Thunder Dragon
Cultural and Trekking Adventures in Bhutan
April 5 – 21, 2009

THE HIDDEN KINGDOM

In Bhutan, the winds come howling down off the Himalayas, leading the Bhutanese to believe that a mythical god known as the Thunder Dragon watches over and protects them. The Bhutanese name for their country is “Druk Yul,” meaning “Land of the Thunder Dragon.” Their mythical god must indeed be protecting them, for Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world that has never been occupied or ruled by another foreign power.
     Existing archives trace Bhutanese history back to AD450, although many of the intervening events remain a mystery. Guru Rinpoche is believed to have brought Mahayana Buddhism to Bhutan and then Tibet in the eighth century. Bhutan as it exists today first became a coherent political entity in the 17th century. This land-locked country sits at the base of the Himalayan Mountain range nestled between India’s northeastern corner and China’s Tibet region.
     This is a remote place of remarkable natural beauty with a pristine and intact environment and a friendly, tradition-bound people. For the discerning international traveler who has been everywhere, Bhutan may just be the final frontier. This tiny kingdom, barely the size of Switzerland, zealously sequestered itself from the rest of the world for centuries. They only opened their doors to limited tourism a mere three decades ago.
     The Kingdom of Bhutan has adopted a very cautious approach to tourism in an effort to avoid its potentially negative impact on the country’s culture and environment. All tourists must travel on a pre-planned, pre-paid, guided package tour. Independent travel is not permitted. The package rate is fixed and controlled by the Government and is followed by all in the industry. In spite of the high price, there are still plenty of travelers eager to explore the breathtaking terrain and experience the delightful inhabitants of this astonishing country—the world’s last Buddhist kingdom.
     In an era when tourism often dictates national economics, travel to Bhutan is a refreshing experience. Here, a deeply ingrained sense of hospitality, a universally treasured ecosystem and a living culture ensures every traveler the best that any nation has to offer. Travel to Bhutan is really an exploration of traditions and a culture that has been preserved through the centuries. In Bhutan we are not going to see some display or cultural park that has been created for tourists. Rather, we will be sharing a true life experience with the Bhutanese.
     Toto Tours provides you entrance to one of the world’s most remote destinations and greatest vacation secrets. Come with us through a doorway into a world like nothing you’ve ever experienced before in the land of the Thunder Dragon.

ITINERARY

Sunday, April 5, 2009
Leave Home on Overnight Flight to Thailand

Make arrangements to leave your home city today on an international flight bound for Bangkok, Thailand, arriving tomorrow afternoon. When searching online for the best flights, use the airport code: BKK.

Monday, April 6, 2009
Arrival in Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok, known as the City of Angels. Because group airfare is not provided and participants tend to arrive at widely varying times, we have not included a group transfer from the airport to the hotel in the tour cost. It is very easy to get to the hotel by taxi, and we can also tell you how to book private car service if you would like. If your flight arrives very late tonight, please consider arriving one day early so you do not miss our welcome events. Let us know if you want us to book you an extra night at our hotel in Sunday, April 5th.
     This evening Toto Tours hosts a Welcome Dinner at a sidewalk café in the gay entertainment district near our hotel. Afterwards, those who have the energy or inclination will want to take the plunge into Bangkok’s gay nightlife.     (Welcome Dinner)

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Free Day in Bangkok

We encourage you to rest today, enjoy a Thai massage, and get your body over jet-lag. We have a very early departure in the morning, and we plunge into Bhutan during the very exciting Paro Festival. You won’t want to miss anything due to fatigue!     (Breakfast)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Flight to Paro, Bhutan

This morning we check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for a very early flight to Bhutan. We will arrange for a breakfast box since we need to leave the hotel before a hot breakfast is available. Paro lies in a valley with steep mountain walls, and the flight path descending to the airport is unlike any you will experience anywhere else in the world. It is a little like the old Hong Kong airport approach, where it seemed you could reach out and touch dwellings as you flew by!
     Upon arrival at the Paro Airport, we meet our guide and travel to the hotel for a cup of tea and brief orientation before plunging into the celebrations of the Paro Festival. The crew will get our bags marked so they will be in our rooms when we get back.
     We spend the day enjoying the thrilling sights of the ongoing Paro Tsechu Festival in and around the Paro Dzong. This Festival is an annual religious ceremony marking the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche, and 8th century Buddhist master. It is one of the most sacred and colorful annual events in the whole Himalaya, as crowds gather to see the monks, dressed in brightly colored robes, perform ritual dances.     (All Meals)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Stops on our sightseeing itinerary in Bhutan are organized but flexible. Opening and closing times change occasionally, and it is impossible to be 100% certain (writing this itinerary nearly one year in advance) that listed activities will be available on the dates and times specified. We endeavor to see everything mentioned, but remain open to change in response to serendipitous events that appear, and to special interests expressed by the group.

