The Land of the Thunder Dragon

Transcription

1 The Land of the Thunder Dragon A photographic journey through Western Bhutan accompanied by adventure travel photographer, Andrew Peacock DATES: 7th March to 21st March

2 Bhutan: a photographer s dream Bhutan is a photographer s dream destination. A largely Buddhist country, steeped in ancient traditions, it has managed to preserve many aspects of a way of life that has changed little in generations. From colourful traditional dress, to imposing dzongs (fortresses), religious rituals, masked dances at Buddhist festivals, dramatic scenery and rural landscapes, Bhutan has it all. Joins us on a journey through Western Bhutan and experience many unique photographic opportunities, accompanied by awardwinning photographer, Andrew Peacock. You will also learn about Bhutanese culture, history and lifestyle from our two Bhutanese guides, Norbu and Sonam, who will be with the group throughout the trip. Both are great story-tellers and love to share their knowledge of their homeland with their guests. This promises to be a very special trip. We hope you ll join us! 2

3 Your photography guide - Andrew Peacock The tour will be led by award-winning Australian photographer, Andrew Peacock. Andrew first began to explore the world around him through a camera lens, while working as a doctor on voluntary assignments in the mountains of Nepal and India. Now he uses his medical and outdoor adventure skills to find ways to explore new corners of the globe and tell those stories through photography. As an adventure travel photographer, he creates images that tell stories of human exploration and adventure in areas of natural beauty and wonder. Andrew's inspiration comes from the activities, landscapes, wildlife and people of the outdoor world. Andrew's work has appeared in Lonely Planet books, Outside Magazine, Australian Geographic and Virtuoso Traveler, to name just a few. He is a certified photographic instructor with National Geographic/Lindblad Expeditions, working for them in SE Alaska and Iceland and has led photographic tours to Ladakh and Mongolia. For the past six years, Andrew has been a finalist in Australian Geographic's Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition and he is also a Ted's Cameras, Australia Master Photographer. Heather McNeice The itinerary for this tour has been put together in conjunction with Heather McNeice, the Queensland representative of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, and enthusiastic amateur photographer. Heather has been organising and leading trips to Bhutan every year since Heather has travelled and trekked extensively in Western and Central Bhutan and has worked closely for the past eight years with our local guide and ground agent on this trip, Tshering Norbu (known as Norbu) owner and operator of Bespoke Bhutan Tours. The itinerary has been designed to provide you with the very best photographic opportunities, including a number of unique experiences that are not readily available to tourists. Andrew's wonderful adventure travel photography can be found at Andrew will be on hand throughout the tour to offer advice on all things photographic and will conduct a couple of evening talks on how to make the most of your photography on this trip. 3

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5 Group size Minimum of 10 and maximum of 14 guests Photography experience Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome, from beginner to semi-professional. Partners are welcome too. Camera DSLR, compact or iphone cameras are all suitable. You can recharge your camera each evening in the hotel, other than the night of our festival visit, when we will be camping. However, it is always useful to bring a spare battery for your camera, if you have one. Bring as many lenses as you d like. We suggest an ideal combination would include a wide angle lens, especially for landscape shots, a telephoto zoom, as well as your standard lens. A tripod will also be useful. If you would like to back-up your images during the trip, as well as share them with the group, do bring your laptop. Transport Transport in Bhutan will be in a 24 seater coaster bus, allowing extra space for camera bags and equipment and giving all guests access to Andrew while driving. We will have a separate vehicle to transport luggage. Fitness and elevation Most sites on the itinerary are accessible by vehicle. Where some walking is involved, it is generally fairly gentle, with the exception of the half day hike to Tiger s Nest which involves a step climb of approximately 700 metres. Guests who do not wish to continue to the monastery may remain at the café and look-out, just past the half way point. Most of the route is at elevations of less than 3,000 metres, although we will cross two road passes at close to 4,000 metres. Bhutan & Beyond The trip has been arranged through Bhutan & Beyond, a specialist travel company closely associated with MTA Travel (Mobile Travel Agents) who are a member of the prestigious Virtuoso travel group. Bhutan & Beyond are based in Queensland and specialise in tailor-made trips to Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and Northern India, for clients worldwide. Directors, James and Nicola Irving, have been travelling regularly to Bhutan for many years and are very knowledgeable about all things Bhutan. Bookings for the trip will be handled by James. James can be reached by telephone on , toll free on (then press 1#) or by at james@bhutan.com.au. Visit the Bhutan & Beyond website at 5

