Bhutan CAS trip a sample

Transcription

1 Bhutan CAS trip a sample We are pleased to share with you this sample 11- day draft itinerary that incorporates the various aspects of the IB CAS program. This draft program can be further tailored around the school s interests and schedule. Kindly be advised that the itinerary and the number of tour days in Bhutan are open for discussion. Depending on the number of days that the school wishes to spend in the country, we can also select those activities that seem of most interest and include these in a shorter itinerary. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss any aspect of a tour or should you require further information. Map of Bhutan The blue oval indicates the area that our itinerary covers.

2 Day 1 : 28 September (Wednesday): Arrival Paro - Thimphu Your journey begins with the most spectacular of all mountain flights. You will fly over the southern hills, known as dwars, or gateways into the Himalayas as they rise from the plains until they meet the great snow-capped peaks of the inner Himalayas that rise up to the sky. On arrival at Paro airport and after completion of airport formalities, you will be met by your Bhutanese guide and driver who will be accommodating you throughout your Bhutan Tour. Drive from Paro to Thimphu, the modern capital town of Bhutan (about one hour along a very scenic route). On arrival, check in at your hotel and freshen up. Students will be distributed in twin rooms (2 students per room). Lunch : local restaurant in Thimphu town. In the afternoon, short drive to visit the Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha (51.5 metre bronze statue), sitting on top of Kuensel Phodrang hill. This site offers unobstructed views over the beautiful Thimphu Valley. Then drive to visit Memorial Chorten. The building of this landmark was originally envisaged by Bhutan s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who had wanted to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it is both a memorial to the Late King ( the father of modern Bhutan ), and a monument to peace. This afternoon, the group will also enjoy a presentation about the royalty of Bhutan. Who are the kings? What is their role? How are they regarded in the society? In what ways do they help their country and their people forward? What are the challenges? A local teacher or ex-teacher will provide this lecture and will be available for Q & A. Dinner & overnight at your hotel. (If the group is too tired to have the presentation on royalty this afternoon, it will be rescheduled for one of the next days).

3 Day 2 : 29 September (Thursday): Thimphu After an early breakfast, today s day is dedicated to CREATIVITY. You will learn about the arts and crafts of Bhutan. Bhutan is proud of its artistic heritage and produces works of excellent quality and great artistic value. The arts and crafts are grouped in one list under the name Thirteen Arts, the Zorig Chusum : Zo means to make, rig science and chusum thirteen. They consist of the following: painting, sculpture, carving, calligraphy, papermaking, casting, embroidery, weaving, carpentry, masonry, bamboo and cane weaving, gold/silver smithy, black smithy. Today, you will get the opportunity to learn about some of the above components. 1. You will start with a visit to the Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School), where a six-year training course is given in the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. Here you will get to observe students undergoing their training course and view their works. 2. Then head over to a local Weaving Center, where you will be able to actually see the traditional weaving process and interact with the weavers. 3. After that, head to the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan (RTA). RTA is managed under the leadership of the Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk. RTA is Bhutan s first institution that educates the Bhutanese youth about the conservation, preservation, training students and exhibition of the country s textiles. The Academy has a beautiful complex which displays the country s finest textiles including textiles owned by the Royal family of Bhutan. Lunch at a local restaurant in Thimphu 4. After lunch, you will visit the Traditional Handmade Paper Factory. Witness the process from start to finish. The paper is made from the barks of the black Daphne tree. The thicker paper is used for scriptures and the thinner ones are used for wrapping gifts and various other purposes. Did you know that in Bhutan, even the shopping bags are made of paper? Not a single plastic shopping bag in sight in the whole country! 5. Visit a local Goldsmith to observe his/her works. At all of these places of interest, the students will get a much better understanding of the processes involved and of the importance of each one of the thirteen arts. Where possible, the group will also be able to interact with representatives of each craft site. 6. Stop at the Bhutan Post Office briefly. Students can buy stamps if interested and take a quick peek of the Bhutan National Bank (located right above Bhutan Post Office). 7. Finally, we end the day by meeting 2 locals who will have dinner with you. 1. Your tour organizer will showcase her valuable textiles passed on by their ancestors/family. She will bring her preserved outfit and jewelry passed on by her family and display how the traditional outfit is worn, along with a small presentation on the traditional Bhutanese fashion. Questions from the students and teachers will be answered in great detail.

