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If you are dreaming of experiencing Bhutan’s unique culture as an insider, then this is the trip for you. Enjoy the unique opportunity to live with a local farm family for a few days, all the while helping them with farming duties and the tasks of daily life. Perhaps you’ll help milk the yaks, make cheese, or tend the garden. Explore the neighborhood, take a short hike, perhaps visit a school. Get to know the children, and practice English with them. You will all be forever touched by this deeply personal experience.
Then you’ll move deeper into Bhutan, getting a sense of the arts, crafts, nature and culture of this beautiful kingdom. In Thimphu, see the next generation of Buddhist artisans being trained in the traditional arts, and witness the beautiful textile traditions first hand as they are being created. Moving deeper into the Central Valley and further off the main road, observe the revered Black-necked cranes’ nesting grounds (October – January only.) Visit historic dzongs (forts) and get a true sense of this very special kingdom.
HOMESTAY PROGRAM
There are two farm houses for our homestay program in Haa. 10 minutes apart, each can accommodate upto 6 people. The hosts, Deki and Ugyen have three children. Deki’s father, Jho Wangchu, is a retired solider who has lots of stories to tell.
Your activities here may include making butter and cheese, helping in the kitchen and tending the farm. There is no attached bathroom and the guests should be prepared for squat toilets and bucket baths. Homes provide mattresses and blankets. You may also visit the village monastery and interact with the little monks or take a day hike to the ridge for views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Food is simple and prepared in traditional style.
A traditional Bhutanese hot-stone bath facility is available for visitors to the farm.
Highlights:
Day | Description | Overnight | Altitude |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrival in Paro | Paro | 2,280m/7,475ft |
Day 2 | Drive to Haa | Haa | 3,056m/10,023ft |
Day 3 | Haa | Haa | 3,056m/10,023ft |
Day 4 | Drive to Thimpu | Thimpu | 2,320m/7,700ft |
Day 5 | Thimpu | Thimpu | 2,320m/7,700ft |
Day 6 | Punakha | Punakha | 1,310m/4,430ft |
Day 7 | Phojibka Valley | Gangtey | 3,120m/10,300ft |
Day 8 | Drive to Paro | Paro | 2,280m/7,475ft |
Day 9 | Paro | Paro | 2,280m/7,475ft |
Day 10 | Final departure |
Depart early from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The flight leaves at 5:40 a.m. or 6:50 a.m. Bangkok time, depending on the day of departure. You will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel upon arrival in Bhutan, before 10 a.m. Rejuvenate with refreshments at the hotel.
Drive to nearby Ta-Dzong, where you’ll be introduced to Bhutan with a visit to the National Museum which houses art, handicrafts, costumes and ancient weapons displays. Stroll the streets of Paro in the evening.
Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
Your activities here may include making butter and cheese, helping in the kitchen and tending the farm. There is no attached bathroom and the guests should be prepared for squat toilets and bucket baths. Homes provide mattresses and blankets. You may also visit the village monastery and interact with the young monks or take a day hike to the ridge for views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Food is simple and prepared in traditional style. By Fall 2011, a traditional Bhutanese hot-stone bath facility will be available for visitors to the farm.
Overnight at local home. (All meals)
In Thimphu, sightseeing options include:
Visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, the 13 forms of traditional arts and crafts commonly referred to as “the painting school” to see how a new generation of Bhutanese artists is being trained.
The Takin Preserve, a former zoo but closed down because the king did not think a zoo was in line with the country’s Buddhist philosophy. The animals were set free but the Takins were too tame and wandered the streets, and so they were put back in the reserve where you can visit them at close range. With its strange look, the Takin (the national animal of Bhutan) does live up to its legendary creation. You have to see it to believe it.
Local textile houses, which churn out many of the intricate designs that the stores carry. One can also witness different weaving techniques.
Weekend farmer’s market, where farmers from nearby valleys come together to sell their produce
Kunselphodrang in the evening; feel the grandeur of the world’s largest sitting Buddha. Enjoy a great bird’s eye view of the Thimphu valley.
Overnight at Hotel. (All meals)
Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
In the morning take a pleasant 30-minute hike through rice paddies and villages and visit Chimi Lhakhang (temple) on a small hilltop. This temple is dedicated to the great Yogi in 15th century known as Lama Drukpa Kuenley or popularly known as the “Divine madman.” He preached in the way that is unlike the stiffness of clergy and society of the time; it is also believed that this temple blesses couples having fertility problems. A popular pilgrimage spot for the Bhutanese, it is frequently visited by childless couples and parents who have difficulty raising children.