6 Itinerary Pre-tour day: 6 March arrive Bangkok Arrive in Bangkok. We suggest staying overnight at the Novotel at Bangkok airport, ready for an early morning departure to Paro, in Western Bhutan, the following morning. Bhutan & Beyond will hold a group rooming allotment at the Novotel and you may, if you wish, book your room through them. Day 1: 7 March 2019 Fly Bangkok to Paro, explore Paro town We leave Bangkok for Paro, arriving mid-morning. On a clear day, there are spectacular views from the flight of the snowcapped peaks of the Eastern Himalayas. We will be met at the airport by our driver and Norbu and Sonam, our Bhutanese guides, for the short drive to the hotel in the Paro Valley. After lunch, we will spend the afternoon in Paro town, visiting the Dzong (a fortress, housing both civil administration offices and a monastery) and national museum, as well as the Druk Choeding temple, built in the fifteenth century. You will also have a chance to explore the traditional, wooden-fronted shops along Paro s main street. Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro Valley Day 2: 8 March 2019 Cheli La pass and Dronga Goemba Today, weather permitting, we will drive to the Cheli La pass, the highest motorable road pass in Bhutan, at just under 4,000 metres. On a clear day, there are sweeping views of jagged Himalayan peaks along the horizon. At the pass itself, jumbles of prayer flags, flapping manically in the wind, are a colourful sight. After returning to the Paro Valley, we will spend the afternoon at Dronga Goemba, a monastery on a hillside overlooking the valley, where we will join the monks for lunch and learn about their daily life in the monastery. Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro Valley Day 3: 9 March 2019 Tiger s Nest monastery Today is one of the highlights of the trip with a half-day hike (approximately five hour round trip) to Taktsang, Tiger s Nest monastery, perched on a cliff face 800m above the Paro valley. According to legend, this is where Guru Rinpoche landed on the back of a flying tigress, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan for the first time. Pilgrims from all over Bhutan make the steep climb up to the monastery. We will visit several ancient temples in the monastery complex and take in the stunning views back along the Paro Valley. Note: no photographs are allowed inside the temples. Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro Valley 6

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8 Day 4: 10 March 2019 Drive to Thimphu (1.5 hrs) After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the Paro valley for the 1.5 hour drive to the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, stopping en route to photograph the famous iron-bridge that spans the Paro river to Tachogang Lhakhang (temple). As we approach Thimphu, a detour brings us to the giant Buddha Dordenma that sits on a hillside, overlooking the Thimphu Valley. This afternoon, we will spend time in downtown Thimphu, including a visit to Thimphu Dzong and the local weekend market. As the evening light fades, we ll make our way to the National Memorial Chorten where many pilgrims come to circumambulate the chorten and offer their daily prayers. Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Ascent, Thimphu Day 5: 11 March 2019 Thimphu We begin the day with a short drive along the Thimphu valley to a temple recently built in honour of the goddess Tara. We will also visit the astrology school, housed in the adjacent monastery. This afternoon, enjoy some free time in Thimphu or join us for a short hike up to Dechen Phodrang monastery, from where there are views over the dzong. Day 6: 12 March 2019 Drive to Punakha (2.5 hrs) Today we head east from Thimphu, climbing up to the Dochu La road pass at 3,140 metres. Weather permitting, there are great views over the Eastern Himalayas. Dochu La is more than just a road pass. It is the site of 108 chortens built by one of the wives of the Fourth King in We will climb up the stairs to the royal temple on the hillside for an elevated view of the chortens. From the Dochu La, we descend into the sub-tropical Punakha Valley. At 1,200 metres, this will be our lowest altitude in Bhutan. Before reaching Punakha, a flat, 20 minute stroll, through rice terraces, brings us to Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of the Divine Madman. The temple was built in 1499, in honour of Bhutan s notorious saint, Drukpa Kinley who was famed for his salacious behaviour. Many of the homes and shops in the surrounding village are adorned with painted and carved wooden phalluses, that have long been associated with Drukpa Kinley s rather unorthodox teaching methods. From Chimi Lhakhang, we continue a short distance to our hotel in the Punakha Valley. Overnight hotel: Zhingkham Resort, Punakha Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Ascent, Thimphu 8

