CENTRAL BHUTAN WALKING ADVENTURE 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS As of September 21, 2014

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1 CENTRAL BHUTAN WALKING ADVENTURE 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS As of September 21, 2014 Visit us at

2 The Itinerary Bhutan is the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom, and the teachings of this school of Buddhism are intrinsic to the daily life of its people. Here the spinning of prayer wheels, the murmur of mantras and the glow of butter lamps in the houses are still important features of the everyday life. The architecture in Bhutan is unique and charming with several old Dzongs (temples) built without a single nail. This cultural adventure introduces visitors to the unique Bhutanese culture including pilgrimage sites, crafts and Buddhist practices. Travel beautiful mountain roads, walk up to temples strategically placed on hills or rivers and search for bird life in the Gangtey Valley. This adventure can be modified to include mountain-biking. DAY DATE OVERNIGHT HOTEL MEALS HIGHLIGHTS 1 Sat THIMPHU Hotel Phuntshopelri or Jumolhari Resort LD Meet and arrival transfer to hotel. Explore Thimphu. 2 Sun THIMPHU Hotel Phuntshopelri or Jumolhari Resort Hike to viewpoint near Thimphu. Continue exploring Thimphu. Weekend market in Thimphu. 3 Mon GANGTEY Home stay or Dewachen Drive to Gangtey. Visit Gompa. 4 Tues GANGTEY Home stay or Dewachen Visit Nature Center for cranes (seasonal). Hike and/or bike to villages. 5 Wed PUNAKHA/ WANGDUE Kichu Resort or Chuzomsa Drive to Punakha. Hike to Punakha Dzong. 6 Thurs HAA Farm stay or Rigsum Resort Drive to Haa Valley. Hike to nunnery at top of pass. 7 Friday PARO Khangkhu Resort or Tenzinling Resort Hike in Haa Valley and visit local temples. Return to Paro 8 Sat PARO Khangkhu Resort or Tenzinling Resort Hike to Tigers Nest Monastery. Tour Paro. 9 Sun DEPARTURE Standard Hotel B Transfer to airport for international departure.

3 Itinerary in Detail DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BHUTAN THIMPHU Plan to arrive at your departure airport 3 hours ahead of your flight to Bhutan in order to receive your visa. Your flight is a spectacular introduction to Bhutan as during clear weather you will have magnificent views of the world s highest peaks and then the lush green Paro valley as you land. After clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your guide and transferred 1.5 hours to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan with a population of 100,000. The town is made of 3 rows of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. Begin sightseeing in the area. Options include the National Library, the Folk Heritage Museum (a beautifully restored Bhutanese farmhouse from the last century), the National Painting School, home to 13 teachings of 13 traditional arts and crafts, the Textile Museum, and the National Post Office (Bhutan has many intricate stamps). In the evening visit the National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of our 3rd king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck for a wonderful opportunity to mix with the local population. All the buildings in Bhutan conform to national building principals and are beautifully carved and decorated. Overnight Thimphu [LD] DAY 2: EXPLORE THIMPHU This morning you will enjoy breakfast at a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the Thimphu valley. During your short transfer to the view point, stop to visit Bhutan s National animal, the Takin, in a reserve which was originally established as a zoo until the king decided that such a facility was not in keeping with Bhutan s environmental and religious convictions. After breakfast, steadily climb for an hour or so through forests of blue pine, oak and dogwood to Chokortse Lhakhang temple at 8,700 feet where the views of the Thimphu Valley are spectacular. The temple was built in the 13 th century by Lama Ugyen Dorji, and its main figure is of the Future Buddha, Maitreya. Continue walking another hour descent to Wangditse Goemba for another stunning view. Wangditse Goemba was originally built as a dzong in the 16 th century and was later converted to temple. Upon return to Thimphu, explore the weekend market. If available, visit the Chamglmithang Archery Ground to watch Bhutan s national game. Overnight Thimphu [] DAY 3: THIMPHU GANGTEY Depart for the drive to Gangtey (5 hours) climbing steeply through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m). This pass offers panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges and is marked with 100 stupas on a small hillock. Enjoy a drink at the lodge there and then descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha. From here a gradual climb takes you into the valley of Gangtey (Phobjikha) on the flanks of the Black Mountains. Stop at the monastery of Gangtey Gompa dating back to the 17th century. A few kilometers past the Gompa on the valley floor you will find the fascinating valley of Phobjikha. The gentle sloping hillsides of Phobjikha are described as "the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas". This is the winter home of black necked cranes that migrate from arid plains in the north to pass winter in the milder lowland climate. Here you will overnight at a Farm Stay or Dewachen []

