ASIA
Dochula Pass, Thimphu, Bhutan
Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro, Bhutan Delhi, India
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U. S. Today, fly to Delhi, India, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Depending on your flight schedule, you’ ll arrive in Delhi late on Day 2 or very early on Day 3.
DAY 2 • Fly from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Delhi, India
Today, you’ ll catch a connecting flight from Dubai to Delhi. Travelers who took the Oman & Dubai: The Modern Face of Arabia pre-trip extension will arrive in Delhi this afternoon.
DAY 3 • Explore Old Delhi We’ ll begin the day with a Welcome Briefing from our Trip Experience Leader. Then, we’ ll take a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi. After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is free to rest or explore on your own.
Meals: B, L | Hotel in Delhi or similar
DAY 4 • Fly to Paro, Bhutan • Overland to Thimphu
We fly to Paro, Bhutan very early this morning. Upon arrival, we’ ll drive to Thimphu, capital of the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
Meals: B, D | Lhaki Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Explore Thimphu • Choki Traditional Art School • Home-Hosted Dinner
This morning, we’ ll drive to the Choki Traditional Art School, which trains disadvantaged children in Bhutan’ s traditional arts of painting, sculpture, and carving. After a bus ride around Thimphu, we’ ll have lunch at a local restaurant. This evening, we’ ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Bhutanese family.
Meals: B, L, D | Lhaki Hotel or similar
DAY 6 • Thimphu • Memorial Chorten First, we’ ll visit Kuensel Phodrang, a massive 167-foot-tall statue of Buddha Dordenma built on a hill overlooking the Thimphu Valley. Then, we’ ll head to the National Memorial Chorten, a shrine built to memorialize the monarch who opened the doors of Bhutan to the outside world. We’ ll also visit a vocational center that offers support to survivors of domestic abuse. This afternoon, we’ ll have free time. Later, dinner is at a local restaurant.
Meals: B, L, D | Lhaki Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Overland to Phobjikha Valley • Dochula Pass
Today, we’ ll travel to Gangtey in the Phobjikha Valley. Along the way, we’ ll stop at Dochula, a mountain pass dotted with more than 100 chortens( Bhutanese monuments) and prayer flags with panoramic views of the Himalayas. We’ ll also stop at Rinchengang, a village noted for its stone masonry tradition.
Meals: B, L, D | Dewachen Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Nature hike in Phobjikha Valley • Meet monks at Gangtey Goenpa
This morning we’ ll hike along the Phobjikha Valley Nature Trail, and end at Gangtey Goenpa, a remote 17th-century Buddhist monastery overlooking Phobjikha Valley. Here, we’ ll meet with the local monks and learn about the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ ll return to our hotel.
Meals: B, L, D | Dewachen Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • Phobjikha Valley • GCF school visit A Day in the Life of a Bhutanese village • Community- Hosted Lunch
This morning, we’ ll visit Taphu, a small agricultural village located in the Phobjikha Valley. First, we’ ll meet with students of the village school supported in part by donations from Grand Circle Foundation. After a village walk, we’ ll meet with a local farmer and enjoy a community-hosted lunch. Afterward, we’ ll meet a monk and his students at a Buddhist temple followed by a visit to a local hospital. Dinner is at the hotel.
Meals: B, L, D | Dewachen Hotel or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 9, experience A Day in the Life of a Bhutanese village in the Phobjikha Valley, including a community-hosted lunch in a village home.
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