, get to walk through Day 2 and explore the local terrain – among the most rugged, mountainous and visually stunning in the world. A stupa in Thimphu Uma Paro Lodge, situated on the cusp of the Paro Valley, home for tonight. With sweeping views of the Himalayas and an array of pine-clad mountain slopes, the 38-acre estate is the perfect spot to begin the journey. Overnight at Como Uma Paro Paro – Thimphu – Dochu La – Lungchutse – Punakha (B, L, D) 108 Chortens Today, we will drive for about 4 hours to Punakha, Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu en route. Located on the western hillside of the Wang Chhu River, Thimphu is Bhutan’s centre of government, religion and commerce. In Thimphu, we will visit some of the major attractions, including the Buddha Dordenma statue, the National Memorial Chorten, a view of the Trashi Chhoe Dzong Monastery, and the Folk Heritage Museum. After leaving Thimphu, drive on to Punakha and stop at the high mountain pass of Dochu La Pass Day 3 (3050m) to see 108 Chortens and Buddhist shrines, and if we are lucky we will see the spine of Folk Heritage Museum the Himalayas. From Dochu La you have the choice to hike to Lungchutse temple, a moderate 2.5 hour hike. The trail from Dochu La slowly climbs through a forest of hemlock, birch and rhododendrons until reaching an open meadow. From there you will again enter into a forest of moss-covered rhododendrons, gigantic hemlocks, junipers, and bamboo undergrowth. The trail leads past a row of fluttering prayer flags up to Lungchutse. After the hike , transfer to vehicles and drive on to Punakha. Overnight at COMO Uma Punakha License No.:350001 PBH-CXKB9071F Tel:Tel: 31513151 88888888 Email:Email: [email protected]@connexustravel.com Website:Website: www.connexustravel.comwww.connexustravel.com Day Itinerary Punakha - Chimmi Lhakhang – Punakha Dzong – Khamsum Yulley - Punakha (B, L, D) The spine of Himalayas Today, we will start a full day exploration through the lush Punakha Valley (1200m). The morning starts with a short walk past farmhouses and rice paddies to Chimmi Lhakhang, a 15th-century fertility temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint, better known as the Divine Madman, is one of Bhutan’s favorite saints. This site has long been a pilgrimage for couples hoping to start a family. Day 4 Heading further down the valley, continue to the 300-year-old Punakha Dzong. Built in the 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who founded the Kingdom of Bhutan, this fortress once housed the country’s government Chimi Lhakhang After lunch, continue on a walk passing rural homesteads and farmlands to Khamsum Yulley Chorten, a shrine recently built by the royal family. After returning to hotel in the evening, you will have the chance to get photography tips from Michael. Difficulty: Easy to moderate Overnight at COMO Uma Punakha Punakha - Punakha Valley – Chuzom – Drakarpo - Paro (B, L, D) Khamsum Yulley Chorten After breakfast, return to Paro over the Dochu La Pass for another chance to view the Himalayan mountain ranges. At the Chuzom, the confluence of the rivers Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu, we can glimpse three nearby shrines. These shrines were built to ward off evil spirits, each with a different style of architecture: Nepali, Tibetan and Bhutanese. Time permitting, drive 30 minutes to Drakarpo Monastery. The temple is precariously perched on the edge of a rocky cliff and is one of the main sacred sites in Bhutan. Here we will find the Day 5 body-imprint of Vajrayogini and a stone boot believed to belong to Guru Rinpoche, venerated Punakha Dzong widely by adherents of Tibetan Buddhism as a “second Buddha”. Returning to the hotel, your drive will take you through picturesque mountain scenery, passing apple orchards and rice paddies. On arrival at the hotel, you can choose to spend the rest of the day at leisure or try on archery (on own expenses), Bhutan’s national sport. This evening presents another opportunity to receive photography tuition from Michael. Difficulty: Easy to moderate Overnight at COMO Uma Paro Punakha Valley Paro (B, L, D) After breakfast, transfer to the river valley of Do Chhu and start of hiking day. The mountain trail passes tiny hamlets and then continues through ancient forests as following the course of the Do Chhu River into this remote valley. In June, the different species of flowering rhododendrons are a riot of colour. Reach the head of the valley, the trail switchbacks as it steepens, from where we will see the Chumbu Monastery (Statue of The Floating Goddess), On the way toChumbu Monastery Day 6 high above with craggy peaks. The monks at this spectacular and remote monastery welcome all pilgrims and visitors. After paying respects, we will climb to a mountain lake and then return to the hotel. This trek is of moderate difficulty and takes 7 to 8 hours depending on fitness. This evening presents another opportunity to receive photography tuition from Michael. Difficulty: Moderate Overnight at COMO Uma Paro License No.:350001 PBH-CXKB9071F Tel: 3151 8888 Email: [email protected] Website: www.connexustravel.com Day Itinerary Paro - Chele La Pass – Kila Nunnery Shedra – Ta Dzong – Drukgyel – Paro (B, L, D) Rinpung Dzong After early breakfast, drive to Chele La Pass (3988m), the highest motorable pass in Bhutan. Driving through blue pine and rhododendron forests for the first hour and get spectacular views of Bhutan’s second-highest peak, Mt. Jhomolhari (7314m). At the top of the pass we will disembark from the vehicles and hike to Kila Nunnery with your guide, one of the 7 olderest nunnery in the kingdom. This walk takes you past a sky burial site and descends through dense Day 7 rhododendron forests. The hike descends further, then either choose to get on to mountain bikes and descend down to Paro Valley or transfer back to Paro in the vehicles. Chele La Pass Later today (and time permitting), visit Ta Dzong, home to Bhutan’s National Museum and Rinpung Dzong (also known as ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’) and further up the valley visit the Drukgyel Dzong. Difficulty: Moderate (guided with picnic, Kona Cinder mountain bike, helmet, gloves) Overnight at COMO Uma Paro Paro (B, L, D) Ta Dzong Today, hike up to and explore Taktsang (or ‘Tiger’s Nest’) Monastery, the most famous in Bhutan and recently has been listed one of the ten holiest places in the world. The trip starts early morning and approx. 2.5 hours uphill and 2.5 hours downhill. Tiger’s Nest is perched on the high cliff of 900 meters above the floor of Paro valley. It is named Tiger’s nest because Guru Day 8 Rimpoche is said to have flown to the site on the back of tigress in the 8th century. After a picnic lunch, then return to the hotel. We may have the evening at leisure or spend time in stream room and swimming pool or indugle in one of the spa treatment before dinner. Tiger’s Nest Difficulty: Moderate to hard Overnight at COMO Uma Paro Paro - Bangkok - Hong Kong (B) Day 9 Tashi Delek! 10 min drive to Bhutan airport and take the flight by own via Bangkok and back to Hong Kong. Not your dream itinerary? We can always tailor-make your unique itinerary which suits you perfectly! Price Per Person HK$ Period of Stay 2 Passengers 3 Passengers 1 Passengers (Sharing Basis) (Sharing Basis – set up extra bed in room) 01 – 09Jun 2019 $79,730 $62,950 $63,890 Round trip economy class air ticket from Hong Kong to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific Airways Round trip economy class air ticket from Bangkok to Paro on Druk Air (stopover Kolkata) 5 nights accommodation at COMO Uma Paro 2 nights accommodation at COMO Uma Punakha 1 night accommodation at Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumni Airport One 60-minute COMO Shambhala body treatment