4 DAY 4: MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HIKING IN GANGTEY Explore the valley by bicycle and/or foot. Visit the Nature Information Center and walk along the nature trail to see the Black-Necked Cranes. Continue to explore the small villages of the countryside. Overnight Farm Stay or Dewachen [] DAY 5: PUNAKHA AND WANGDUE Return to Punakha (2 hours). Begin your walk today at the Khamsung Yuely Namgyel Temple where you will enjoy grand views of the Mo Chu River Valley below. Descend from the temple and follow a well-worn path down the valley through rice fields and small villages. Along the way are stunning views, with terraced rice paddies, providing a lush backdrop to the river below. Continue walking to the Punakha Dzong, which was constructed in 1637 and was the second of Bhutan s dzongs and for many years was the seat of government. From this spectacular setting you can look back to see the Khamsung Yuely Namgyel Temple perched on the hillside far in the distance. After a picnic lunch on the lawn of the temple or perhaps in a local farmhouse, you continue with a short walk from the dzong to your waiting vehicle, and the return trip to the hotel. Overnight Punakha [] DAY 6: PUNAKHA HAA VALLEY After breakfast, drive 5 hours to the Haa Valley via Chelela Pass. Near the pass, you take a short walk to Kila Gompa, a nunnery perched on a steep cliff face at 10,000 feet. Amazingly, this site houses 7 small temples and about 70 nuns. Views are magnificent and it is well worth the 1 hour s hike to get there. Descend back to the road head and drive over the prayer flag strewn pass at almost 4000m and down into the Haa Valley. You may opt to stay overnight at Haatoe, a farmhouse at Haa at 2955m which is located near a local temple. Overnight Haa [] DAY 7: HAA VALLEY On the Western side of Bhutan lays the Haa Valley, the least populated and smallest district in Bhutan. As this area opened to tourism less than 10 years ago, it is less developed compared to Paro, Thimphu and Bumthang. Here you will find dense forests, farm fields of wheat and barley, and families raising livestock. Visit the Black Temple and White Temple, drive to Yotong village by the Haa Chhu River where you can hike to a 300- year-old Gompa dedicated to the Guru Rimpoche. Walk along the river back to the Haa town where you can visit the Black Temple and White Temple. Drive back over the Chelela Pass 2 hours to Paro. Overnight Paro []

5 DAY 8: PARO AND TIGERS NEST After breakfast drive the winding road to Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fortress, which once defended this valley from Tibetan invasions. Continue to Ramthangkha, from where you will hike up to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger s Nest), which clings to the rocks towering 2600 feet above the valley. The hike uphill to the cafeteria will take around two hours on average; it is located about 2,950 meters (9,678 feet) above sea level. At the view point enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. You can choose to continue hiking up to the monastery and visit the monastery. After the visit to the temples, walk back to the cafeteria for your lunch. On the way back, visit Kychu Lhakhang, the oldest Buddhist temple in Bhutan, built in the 7 th century by the first king of Tibet. Also explore Paro Rimpung Dzong, one of Bhutan s most impressive and well-known temples. Walk from the dzong to the old traditional covered wooden bridge and stroll along the west bank of the river. Downstream from the bridge, you can get a spectacular view of the dzong. Overnight Paro [] DAY 9: DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. [B] PRICING FOR : GROUP SIZE High Season, Land Cost per person* Low Season, Land Cost per person* Druk Air Airfare per person** $2995 $2795 $2550 $2650 $2495 $2250 $450 - $900 $450 - $900 $ * Prices are valid through December 31, High Season is September November, March May. Low season is December February, June August. **Druk Airfare varies by location and dates. Please contact us for estimated rates. Airfare is estimated and subject to change until purchased. Flights are available from Calcutta, Delhi, Bogdagra in India, and from Kathmandu, Singapore and Bangkok. INCLUDED SERVICES Standard Accommodation in Bhutan Bhutan Visa (Wildland will obtain approval letter in advance) A/C vehicle and driver including airport transfers Specialist full time guide-escort in Bhutan Guided tours and excursions including entrance fees All meals while in Bhutan Airport-hotel transfers on scheduled dates Complimentary water during all transfers, drives and sightseeing Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre-departure services NOT INCLUDED SERVICES International airfare (Druk Air flights listed separately) Airport taxes Tips and gratuities Drinks, alcoholic beverages, water in restaurants, and meals other than listed above Personal expenses for extra services, optional activities, or changes beyond our control Travel insurance for trip cancellation, medical services, or evacuation Any other items not mentioned above

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