Drive to Paro via Thimphu. Spend the rest of the evening exploring the streets of Paro. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
After early breakfast, drive to the trailhead to visit the Tiger’s Nest monastery. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with lichens, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Built in 1600s, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. It is believed that in the 8th century, Guru Rimpoche, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, landed here on the back of a flying tigress to subdue a demon. Guru Rimpoche is believed to have meditated here for three months and it is considered one of the holiest sites for Buddhists.
After lunch, time permitting, visit the ancient ruins of Drukgyal Dzong, built in 1647 by Zhabdrung. The Dzong was destroyed by fire and left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great victories it was built to commemorate. The fortress was featured on the cover of the US National Geographic magazine in 1914. Spend the evening exploring Paro town.
Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
Transfer to airport for flight home (B).
Per person Price – valid till Dec 31, 2021
1 person: $ 3,000 USD (includes single supplement)
2 persons: $ 2,700 USD per person
3 or more persons: $ 2,400 USD per person
Single Supplement: $ 400 USD
Extra – airfare into Paro (subject to change):
Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok airfare: $ 640 per person
Bangkok – Paro – Kathmandu airfare: $560 per person
Delhi – Paro – Delhi airfare: $660 per person
Kathmandu – Paro – Delhi airfare: $640 per person
Prices above are based on the best 3 star accommodations available. Upgrades to 4 or 5 star accommodations would be an additional US$500 per person per night depending on hotels selected. Please contact us for details of options available.
Activity: Trekking
Destination: Kanchenjunga
Country: Nepal
KANCHENJUNGA TREK (Lodge Trek)
This Kanchenjunga trek is a lodge-to-lodge trek which visits both the North and South Base Camps and allows participants to get up-close with the third highest mountain in the world. Check out our Kanchenjunga Base Camp Tent trek too. We will carry some food to supplement what’s available at the local lodges. We will also carry tents so you may opt to sleep in tents in some of the places. A shorter program would be to only visit the North Kanchenjunga Base Camp at Pangpema.
Kangchenjunga is a sacred mountain and the word Kanchenjunga literally translates to “Five Great Treasures in the Snow.” There are five peaks within the Kangchenjunga range. And each peak is believed to be a repository of different treasures: gold, silver, gems, grains and sacred texts. Consequently, in due reverence, the first summiteers stopped a few meters short of the summit in 1955. However, today’s climbers no longer follow this practice. On this trek, we will be trekking through a Beyul. The purpose of beyuls is to provide sanctuaries for people seeking refuge from social and religious persecution. Read some facts about the Kanchenjunga region here.
We have built five schools in the region through our giving arm 3 Summits for Nepal. We’d be glad to organize a visit for you to these schools.
Activity: Lodge Trek
Destination: Everest
Country: Nepal
The Everest Three Passes Trek is a challenging circuit trek offering spectacular views of the highest mountains on earth. From our vantage points at the high passes, we will be able to take in breath-taking mountain vistas. This would not be possible on a normal Everest trek. The ascent to and from the passes can be challenging – icy and requiring navigating over loose rock. But no technical climbing skills are required for this trek. This trek is similar to our Ultimate Everest Trek but also involves crossing the Kongma La pass, the most challenging of the three passes.
Towering Himalayan peaks such as Lhotse, Everest, Cho-Oyu, Pumori and Ama Dablam dominate the skyline. Located in the Sagarmatha National Park, a world heritage site, many visitors come to this region to glimpse the world’s highest peak but come away with much more: an appreciation of the local people who make their home in this high and difficult landscape, a spirit of adventure that brings them back to the Himalayas, and life-changing personal experiences.
All our Everest Treks are private treks for a minimum of two participants. We do NOT nickel-and-dime on services – all inclusions and exclusions are clearly listed in cost details. Some companies will advertise trips for very low prices but they have a lot of exclusions that is usually not clear. With over 30 years of experience, most of our trekkers are either repeat clients or referrals. We employ the most professional and friendly staff.
We are also proud to give back to our community through 3 Summits For Nepal managed by Crystal Mountain Treks staff. Contact us to learn more…