9 Day 7: 13 March 2019 Punakha valley This morning, we will drive on a farm road high above the Punakha Valley to Chorten Nyingpo monastery. After visiting the monastery, a walking trail takes us into the hills, passing rural farmhouses, rice terraces and farmers tending to their livestock. This walk is a great opportunity to experience Bhutan s rural way of life and we will have a picnic lunch to make the most of our day in the countryside. Overnight hotel: Zhingkham Resort, Punakha Day 8: 14 March 2019 Drive to Gasa (2.5 hours) Gasa is a village about 2.5 hours drive from the Punakha Valley, at an elevation of 2,850 metres. The small village is dominated by the impressive dzong that, unusually, has circular walls. We plan to visit the Gasa tsechu, the annual Buddhist festival, where masked monks perform religious dances in elaborate costumes of silk and brocade. One of the highlights of the Gasa festival is seeing the Layaps (people from the mountain village of Laya) in their traditional yak hair clothes and woven conical bamboo hats that are unique to their village. To maximize our time at the festival, we will camp overnight near Laya village. 9

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12 Day 9: 15 March 2019 Punakha Valley We plan to visit the Gasa festival again this morning, before our return drive to the Punakha valley. After lunch we will visit Punakha Dzong, one of the most important in the country. The dzong sits at the confluence of the Mother and Father rivers, in a spectacular setting, with a backdrop of forested hillsides. Overnight hotel: Zhingkham Resort, Punakha Day 10: 16 March 2019 Drive to Phobjikha Valley It is a 3.5 hour drive from Punakha to the Phobjikha valley, a beautiful wide-bottomed glacial valley. Depending on our arrival time in Phobjikha, there may be time to wander the one main street of Gangtey village with its small general stores and monastery at the end of the street. Overnight hotel: Gakiling Resort, Gangtey 12

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15 Day 11: 17 March 2019 Phobjikha Valley We will spend the day in and around the Phobjikha valley. If the yak herders who spend the winter here have not yet moved back up to higher pastures, we will visit their camp at Longtey village. This afternoon, a short, gentle stroll on the Gangtey Nature Trail takes us through a beautiful pine forest and past a number of water-driven prayer wheels, chortens and clusters of prayer flags. Overnight hotel: Gakiling Resort, Gangtey Day 12: 18 March 2019 Phobjikha Valley We will make an early visit to Gangtey Goempa for morning prayers. Afterwards, we will drive to the Khewa temple, where we will meet with the monks, who generate a small income from making incense. Overnight hotel: Gakiling Resort, Gangtey Day 13: 19 March 2019 Drive back to Punakha (3.5 hrs) Today, we drive back to the Punakha valley. After checking into the hotel, we will spend the afternoon out and about in the valley. Past Punakha Dzong and across the river, a 45 minute uphill walk will take us to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a modern chorten, housing a huge statue of a wrathful deity. There are stunning views in both directions along the Punakha valley, from the roof terrace on the top floor of the chorten. Overnight hotel: Zhingkham Resort, Punakha Day 14: 20 March 2019 Drive back to Paro From Punakha, it is a 4.5 hour drive back to Paro. After crossing the Dochu La, we will visit the Tibetan village of Hongtsho and its temple, founded in the fifteenth century. The village is near an army checkpoint where locals often have roadside stalls, selling apples and strings of yak cheese. This afternoon, there will be a final opportunity to visit Paro town for any last minute shopping. Overnight hotel: Zhiwa Ling Heritage, Paro Valley Day 15: 21 March 2019 International departure This morning we will transfer from our hotel to Paro airport for our flight to Bangkok and home. 15

