STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Lands Himalayasof the HIGH POINTS OF T I B E T , NEPAL AND BHUTAN September 23 to October 9, 2012 a program of the stanford alumni association In 1995 I led a group of Stanford travelers to the kingdoms of the Himalaya. It was a trip I will never forget—we felt as though we had stepped back through time, to the days when reincarnated lamas and ancient dynasties ruled these misty mountain realms. While some things have changed since then—the intrusion of cell phones and the internet come to mind—the most memorable things have not: the spiritual nature and devotion of the people; ancient temples and monasteries dedicated to piety and the pursuit of learning; colorful ceremonies conducted by magenta-robed monks; and of course, the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Himalaya, truly the “rooftop of the world.” Join us on an adventure you’ll never forget! Brett S. THOMpson, ’83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study Highlights WANDER the streets of VIEW more than 100 VISIT the famous Lhasa, crowded with awe-inspiring Himalayan Taktsang Monastery, nomads clad in native dress, peaks, including Everest a place so holy that all monks spinning prayer by air and travel over soar- Bhutanese try to visit wheels and merchants ing mountain passes and it at least once during selling spices and amulets. through lush alpine valleys. their lifetimes. from Beijing CBeijingHINA C HINA Lhasa C HINA Tsedang TIBET s H i m a l a y a Punakha Kathmandu Paro Thimphu N EPAL B HUTAN INDIA to Bangkok Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 26 Friday, SEPTEMBER 28 BEIJING / TSEDANG, LHASA Itinerary TIBET Today take in Lhasa’s Fly to Lhasa this morning colorful sights: traditionally Sunday & Monday, and travel to Tsedang clad nomads, monks holding SEPTEMBER 23 & 24 through the historic Yarlung DEPART U.S. / prayer wheels and vendors BEIJING, CHINA Valley, reputedly the cradle selling spices and amulets. Depart on an overnight of Tibetan civilization. Visit Spend the morning at the flight to Beijing, crossing Yumbu Lakhang, Tibet’s magnificent Potala, palace the international date line first palace, and watch the of the Dalai Lamas. From en route. Arrive on Monday sun set over the majestic its position atop Red Hill, and enjoy the remainder mountains from our location the Potala dominates the of the evening at leisure. east of the Yarlung River. landscape in all directions. YARLUNG RIVER HOTEL (B,L,D) PENINSULA PALACE HOTEL After lunch, travel west to Drepung Monastery, Thursday, SEPTEMBER 27 Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 25 located in the shadow of an BEIJING TSEDANG / LHASA Visit Tiananmen Square, Travel to Lhasa, capital imposing Himalayan peak. where Mao Zedong of the Tibet Autonomous Founded in 1416, Drepung announced the birth of Region situated at was once Tibet’s largest the People’s Republic of approximately 12,000 feet monastery and served as China and, 40 years later, above sea level. Along the residence of several a student protest turned the way, stop at Samye incarnations of the Dalai into a massacre that made Monastery, the oldest Lama. LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) headlines around the world. monastery in Tibet and Take a guided walk through considered the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism. Samye Saturday, SEPTEMBER 29 the Forbidden City to see the LHASA majestic Imperial Palace, the is a unique combination of Visit the holy Jokhang largest and best-preserved Chinese, Tibetan and Indian Temple, which shelters the cluster of ancient buildings in architectural styles whose Jowo Sakyamuni, Tibet’s China. Enjoy an afternoon at construction reflects the most revered image. Join leisure before our welcome ideal universe of Buddhism. the procession of pilgrims LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) reception. moving in a clockwise PENINSULA PALACE HOTEL (B,L) circuit around the temple from Beijing CBeijingHINA C HINA Lhasa C HINA Tsedang TIBET s H i m a l a y a Punakha Kathmandu Paro Thimphu N EPAL B HUTAN INDIA to Bangkok and continue around the Monday, OCTOBER 1 Wednesday, OCTOBER 3 Barkhor, which is the heart KATHMANDU THIMPHU Visit Patan, known as a Today explore the Third of the old city. Visit the city of the arts and a World King’s Memorial Chorten, Sera Monastery and follow Heritage site. Patan has a full of Buddhist iconography an in-progress religious long Buddhist history and and Thimphu’s primary debate with the help of our each of the four corners landmark; the National translator. LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) of the city is marked by Library, repository of the a stupa. View the city’s nation’s religious literary Sunday, SEPTEMBER 30 Royal Palace and its ornate heritage; and the Folk LHASA / temples and shrines before Heritage Museum with its KATHMANDU, NEPAL continuing to Bodnath, a