4 Dinner & overnight in Thimphu 2. Bhutan s most popular Fashion Blogger (Karma Tshering W), who has more than 30,000 followers in Bhutan. He has created a blog called Bhutan Street Fashion where he puts up photographs of what he sees in Bhutan s streets related to fashion. He will give you a small presentation on his views on how Bhutan s fashion industry has evolved over the years. He will also share his experience on being a fashion blogger in Bhutan (Subject to availability. We need to consult him to see if he is available on this date). If he is not available, we can get a famous Bhutanese artist/painter to talk about Bhutan s modern art.

5 Day 3 : 30 September (Friday): Thimphu After an early breakfast, take a short drive up the Thimphu Valley to Jigme Dorji National Park, one of Bhutan s revered wildlife sanctuaries. From here you cross the Thimphu Chu (River) over a covered wooden swing bridge, adorned with hundreds of prayer flags. You then begin the ascent on foot (ACTION!) to Cheri Goemba, a small monastery perched on the hill with a view over the Thimphu Valley. This monastery was built in 1620 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the man responsible for many of Bhutan s most historic dzongs (fortress) and monasteries. It is here that he established the first Bhutanese body of Buddhist monks, and scattered across the hillside are many small meditation huts where the devout monks and their students can seclude themselves for extended periods of meditation. Visit the tiny temples and shrines within the complex. On the drive to the bridge, the mighty Himalayas can be seen in the distance. Hike to Cheri Goemba : approximately 1 hr 15 min 2 hours round trip) Drive back to Thimphu town. On arrival, visit the National Library. The history of Bhutan lies imprinted in archaic texts which are preserved at the National Library. Besides thousands of manuscripts and ancient texts, the library also has modern academic books and printing blocks of prayer flags. The National Library of Bhutan is also the proud owner of the world s largest book. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will sit in for a one hour interactive session on Gross National Happiness by a Gross National Happiness expert. This expert will is an experienced speaker who has given a speech on Gross National Happiness at a TED talk earlier. We will check his availability. And there may even be a small quiz at the end of the talk, with authentic prizes for all! (Please refer to the notes at the end about the extra cost for this talk) In the later afternoon, you will visit Thimphu s fortress, Tashichho Dzong. This fortress has been the seat of the government since 1952 and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Other government departments are housed in buildings nearby. The dzong is located close to Thimphu town, on the bank of the Wangchhu River. It is an impressively large structure, surrounded by well-kept lawns and beautiful gardens. At the end of the afternoon you will witness the flag-lowering ceremony when the neighborhood comes to a temporary stand-still. End the day by visiting Thimphu s weekend farmer s market. Your tour guide will take you to a local joint to have momos (dumplings) for dinner.