Thursday, April 9, 2009
Paro Festival and Sightseeing

We wake up early (at 3am) and rush to the Dzong to see the unfurling of the Paro Thongdrel. A Thongdrel (also spelled throngdrel) is a large tapestry unveiled during tsechus (religious festivals) in Bhutan. They are equivalent to Tibetan thangka paintings. Thongdrels typically depict a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings.
     Thongdrels are displayed once per year as the highlight of the tsechu festival of a district or dzongkhag (although not every district has a thongdrel). The painting is centuries old, and is not allowed to be struck by the direct rays of the sun. Thus it is unfurled at around 3:00 in the morning and rolled back up by 7:30am. The mere viewing of the unfurled thongdrel is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. For this reason, Bhutanese come from far and wide to view its unfurling, and we definitely want to be there to witness the ceremony and sense its emotional impact. Spend half the day at the Festival, which has been ongoing for four days and is now at its peak.
     This afternoon we tour the Paro valley. Visit the Paro Dzong built in 1646, which houses government offices and religious institutions. It is entered by crossing a traditional wooden bridge. Afterward, visit Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the country. Also included in today’s tour is the Drukgyal Dzong (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. On a clear day, you can see Mount Jumolhari, Bhutan’s second-highest mountain at 23,996 feet. Dinner and overnight at our hotel     (All Meals)

Friday, April 10, 2009
Tiger’s Nest Monastery Hike

This morning we hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, which is Bhutan’s most famous monastery. It is absolutely breathtaking, situated at 10,400 feet and perched on the edge of a steep cliff about 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands.
     Lunch is served in the Cafeteria Restaurant, located about halfway up the mountain. You have the option to hire a horse to ride as far as the restaurant, or all the way up (price varies according to distance traveled). Explore the monastery and, if you wish, we can sit for a short meditation before we hike back down to the base and return to Paro for the evening.     (All Meals)

Saturday, April 11, 2009
Begin Druk Path Trek: Paro to Jili Dzong

Today we commence one of the most scenic and popular treks in Bhutan—the Druk Path Trek. We have slightly modified the typical trek, however, to shorten it by one day and keep the maximum altitude somewhat lower. We begin with a climbing day, covering about six miles in four to five hours and gaining about 3,500 feet in altitude. Our goal is to reach the Jili Dzong atop a promontory at just over 11,700 feet. If the weather is clear, we can see a panorama of the Paro Valley, with Jhomolhari and other majestic, snow-covered peaks in the distance. Jili Dzong is an isolated fortress, mostly in ruins, but there is a restored Lhakhang (temple) with the statute of Buddha Sakyamuni. We camp at the 10,800 foot level, enjoying wonderful food, good friends, a warm fire, tents, stars and utter peace and contentment in the wilderness of Bhutan.     (All Meals)

Sunday, April 12, 2009
Druk Path Trek: Jili Dzong to Jangchu Lakha

During our trek, breakfast and dinner are served in camp each day, and a hot pack lunch is served during the day. Cover another six miles today in about 4 hours, with an overall ascent of 1,000 feet from one campsite to the next. Begin with an hour and half climb which eventually changes to a gradual ascent. Our trail takes us along a ridge through thick alpine forests and rhododendrons until we reach Jangchu Lakha, a pasture land at about 12,300 feet elevation. Descending from here we reach our campsite at 11,800 feet with scenic views below. We are likely to see yak herders around our campsite.     (All Meals)

Monday, April 13, 2009
Druk Path Trek: Jangchu Lakha to Jimilang Tsho Lake, descend to Langrithang

