JMG Bhutan TOURS 2

You will arrive in Paro on Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline. Your arrival in the Kingdom will be over spectacular Himalayan peaks and into the beautiful fertile Paro valley. After customs formalities, our representative will then transfer you to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital. After your hotel check-in you'll have a "get acquainted" stroll through Thimphu's quaint "downtown" area. Overnight Thimphu.

After breakfast, you'll tour the Trashichho Dzong, the magnificent medieval royal palace/fortress/monastery. Inside are the Government's offices, residence rooms, monastery areas. and the King's throne room. Next you'll visit the National Library with its vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts. You may also visit the old Nunnery and Takin sanctuary. After Lunch you'll visit the Memorial Chorten, the stupa built in the memory of Bhutan's 3rd king, who is regarded as the father of modern Bhutan. A short drive will also take you to the Handicrafts Emporium, which displays a wide assortment of crafted products. Overnight Thimphu.

After breakfast we drive to Punakha via the beautiful Dochu-La pass (10,105') with its 108 beautiful honorary stupas. In good weather we can view 6 peaks over 7,000 meters (over 23,000 ') including Bhutan's highest, "Gangkar peunsum" at 24,596'. A bit later we'll arrive at the fabulous Punakha Dzong (fortress) , built 1637, by Shabdrung Ngawang Nambyal. It appears to be floating as it is beautifully situated at the confluence of 2 rivers. It served as the religious, and political center of the region, as Punakha was Bhutan's capital, before it was moved to Thimphu. Later we'll drive through magnificent countryside and quaint village hamlets to Wangduephodrang where we'll visit its local Dzong and the quaint outdoor market. Overnight Punakha.

After breakfast we'll drive to Paro, stopping en route at the Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress in the Kingdom (1627). Around its courtyards, the dzong houses the school of religious studies. Back in Paro we'll take in the fascinating National Museum in the Ta Dzong, the medieval watch tower built in 1637. Afterwards we'll walk down the hill to the Rinpung Dzong (1646) also built by Namgyal who was the 1st spritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. It houses the Monastic body of Paro, the Dzongda (district head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. Overnight Paro.

After breakfast an excursion will take us to the "Tiger's Nest" or Taktsang Monastery, the most famous and beautiful of Bhutan's monasteries. It is built into the side of a cliff face high above the valley floor. It is said that the Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at the spot where the Taktsang was later built. Later in the afternoon we'll drive through the Paro valley to the ruins of the Drukgyal fort (1647). It was built here in this strategic location to control the routes to Tibet. Nearby we'll visit traditional Bhutanese farmhouses, where we'll get a good insight into the lifestyle of the local people. We'll also stop at the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines of the Kingdom. Overnight Paro.

After breakfast transfer to airport for your onward destination

Tour B: Bhutan Enchantment 10 nights/11 days

You will arrive in Paro on Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline, flying over spectacular Himalayan peaks into the beautiful Paro valley. After customs formailities, you'll transfer to your hotel in Paro and afterwards you'll have a "get acquainted" stroll in Paro town. Overnight Paro.

After breakfast visit the medieval watchtower- Ta Dzong, which houses the fascinating National Museum. Afterwards walk down to the beautiful Rinpung Dzong (described in Day 4 Tour A) In the afternoon you'll drive to the ruined Drukgyel fort (1647) from where the Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan forces. Nearby we'll get a good insight into the lifestyle of the local people as we visit local farmhouses. Later on we'll visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan. Overnight Paro.

After breakfast we drive to Thimphu, en route stopping at the Kingdom's oldest Dzong- Simtokha, which houses the school for Buddhist studies. In the afternoon we'll visit Trashiccho Dzong, the magnificent Royal palace/fortress/monastery, which is the present home of Bhutan's King and government. We'll also visit the handicrafts Emporium, Folk heritage museum and the colorful local markets. Overnight Thimphu.

After breakfast we'll round out our Thimphu sightseeing with the National Library, the old Nunnery and the Takin sanctuary. After lunch we'll drive to Punakha crossing the picturesque Dochu-La pass (10,105'), where our Himalaya views include Bhutan's highest mountain, "Gangkar peunsum" (24,596'). Once in Punakha, we'll tour the magnificent Punakha Dzong (1637). Before Thimphu, Punakha was Bhutan's capital and was the political and religious center of the Kingdom. Overnight Punakha.

After breakfast a beautiful drive passes through idyllic scenery and picturesque villages....arriving at Wangduephodrang where we'll take in it's colorful outdoor market and tour it's majestic Dzong overlooking the village and river below. After lunch we'll proceed through dense forests of oak and rhododendron trees arriving in Gangtey and the beautiful Phobjikha valley. In the evening we'll walk around Gangtey village and visit the local Gangtey Gompa (monastery). Overnight Gangtey.

In the morning we'll explore the Phobjikha valley, which is famous for Black Neck Cranes....who migrate here to escape the harsh weather on the Central Asia plateau After lunch we drive to Trongsa over the Pele-La Pass (10,825') A walk through the village and markets rounds out the day. Overnight Trongsa.

After breakfast we'll tour the fantastic Trongsa Dzong (1644), It is the largest dzong in the kingdom and it's considered the masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture. Trongsa forms the central hub of the Kingdom and it's historically the place from where Bhutan was unified. After lunch we'll drive on to Bumthang, the religious heartland of Bhutan. leisure time before dinner at our hotel. Overnight Bumthang.

