Pag

e 1

Bhutan: Homestays and Walking

The Kingdom of Happiness and its people To get to know a country well you have to get to know the people. That is exactly how we want to give you an understanding of Bhutan - not only pounding the streets sightseeing, but live with the local people, talk to them, cook, laugh, make music... things you can't stage or plan, but it is much more of a direct, real and honest experience.

Our starting point is the capital of India, New Delhi, where we depart for Paro, Bhutan's most important airport. After getting to know Timphu, the capital of the kingdom, you get to the countryside, where you are going to live at local family homestays most of the time. The accomodation is mostly very simple but always clean. And: the hospitality of your friendly hosts is making up in many ways for any missed luxury.

The group will be trekking to and exploring places not accessible by car and almost daily you go on

various day hikes to make you feel the Kingdom of Happiness under your feet.

Pag

e 2

Of course the program includes the most important pilgrimage site of Bhutan, sacred to Himalayan Buddhists - Taktsang Monastery (also known as Tiger's Nest) - you will visit it at the end of the two-week-tour.

This tour was especially prepared for us by Ulrike Cokl, an Austrian Social Anthropologist livingin Bhutan for many years, who worked at building many homestays in Bhutan. Her assistant Sonam Choephel will be our guide.

“Bhutan is an expensive holiday destination, but unique and exceptional in many ways.”

Date: 19.03.-03.04.2016 Min/Max Participants: 4/8 Price: 4.190 EUR/person (incl. flights Delhi-Paro-Delhi) Single Spl: 150 EUR (Attention: Single rooms can not be guaranteed during homestays)

DETAILPROGRAMM 19.03.2016 Departure from home 20.03.2016 Arrival in Delhi and Bhutan. Transfer to a hotel near the airport and later flight to Paro and

drive to Timphu. Transfer to your hotel. 21.03.2016 The capital, Timphu. After a relaxing night the group is exploring the capital of Bhutan,

Timphu. 22.03.2016 Off to Punakha. Early in the morning we leave Timphu and drive to Punakha. On our way we

stop at the Dochu La - a pass between the two cities, where we find the 108 chortens gracing the mountain pass and visit the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple. Above all that you are going to have an amazing view of the towering mountains of the Himalayas. From Dochu La pass we are hiking for approximately three hours to reach Lungtsho Tsi Lhakhang. We are going to have lunch at the Mendegang Heritage House and afterwards drive to Punakha. On our way there the group has the option to do some more hiking: up to Chimi Lhakhang temple. Overnight stay in homestay Aum Leki.

Pag

e 3

23.03.2016 Farmers and Villages.

In the morning we visit Punakha Dzong, the drive on to Trongsa, where we are going to stay the night at a beautiful traditional farm house in Tangsibji valley. But before your well-deserved sleep we are going to visit the Chendigji chortens. On our way to Tangsibji, there is the city of Trongsa and depending on the road conditions and time of arrival there will be the chance for a charming hike in the direction of Tang-sibji, where we can visit the villange-Lhakhang and a private Guru Lhakhang. And along the way we casually learn a lot about the daily work of Bhutanese farmers. Overnight stay at Aum Seday Farmstay.

24.03.2016 To Bumthang

In the morning you can enjoy your breakfast and your time in the village. Afterwards we are leaving for Trongsa city and visiting the local Dzong and Trongsa Tadzong. And off we go to Bumthang, where we stay in Chummey, in the first valley after we crossed the pass. Our guide Sonam Choephel will organize dinner at his house, where we can also watch his mother weaving traditional Yathra, a speciality of the region. Overnight stay at im Chummey Nature Resort.

25.03.2016 Talks with Aum Tashi

After breakfast we are visiting the monastery of Tharpaling - we are hiking there for the better part of the way. Afterwards we visit the village of Buli and its monastery. We will have lunch in the house of Aum Lhamo and then drive to Ura, where we are going to spend the night at the large heritage farm house right underneath the village temple. The wife of the house, Aum Tashi, not only prepares delicious dishes but also likes to have a chat with you.

