TRIP DETAILS   10 days   Dates: April 17-26, 2010 Arrival: Saturday, April 16, 2010, Bangkok, Thailand. The trip begins with an early morning flight on April 17 from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan.   Airport Code: PBH   Departure: Monday, April 26. The tour ends upon arriving in Bangkok at 3:45pm from Bhutan.   Price: $3075   Single: $280 This is an optional charge. OutWest can match you with a roommate or you can pay the single supplement and have your own room.   Extras: $122 per night at the Arnoma Hotel in Bangkok. This is for nights beyond the tour dates.   Fitness Level: High   Meals: all   Includes: 4 nights hotel accommodations 5 nights camping Ground transportation Sightseeing All camping equipment except sleeping bag- available for rent Trekking and camp staff Local Bhutanese guide Government taxes and fees Entrance fees Bhutan Visa fee $20 USD Not included: international airfare, round-trip airfare between Bangkok and Paro Bhutan ($830), departure tax, guide gratuities, personal trekking gear, alcohol and other premium beverages, items of a personal nature like laundry and phone calls, travel insurance

Bhutan: Trekking in a Remote Himalayan Kingdom April 17-26, 2010 For centuries, Bhutan remained in self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world. The kingdom is located in the remote Himalayas between India and Tibet. Since its doors were cautiously opened in 1974, visitors have been mesmerized. OutWest’s tour features a six day trek over the Druk Path, visits to monasteries, and sightseeing in the capital Thimphu. Join OutWest for a journey to this once forbidden country.   Highlights: Visiting Buddhist monasteries in a remote mountain region Hiking on trails nestled beneath the Himalayas Being one of the limited number of tourists allowed in Bhutan each year Experiencing a society mostly uninfluenced by the West   Aaron Kampfe An avid outsdoorsman and adventure traveler, Aaron Kampfe founded OutWest Global Adventures in 1995.

FULL ITINERARY:

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our local hosts and taken sightseeing in the Paro valley. We start with Ta Dzong, a monastery/fortress that was later converted into the National Museum in 1967. A Dzong is a fortress-like structure that functions as a monastery. Inside the museum you will find many antique paintings, carvings, status, textiles, and jewlery. We’ll drive to the Rimpung Dzong which was built in the 17th century. This dzong is now the administration center and school for the monks. In the afternoon, we’ll check into the hotel.

DAY TWO.   PARO, DRUKGYEL DZONG, AND THE HIKE TO TAKTSANG (THE TIGER’S NEST).  Today, we’ll visit the Drukgyel Dzong, a 17th century monastery ruin. This fortress was built in 1649 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in a location chosen for its control of the route to Tibet. The Dzong was name Druk (Bhutan) gyel (victory) to commemorate the victory of Bhutan over Tibetan invaders in 1644. On a clear day one can get a glimpse of Mount Chomolhari, the Mountain of Goddess (24,000ft).

Today’s hike will bring us to the Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery on the side of a cliff 900m above the floor of Paro valley. As believed by the Bhutanese, Guru Padmasambhava (a very famous Buddhist saint) flew here on a Tigress's back in the 8th century and meditated for three months. Guru Padmasambhava was the one who later converted the whole Paro valley into Buddhism.

DAY THREE.   THE START OF THE TREK- PARO TO JILI DZONG.  On a trek in Bhutan, pack animals carry all of the gear while you just carry a daypack. There will be guides, cooks, and camp staff throughout the trek. You can relax and let the staff take care of the details while you just hike from camp to camp. If you’ve ever done wilderness backpacking, a fully supported trek will seem like a luxury.

You should be prepared to hike 3-6 hours a day with elevation gains of up to 600 vertical meters (about 2000 feet) in a day. The maximum elevation will be 4180 meters (13,700 feet).

We’ll start north of Paro town, up the Du Chhu Valley. Our camp will be close to Jili Dzong, a monastery mostly in ruins. On a clear day, we’ll be able to see Mount Chhomolhari and other snow-capped mountains in the distance. Below is the Paro Valley. 10 km, 3-4 hours, camp at 3450 meters.

DAY FOUR.   JANGCHU LAKHA.  We’ll climb through a thick alpine forest and rhododendron to a saddle at 3590 meters. The trail follows the ridges, making ups and downs, staying above tree line. There are views of Mount Chhomolhari and other snow-capped peaks. You may see yak herders. 11 km, 4-5 hours, camp at 3780 meters.

DAY FIVE.   JIMILANG TSHO.  The trail follows a ridge for about 1 1/2 hours to a saddle at 4040 meters. Then the path drops and follows the ridge back to Jangchu La at 4180 meters. We descend to the camp at 3880 meters. We’ll stay close to the large Jimilang Tsho (Sand Ox Lake), named for a bull that emerged from the lake and joined the cattle of a family that uses the area as a summer grazing ground. The lake is also known for its giant trout. To the west there are good views of 6989 meter Jichu Drake, the peak representing the protective deity of Paro. 11 km, 4-5 hours, camp at 3880 meters.

DAY SIX.   SIMKOTA TSHO.  The trail climbs through dwarf rhododendron to the lake of Janye Tsho, another yak herder camp. After a short climb, we’ll descend to camp, close to Simkota Tsho. 11 km 4-5 hours, camp at 4040 meters.

DAY SEVEN.   PHAJODING.  The day begins with a climb to a saddle at 4180 meters. We’ll pass a small lake then climb to Phume La (4210 meters) where we’ll be greeted by a vast array of prayer flags. Weather permitting there are views of Gangkhar Puensum and other Himalayan peaks. Below sprawls the entire Thimpu valley. The route then descends past Thujidrag Goemba, a precipitous rock face. The descent continues through juniper tees to a campsite beside a community hall near Phajoding Goemba, an important pilgrimage site. 10 km, 3-4 hours, 3870 meters.

DAY EIGHT.   DESCENT TO THIMPU.  It’s all downhill to Thimpu. In the afternoon, you’ll be able to check into the hotel, shower, and relax. You’ll have some time to explore the town on your own before dinner at the hotel. 5 km, 2-3 hours.

DAY NINE.   THIMPU SITES AND PARO.  Today the tour includes visits to a variety of types of sites- religious, political, intellectual, and commercial. The Memorial Chorten is a Tibetan-style shrine and a place of devotion for Buddhists. In the National Library the old and the new converge; Tibetan texts written on long strips of handmade paper are housed near recent English-language books. The Handcrafts Emporium is the market where you’ll find locally made crafts and souvenirs. In the late afteroon, we’ll drive down the valley to Paro and our hotel, which is close to the international airport.

DAY TEN.   DEPARTURE.  From the Paro airport, you will fly to Bangkok, Thailand. You may choose to fly to Kathmandu or Delhi, but please check with OutWest for Druk Air flight options. OutWest must arrange your flights to and from Bhutan.