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14 Days Kingdoms of the Himalaya - featuring the Brilliance of Bangkok Tour Package
This wondrous two-week Himalayan Kingdom tour takes you to through three unique destinations at the top of the world and promises memories enough for a lifetime. Flying into Bangkok, we make our way to Bhutan, where we wander through the only capital city in the world where there are no traffic lights, fewer roundabouts than you can count on one hand and police boxes decorated with dragons. Its reputation as perhaps the most mysterious destination in South Asia is only enhanced by the pervading air of mysticism in and around Bhutan's attractions, from centuries-old dzongs unique to the area, to millennia-old temples and monasteries; it is also perhaps the least modernized country in South Asia, which only adds to the feeling that you've stepped not just back in time, but also into a magical world. As we cross into India and drive through forests of pine and cedar in the shadows of the Himalayas, we visit places whose peoples retain a medieval, self-sufficient way of life that has for the most part remained unchanged over centuries. Deep valleys and snow-tipped peaks line our route as we stop in at market towns to browse traditional craftwork and we learn about the area and its peoples with frequent trips to museums and monasteries. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Bangkok Arrival in Bangkok, Thailand, and transfer to our hotel. NOTE: Due to variables such as festival dates, internal flights, and ever-changing entry (visa) requirements, our published tour dates and / or itinerary can shift change right up to departure. As such, we will not accept any LAND ONLY bookings for this tour. Booking your air with Adventures Abroad offers you protection from the possible costs and complications associated with tour changes. Exceptions to this rule will only be granted to those passengers who are willing to fully accept the risks of booking their own air tickets given the above circumstances. NOTE: FROM 2009 THIS TOUR WILL BEGIN IN KATHMANDU. Overnight in Bangkok. Dinner if required. Day 2 Bangkok, Thailand - Paro, Bhutan Today we fly to Paro, set in what is considered to be the most beautiful of the main valleys (2280 m / 7,500 feet). The dominant feature of Paro is undoubtedly the Paro Dzong set above the glacial Paro Chu River. It is a particularly important and historic dzong having played a part in Bhutan's history since it was first constructed. On arrival we will check into our hotel. Bhutan's official name, 'Druk Yul', means the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', which is officially portrayed on the country's flag. Bhutan is perhaps the least modernised and most mysterious country in South Asia and remains very cautious in its contact with the outside world. The flow of tourists into the country is regulated and the government makes great efforts to preserve and strengthen the country's religious and cultural traditions. Overnight in Paro. All meals. Day 3 Paro Area (Paro Festival, Spring Departure) During our time in Paro we will visit the National Museum of Bhutan which displays thangkas, artifacts, costumes, stamps (even talking stamps), and objects from archaeological excavations. Located further up the valley is the famed Takstang or 'Tiger's Nest' monastery which burned down in 1998. The monastery has been rebuilt and you will have the option today to drive to a viewpoint in the valley from where you can see Takstang high up on the cliff opposite. OUR FALL TRIP will also feature an excursion to the Haa Valley, one of the 20 'dzongkhag', or districts comprising Bhutan. Population unknown. Red mountain rice, potatoes, chillies, and other crops are grown on the valley floor, along terraced hillsides, and in some of the more accessible side valleys. The name Haa (pronounced "hah"), as well as the more ancient name Has (pronounced "hay"), connotes esoteric hiddenness. In 2002 the valley was opened to foreign tourism, although its tourist resources remain largely undeveloped. Local historians maintain that two important temples in Haa district, the Black Temple and the White Temple were built at the same time as Kyerchu Temple in Paro in the 7th century AD. A third temple, Haa Gonpa, was built at further up the valley at the site where a lame pigeon, actually a bodhisattva in disguised form, was found by a local farmer who was drawn to the spot by a mysterious fire seen on several successive nights and by the unexplained sounds of oboes and trumpets. OUR SPRING TRIP will not travel to Haa. Instead we will participate in the annual Paro Festival. Only a few Westerners have enjoyed the fascinating 'Tsechus' of Bhutan. The