S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y TREASURES OF BHUTAN, NEPAL AND TIBET October 1 to 16, 2017 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 mountain realms. While some things have changed since then, the most memorable have not: the spiritual nature of the people, 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 landscape itself. This year faculty leader Liz Hadly leads our unforgettable adventure to the rooftop of the world. Join us! BRETT S. THOMPSON, 83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY PUNAKHA, BHUTAN Highlights HIKE to the stunning cliffside Taktsang Monastery, a place so holy that all Bhutanese try to visit it at least once during their lifetimes. VIEW more than 100 Himalayan peaks as we fly past Mt. Everest and drive over high mountain passes into lush valleys. WANDER the streets of Lhasa, crowded with nomads in native dress, monks spinning prayer wheels and merchants selling amulets. COVER: POTALA PALACE, LHASA, TIBET TAKTSANG MONASTERY, BHUTAN
Faculty Leader Liz Hadly was the best faculty leader ever. MICHAEL WILLEMSEN, 59, EAST AFRICA SAFARI, 2015 ELIZABETH A. HADLY is the faculty director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, a senior fellow at Stanford s Woods Institute for the Environment, and a professor of biology and of geological sciences (by courtesy) at Stanford. Professor Hadly and her lab conduct research throughout the Americas, Asia and Africa on the ecology and evolution of vertebrates. She is especially interested in the role that environmental change exerts on the biodiversity of mammals around the world. It s hard to appreciate the high elevation and vastness of the Himalayan plateau and its people until you have been there, says Professor Hadly. The active tectonism resulting in the highest mountains and the deepest gorges, the glaciers that provide water to onequarter of the planet s people, and the biological and cultural diversity boggle the mind, as do the increased urbanization and pollution and extraordinary rates of climate change that threaten the region s stability. Professor Hadly is thrilled to lead this program to the Himalayas and is already counting the months until departure! This will be Elizabeth Hadly s ninth trip with Stanford Travel/Study. S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y JOKHANG TEMPLE, LHASA, TIBET SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?himalayas2017 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093
Beijing CHINA C HINA Lhasa H i m TIBET a l a y a s Kathmandu N EPAL INDIA Paro Punakha B HUTAN Thimphu from Bangkok Itinerary SUNDAY & MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 & 2 DEPART U.S. / BANG- KOK, THAILAND Depart Sunday on an overnight flight to Bangkok, arriving on Monday in the late evening. After clearing immigration and customs, transfer to our airport hotel. NOVOTEL BANGKOK SUVARNAB- HUMI HOTEL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 BANGKOK / PARO, BHUTAN / THIMPHU This morning fly to Paro, site of Bhutan s international airport and one of its most beautiful towns. After lunch, drive to Thimphu, the country s capital. This evening gather for a welcome reception and dinner. TAJ TASHI (B,L,D) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 THIMPHU Today explore the Third King s Memorial Chorten, full of Buddhist iconography and the primary landmark one sees when entering the city; the National Library, repository of the nation s religious literary heritage; and the Folk Heritage Museum with its fascinating overview of traditional Bhutanese life. This evening meet with Bhutanese intellectuals and public figures. TAJ TASHI (B,L,D) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 THIMPHU / PUNAKHA On our journey to Punakha, stop at scenic Dochula Pass (10,200 feet), site of 108 Buddhist stone shrines, or chortens. Enjoy lunch at the pass before descending 6,000 feet into the lush Punakha Valley. Walk through fields and villages to visit Chimi Lhakhang, a 15thcentury fertility temple and a key pilgrimage site. DHENSA RESORT (B,L,D) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6 PUNAKHA This morning visit Punakha Dzong, a spectacular riverside fortress/monastery that is the seat of the Jo Khenpo, the chief hierarch of Bhutanese Buddhism. In the afternoon, take an optional hike past farms and through fields to the charming village of Nezigang. Climb gradually to Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, which was built by the royal family and offers superb views of Punakha Valley. DHENSA RESORT (B,L,D) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 PUNAKHA / PARO Depart Punakha for the drive to Paro. Visit the Paro Dzong, one of the most beautifully situated dzongs in Bhutan, made famous in the West as the key location for the movie, The Little Buddha. At the National Museum, learn about the history, culture and religion of Bhutan. ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 PARO Hike to the iconic Taktsang ( Tiger s Nest ) Monastery, whose white temples cling to a soaring cliff 10,000 feet above the valley. Taktsang, a place so holy that all Bhutanese try to pay a visit there at least once during their lives, marks the spot where Padmasambhava, the 8th-century Indian mystic, arrived on the back of a flying tiger after bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. ZHIWA LING HOTEL (B,L,D) MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 PARO / KATHMANDU, NEPAL Fly to Nepal s capital, Kathmandu, set among the world s highest mountains and located due north of the wide plains of India. Vital and complex, the city is an ideal place for understanding the rich mix of cultures found throughout the Himalayas. Visit Patan, a melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, graceful temples and ancient monasteries. DWARIKA HOTEL (B,L,D)
