Bhutan and Kolkata with Alex
Plus the Wangdue Festival
Alex Veit Tours Around The World
28 September – 13 October 2006
28 Sep (Thu): Tel-Aviv-Bombay: .
Transfer to hotel. Overnight Bombay (Deluxe Hotel) .
29 Sep (Fri) - Calcutta: Fly to Calcutta located in the State of West Bengal. Discover one of the worlds most contoversial cities. "A city of love and warmth, sorrow and
despair, dreams and hopes, poverty and squalor, grandeur and glory, Calcutta is compelling, effervescent, teeming with life and traditions a medley of moods, styles, cultures, politics, industry and commerce" Overnight Culcutta: (Deluxe Hotel).
30 Sept. (Sat) – Calvutta/Paro
Morning flight to Paro, Bhutan. Afternoon sightseeingin Paro(2280m) includes: Ta Dzong (National Museum), the best place to familiarize about Bhutanese religion, customs and traditional arts & crafts. Then walk down the trail to see Rinpung Dzong (the fortress of the heap of Jewels built in the 17th century), traditionally this is
the office of district governor’s and the living place for monks. Overnight Paro: Hotel.
01 Oct. (Sun) –Paro/Wangdue
An early drive from Paro to Wangdue, across Dochula pass (3,100m). The pass is well marked by 108 Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag. The pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. Arrive Wangdue sub-tropical areas, pleasant climate throughout the year. Afternoon: witness the Wangdue festival. Overnight Wangdue: Hotel.(2
nights)
Wangdue Festival. At various times throughout the year, annual festivals known as "tsechus" take place around the country, but there are other festivals too. Tsechus are festivals extolling the great deeds of the Buddhist Saint, Padmasambhava, popularly known as "Guru
Rinpoche" in our mountain kingdom. All of Guru Rinpoche’s great deeds are believed to have taken place on the 10th day of the month, which is the meaning of the word tsechu, and all tsechus do in fact take place/begin on 10th days. All the districts, dzongs and a large number of villages in the east, hold annual tsechus, which attract people from far and wide. Tsechus are celebrated for several days (usually between three and five, depending on
where taking place) and are the occasion for dances that are clearly defined in religious content. They can be performed by monks, laymen or gomchens and the repertory is more or less the same everywhere.
02 Oct. (Mon) – Wangdue festival
Morning at the festival. Afternoon Visit Punakha Dzong the capital city of Bhutan till 1955 and still the Je Khenpo, the Chief of Abbot resides there during the winter season. Enroute make short excursion about an hour to the temple of divine madman, also well known as the temple of fertility. It is fascinating to walk through villages and the
rice fields.
03 Oct. (Tue) – Wangdue/Jakar
Drive to Trongsa crossing Pele la Pass (3,300m), the traditional boundary between east and west. Stop at Chendebji Chorten built in 18th century by a Lama named Shida, it is Nepalese in style with eyes painted at four cardinal points. Visit Trongsa Dzong, largest in Bhutan and built in
1647 which houses the local administration and the Monastic body. Continue your drive to Bumthang. Overnight Jakar (2580m): Lodge.
04-05 Oct. (Wed-Thu) Bumthang– Jakar
Two days to explore this wouderful region including: Visit Kurjey Lhakhang, Guru Rinpoche meditated here in 8th century and subdued demon Shelging Karpo and made him the protector of dharma there after; visit Jambey Lhakhang built in 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo as per the geometrical sketch drawn by his
Chinese consort. Afternoon visit to Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 15th century by Pema Lingpa, the treasure reveler. Short stop at Konchog Sum Lhakhang. Later see the Jakar Dzong, the Dzong of white bird, which houses the administrative seat of the district, and much more Overnight: Lodge..
06 Oct. (Fri) – Trongsa/Punakha via Gangtey
Start early route back to Pelela Pass (altd. 3,300 m) via Trongsa. Overnight Punaka: Hotel.
07-08 Oct. (Sat-Sun) – Punakha/Thimphu
Drive to Thimphu (2320 m). During the time spent in Thimpu we shall see the following: Attend the Sunday market in Thmpu. Visit the Folk and Heritage Museum, which displays day to day livelihood of typical Bhutanese farmers and their accessories; Textile museum, the artistic works of Bhutanese women. National Handicraft Emporium, the best place
to look for see varieties of products from Bhutan. National Memorial chorten; See the "Takin" in the nature reserve. Visit National Library, the priceless collection of Buddhist manuscripts, and much more. Overnight Thimpu: Hotel.
