Bhutan November 4 - 17, 2013 Cultural Tour Itinerary for 13 nights/14 days Day 1 (Nov 4, Mon): Arrive Paro from Bangkok. The flight into Paro is a breathtaking introduction to the natural beauty of the country. Magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to lush green valleys. On arrival, you will be greeted by our representative, guide and driver. We then transfer you to Gangtey Palace hotel for check in, lunch and a briefing to review the itinerary for the following days and exchange ideas for photo opportunities, sightseeing and rural and cultural experiences. After lunch, your first excursion will be to the national museum, once the watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong, located high on a promontory overlooking the Paro valley. First constructed in 1645, the Rinpung watch tower was converted to the National Museum in 1968. While photography within the museum is not allowed, there are numerous photo ops of the exterior and the valley below. This first outing is meant to familiarize you with the history of this amazing kingdom in the clouds, and a visit to the national museum is the very best way to quickly learn the culture and natural history since it houses everything that is Bhutanese in a very different museum style that will delight you. Then we walk or drive down to Paro town and walk along the Paro Chu (River) to take pictures of Paro Dzong and the watchtower above. Here we will have photo ops of the covered foot bridge over the river, the huge wooden gate leading to the bridge, and the interior of the Dzong. Built in 1645, this massive building now houses the district administration office and the monk body. A flagstone path leads to the Dzong, rising gradually from the bridge that is abutted by two guard houses. The central tower, called the “Utse” of the Dzong, is clad in superb woodwork and is considered to be the nation’s most beautiful tower. Visit the beautiful Kichu Lhagang, a 16the century temple in Paro. This temple is patronized by the dowager queen. Dinner at Gangtey Palace Optional ($25 each): Hot Stone Bath Gangtey Palace hotel was once the home of the governor of Paro and is decorated with antiques and traditional Bhutanese crafts. It has some of the best traditional hot stone baths in Bhutan so after dinner if you wish to relax in Bhutan’s version of the hot tub may do so. The one-person tubs are long and made of wood--they have four of them, side by side in a semi- enclosed bath house. A board with holes at one end separates the bather from the hot stones. With long steel tongs the attendant picks red-hot rocks from the bonfire and drops them into this chamber causing a cauldron of boiling water. The heated water then courses through the holes in the board at your feet and the water around your body heats up until you tell the attendant, “No More Rocks!” You will also enjoy the fragrant herbs that are dropped into the tub, including mint and marijuana--yes, it grows wild in Bhutan and is normally used for pig food. Overnight at Gangtey Palace hotel. Cultural Tour: Bhutan | November 4 – 17, 2013 | 2 Day 2 (Nov 5, Tue) : Paro – Punakha (3-4 hours drive) The journey will take you across Dochu La pass ( 3150m) where you can get spectacular views of the Eastern Himalayan Mountains on a clear day and also walk around the 108 stupas which decorate the pass. Visit the small museum dedicated to the Wangchuck dynasty. Check into hotel and have lunch. After lunch, visit Punakha Dzong, "Palace of Great Happiness". Punakha Dzong is the former winter capital and at present day hosts the administrative seat of the district. It is also the winter residence of the central monastic body and its chief abbot. The Dzong lies between two rivers, the Pochu and Mochu, male and female river. It was built in 1637 AD It was here on 17th December 1907, Bhutan's first king was crowned. This ancient fortress is considered to be one of the most beautiful one in the kingdom. Visit Punakha High School and spend some time with the students who will be studying hard for the final examinations before winter break. Overnight in Punakhatsangchu Cottages in Wangdue. Day 3 (Nov 6, Wed): Ngiserang Village Hike (2-3 hours long) After a hearty breakfast, drive to Lobesa and take a short hike to Chhi-Med Lhakhang (temple) built by one of Bhutan’s foremost saints, Lama Drukpa Kunley, also known as the “Divine Madman”. This temple is also known as the “Fertility Temple” and childless couples from all over the world come here to seek blessings for progeny! Drive up to Ngiserang village tucked away, way up in the mountains