Pag

e 4

26.03.2016 In Ura. Invigorated by breakfast we drive to the valley of Shingkar at an altitude of 3,400 m,

where we hike up a partly steep way to Singmela pass at approximately 4,000 m. On our way there we pass the hermitage of Zhamsur. After our descent from Singmela we are having lunch with Aum Jigme Choden at Shingkhar Lam House, then visit the Shingkhar Dechenling Lhakhang temple. In the afternoon we get back to our lovely host Aum Tashi at the heritage farm house.

27.03.2016 The Burning Lake. Today we visit the Ura Mang Gi Lhakhang temple and drive to Chokhor

valley, on our way there we stop at Mebartsho, the "burning lake". Overnight stay at a small guest house.

28.03.2016 Lotus-Cave. In the morning we hike to the lotus-cave of Petsheling (only if the weather allows

it, as it is not recommended to walk on that path in the rain). The local monastery there was built in 1769 by the First Petsheling Lama Drubthob Namgyel Lhendup.Das dortige Kloster wurde im Jahr 1769 vom ersten Petsheling Lama Drubthob Namgyel Lhendup gebaut. Together with our guide we will discuss how to spend the afternoon, the night we are going to spend in Chokhor-valley.

29.03.2016 Valley of the Cranes. Today we move on to Pobjikha valley, a breathtakingly beautiful

glacier-valley known for its black-necked cranes spending their winters here, fleeing from the cold of the north. We are going to explore the valley by foot and stay the night at the homestay of Pobjikha Sustainable Tourism Project.

30.03.2016 Hiking. In the morning we visit Gangtey monastery, the largest Nyingmapa monastery of the

country. After that we hike approximately 4 kilometers along the Gangtey Nature Trail, have lunch with a local family and invigorated by the meal we continue down to Lawog valley. Overnight stay at the homestay of Pobjikha Sustainable Tourism Project.

31.03.2016 Back to Paro. We come back to Paro. If there is time, we will visit Kyichu and Dungtse

Lhakhang temples. Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro.

Pag

e 5

01.04.2016 Tiger's Nest monastery. If you are in Bhutan, you have to visit Taktshang monastery and hike up to this most famous sacred pilgrimage site of Himalayan Buddhism. There are 13 holy sites clinging to a cliff connected to Guru Rinpoche. At night we are invited to dinner by Sonam Choeden, the founder of Bhutan Homestay. Overnight stay in a hotel.

02.04.2016 To India. Today you get back to

Delhi, stay at the airport hotel, because later in the evening you already need to be back at the airport.

03.04.2016 Flight home

SERVICES/INCLUDED

1. Flights Delhi-Paro-Delhi 2. Accomodation in Delhi in airport hotel without board 3. Travel Guide speaking English in Bhutan 4. Accomodation in Bhutan in standard hotels/homestays with full board 5. Visa for Bhutan 6. All entrance fees and permits

NOT INCLUDED

1. Long distance flights from/to Delhi (if desired we can of course find you a long distance flight) 2. Insurance (travel insurance is recommended) 3. Tips 4. Drinks 5. Transit Visa for India 6. Vaccinations 7. Additional costs caused by illness, accident, route changes due to acts of nature beyond control, etc. 8. Additional costs caused by cancelled or delayed flights

Photos: © Hoerbe Wulff, Marina Beck, Ulrike Cokl, Yeshey Dorji

GESAR Travel & more KG - Friedau 30, 8940 Liezen, Austria - Tel: +43 (0)650 4168339

Firmenbuch: FN 416688 b / UID: ATU68704903 / Veranstalter-Nr: 2012/0032

Pag

e 6

Bankverbindung: Sparkasse Kremstal-Pyhrn, BLZ: 20320, KtoNr: 25001075852

IBAN-Code: AT212032025001075852, BIC: ASPKAT2LXXX

www.gesar-travel.com – daniela@gesar-travel.com