09 Oct. (Mon) – Paro- Ha Valley( 2280 m)
Drive via Paro (2280m). Explore the Ha Valley. Overnight Paro: Hotel.
10 Oct. (Tue) – Paro/Kolkata(Culcutta)
Early breakfast in the hotel and drive to the airport for flight to onward destination to Kolkata. On arrival continue to explore this amazing city. Among the sites we shall visit in during our stay in Culcutta: will be it's famous temples: 19th Century Jain Temple, the Kali temple and more. Visit the House of Mother Teresa.
Walk through the BBD Bagh area to see the Colonial buidings so. Visit the Indian Museum which is India's oldest and largest museum founded in 1875, with an impressive collection from the 2500 BC Indus Valley Civilization. See the Victoria Memorial the most clebrated landmark of the city. "With our unique guest guide in Culcutta we shall also explore some of the off beaten track areas less know to tourism which will enhass our experience of
India's most import cultural city we are sure you will fall in love with the city just as we have"...Yair and Alex.
Overnigh Culcuttat: (Deluxe Hotel) (2 nights)
11 Oct. (Wed)- Kolkata - Continue to explore the city.
12 Oct. (Thu)- Kolkata. Fly to Bombay to connect with flight to Tel Aviv.
13 Oct .(Fri)- Morning arrival at Ben Gurion airport .
Please note: Toursit servicse in Bhutan are some what lower than we are used to and a lot of patience is called for.
The hotels in the majors towns are at a level of local tourism and the guest houses/lodge sin thee ast are on a basic standard. Also please note that most of the time we shall be at a height of 2200-2600 meters above sea level. Travellers suffreing from high blood presure , should seeek medical advice from their doctors.
However, taking all the above in to account, the tour is a fasinatting experience.Attending the festival gives us a chance to have an authentic meeting with the local population, which will give us an insight to their culture and customs.
* Please note: Tour is planned to cater both Israeli and English speaking clientele. Tours are guided in English, by specially chosen local guides - Alex does not translate what is said in to Hebrew. How ever Alex will be bilingual, when it comes to his explanations which deal mainly with administrative aspects of the tour.
- Price per person in double room depends on size of group:
Group 20-26 pax: $4880 - Group 16-19 pax: supplement $170
Single supplement for 14 nights in Bhutan, and India: $590. Please note: only 2 rooms are available for this portion of the tour, if more are required we will need confirmation from Bhutan.
Single supplement for 4 nights in India only: $290.
Please note: Pax over 65 years old: Jet Air flight reduction of $60 per person.
Tour arrangements include:
- 4 Domestic flights: 1. Jet Air: Mumbai-Kolkata-Mumbai 2. Druk Air: Kolkata-Paro-Kolkata: 20 Kg baggage!
- 4 overnights in India in Deluxe hotels as mentioned in the program. 4 Breakfasts and 4 dinners at hotels or restaurants.
- 10 overnights in Bhutan: Paro, Thimpu and Wangdue Local Tourist Class. Eastern Bhutan Simple family Lodges.
- Meals: 10 breakfasts, 10 dinners and light lunches depending on availability and timetable.
- Group airfare return flight Tel-Aviv-Mumbai as of 10/02/06, which includes: 20 Kg baggage,
based on group fare 01.01.2006: $800 - Airport & security taxes $36.
Final fare of air tickets are only on day of issue and will include any increases in oil surcharges and taxes.
- Registration/cancellation fee is non-refundable: $47.
- Tipping: local guides, drivers, & hotel staff: $60.
- Visa to India for Israeli Passport $50 and Visa to Bhutan $20 ( Based on: 1 Jan 2006).
- Transportation: India: Air-conditioned Indian level coach. Bhutan: Will depend on the size of group: two mini buses.
- All entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Escort Alex Veit. * Please note: Tour caters to both Israeli and English speaking clientele. Guided by specially chosen local English speaking guides – Alex does translate into Hebrew. However, Alex is bilingual, when it comes to his explanations, which deal mainly with administrative
aspects of the tour.
Photographs of our 2005 tour to Bhutan: Press here: Bhutan 2005
For full conditions of the tour please contact our office Tel: 09-8822981
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correspondence, requests for full detailed programs including terms, cancelation policy,
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