This is our longest trekking day, covering nine miles and climbing 1,000 feet along a ridge with sensational views of Mount Jumolhari and other Himalayan peaks. After a short descent, we arrive at Jimilang Tsho Lake where we enjoy a picnic lunch. Then the trail descends further through fir forests to a yak pasture called Langrithang, where we camp at 11,500 feet.
     You have an option today to do a much shorter trek, direct from Jangchu Lakha to Langrithang, which is just a couple of miles distant. The shorter route, however, will not include the high ridge with the amazing views.     (All Meals)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Modified Druk Path Trek: Langrithang to Tsaluna Village

The trail follows a stream and takes us through forests of fir and rhododendrons. Eventually we arrive at the Tsaluna Monastery (sacred site of Guru Rinpoche from the 8th century). Continuing down, we reach Tsaluna Village. Here we see beautiful farms, and in the evening we explore nearby villages to experience the lifestyle of rural farmers. Our camp tonight is at 8,850 feet.     (All Meals)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Modified Druk Path Trek: Tsaluna Village to Thimphu

We can walk along the farm road through villages today for a few hours, and then conclude our trek with a bus ride into Thimphu for lunch and a welcome hot shower! Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, with a population of about 70,000. The town is made up of just three streets of shops and is the only national capital in the world without traffic lights. The afternoon is free to relax, explore, go shopping, get a haircut and shave, and perhaps even a massage. Our hotel is downtown, and convenient to everything.     (All Meals)

Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thimphu Sightseeing

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Thimphu today. This morning we visit the National Memorial Chorten (built in memory of the third King of Bhutan); Changangkha Monastery; the radio tower (for a great view of Thimphu Valley); the zoo (which contains the national animal of Bhutan: the takin); Nunnery Temple; National Library (which houses ancient manuscripts); and the School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school).
     After lunch, we visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, a traditional paper factory and the majestic Tashi Chhoe Dzong. This is the seat of government, and if we are fortunate to be in the right spot at 5pm, we might be able to see the King leaving work for the day. This evening, enjoy a cultural program of music and dance presented by a private entertainment company.     (All Meals)

Friday, April 17, 2009
Thimphu to Punakha

This morning we visit the popular Thimphu weekend market where we can see the variety of food of the country, including basket upon basket of fiery chilies, fresh cheese, and mangoes. In addition, there is an entire section of stalls containing Bhutanese handicrafts and household items. It’s fun to wander the aisles, taking in the bustling atmosphere of the market, and the shopping here can’t be beat! We’ll leave our excess bags of purchases at the hotel to be collected at the end of the tour.
     After lunch we drive to Punakha, with a stop en route for tea at the top of Dochu La Pass (10,170 feet), where on a clear day we can enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas. We continue downhill through forests of rhododendron, fir and hemlock, arriving at Punakha after traveling through rice fields along the banks of the Punakha River. Along the way, we stop to visit Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley, also known as the Divine Madman. Here we receive a special blessing from the lama’s wooden phallus!     (All Meals)

Saturday, April 18, 2009
Punakha Valley Sightseeing

Explore the Punakha Valley today, passing farms and homes of Bhutan’s nobility. Hike to the huge Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten, located on a beautiful hill overlooking the valley and several villages. It contains elaborate paintings dedicated to an ancient sect of Buddhism. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.
     Another highlight today will be our visit to the Punakha Dzong, beautifully situated at the confluence of the Mo Chhu (Mother River) and Pho Chhu (Father River). Built in 1637, it was the second Dzong of Bhutan and the seat of government until the reign of the second king, and is most impressive! We return to Punakha for a second night.     (All Meals)

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wangdue Phodrang / Return to Thimphu

We depart Punakha this morning and drive to the nearby town of Wangdue Phodrang. Following the river, we suddenly come to a dramatic bend with the arresting sight of the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong perched dramatically on a high ridge. Tour this typical Bhutanese town and the Dzong before returning to Thimphu. Along the way, we stop once more at Dochu La Pass for lunch. We say a fond farewell to our beloved guide and driver during dinner this evening.     (All Meals)

Monday, April 20, 2009
Flight to Bangkok

After an early breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive one hour back to the Paro Airport for our morning flight to Bangkok. Returning to the same hotel in Bangkok, the afternoon is free for last minute souvenir shopping. This evening Toto Tours hosts a Farewell Dinner at beautiful, gay-owned restaurant near the hotel to celebrate the successful conclusion of our adventures in Bhutan. Take advantage of your “one night in Bangkok” to enjoy some of the entertainment options near our hotel.     (Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Departure

