Bhutan 2023
$200.00 – $4,295.00
Description
SOLD OUT – 10-DAY WORKSHOP – $4295**
MEET AND GREET ON May 4, 2023 at 7 PM at Novotel Hotel; Bangkok Airport
Photographer’s Paradise, Lonely Planet’s #1 Travel Destination in 2020
“A trip to Bhutan is one of the most unique and incredible experiences in the world!”
– 2020 by Lonely Planet
**Workshop fees include all meals in Bhutan, ground transportation, lodging, park entrance fees and round-trip airfare from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan and back to Bangkok.
ALL CONFIRMED STUDENTS TAKE NOTE: The workshop is now starting and ending in Bangkok.
Beautiful temples, monasteries filled with monks and nuns, surrounded by mountains, rivers and rice-filled villages and farmhouses. People living in harmony with timeless spirituality and natural surroundings. People don’t mind you taking their photos. Bhutan is the perfect destination for the photographer, the photographers’ paradise.
This 10-Day Workshop and tour leads you to four districts in Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, Wangdue and Punakha. During these 10 days you will be visiting famous temples, fortresses, monasteries, local markets and villages and walk in farmers’ fields and into their homes. You will have the opportunity for some fabulous night photography, interesting Thimphu street photography, stunning landscape photography and much, much more. Bryan and his local photography guide will get you to the right place at the right time to capture perfect photographs of Bhutan.
May 5: Depart Bangkok, Arrive Paro, Bhutan
On arrival at Paro International airport on your flight from Bangkok, you will be conferred a traditional Bhutan welcome by your local guide followed by a beautiful drive to Thimphu (altitude about 7300 feet). This unique ride will take you past the rivers and villages and over Himalayan frontiers. If the weather is clear you might catch a view of Mt. Everest and other eastern Himalayans. In the afternoon we will visit Thimphu city which is very interesting and one of the first developing city in the Asia.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
May 6: Thimphu Day Excursion
After breakfast, drive to Kunsel Phodrang to visit one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world. The site of the tallest bronze statue offers a strategic overview of Thimphu valley and you get a good sense of the spirit of the Himalayan kingdom’s capital.
Watch and take photographs of the national game of archery in Changlimithang Stadium.
After the Buddha, we can visit Dechen Phodrang Monastic school, which houses more than 260 young monks. We can also have tea with the senior monk there and gain some insights into the monastic life.
On the way back, we will have very good view of Tashichho Dzong, Headquarters of Bhutan, which houses the King’s office, other government offices and the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of the central monastic body.
After lunch we will drive to Tango University of Buddhist Studies.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
May 7: Thimphu to Phobjikha
Early morning we drive to Phobjikha and in en route we can stop at Dochula Pass (altitude about 10,150 feet). At Dochula Pass we are going to have breakfast with the views of mountains and take photos of Druk Wangyal temple and the 108 Chortens. If weather permits we will get a very good view of the eastern Himalayas and see that this place is truly a paradise on earth. After the stop we will continue driving toward Wangdue (altitude about 3400 feet).
Before we reach to Wangdue, we will stop at Lampelri Botanical Park to enjoy the beautiful space with a short nature walk. We will have lunch in Lobesa.
Overnight: Hotel in Phobjikha
May 8: Phobjikha to Trongsa
In the morning we will visit Gangtey temple and do a nature hike. After lunch we will make the beautiful drive to Trongsa and stop for many stunning landscape photographs on the way.
Overnight: Hotel in Trongsa
May 9: Trongsa to Punakha
After breakfast we will visit Trongsa Dzong and drive back to Punakha. Again we will stop and take many great landscape and people-in-their-environments photographs. Lunch in Nobding or Chandayji.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha
May 10: Punakha
In the morning we hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. We will also visit a nunnery, Punakha Dzong and the village of Lobesa.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha
May 11: Punakha
Day open for village and school visit.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha
May 12: Punakha
In the morning we will visit a local farmer’s market and after that drive back to Paro. We will have lunch in Dochula Pass (altitude about 3400 feet).
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha
May 13: Punakha
Day hike to Tiger’s nest Temple and in the afternoon, shopping and stone bath.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro
May 14: Departure to Bangkok
NOTE(s):
- Workshop fees include all meals in Bhutan, ground transportation, lodging, park entrance fees and round-trip airfare from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan and back to Bangkok.
- Not included in your workshop fees are alcohol, gratuities or cost of riding ponies (for those who choose to do so) up to Tiger’s Nest.
- Students will be responsible for arranging and paying for flights to and from the workshop.
- Feel free to arrive in Bangkok earlier than May 4 if you wish to see the city or just get acclimated to the time zone change.
- Check the latest guidance for vaccinations required to travel abroad:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html
We will have a Meet and Greet on May 4, 2023 at 7 PM in the lobby of the *Recommended Hotel in Bangkok where we discuss student goals and objectives, and Bryan will provide an overview and rough agenda for the workshop.
*Recommended Hotel in Bangkok:
Novotel Hotel; Bangkok Airport
*You can stay at the hotel or lodging of your choice, but the *Recommended Hotel is where we will gather for the Meet and Greet and where we will gather before departure from Bangkok on May 5.
To sign up for this workshop, click on the link above to make a deposit and secure a place in the workshop. To get additional information or ask to be on the waitlist, send an email to Lisa Phillips at [email protected].