|
|
Cultural Tours and Sightseeing
There may be no more picturesque place on earth than Bhutan, for its natural beauty and ancient culture, barely touched by the modern world. Picture the "city" of Paro, with one traffic light and no need for that. Picture decorated wooden homes with windowed balconies and a crossed phallus and sword hung at each roof corner. Picture "spirit catchers" discarded by the path, having been abandoned, along with the malevolent beings they ensnared, to the wilds. Picture happy and smiling people, deeply religious and deeply hospitable, and far "richer" than you or I.
Religion is a part of life and self for the mostly Buddhist Bhutanese. It instructs the great arts and crafts of Bhutan: painting, woodwork, sculputre, embroidery and leather work, weaving and paper. All this is part of the rich fabric of Bhutanese culture.
There are nine nature reserves and parks in Bhutan, and several unique species. All of our pre-set programs include natural wonders - an individualized trip could emphasise this. Fishing is discouraged in many places in Bhutan due to the emphasis on not taking life, but anglers will find that catch-and-release fishing is permitted in some places, and the trout are enormous!
The great dzongs of Bhutan are fortified monasteries and administrative centers. The country's civil service is largely made up of lamas; the overlap between church and state is more pronounced for the physical overlap of facilities. The Dzongs are large, impressive forts - each unique in decoration, form and function. Parts of dzongs will be off-limits, understandably as they are functioning offices and worship centers as well as spectacular attractions.
Cutural Tours
Bhutan discourages individual tourism in favor of small groups by putting a stiff surcharge on the price for any party of fewer than four people. If you are a couple or an individual traveler, please look at the pre-set trips below. These are great trips and routinely attract 4 to 8 people.
Tour Program From/To Dates Cost
SPRING 2009
Paro Festival KTM/BKK 16-21 March US$1,760
The Western Triangle KTM/BKK 17-23 April US$1,320
FALL 2009
The Western Triangle Kathmandu 16 Oct US$1,320
Bumthang Trek/Festival ??? 10 Nov? US$2,860
Spring 2010
Bumthang/Paro Festival Bangkok 3-15 Mar US$2,860
Full trip descriptions for Bumthang Festival, Paro Festival, The Western Triangle and the Bumthang Cultural Trek and festival
Other Tours
Western and central 11 days - Including Trongsa and the Ura Valley
East / West 15 days - The wild, wild East and more!
Brokpa (Exclusive) 20 days - Extend East/West to focus on Yak
herders' culture in Trashi Yangtse
Some of these tours are special programs and not in "the books"! Please write to us at info [at] fihp [dot] com for itineraries and more information.
The best travel book about Bhutan is the Lonely Planet's guidebook. It is titled, simply, BHUTAN. The author is our friend Stan Armington, who also wrote the Lonely Planet's Nepal trekking guide. It's well worth buying or taking out from the library.
|
|
