Bhutan – Ura Dance Festival - Active & Cultural

Do you share our interest in people, hiking in and near mountains and water ? If so trek with us in the most beautiful locations of Bhutan. On this trip you will stay with local people for part of the time during the colourful festival in Ura valley.

The 14 itinerary includes many of the historical and cultural highlights of this wonderful country, but the dance festival in the Ura Valley is an amazing experience.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Paro by Druk-Air from Kathmandu / Bangkok / Delhi.  Alternatively travel overland via India and enter Bhutan at Phuentsholing. Transfer / travel to your hotel in Paro. Relax and settle in before seeing some local sights.  Overnight in a good quality local hotel.  L, D.

Day 2  After an early breakfast, drive to Thimphu (2 hours drive) the capital city of Bhutan. At Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten, a huge stupa built in memory of the late King of Bhutan, the National Library which has a vast collection of ancient manuscripts and religious artifacts and Thankhas, visit the In the late afternoon, visit the Sangye view point and the Takin Sanctuary (the takin is the national animal of Bhutan). Also visit the Tashicho Dzong, the main secretariat building. O/n Hotel River View or similar. B, L, D.

Day 3   After an early breakfast drive to Trongsa (199 km - about 7 hours drive). Check in at Yangkhil Resort / Puenzhie Guest House. B, L, D.

Day 4  After an early breakfast, visit the Trongsa Dzong and its ancient Watch tower and drive to Ura (133 km - about 4/5 hours drive). Stay overnight at a farm house (this is a homestay – the family welcomes you to stay with them). B, L, D.

Day 5   Full day at the Ura Festival.  Stay overnight at a farm house. B, L, D.

Day 6  Full day Ura Valley hiking. After breakfast, drive to Shartangla (20 minutes drive) and from Shartangla, hike down to Ura Monastery, then to the Ura community school, then hike uphill to Shingkhar village (it is a gradual climb). On the way you can visit a number of farm houses and meet the local people of Ura. At Shingkhar, you will visit the beautiful Shingkhar Monastery and drive back to your farm house. This hike will take about 4 hours with picnic lunch on the way. Stay overnight at a farm house. B, L, D.

Day 7  Morning, watch the final day of the festival and drive back to Bumthang (68 kms - about 2 hours). On the way, visit the Mebar Tso (known as the Flaming Lake).  Check in at the Swiss Guest House /Gongkhar Lodge. Afternoon, visit the historical Jakar Dzong, and the Jambay Lhakhang.  B, L, D.

Day 8  Full day excursion of the monasteries in Bumthang (hiking). B, L, D.

After an early breakfast, drive to Kurjey Lhakhang and visit this ancient Guru Rimpoche temple and then start the day’s hike. From here you will hike to Thangbi Monastery and visit this interesting temple and from there hike down on the other side of the Chamkhar River to Padma Sambhava monastery  then to Tamshing Monastery, then to Kenchosum Monastery and then to Bumthang Swiss Farm where you can visit the manufacturing units of Fruit processing, Bumthang cheese processing and Red Panda beer etc.

The hike will take about 4-5 hours with picnic lunch on the way). From this point, you will drive in the car to Bumthang town to do some local shopping/visit the Bumthang town. Overnight in a hotel.  B, L, D.

Day 9   Drive top Punakha (210 km - about 7-8 hours). Check in at Hotel Meri Phuensum /Zangtok Pelri.  Overnight in a hotel. B, L, D.

Day 10  After breakfast, visit the Punakha Dzong, and the Khamsum Yule Namgye temple (30 minute hike round trip from the road). Afternoon, hike to Chimi Lhakhang, known as the temple of fertility. (1 hour hike for the round trip from the road).  Also drive to Wangdi Phodrang (13 kms away) and visit the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong. Evening, take a leisurely stroll in the Punakha town. Overnight in a hotel. B, L, D.

Day 11   After an early breakfast  drive upto Nobgang ( 40 minutes drive) visit the Nobgang Monastery which has about 20 monks studying there. If the weather is clear, you can also view the Tiger Mountain from Nobgang.  From Nobgang, you can hike back to Punakha.with picnic lunch. The hike back  will take about 2 hours of easy hike. Afternoon, drive to Thimphu. Overnight in Hotel Riverview /Pedling. B, L, D.

Day 12   Morning, drive to  Dechencholing  (6 kms way from Thimphu) and  view the Dechencholing Palace and also visit the Pangrizampa temple. Drive back to Thimphu and have lunch in an exclusive local tourist restaurant and drive to Paro. On the way, visit the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built in1629. Today this Dzong houses the school for language and culture. At Paro check in at Hotel Dechen Cottages / Gangtey Palace. B, L, D.

Day 13  After an early breakfast hike to Taktsang Monastrey.  The round trip hike takes about 4 hours with lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria. Afternoon, free to take a leisurely stroll in Paro town or do your last day shopping. B, L, D.

Day 14   Drive to the airport and fly back to your gateway country.

                                                                     Email for availability and current price

Best time to go: March through May or Oct through Nov  - The tour dates are set in according to the lunar cycle, howvever it is mostly in April and May.

Dates:  14th - 27th April 2008

Price per person: AUD3872 / GBP1647 / USD2900 exc flights.

The base currency is the US Dollar and payments in other currencies may involve an adjustment for currency fluctuations.

                                                                     Email for availability and current price

What is included
Hotel or homestay as described in the itinerary, which includes 3 meals a day and drinks served as part of the meal. All ground transport required. Hotels on a full board basis. An English speaking guide / driver all the time. Ponies or yaks to carry our main baggage if multi day hiking.  Hotels on a full board basis. Bhutan visa fees. All local transport.

What is not included
The price allows for joining in Bhutan, either at the border in the south east (Phuentsholing India) or at Paro airport and does not include international airfare and departure taxes. Personal insurance, visa fees for gateway cities in adjoining countries, vaccination costs, personal clothing and equipment, all items of a personal nature and all bottled and canned drinks be it alcohol or soft drink.

Limited Options for getting into and out of Bhutan
The final leg of your journey to Bhutan and the first part of the return trip must be on the Bhutanese airline Druk Air or overland via India. Full details will be provided once we know what long haul flight options exist for you.

Personal Insurance
Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk  As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.

Visas
Visas will be required for Nepal or Thailand or India and Bhutan and the total cost is likely to be about GBP60 / USD95 for a double entry visa into one of the gateway countries.  The Bhutanese visa is included in the tour price.