6 Day 4 : 01 October (Saturday): Thimphu After breakfast, visit Mini Takin Reserve/Zoo at Upper Motithang. This zoo is a wildlife reserve area for takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Originally a mini-zoo, it was converted into a preserve when it was discovered that the animals refrained from inhabiting the surrounding forest even when set free. You will attempt to draw (CREATIVITY) this rather curious animal and learn about its habitat, its spread, its chances for survival etc from the highly informative displays around the zoo area. Then, visit the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (BYDF) centre to meet the staff/team. The BYDF is an organization committed to making every youth a leader with the mission a better today, a brighter tomorrow for the youth of Bhutan. The organization aims to ensure that all the youth have equal access to education, meaningful employment and opportunities to develop their potential, and address the growing needs of our youth. It further ensures that no youth is left behind from availing such opportunities and also no youth is deprived of the rights he or she is entitled to. Through various programs the organization intends to achieve its vision and mission and make every youth a leader. The program covers Youth Participation and Youth Protection, Drug Education, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Sponsor a Monk, Fundraising and Scholarship programs. The BYDF team will give a brief presentation of what they have achieved in Bhutan so far and their future goals. This can be regarded as the SERVICE component of the trip. Their website is Lunch at a local restaurant After lunch, visit the Voluntary Artists Studio in Thimphu. Popularly known as VAST, this studio was set up in 1998 by a group of professional artists as a non-profitable and non-governmental organization (NGO). This informal organization was set up with the sole aim of providing an opportunity to the Bhutanese youth to participate and develop their potential talents as well as share social responsibilities through artistic explorations and other socially useful and productive work. Its primary objective is to provide potential vocational skills and alternative positive use of free time and facilitate participation in the national and international art realm. Following that, visit the local farmers market. In the evening, one of Thimphu s alternative rock bands called Misty Terrace will perform for the group at a local café in Thimphu called Coffee Culture. Misty Terrace was brought up by high school friends and college mates and is one of the most popular bands in the country. They will perform some Bhutanese songs for the group. Following that, the band members will interact with the students and give them their view on modern day Bhutanese music (CREATIVITY, possibly turning into ACTION consider this a VIP backstage pass!). Here is a youtube link to one of their hit songs. Dinner and overnight : Thimphu

7 Day 5 : 02 October (Sunday): Transfer to Punakha Drive over the high mountain pass of Dochu La Pass (3,050m) where on a clear day, there is a panoramic view of the towering Himalayan peaks. Punakha is located in a sub-tropical valley with warm summers and pleasant winters. Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955, when the seat of government moved to Thimphu. Lunch at a rest stop along the way to Punakha Rest of the day at leisure or enjoy a peaceful walk through paddy fields and hike up to Khamsum Yulley temple perched on a hill top. The temple has a panoramic view overlooking the Mo Chu valley (Total Hike time 1.5 hrs) (ACTION). Dinner and overnight in Punakha

8 Day 6 : 03 October (Monday): Punakha Today you will visit the Chimi Lhakhang; the auspicious fertility monastery built in 1499 and a temple dedicated to the "Divine Madman", an eccentric monk from the 16th century famous for his many amusing, Rabelaisian folklore stories. This is a hike which will take around 2 hrs in total (ACTION). Picnic lunch organized at a scenic location. Then, visit Punakha Dzong/fortress which was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative center of the region. Damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored in recent years by the present monarch. The Dzong is placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers. Rest of the day at leisure, allowing the group to discover the daily life in this part of Bhutan. Dinner and overnight in Punakha

9 Day 7 : 04 October (Tuesday): Punakha After breakfast, go over to Punakha river for river rafting. Raft past imposing 17th century Punakha Dzong (fort and monastery) watching the world s rarest bird, the white bellied heron in its natural habitat and kingfishers frolicking on the riverbank - all these topped off with spectacular sights of serene lush green alpine valleys. (ACTION) Note : there is a fee of US$ 45 per person for the rafting activity, to be paid directly to the service provider We will offer alternative options for students who are not interested in rafting or in case the school has rules that prevent the group from rafting. Please feel free to advise us on your views on rafting. Lunch near Punakha Drive to Nalanda University a Buddhist monastic school located in the western part of Punakha. Monks reside here to get their Buddhist education. You will get an opportunity to socialize and interact with the monks and observe their evening routine. We will serve evening tea to the monks. Monks here are learning to speak English therefore they will love interacting with you! Dinner and overnight in Punakha

10 Day 8 : 05 October (Wednesday): Transfer to Paro Today you will proceed to Paro once again crossing over Dochula Pass. There are some nice rest stops on the way, where the group can have a short break and learn about farming and agriculture in Bhutan. Lunch at a rest stop along the way to Paro On arrival in Paro, visit the auspicious Kyichu Lhakhang, a sacred monument pinning down the left foot of a treacherous ogress. This is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan dating back to the 7 th century (the other being Jambey Lhakhang in Bumthang). Dinner and overnight in Paro

