HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS TOUR Bhutan 9 Nights/10 Days Let your imagination soar About &Beyond &Beyond is a pioneering, experiential travel company that offers forward-thinking, global travellers an exclusive experience of the world as it should be; a world that is in balance with itself. We go beyond mere luxury to enrich your guests’ experience through our core ethos of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, and Care of the People. &Beyond has 30 exquisite safari lodges and camps across Africa and South America, and we also design personalised, high-end tours in 15 African countries, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. Welcome to Bhutan The last remaining great Himalayan Kingdom, Bhutan boasts magnificent mountain scenery, incredible architecture and colourful culture. A diverse natural Shangri-La, the country boasts of a staggering variety of landscapes, as well as an incredible array of flora and fauna. Set within one of the world’s most breathtaking mountain chains, Bhutan is famed for its high mountain peaks and range of trekking opportunities. Enigmatic and shrouded in myth, Bhutan is filled with tangible examples of its extraordinary culture, from the striking architecture of its mountain forts and monasteries to the images of Buddhist religious figures painted or carved onto the craggy cliffs. Colourful prayer flags flutter on spectacular mountain passes and prayer wheels turn slowly with the current of clear mountain streams. Highlights of the Itinerary: Breath-taking mountain views from Dochu La pass The spectacular fortress of Punakha and Thimphu The iconic hike to ‘Tigers Nest’ The remote valleys of Phobjika. Specially created for Active vacationers & Cultural enthusiasts www.andBeyond.com Himalayan Mountains Tour -Bhutan At a glance 9 nights /10 days 1 – Thimphu (Day 1, 2) 2 – Gangtey (Day 3, 4) 3 – Punakha (Day 5, 6) 4 – Paro (Day 7, 8, 9) AN &BEYOND CUSTOM-DESIGNED ITINERARY DATE SERVICE ACCOMMODATION Day 1 Fly to Paro and drive to Thimphu (1 hr) + Sightseeing in Thimphu 2 Overnights in Amankora, Thimphu Suite on FB Hike to Khamsum Yuelley + Sightseeing of Thimphu Day 2 Drive to Phobjikha (approx. 5 hours) with stop at Dochu la pass. Day 3 Afternoon sightseeing in Gangtey. 2 Overnights in Gangtey Lodge, Phobjikha Suite on FB Longteng hike. Afternoon at leisure. Day 4 Day 5 Drive from Phobjikha to Punakha (3 hours) + Sightseeing in Punakha 2 Overnights in Six Senses, Punakha Lodge Suite on FB Hike to Khamsum Yuelley + sightseeing in Punakha. Day 6 Drive to Paro (3 hours) + Afternoon sightseeing of Paro Day 7 3 overnights in COMO Uma, Paro 1-Bedroom Villa on FB Hike to Taktshang Lhakhang (Tiger’s nest) Day 8 Day trip to Haa Valley Day 9 www.andBeyond.com Himalayan Mountains Tour -Bhutan Departure Day 10 GLOSSARY BB = Bed and breakfast HB = Room + Breakfast + dinner FB = Full Board basis (please check itinerary for specific includes & excludes per property) ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS As of all international travel, the visitor to Bhutan is required to be in possession of a valid passport and visa. Travelers from all countries need a visa. Visa for Bhutan will be arranged by &Beyond South Asia (Bhutan) office on receipt of the full payment for the tour. SATELLITE PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN BHUTAN www.andBeyond.com Himalayan Mountains Tour -Bhutan Expect the extraordinary Day 1- Arrive Paro/ Thimphu This morning board your flight to Paro (Bhutan), Bhutan’s only international airport. The flight into Bhutan takes you close to the great Himalayas; offering dazzling scenic views of some of world’s highest glacial peaks. As you enter the Paro valley, you will pass forested hills with the slivery Pa Chu (Paro River) meandering down the valley below with the Paro Dzong (fortress) and Ta Dzong (watch tower) on the hill above the town. As you exit from the arrival hall of Paro airport, you will be met by your guide and chauffeured to your hotel in Thimphu (1 hour drive). En-route stop to visit the Tamchogg Lhakhang and marvel at the iron bridge reconstructed using original chain links from the famous Tibetan bridge builder Thangtong Gyelpo. Drive onwards to your hotel for check in and a short rest. Afternoon, you will visit the National Memorial Chorten. This landmark of Thimphu was built in 1974 in the memory of third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a four-storey tall white building, containing statues and iconography of deities from complex tantric teachings and serves as an important place of worship for Thimphu residents, as well as from other parts of the country. Drive onwards to Buddha Dordenma - a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue. The statue is filled with over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Buddha