POTALA PALACE, TIBET SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA, KATHMANDU, NEPAL THIMPHU, BHUTAN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 KATHMANDU / BOD- NATH / BHAKTAPUR At dawn, weather permitting, depart for an optional flightseeing tour over the Himalayas. While flying at an altitude of 26,000 feet among the highest peaks in the world, we find ourselves still 2,800 feet below the majestic summit of Mt. Everest, whose southern face we pass within a mile. Later today drive to nearby Bodnath, a small town that boasts a World Heritage-designated stupa built by Tibetan Buddhists. Continue to the medieval city of Bhaktapur, with its Buddhist and Hindu temples, pagodas, palaces and monuments, some of which date back to the 16th century. Restoration work is well underway here following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in April of 2015. DWARIKA HOTEL (B,L) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 KATHMANDU Today visit the giant stupa of Swayambhunath with its allseeing eyes of Buddha, and Durbar Square, the locale of Kumari Chowk, the home of Kathmandu s living goddess, a child worshipped by Nepali Hindus as the manifestation of the goddess Durga. Learn about Camp Hope, which has been providing healthcare, shelter and educational opportunities to the people affected by the 2015 earthquake. DWARIKA HOTEL (B,L) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 KATHMANDU / LHASA, TIBET (CHINA) Fly to Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region and situated at approximately 12,000 feet above sea level. After landing at the Lhasa airport, settle into our hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 LHASA Spend the morning at the magnificent Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lamas since the 7th century. From its position atop Red Hill, the Potala dominates the landscape in all directions. Visit the holy Jokhang Temple, which shelters the Jowo Sakyamuni, Tibet s most revered image, and join the procession of pilgrims moving in a clockwise circuit around the Jokhang. Continue to the Barkhor, the lively market district in the heart of the old city, to take in more of Lhasa s colorful sights: traditionally clad nomads, monks holding prayer wheels, and vendors selling spices and amulets. ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 LHASA After breakfast, travel to Drepung Monastery, which sits in the shadow of an imposing Himalayan peak. Once Tibet s largest monastery, Drepung was founded in 1416 and served as the residence of several incarnations of the Dalai Lama. Continue to the great Sera Monastery, set in one of Lhasa s most dramatic mountain settings. Once a community of 5,000 monks, it was severely damaged by the Chinese in 1959 during the Cultural Revolution; hundreds of monks were killed while many more fled to India. Today, the several hundred resident monks conduct their famous debating sessions among the restored buildings. This evening celebrate the culmination of our journey at a farewell reception and dinner. ST. REGIS HOTEL (B,L,D) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 LHASA / BANGKOK, THAILAND Fly from Lhasa to Bangkok. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. AIRPORT NOVOTEL SUVARNABHUMI HOTEL (B,L) MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 BANGKOK / U.S. Fly to the U.S., crossing the international date line en route and arriving home the same day. (B)
Trip Information DATES October 1 to 16, 2017 (16 days) SIZE 29 participants COST* $13,695 per person, double occupancy $16,195 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $300 per person INCLUDED 14 nights of deluxe or best-available hotel accommodations 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 10 dinners Welcome and farewell receptions Gratuities to guides and drivers for all group activities All tours as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program departure day Visas for Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet Flights within Asia: Bangkok/Paro, Paro/Kathmandu, Kathmandu/Lhasa, Lhasa/Bangkok Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for non-group services AIR ARRANGEMENTS U.S./Bangkok and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program cost. Round-trip, economy-class airfare on United Airlines between San Francisco and Bangkok is approximately $1,010 as of January 2017 and is subject to change without notice. WHAT TO EXPECT Although this program is not a trek, we consider it to be strenuous, covering rugged terrain, with considerable walking at high altitudes. There are several arduous travel days with early departures. Daily excursions consist of up to three miles of walking, including navigating stairs without handrails. The excursion to Taktsang is a rigorous hike. For those who are susceptible to altitude sickness, note that Lhasa is 12,000 feet above sea level. Medical treatment and care are not always available or up to U.S. standards. Accommodations are first-class or best-available; outside of the larger cities on our itinerary, lodgings are basic. We expect that participants will be a self-selecting group whose interest in the places we visit will far outweigh the need for creature comforts. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health. We welcome travelers 15 years or older on this program.
DURBAR SQUARE, KATHMANDU, NEPAL Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to hold your space. Sign up online at alumni.stanford.edu/ trip?himalayas2017 or call the Travel/ Study office at (650) 725-1093. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Cancellations & Refunds Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. You may choose to subscribe to optional tripcancellation and baggage insurance. Information offering such insurance will be provided to travelers with their welcome materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you purchase your policy within 14 days of written confirmation of your participation on the trip. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $300 more than the members price. A person traveling as a guest paid for by a current member will not be charged the nonmember fee. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ goto/membership or call (650) 725-0692. Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motor coach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that passengers are not onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in January 2017 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. TELEPHONE (650) 725-1093 EMAIL travelstudy@alumni.stanford.edu California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 COPYRIGHT 2017 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED ON RECYCLED, FSC-CERTIFIED PAPER IN THE U.S.
Stanford Travel/Study Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA 94305-6105 (650) 725-1093 TREASURES OF BHUTAN, NEPAL AND TIBET October 1 to 16, 2017 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Stanford Alumni Association This was truly an incomparable Stanford Travel experience one of the best trips we have ever been lucky enough to have taken. IRENE BALCAR DILLON, 74, MD 77, AND S. WILLIAM DILLON, LANDS OF THE HIMALAYAS, 2012 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y