The tour officially ends after breakfast this morning. Arrange your return flight home for any convenient time today. Since we are not departing as a group, we have not included your transfer to the airport in the tour price. It is easy and inexpensive to catch a taxi to the airport right outside our hotel. We will be happy to extend your stay in Bangkok if you so desire.     (Breakfast)

ACCOMMODATIONS

Bangkok:  Sofitel Silom (3 nights)

Bhutan:  Bhutan offers generally modest but clean hotels. There are none of the chain hotels in Bhutan, although a couple of high end resorts have been opened in some districts. Visitors are advised not to expect luxury or five star hotel services. Bhutan’s local hospitality is, however, an insight into a society where tourism may be a new venture, but where visitors are greeted with true warmth and friendship. Specific hotels details will be provided prior to departure, but they do not have websites where you can view them in advance. (8 nights)

Trek:  Tented camps (4 nights)

TOUR PREPARATION

Entry Requirements: Passport (minimum validity of six months) and visa required, extendable. Tourists receive visas upon arrival at the Paro Airport. This is included in your tour cost.

Immunizations: None are required, but it is highly recommended that you get a tetanus booster if you have not done so in several years.

Exit Requirements: Your departure tax has been included in the tour cost.

Conditioning: You definitely ought to undertake strength-building and conditioning exercises prior to departure. Start walking everywhere! Try to walk several miles at least twice a week for one month prior to departure. Climbing stairs or working out on a stairmaster is ideal for strengthening the muscles needed for this trek. Your enjoyment of this active adventure will increase proportionately with the amount of effort you put into your conditioning program.

Altitude Considerations: Many visitors to the Himalayas experience what is known as “mountain sickness”—a feeling of dizziness and nausea accompanied by a throbbing headache. It happens when your body isn’t getting all the oxygen it wants. People from Bhutan can’t relate because their bodies have adapted to the high altitude by producing more red blood cells. Unless you happen to live at 10,000-12,000 feet, you can expect to experience some degree of discomfort.
     This tour has been designed to enable us to acclimate gradually to the ever-increasing altitudes. If you think you’ll have a serious problem with the altitude, consult your physician and ask him to prescribe Diamox. It greatly lessens the symptoms of “mountain sickness.” You should also plan on drinking large quantities of water as the high altitude causes rapid dehydration.

WHAT TO BRING

Our local Bhutan suppliers have provided a comprehensive information package with general destination information as well as a packing list, plus suggested items for a medical kit. This list is in an easily-printable PDF File which can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Note: Sleeping bag rentals are not available in Bhutan. On our first trip in 2008 we arranged for rental bags to be flown in from Kathmandu, Nepal. The cost was high, and the quality not great. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag with you on this trip. A mattress pad will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you would like extra padding.

Comprehensive Information Package  Click to download PDF file.

It is customary at the conclusion of the trek to donate used clothing to the trekking staff, so please keep this in mind as you are packing and try to bring clothes that you will be happy to donate. Our guide collects it all, and then divides it into comparable piles assigning a number to each pile. During our final dinner with the trek staff, each crew member is called forward to receive his tip. At that time the crew member draws a number out of a hat, and the clothing pile associated with that number is his. You can probably do a lot of your pre-trip shopping at a resale shop if you don't have a lot of clothes you are ready to give away. This is a great way to lighten your luggage and make room for new acquisitions!

MONEY MATTERS

The currency unit of Bhutan is the Ngultrum (BNT), which is pegged to the Indian Rupee (also acccepted as legal tender). Locals abbreviate the currency as “Nu” and most visitors call them “noos.”
     Notes are in denominations of BTN500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of BTN1, and 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 chetrum. U.S. Dollars are also widely accepted throughout the kingdom. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants, but you will need cash at local shops. There are NO ATM’s anywhere in Bhutan, so plan on bringing plenty of spending money with you. The Bhutanese textiles are beautiful and even hardened, frequent world travelers end up buying much more than they expected. As of July 25, 2008, the interbank rate of exchange was 42.83 BTN to the US$1.00. But that is the favored rate one bank charges another. You are more likely to get just 40 ngultrum for a dollar.