and a place few people visit. Some of the villagers here have never left their valley and do not be surprised if you are the first “foreign” person they have met! Most villages in Bhutan have a central temple and its caretaker who usually also is the “Lama” of the temple. Interact with the farmers, visit some homes and enjoy a pleasant afternoon with the locals. Evening drive back to Wangdue and have dinner at Passang’s restaurant. Passang used to be a guide with Rainbow Tours for many years until he ventured off on his own and opened a restaurant in his hometown. Overnight at Punakhatsangchu Cottages. Day 4 (Nov 7, Thu): Wangdue to Phobjikha (3 hours drive) After an early breakfast, drive to Phobjikha valley nestled in the Black Mountains. Gangtey is a magical place where the endangered Black Necked Cranes come to roost every winter from Siberia. There is a monastery called Gangtey Goemba where you can visit with monks who live in this monastery. Take a walk around the roosting grounds of the Black Necked cranes and there is a lovely hike right below the grounds which will take you into forested paths. Share a hot cup of butter tea and rice cakes with a farmer whose family has tilled these lands for generations. Overnight camping Cultural Tour: Bhutan | November 4 – 17, 2013 | 3 Day 5 (Nov 8, Fri): Phobjikha to Trongsa The journey will take you across Pele La pass (3,300m), which is marked by a chorten and an array of prayer flags. On a clear day, you can get spectacular views of the highest peaks of the kingdom and it’s quite common to spot some yaks and yak herders on this pass. This point marks the boundary between western and central Bhutan as well as the western border of Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Beyond Pele La is Longte Valley where people raise sheep and yaks. You’ll come to the village of Rukubji Valley, with its big school and Gompa. The houses here are clustered amid extensive fields of mustard, potatoes, barley, and wheat. As you drive down through rhododendron trees and ferns, you’ll reach Chendebji village. This was a night halt for mule caravans traveling from Trongsa during the reign of the 2nd King of Bhutan. Just below Chendebji village is the Chendebji chorten, a large white structure beside a stream. This chorten is modeled after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu. The last village before you reach Trongsa is Tangsibji, which provides full view of Trongsa Dzong and its distinctive red roof. Trongsa Dzong, built in 1645, is a vast, white fortress that appears to grow directly up from the narrow green ridge on which it is constructed. It is one of the most powerful Dzongs and even today the crown prince of Bhutan must first become its Trongsa Penlop (governor) before he can become Bhutan’s King. Visit the Trongsa Dzong. This Dzong, built in 1648 A.D., is the ancestral home of the Wangchuck Dynastey, Bhutan’s royal family. Presently, the Dzong houses the district administrative offices and the monastic centre of Trongsa. It is constructed on split levels on a narrow spur and it is an architectural wonder. After visiting the Dzong, take a short hike to the watchtower located directly above the Dzong, which has on display many interesting weapons of war and armor. Dinner and overnight in Yangkhil hotel in Trongsa. Day 6 (Nov 9, Sat): Trongsa to Bumthang (2-3 hours) Drive to Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan. This journey will take you over one of the most scenically beautiful routes in Bhutan via the Yotong La pass (3425m), which is also the habitat for the Satyr peasant. Good for photography. As you enter the Chhume Valley (the first of the four valleys that comprise the Bumthang Valley) you can visit a center of Yathra weaving. Yathra is the name for the locally produced hand-woven woollen textiles. Distinctive patterns and bright, earthy colors enliven the fabric which is used for a wide variety of purposes and sought after throughout the country. Visit the historical Jakar Dzong built by Minjur Tenpa, the third Druk Desi, Temporal ruler appointed by Shabdrung ) in 1646 A.D. It is probably one of the biggest Dzongs in Bhutan with the surrounding walls about 1 km. in circumference. Visit several ancient and important monasteries such as Jambay Lhakhang,Kurjey Lhakhang, Kencho Sum Lhakhang, Tamshing and Pema Samba Lhakhang. Dinner and overnight in River Lodge. Cultural Tour: Bhutan | November 4 – 17, 2013 | 4 Day 7 (Nov 10, Sun): Tang Valley Excursion After an early breakfast, drive 20 miles, 13 miles of which is on an unpaved road, to Tang valley.