Bumthang is the general name given to the combination of 4 valleys- Chumney, Choekhor,Tang, and Ura. It is the home of many prominent Buddhist temples and monasteries. We stay in Jakar town. Its quaint center is a true delight and we'll have time to wander and visit its fascinating local market and shops. The beautiful Jakar Dzong overlooks all the "action". We'll visit the most sacred and beautiful Kurje Lhakhang, where in 746 a body print of the Guru Rinpoche was left in a cave here. Its beautiful buildings house the crypts of the royal families. Among others we'll also visit the Jambay Lhakhang, the ancient monastery dating from the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan. Overnight Bumthang (Jakar).

After breakfast and a visit to Jakar's market, we'll start our drive back to Thimphu, once again enjoying the beautiful countryside. We'll stop for lunch at Trongsa......and again we'll stop for refreshments as we pass back though Wangduephodrang. You'll be wonderfully surprised as we'll once again enjoy the scenery, and the locals of the villages as we pass through going in the opposite direction. Overnight Thimphu.

Today we have saved the best for last. After breakfast we drive back to Paro, where for the rest of the day, we'll have an excursion to the "Tiger's Nest" , Taktsang monastery. Legend says that the Guru Rinpoche came here flying on the back of a tigress at the place where the monastery now stands. Rinpoche was an emanation of Buddha and he first brought Buddhism to Tibet and the region in the 8th century. Taktsang is breathtakingly beautiful as it was built into the cliffside some 3000 feet above the valley below. Overnight Paro.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward destination.

We venture a bit outside of Bukhara today, visiting Bukhara's last Emir's Summer palace, the Sitori-Mohi-Hosa, Nearby is the beautiful Bahouddin Naqshband mausoleum and complex. Naqshband (1318-89) was the founder of the most influencial Sufi order of central Asia and he is the unofficial patron saint of Bukhara On returning to Bukhara, we'll have lunch, stop at the quaint Chor Minor and have plenty of time to wander Bukhara's markets. This evening we enjoy a folklore show while dining in a 15th century Medrassah in the Lyabi Haus Square.

Today we drive to Khiva (UNESCO World Heritage) arriving late afternoon. After a pleasant lunch stop, we drive through desert terrain along side the Amu Darya river which is the border of Turkmenistan to the south. We relax and have dinner in the old town.

Our hotel is located in the historic quarter within Khiva's medieval walls which surround the town (the Ichon Kala). We tour the Ark Citadel, the palaces, the beautiful madrassahs, the harem complex, the famous Dzhuma Friday mosque, and Khiva's bazaars. Khiva though relatively small, is a living museum of medieval times and our time here will never be forgotten. For our last evening in Khiva we are entertained by a family troupe of singers and dancers.

This morning we drive north to Nukus, which is the capital of Uzbekistan's autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. Here is one of Uzbekistan's most unusual hi-lites, the world famous Savitsky Museum, founded by Igor Savitsky (1915-1984)-see "The Desert of Forbidden Art" (a documentary and CD.) Savitsky was an Avant Garde artist and archeologist, who was forbidden to display his art in Russia, because they did not conform to Soviet Realism. So he self exiled himself to this remote corner of the then USSR. It is one of the most remarkable and unusual collections of Art and Artifacts that one can see.

This morning we cross the northern land border into our 5th and Final "Stan" Turkmenistan (6 if you count Karakalpakstan). After border formailities, a short drive takes us to Konye Urgench (UNESCO). Most of the ancient monuments are in an Archeology park. Konye Urgench was in ancient times the capital of the region but both Ghengis Khan in 1221 and finally Tamerlane in 1388 "finished off" the city. Finally when the Amu Darya River changed its course in the 17th century, therefore drying up its water supply, the city lost all hope of retaining its former glory. After taking in Konye Urgenche's sites, we drive to Dasoguz, where we take an afternoon flight to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan

We have a city tour of modern Ashgabad. It is an astonishingly beautiful city with its many beautiful squares, statues, fountains, and monuments, which include the Government complex, Victory Square, Independence Square, the Neutrality Arch, the New Mosque, and the great History Museum.

An Early AM flight to Mary, from where we drive to Merv(UNESCO World Heritage). We tour the vast remains of the ancient Qalas (fortress cities) which date from the 6th century BC. In its heyday, Merv stood alongside Damascus, Cairo, and Baghdad as one of the great cities of the Islamic world. It was called Marv-i-shahjahan....translation..."Merv-Queen of the World" and was a key stop on the Silk Road. In short, in 1218 Genghis Khan demanded taxes and grain along with the city's most beautiful women. His envoys were rebuffed and killed. In retribution, Tolui, the most brutal son of Genghis, returned and slaughtered the entire population of 300,000. After our tour we take our short return flight to Ashgabad.

After breakfast we take the short drive to Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage) where we tour the Ancient Parthian kingdom remains. Nisa became the Parthian capital in the 3rd Century BC. It was surrounded by a thriving commercial city. One ruling dynasty replaced another until the 13th century, when once again, the Mongols arrived and razed the city to the ground. On the way back to Ashgabad we visit the magnificent golden Domed Kipchak Mosque, built by the late president Niyazov, who styled himself as the "Father of the Turkmen". It is an architectural masterpiece indeed. In the afternoon we have some free time to wander in the downtown area and the central market

Transfer to airport for return flight to the USA or elsewhere