Tsechus are Buddhist religious festivals where masked dances depicting the events from the life of Padmasambhava, the eighth century Nyingmapa Buddhist teacher, are staged. The Tsechu provides the local populace with a wonderful occasion to gather, dress up, and enjoy in a convivial light-hearted atmosphere. It is also an occasion to renew their faith and receive blessings by watching the sacred dances or receiving 'empowerment' from a lama or Buddhist monk. The dances are performed by trained monks wearing ornate costumes and impressive masks. Overnight in Paro. All meals. Day 4 Paro - Punakha Today's journey takes us deep into the heart of Bhutan. The drive will give you an insight into a medieval way of life that has changed little over the centuries. Modern development has brought better education, health care and electricity to these remote areas but the local small farm-based economy that has kept the local people self sufficient over the years is largely unchanged. Located at a relatively low altitude of 1300 m (4,265 feet) in a rain-shadow, the Punakha Valley produces most of the oranges and fruits grown commercially in Bhutan. Despite the warmer climate and the possibility of growing an endless variety of produce, the population of the valley remains remarkably low. Until very recently, Punakha remained the winter capital of Bhutan (there is only one capital now, Thimphu), and it is still the winter headquarters of the Head Abbott (Je Khempo) and his monks who move here every winter. On arrival we will visit Punakha Dzong. This Dzong was built strategically at the junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers in 1637 to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region. It was damaged by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, however it has been fully restored by the present King (please note that the Dzong is frequently closed without notice). Depending on our timing for today, we may visit the Dzong tomorrow. Overnight in Punakha. All meals. Day 5 Punakha - Thimphu This morning we depart Punakha via the spectacular Dochula Pass 3031 m (10,004 feet). We pass steeply through a forest of pine and cedar with panoramic views of the Himalaya (Punkaha - Thimphu 77 km / 48 miles, 3 hours). Thimphu, the Bhutanese capital (2320 m / 7,609 feet), is situated on a broad green valley surrounded by terraced rice fields. This town of about 40,000 people built along traditional lines is the administrative centre of Bhutan and was only established in the 1950s. The main street of Thimphu, Norzim Lam, is lined with shops of all descriptions mainly stocking goods imported from India and China. This is the only capital in the world where there are no traffic lights, only three roundabouts, and police boxes decorated with dragons! Overnight in Thimphu. All meals. Day 6 Thimphu (Thimphu Festival, Fall Departure) Today we drive to the impressive Tashicho Dzong (which we may be allowed to enter), the traditional summer capital of Bhutan and now the seat of the Bhutanese government. The present building is a rebuilt version of a dzong or monastery-fortress that was erected here by Nawang Namgyal in 1641 and it retains many of the features of the old dzong. It is now an impressive sight and it houses all the government deparments and ministries, the throne room of the King, the National Assembly chambers and the nation's largest monastery with over 2000 monks in residence. OUR FALL DEPARTURE coincides with the Thimphu Tsechu, an annual festival held at the Tashichho Dzong. The Tsechu reflects the deeply rooted religious sentiments of the people. For three days various types of masked dances are performed. Many depict the story of good triumphing over evil, the day of judgment, matrimonial fidelity etc. Overnight in Thimphu. All meals. Day 7 Thimphu - Phuntsholing Today we travel by road through southern foothills, through lush forested valleys and around the rugged north-south ridges of the inner Himalaya. It is a scenic journey; forests festooned with orchids cover the mountains on either side, and exciting hairpin curves greet us with colourful sculptures of Tashi Tagye (eight special Tibetan symbols that reflect the teachings of the Buddha). We continue descending the lower Himalayan hills to the border town of Phuntsholing, a fascinating mixture of Bhutanese and Indian and a lively centre for mingling peoples, languages, costumes and goods (150 km / 94 miles, +/-6 hours). Overnight in Phuntsholing. All meals. Day 8 Phuntsholing, Bhutan - Dooars - Darjeeling, India Today we complete border formalities en route to the Dooars Valley (400 m / 1,312 feet), the 'Gateway to the Himalaya.' Here an unending stretch of virgin forests is crisscrossed by the River Teesta and its