11 Day 9 : 06 October (Thursday): Paro - Tiger s Nest Hike Tiger s Nest monastery, most famous of Bhutan s monasteries, is spectacularly located on the side of a cliff 900m above the valley floor. It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this place and meditated in a cave here for 3 months, hence its name, Tiger s Nest. There have been shrines at this sacred place for many centuries. The principal Lhakhang of the present monastic complex dates from The main structure was severely damaged by fire in 1998, but after many years of painstaking restoration work, the complex has now been fully restored to its former glory. Taktsang is a place of pilgrimage which Bhutanese try to visit at least once in a lifetime. This hike (ACTION) takes around 4 to 6 hrs (up and down including the visit to the monastery). For participants who are not able to do the whole hike on foot, there is the option to do the ascent on the back of a pony. There is a charge of US$ 10 for this, to be paid on the spot to the owner of the pony. For the downhill part, the use of a pony should be avoided because of the steep sections on the trail. This is in fact a comfortable hike, best started early in the morning to avoid the midday temperatures. Halfwy up / down the trail there is a rest house where drinks and snacks are available, and from where the Tiger s Nest monastery can be viewed, perched on the cliff face. Packed lunch or lunch at the rest house along the trail In the later afternoon, visit a local Bhutanese Farm House where you will observe the architecture of a traditional Bhutanese Farm House. You will observe a simple cooking demonstration of Bhutanese food by a local family (owner of the Farm house). Dinner and overnight in Paro

12 Day 10 : 07 October (Friday): Paro Today you will visit a local Bhutanese school and attend their morning assembly. The morning assembly in Bhutanese schools comprise of the morning prayer, a speech given by a student in both English and Dzongkha, and ends with the national anthem. Following the assembly, you will get the opportunity to interact with the students of the school. While visiting the school, upi will also be able to do a cultural performance for their hosts, with the local students watching your performance. This would be a great way of giving something back to the Bhutanese children. It must be noted that the performance should be cultural in nature, and provide the audience with a glimpse into Chinese / Hong Kong / regional culture (not of the pop / rap type). Musical (instrumental) performances will also be great. After the school visit, you will drive to visit Drugkyel dzong or The Fortress of the Victorious Bhutanese. This dzong was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646 to commemorate his victory over marauding Tibetan armies. Though the fortress was destroyed by fire in 1951, the ruins remain an impressive and imposing sight. Lunch in Paro town or picnic lunch by the riverside near Paro Dzong In the afternoon you will visit Paro s National Musuem. An ancient watchtower that now displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artwork including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snap-shot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. Finally, you have some time off where you can explore Paro Town. Accentuating the natural beauty are the many elegant, traditional-style houses that dot the valley and surrounding hills. Paro town has been growing rapidly in recent years and there are plenty of restaurants, bakeries and cafes to choose from. End the program by having a gala dinner with a cultural show (extra cost, please see the notes at the end). Experience the colorful and lively dances and songs of Bhutan in a private cultural show. The one hour performance gives you a quick insight into the various religious and secular songs and dances. These are the general categories of dance and songs performed: Mask Dance (enactment of religious drama/events & Buddhist teachings through dance) Boedra (Songs & Dance from the medieval period) Zhungdra (Folk Song & Dance) Zhey (Provincial Folk songs about the saint Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan) Tashi Labey (Concluding song & dance) Farewell dinner and overnight in Paro

13 Day 11 : 08 October (Saturday): Departure day Transfer to Paro Airport for International departure. Return to Hong Kong. Your Bhutan Tour ends here. Please note that some of the sights/itinerary may change due to season, weather, national holidays, and special events. We maintain the right to alter the itinerary since tours are made in advance and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve your overall travel experience in Bhutan. The driving and hiking times mentioned are approximate times and do not include breaks in the journey for sightseeing, photo/tea/meal/rest stops. There may be delays in transfer time due to road conditions, road repair/widening works, inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. During the treks/hikes, there may be delays or diversion of hiking trails due to trail conditions, inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. At all times, the local guides will communicate with the teachers in charge.