fascinating overview of Fly to Nepal’s capital, small town that boasts a traditional Bhutanese life. Kathmandu, set among World Heritage stupa built This evening, meet with the world’s highest by Tibetan Buddhists. Bhutanese intellectuals and mountains and just north HYATT HOTEL (B,L) public figures for dinner at a of the wide plains of India. local restaurant. Vital and complex, the Tuesday, OCTOBER 2 TAJ TASHI HOTEL (B,L,D) city is an ideal place for KATHMANDU / PARO, understanding Himalayan BHUTAN / THIMPHU Enjoy a spectacular flight Thursday, OCTOBER 4 Buddhism. Visit the giant THIMPHU / PUNAKHA over the Himalayas to Paro Buddhist stupa (large On our half-day journey to and continue to Thimpu dome-shaped reliquary) of Punakha, stop at scenic by bus. Along the way Swayambunath with its all- Dochula Pass (10,200 visit Simtokha Dzong, seeing eyes of Buddha, and feet), site of 108 chortens an important historical Kumari Chowk, the palace (Bhutanese for stupas) and and religious monument courtyard of Kathmandu’s which, on a clear day, offers that also houses one of “living goddess,” a child a magnificent view of the Bhutan’s premier learning worshipped by Nepali Himalayas. Enjoy a picnic institutes. lunch before descending Buddhists and Hindus as TAJ TASHI HOTEL (B,L,D) the manifestation of the 6,000 feet into Punakha goddess Durga. Valley. Walk through crop HYATT HOTEL (B,L) fields and villages to visit Chimi Lhakhang, a 15th- the key location for the Monday, OCTOBER 8 century pilgrimage fertility movie, Little Buddha. At PARO / BANGKOK, THAILAND shrine. the National Museum in Fly from Paro to Bangkok ZANGTHO PELRI (B,L,D) Paro, view exhibits about and check into our airport the history, culture and hotel. Friday, OCTOBER 5 religion of Bhutan. AIRPORT NOVOTEL PUNAKHA ZHIWALING HOTEL (B,L,D) SUVARNABHUMI HOTEL (B,L) An optional morning hike takes us past farms and Sunday, OCTOBER 7 Tuesday, OCTOBER 9 fields to the charming PARO BANGKOK / U.S. village of Nezigang. Climb By special arrangement, Fly to the U.S., crossing gradually to Khamsum hike to the iconic Taktsang the international date line Yuley Namgay Chorten, (“Tiger’s Nest”) Monastery, en route and arriving back built by the royal family, whose white temples cling home the same day. (B) with superb views of to a soaring cliff 10,000 Punakha Valley, then follow feet above the valley. a trail along the river to Legend claims that Guru the impressive Punakha Rinpoche, the father of Dzong, the winter fortress Bhutanese Buddhism, of Jo Khenpo, chief arrived here astride a flying hierarch of Bhutanese tigress and meditated in Buddhism. Alternatively, a cave for months. The visit the dzong (fortress) monastery is a pilgrimage directly from the hotel. site that the Bhutanese ZANGTHO PELRI (B,L,D) people aspire to visit at least once in their lives. Saturday, OCTOBER 6 Enjoy a farewell reception PUNAKHA / PARO tonight before dinner. This morning depart ZHIWALING HOTEL (B,L,D) Punakha for the drive back to Paro. Visit the Paro Dzong, one of the most beautifully situated fortresses in Bhutan and Information DATES NOT INCLUDED and cobbled paths. In addition, long, Sept. 23 to Oct. 9, 2012 (17 days) International and U.S. domestic airfare often bumpy bus rides are sometimes Passport fees Immunization required to reach remote locations. SIZE costs Meals and beverages other Drive times range from one to five Limited to 35 participants than those specified as included hours on winding mountain roads. Independent and private transfers You should be prepared to handle COST* Trip-cancellation/interruption and your own luggage at customs points $10,295 per person, double occupancy baggage insurance Excess-baggage in those airports where porters are not $12,195 per person, single occupancy charges Personal items such as permitted. If you are susceptible to *Association nonmembers add $200 per person email, telephone and fax calls, laundry altitude sickness, please be aware that and gratuities for nongroup services Lhasa is 12,000 feet above sea level. INCLUDED 15 nights of deluxe and best-available AIR ArrANGEMENTS Accommodations are first-class or hotel accommodations 15 break- International and U.S. domestic airfare best-available. Outside of the large fasts, 14 lunches and 10 dinners is not included in the program cost. cities on this itinerary, lodgings are Welcome and farewell receptions Round-trip, economy-class airfare on basic, on a par with accommodations Bottled water on excursions United Airlines from San Francisco to at an American national park lodge. Visa fees On-tour airfare: Beijing / Beijing, China, and return from Bangkok, We expect that participants will be a Lhasa / Kathmandu / Paro / Bangkok Thailand, is approximately $1,450 as self-selecting group whose interest in Gratuities to porters, guides and of December 2011 and is subject to the places we visit will far outweigh the drivers for all group activities All change without notice.