Dordenma itself, but made of bronze and gilded in gold. At a height of 51.5 metres, it is one of the tallest Buddha statues on the world. Then drive to visit the Takin Preserve in Motithang. Takin is the National animal of Bhutan and looks like a cross breed between a cow and a goat. Legend has it that the animal was created by the great Buddhist www.andBeyond.com Himalayan Mountains Tour -Bhutan yogi, Drupa Kunley or Divine Madman, and this particular species of Takin is found only in Bhutan and nearby areas. Followed by a visit to the the Farmers’ weekend’s market, where most of the Thimphu’s population and many valley dwellers converge on the bustling market. A wide range of foodstuffs and local arts / crafts are sold at the market, which is held from Friday afternoon till Sunday. A visit to the market provides great photo opportunities, as well as the chance to mingle with local people and perhaps buy souvenirs. Stop to watch a game of archery in Changlingmithang stadium, if there is any underway. Spend two nights at the Amankora, Thimphu. Your accommodation is in a Suite with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on a Full board (Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner + House Beverages) basis. Day 2 - Thimphu Begin the day with drive to take a short hike to Tango Goenpa. Situated north of Thimphu, one way it takes about 30 minutes’ drive and an hour long walk through shaded rhododendron forests to reach the monastery. The site of the monastery was founded in 12th century and later Lama Drukpa Kuenley (Divine Madman) established the present building in 15th century. The great saint called Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, in 1616 meditated in a cave near the monastery and helped ensure the defeat of an invading Tibetan army. Tango currently functions as a Buddhist university with 280 monks studying there. Return to the hotel for lunch or try a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to visit the institute for Zorig Chusum. It is also commonly known as Arts and crafts school or painting school. The institute offers a courses ranging from 4 to 6 years on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. Followed by that then drive to visit the Voluntary artist’s studio. The impressive Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu is the capital's main centre for artists. The goal of the studio is to promote both traditional and contemporary works of Bhutanese www.andBeyond.com Himalayan Mountains Tour -Bhutan art, to provide vocational training for young artists and to act as a creative meeting venue for artists. It's a great place to plug into the Thimphu art scene and chat with artists. Art by the students and instructors is sold at the Alaya Gallery, as well as at the Art Shop Gallery. Then visit the Weaving Centre or the Textile Museum. Weaving is an integral component of the culture and tradition of Bhutan. With the aim to preserve and promote this living art, the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan was instituted in May 2005 under the patronage of Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck as a non-government, non- profit organization. The Academy will also provide in bringing about a National Centre for weaving and educating young students in textiles, fabric designs and museum studies. It will also serve as a centre for tourists, introducing the nation’s masterpiece to its visitors, while expanding the nation’s resource for cultural tourism. And if time permits, visit the Jungshi paper making factory. It is located approximately 1 km from Thimphu City. The factory uses the bark of two tree species, the Daphne tree and Dhekap tree in the manufacture of traditional paper. Visitors can observe the entire process of producing handmade paper using ancient traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. You can even try your hand at this ancient craft and make some paper of your very own as a souvenir. Deh- sho paper was originally used by monasteries for woodblock and manuscript books and also for writing prayer books. Later, drive to visit Tashichho Dzong (open from at 9 AM to 4 PM for visitors during Saturdays & Sundays) known as the "Fortress of the Glorious Religion" it was initially built in 1641. The Dzong houses, main secretariat building which houses the throne room of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan. The Dzong also functions as a winter residence for a central monastic body. The National Assembly hall is housed in a modern building on the other side of the river from the Dzong. Day 3 – Thimphu/ Phobjikha After an early breakfast this morning, you will be chauffeured to Gangtey/ Phobjikha (approx. 4 - 5 hour’s drive). The road climbs steeply through a scenic forest of pine and cedar trees, to Dochu La pass (10,000 feet).