Expedition Details
Set out into the lush mountains of Bhutan to shoot images of exquisite temples, villages untouched by time, and towering Himalayas. As you explore, learn photography tips and techniques to help you improve your skills. Capture scenes from a lively market, or saffron-robed monks against the backdrop of white-washed dzongs. Venture into mystical forests where wild moss creates an otherworldly atmosphere, and photograph breathtaking panoramas of snow-clad peaks from a high mountain pass.Trip Highlights
Itinerary - 12 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Bangkok, Thailand
Depart the U.S., cross the International Date Line, and arrive the next night.
Novotel Suvarnabhumi Hotel
Day 3 — Bangkok/Paro, Bhutan
From Bangkok, fly to the Paro Valley (7,300 feet) in Bhutan. Transfer to our hotel and enjoy time to relax, or visit the seventh-century Kyichu Lhakhang. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner.
Zhiwa Ling Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Paro/Punakha
This morning, journey to Punakha, Bhutan’s ancient capital. Travel over the Dochu La pass (10,000 feet) and stop for tea and a view of 200 miles of Himalayan summits (weather permitting). Upon arrival, head to Punakha’s striking dzong to celebrate the colorful and boisterous Punakha Tsechu festival. Bhutan’s festivals are joyous expressions of its Buddhist culture. People travel from distant valleys and towns to socialize, celebrate their thriving Buddhist heritage, and enjoy one of the most important events on the Bhutanese calendar.
Meri Puensum Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Punakha
Return to the dzong this morning to witness the festival’s dramatic closing ceremonies. Then set off on an invigorating hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, a spectacularly situated temple offering incredible views of the valley below.
Meri Puensum Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Punakha/Phobjika
Travel to the alpine valley of Phobjika (10,000 feet), considered one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. Along the way, the environment changes from semi tropical to pine forest, and then to an alpine environment—home to several species of rhododendron, dwarf bamboo, and Grey Langur monkeys.
Dewachen Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Phobjika
Against a backdrop of forest-clad mountains, the Gangtey Gonpa temple complex rises dramatically froma cluster of hilltop cottages. One of the oldest Nyingma monasteries in Bhutan, the Gangtey Gonpa has recently been restored, allowing us to examine the fine workmanship of Bhutan’s best woodcarvers, sculptors, and painters. Then set off on a half-day hike, stopping to meet a family at a local farmhouse along the way.
Dewachen Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Phobjika/Thimphu
Travel to Thimphu (7,900 feet), the capital of Bhutan. