Day 8Bhutan – October 23 with (Bumthang - Paro) Day 6 – October 21 (Trongsa – Lucie EdwardsBumthang) Leave Central Bhutan and take a domestic flight to Paro. Bumthang is home to some of the oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Central Overnight in Le MERIDIENBhutan Riverfront offers enriching opportunities to OctoberHotel. 23 - exploreNovember culture, nature, 1 and heritage. Drive to Chamkhar and enjoy an afternoon hike in Day 9 – October 24the Chamkhar valley. (Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest) Overnight at the YOEZERLING Hotel. Hike to Tiger’s nest Monastery,Day 7 –Bhutan’s October 22 (Bumthang) most revered temple perched on a rocky Lucie Edwardscliff above enjoyed the Paroa 34 Valley.year career This in evening, the Canadian Foreign Service. Since her retirement in 2009, she has workedenjoy in a internationalfarewell dinner development, Enjoyor fellowship. a gentlenotably day in the hike fields through of education, the beautiful agriculture, and global public health. She currently chairs the InternationalChokhor valley. Network for Bamboo and Rattan, based in Beijing China. Lucie is affiliated with the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo and has taught international affairs and Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront public policy at Waterloo and WilfridPossible Laurier Lecture: Universities. The She historical previously relations served as Canada’s High Hotel. Commissioner to Kenya, South Africabetween and India,Bhutan and and Ambassador Canada to the UN Environment Program. In 1995, she received the Public Service Award of Excellence for her humanitarian work during the genocide in Rwanda. She alsoDay received 10 – a October merit award 25 Overnightfor her human at therights YOEZERLING work combatting Hotel. Apartheid at the Canadian Embassy in Pretoria.(Depart She and Paro) her husband Tom, an environmental historian and poet, live in Ottawa. Day 8 – October 30 Day 1 - October 23 (Arrive Paro – Thimphu) (Bumthang - Paro) Day 6 – October 21 (Trongsa – Bumthang) Board your group flight to Paro and descend from the clouds to get a rare perspective of the beautiful Himalayan mountainLeave ranges. Central You Bhutan will land and in take Paro a Valley, one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. It is also domesticknown as flight the ‘rice to Paro. bowl’Continue of the kingdom the drive because through it the produces central everything from red rice to wheat, millet, potatoes,Bhutan apples toand Bumthang seasonal and vegetables. see the Black Overnight in Le MERIDIENMountains. Riverfront You will be met at the airportHotel. arrival gate by your guide. Drive to Thimphu to settle into your hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner with your group. Overnight at the Yoezerling Hotel. Day 9 – October 31 Overnight at the Druk Hotel.(Paro – Hike to TigersDay Nest) 7 – October 22 (Bumthang) Day 2 – October 24 (Thimphu)Hike to Tiger’s nest Monastery,Bumthang Bhutan’s region includes four distinct most revered temple perchedvalleys on with a rocky their own histories and stories. Bumthang is also a deeply spiritual As the capital city of Bhutan,cliff Thimphu above theis both Paro the Valley. political This and evening, economic centre of the region and is home to some of Bhutan's Kingdom. The most importantenjoy political a farewell buildings dinner in orBhutan, fellowship. including the National Assembly oldest Buddhist temples. of the newly formed parliamentary democracy and Dechencholing Palace, are found in Thimphu. Explore Thimphu, Overnightincluding ain visit Le MERIDIENto the renowned Riverfront National Textile Museum. Lecture: The historical relations between Hotel. Bhutan and Canada In the evening enjoy a dinner and reception with special guests from the Bhutanese cultural communities. Day 10 – NovemberOvernight 1 at the Yoezerling Hotel. (Depart Paro) Overnight at the Druk Hotel. Day 3 - October 25 (Thimphu – Punakha) Day 8 – October 30 Depart(Bumthang Thimphu in- Paro)the morning and drive to Punakha, stopping at Dochula Pass. Before descending from Docuhula Pass into the Punakha valley you will be treated to your first views of Leavethe Tibetan Central Plateau. Bhutan Afterand take lunch, a enjoy whitewater rafting past the Punakha Dzong (also knowndomestic as the flight ‘Palace to Paro. of Happiness’). This Dzong, which we will tour that afternoon is the most beautiful and well-known fortress in all of Bhutan. Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront OvernightHotel. at the Khuru or Drubcchu Resort (group will be split between the two properties) DayDay 4 9– –October October 26 31 (Punakha) (Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest) Previously the national capital, Punakha is a culturally rich place with picturesque landscapes.Hike to Tiger’s Spend nest the Monastery, day amongst Bhutan’s the breaktaking view of the Himalayas and listen to the soundsmost ofrevered the Mo temple Chhu perchedand Po Chhu on a riversrocky that cut through the valleys. cliff above the Paro Valley. This evening, Lecture:enjoy a Afarewell difficult dinner neighbourhood: or fellowship. geopolitics of the Himalaya OvernightOvernight at inthe Le Khuru MERIDIEN or Drubcchu Riverfront Resort Hotel. Day 5 – October 27 (Punakha - Trongsa) Day 10 – November 1 Take(Depart a winding Paro) drive to Trongsa, a sleepy town in the central Bhutan. Overnight at the Yangkhill Hotel. Day 8 – October 30 (Bumthang - Paro) Day 6 – October 28 (Trongsa – Bumthang) Leave Central Bhutan and take a domestic flight to Paro.Continue the drive through central Bhutan to Bumthang and see the Black Mountains. Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront Hotel. Overnight at the Yoezerling Hotel. Day 9 – October 31Day 7 – October 29 (Bumthang) (Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest) Bumthang region includes four distinct Hike to Tiger’s nest Monastery,valleys withBhutan’s their own histories and most revered temple perchedstories. on Bumthang a rocky is also a deeply spiritual cliff above the Paro Valley.region This and evening, is home to some of Bhutan's enjoy a farewell dinner oldestand fellowship. Buddhist temples. Lecture: The historical relations between Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront Bhutan and Canada Hotel. Overnight at the Yoezerling Hotel. Day 10 – November 1 (Depart Paro) Day 8 – October 30 (Bumthang - Paro) Leave Central Bhutan and take a domestic flight to Paro. Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront Hotel. Day 9 – October 31 (Paro – Hike to Tigers Nest) Hike to Tiger’s nest Monastery, Bhutan’s most revered temple perched on a rocky cliff above the Paro Valley. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and fellowship. Overnight in Le MERIDIEN Riverfront Hotel. Day 10 – November 1 (Depart Paro).