Tipping: We will be with the same guide and driver for the duration of our tour. We also have a host of helpers during our trek, who we will want to tip. It is easiest to tip as a group, and prior to departure we will suggest a tip amount that you can bring for the group tip fund.

RESERVATIONS

To reserve a place on this tour, click on the “Reservations” link above. Type in the information requested in each field, print the form, then sign and mail it to Toto Tours with your $1,000 deposit check. The initial deposit and cancelation penalty are higher than usual for this tour due to the fact that we will be booking your non-refundable flight to Paro the moment we receive your reservation. Seats are very scarce during the Paro Festival, and we probably won’t be able to book you on the tour if you have not reserved by October 5, 2008 (six months before departure).
     You have the option to pay for half of your tour deposit ($500) with a Visa or MasterCard. The remaining $500 must accompany your reservation in the form of a check. The final tour balance is due 90 days prior to departure (by January 5, 2009). Due to the difficulty of obtaining additional hotel and airline space, we may not be able to accept reservations after January 5, 2009. Tour registration is not complete until we have received both a signed reservation form and your deposit check and/or credit card authorization.
     Toto Tours does not accept credit cards as a form of payment except as described above for the tour deposit ($500 maximum can be charged per tour). An installment plan is possible. Our mailing address is: Toto Tours, 1326 W. Albion Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626-4753. Make checks payable to: Toto Tours, Ltd.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
     We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in Bhutan, especially since the non-refundable portion of your deposit and the cancellation penalties are stricter for this tour than for most other destinations! We will provide the necessary forms upon receipt of your deposit, or you can apply online by following the link at the bottom of this page. You can also book your travel insurance with a phone call to Toto Tours. Please be sure to read the details of the Refund Policy for this specific tour!
     The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of eight participants. Maximum number is sixteen, so book soon!
Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed and guaranteed departure.

• fun-loving optimists who have a sense of humor and accentuate the positive;
• good natured realists who are willing to accept situations as they exist;
• undaunted by the unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
• willing to forego some of the amenities we normally take for granted;
• eager to try new things & test limits;
• punctual;
• not whiners!

THE BOTTOM LINE
(tour prices per person)

Price:  $4,995 double occupancy hotel and tent accommodations

Private Hotel and Tent Accommodations:  $800 additional, if available—booking a private room is very difficult in Bhutan.
     (Paying a single supplement is not required. Toto Tours will try to match you with a roommate if you are traveling alone and prefer to share a room. If this is not possible, a single supplement will be applied to your reservation before the final payment date. We strongly encourage sharing on this tour. It is the kind of adventure where a sense of community and friendship is worth a lot more than an imagined loss of privacy.)

Deposit:  $1,000 (Due at time of registration for the tour. A maximum of $500 may be paid with a credit card.) Increase the deposit amount to $1,250 if you wish to fly in Business Class from Bangkok to Paro and back. See “Airfare Upgrade” section below.

Remaining Balance:  $3,995 double / $4,795 single
(Assumes $1,000 or $1,250 deposit has already been made)

Remaining Balance Due:  January 5, 2009
(Enrollment may not be possible after this date.)

Included:  3 nights accommodations Bangkok; 12 nights accommodations Bhutan; breakfast daily in Bangkok; Welcome and Farewell Dinners in Bangkok; all meals in Bhutan; round-trip coach flight from Bangkok to Paro; all activities and transfers as listed in the itinerary; fully guided and escorted tour.

Not Included:  Round-trip airfare from the United States to/from Bangkok, Thailand; airport / hotel transfers in Bangkok at the start of the tour; hotel / airport transfer in Bangkok at the end of the tour; ground transportation for sightseeing on your own (taxis, local guides, etc.); meals and optional activities not specifically listed in the itinerary; tips to local guides, gratuities for meals; bottled water; alcoholic beverages; insurance; laundry; telephone calls; faxes; or any other expenses of a personal nature.

Airfare Upgrade:  We can book your seat to Paro and back to Bangkok in Business Class on Druk Air for a supplemental payment of $250, which is due at the time of booking. Please indicate your desire to upgrade to business class on your reservation form, and increase your trip deposit to $1,250.00 total. The upgrade supplement falls under the full penalty, and is non-refundable if you later cancel.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We recommend you purchase travel insurance with Travel Guard to cover for unforseen events prior to and during your trip. Please follow the link below or call us for more information.