16 Additional photographic opportunities We plan to incorporate several additional experiences into the itinerary. These include attending a house blessing ceremony, an archery and/or darts game (two of Bhutan s traditional outdoor sports), a visit to a rural school, a visit to the home of a traditional thankgka artist and/or weaver and a local market. By their nature, the time and location of these events cannot be guaranteed but we will do our best to bring you a number of unique photographic opportunities. 16

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18 Cost All trips within Bhutan and the flights to and from Bhutan are priced in US dollars. With a minimum of ten guests travelling, the cost of this trip, starting in Bangkok, is US $6,354, based on twin share. A single supplement is available on request. Flights between Bangkok and Paro have not yet been released. We expect the cost for the return flight to be in the region of US US $840 in economy or US $940 in business class. The actual flight cost will be charged. We will be in Bhutan in late March, one of the two peak times to visit the Eastern Himalayas. Flights and hotels are in high demand and are often booked over a year in advance. Places on this trip will be booked on a first come, first served, basis. Payments Payment may be made to Bhutan & Beyond in US dollars or Australian dollars. Assuming we have sufficient interest in this group trip, a non-refundable deposit of US$500 is due by 31 May A second payment of US$2500 is due by 31 July 2018, with the balance payable by 15 December Should you wish to pay your outstanding balance prior to the final payment date, you are welcome to do so. If you are paying in AUD, the amount due will be calculated at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia retail rate of exchange on the day payment is due. Hotels In Paro, we will stay at Zhiwa Ling Heritage, a 4.5 star, National Geographic preferred hotel. In Thimphu, the sister hotel is the 4 star Zhiwa Ling Ascent In Punakha and Phobjikha, we will stay in Bhutanese 3.5 star, standard hotels. All rooms have private bathrooms. For our night in Gasa, and to make the most of our festival visit, we will camp near Gasa village. Camping will be in cottage style tents in your choice of single or twin share. Camping beds, mattresses and sleeping bags are provided and all camp set up and pack down, as well as lunch, dinner and breakfast, will be provided by the camping crew. Included Airport transfers in Bhutan Return flights Bangkok to Paro priced separately see opposite, under Cost Experienced English-speaking Bhutanese guides Twin share accommodation at Zhiwa Ling, Paro and Thimphu, for six nights Twin share accommodation at Bhutanese standard hotels in Punakha and Phobjikha One night luxury camping in single or twin share tent All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in Bhutan Photographic guidance throughout the trip Group medical kit Private transportation in Bhutan Park entrance fees, road and other permits All Bhutanese Government Visa Fees and Royalties inclusive of 10% service charge and 10% sales tax. Sustainable Tourism Fund levy 18

19 Not included Return flights to Bangkok from departure point (Bhutan & Beyond can book these for you if you wish) Airport transfers to local departure airport Overnight accommodation at Bangkok airport hotel on the night before departure to Bhutan. We suggest the Novotel, Bangkok airport (approximate cost US $100 per person, on a twin share basis and can be booked through Bhutan & Beyond) Drinks Expenditure of a personal nature such as souvenirs, phone calls etc Travel insurance compulsory Tips see below Travel Insurance It is a requirement of this trip that you have in place travel insurance. A copy of your certificate of appropriate insurance must be provided to Bhutan & Beyond, prior to your final payment being made. Tipping We will be accompanied by experienced English-speaking Bhutanese guides and a driver for the duration of the trip. Tipping the guide and driver is expected, as well as the camping crew. We will let you know how much to allow for tips, before departure. 19

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21 How to book Contact James Irving at Bhutan & Beyond by telephone on , toll free on (then press 1#) or by at james@bhutan.com.au to reserve your place. For any initial enquiries about the itinerary, Heather McNeice at heathermcneice@mac.com For any questions about the photography aspects of the trip, or camera gear, contact Andrew at peacocka@rocketmail.com 21