14 Your local guides will explain what is so special about this crossroads in the Thimphu town centre

15 BUDGET AND COSTS Flights from Bangkok to Paro Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines Airfare: Druk Air Airfare: BKK/PBH/BKK Incl of all taxes and subject to change Please contact us for airfares Bhutan Airlines Airfare: BKK/PBH/BKK Incl of all taxes and subject to change Please contact us for airfares We advise you to keep 24 hrs connection times between Druk Air and Int'l flights in case of unforeseen delays. BKK is Bangkok Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport PBH is Paro - Paro International Airport Bhutan Airlines - Operate daily flight from Bangkok to Paro(06:30 10:05) with short stopover in Kolkata, India no change of plane involved) - Operate daily flights from Paro to Bangkok (10:15 15:55) with short stopover in Kolkata (no change of plane involved). Druk Air - Operate daily flights from Bangkok to Paro (06:50 10:10) with short stopover in Kolkata (no change of plane) - Operate daily flights from Paro to Bangkok (07:30 12:50) with short stopover in Kolkata (no change of plane)

16 Tour cost (excluding flights) The tourism tariff in Bhutan is controlled by the Royal Government and the Tourism council. Please contact us for details on the tour cost. Tour Cost Includes : Standard 2-3 star Hotel Room on twin/double sharing, all meals at Standard 2-3 star hotels & local restaurants, English speaking guide, transfer, Standard transportation (Coaster Bus), sightseeing, entrance fees, government royalty, one mineral water/pax/day. Tour Cost does not Include : All beverages incl. water consumed at hotels/restaurants, Travel Insurance, Hotel facilities (phone calls, laundry etc), tips, others Accommodation: Most hotels in Bhutan are in the 2-3 star level and are referred to as Standard Hotels. The standard accommodations all offer the necessary facilities and are properly maintained. Note: Most Standard hotels in Bhutan are twin bedded, so the twin beds will be joined to form a double bed if required. Food: While on tour a Standard Breakfast Buffet will be provided at the overnight hotel/ accommodation. A Standard Lunch Buffet is provided at a local tourist restaurant or at the overnight hotel/accommodation. We provide packed lunch for journeys that pass through areas where local tourist restaurant are not available (central and eastern Bhutan) and on treks and hikes. If weather permits, the packed lunch is normally enjoyed outdoors at a suitable area along the journey. If weather is not suitable, then lunch is provided at the nearest available sheltered structure (house, barn, etc). Guides: Our guides are all certified and trained by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The tour includes English Speaking Guides. Standard Transportation: Toyota Coaster Bus Standard seats from manufacturer do not have seat belts 25 Seater: Guest Seating (18) / Folder (5) / Local Guide (1) /Driver (1) Min 6 and Max 14 Guest per vehicle

17 Extra Costs: Guest Speaker on Gross National Happiness, Bhutan, Buddhism USD 250/1 hr session A private session with a Guest Speaker who is either a specialist or a person with in-depth knowledge of the subject. The Guest Speaker will explain the details and engage in discussions. This special session strives to give more insight and understanding of Bhutan whether it s her history, religion, culture, politics, etc Cultural Show USD 150/ 1 hr session Experience the colorful and lively dances and songs of Bhutan in a private cultural show. The one hour performance gives you a quick insight into the various religious and secular songs and dances. These are the general categories of dance and songs performed: o o o o o Mask Dance (enactment of religious drama/events & Buddhist teachings through dance Boedra (Songs & Dance from the medieval period) Zhungdra (Folk Song & Dance) Zhey (Provincial Folk songs about the saint Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan) Tashi Labey (Concluding song & dance) WELCOME TO BHUTAN!