innumerable tributaries. Roads cut through deep forests, rich with wildlife. Mauve hills host wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, tribal settlements and valleys carpeted with tea gardens.Today we travel to Darjeeling, surrounded by tea plantations on the lower hills. Driving close beside the narrow gauge Darjeeling Hill Railway drawn by century old steam engines, we reach the halfway point of Kurseong where we stop for a tea break before driving to Ghoom at about 2400 m (8,000 feet). There is a descent into the busy town of Darjeeling (2134 m / 7,000 feet). Darjeeling or 'the place of the thunderbolt' and the surrounding area once belonged to the rulers of Sikkim. In 1833 the British gained control of the hill on which Darjeeling stands after considerable political manoeuvring in return for a small annual payment to the King of Sikkim. It soon grew to a popular health resort after a pony road and some houses were built and tea growing introduced. Later in the 19th century, the remarkable mountain railway from the plains was built and Darjeeling boomed as a resort and holiday destination for the British bureaucracy wanting an escape to cooler climates. Built on a crescent shaped ridge, Darjeeling faces the Himalayan peaks and is surrounded by cultivated slopes, thick forests and tea plantations. Overnight in Darjeeling. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Darjeeling Area We are woken before dawn with a cup of tea before boarding British built Land Rovers for the 15 km drive to Tiger Hill to see the amazing colours of sunrise on Kanchenjunga. At 2550 m (8,500 feet), Tiger Hill commands superb views of the mountains and valleys of the eastern Himalaya with Everest, Lhotse and Makalu visible in the far distance on clear days. We stop at Ghoom Monastery on the way back; this monastery built in 1875 belongs to the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect lamas and has a five metre high statue of the Maitreyi (future) Buddha. In the afternoon we will tour the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute; the small zoo beside it has several interesting Himalayan species including snow leopards and red pandas. The institute itself houses a considerable collection of items used by the early Everest explorers and also has a fine topographical model of the Eastern Himalaya. Later we drive to a nearby tea plantation for which this region is famous and see the picking and processing of tea leaves. Local train schedule permitting, we will aim for a train ride on the 120 year old steam run Darjeeling Hill Railway, now a UNESCO World Heritage entity. The rest of the day is free to browse the 'Chowrasta' or town square and explore the well-known Oxford Book Shop with its excellent collection of books on the history and cultures of the Himalaya. You could also walk down to the Lower Bazaar where the local residents shop for produce, fabrics and spices. We may have time to visit the Tibetan Refugee and Handicraft Centre where Tibetan refugees live cooperatively and their children attend school while their parents work on wool making, carpet weaving, and handicraft production. Overnight in Darjeeling. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Darjeeling - Gangtok (Sikkim) We have an early departure for our steep descent through a series of tea plantations to the tropical Teesta Valley. Passing through sal forests and cinchona (quinine bark) plantations, we stop briefly at the Teesta Bridge checkpoint to show our Sikkim entry documents before continuing onwards to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Located in the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim forms a natural border between Nepal to the west and Bhutan to the east. To the north lies Tibet and to the south the Teesta and Ringgit rivers form a natural boundary with the Indian state of West Bengal; to the east lies the Kingdom of Bhutan separated by a tongue of Chinese controlled Tibet. The climate is subtropical in the lower valleys, but changing fast to temperate and alpine with increase in elevation. Vast rhododendron forests cover most of the slopes between 3300-4000 m (10,800-13,000 feet) and the Himalayan cypress is widely found near the tree line. Mixed forests of bamboo and dozens of orchid species are common between 1500-3000 m (5,000-9,850 feet) -- 660 varieties of orchids are known to grow in Sikkim. The cardamom spice is a cash crop that grows wild extensively around Yuksum and Phodang. The original inhabitants of Sikkim are the Lepchas who may have migrated to Sikkim before the 8th century; later migrations brought Tibetan Lamaistic Buddhism which is presently followed by 30% of the Sikkimese people. The central and northern areas of the province are home to the Lepcha people; the lower valleys are inhabited by Nepalese immigrants. Other ethnic groups are the Magars renowned as warriors, the Bhotias, who came to Sikkim from the Kham area of Tibet in the 13th century and who form the core of the monastic system. Overnight in Gangtok (1700 m / 5,600 ft). Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Gangtok Area Gangtok lies on a ridge with fine views of the Kangchenjunga Range. After breakfast we will visit the Institute of Cottage Industries where young Sikkimese people are taught traditional crafts. There is a sales centre attached for a number of local handicrafts, most with a strong Tibetan look to them. Woollen carpets, shawls and traditionally painted tables are good buys, all at government regulated prices. Later we will visit the Enchey Monastery located on the ridge top above the town; the present building dates from 1909 though the monastery itself is over 200 years old. Also visited is the Institute of Tibetology which was established in 1958 as a major centre for research on Tibet and Tibetan Lamaistic Buddhism. It houses many rare books, thangkas, statues and manuscripts smuggled out of Tibet after the Chinese occupation. We will also visit the permanent 'Flower Show' that exhibits a number of native Sikkimese orchid and flower species. The afternoon is free to explore the town; we recommend a visit to the busy vegetable and spice market. Overnight in Gangtok. Breakfast and dinner. Day 12 Gangtok - Martam Today we have a brief drive to Rumtek Monastery on the opposite side of the valley from Gangtok. Rumtek is the seat of the Tibetan Kagyugpa sect of monks and a major centre for Tibetan religious studies. The 16th Gwalpa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyugpa sect, took refuge in Rumtek after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950's; he and his followers escaped with whatever statues, 'thangka' paintings and scriptures they could and built Rumtek Monastery as a replica of the Chhofuk Monastery that they had left behind in Tibet. We continue for a further 10 km (6 miles) to Martam village (1450 m / 4,428 feet) where we stay in comfortable cottages built in the local style with impressive views over a quiet valley of terraced rice paddies. The nearby village and the school offer a glimpse of an idyllic lifestyle in a perfect rural setting. Overnight in Martam. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Martam - Kalimpong A scenic drive past forest covered slopes and fast flowing rivers to Kalimpong (1250 m / 4,100 feet), an important market town located strategically at the crossroads of Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and Bengal until the 1960s when the Indo-China war put an end to cross border trade. It is now well known for its numerous flower and orchid nurseries. We stay in the Himalayan Hotel, run by Tim MacDonald, grandson of the Tibetan explorer David MacDonald, who accompanied many of the early British Younghusband expeditions to Tibet around the turn of the century. The MacDonald family home is something of a museum to the early exploration of this part of the Himalaya; its 16 rooms decorated with memorabilia donated by notable Himalayan explorers who have stayed at the hotel over the years. The main house was built in the 1920s and has a mature garden with dozens of varieties of flowering trees and shrubs and views of the Himalaya from the verandahs. During our time in Kalimpong, we may also have time to drive to the monastery that overlooks superb views of Kalimpong town (and the Himalayan peaks) and visit the historic Dr Graham's home. The extensive boarding and day school facilitiy was established over a century ago. We will see its classrooms and boarding houses to get an idea how students of both sexes from all over India and neighbouring countries like Bhutan spend their days during the study year. There is an Anglican church with fine stained glass windows nearby and you can also visit one of the flower nurseries for which Kalimpong is well known across India. Overnight in Kalimpong (1247 m / 4,100 ft). Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Kalimpong - Calcutta - Depart Today we drive down to the plains of North Bengal and the airport of Bagdogra from where we fly to Calcutta and connect with onward flights home. PLEASE NOTE: Many flights from Indian cities depart after midnight, ie just into TOMORROW. If this is the case re your departure, you may consider booking an extra hotel night so that you will have a place to rest prior to your flight tonight. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Bhutan vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 9/09 |
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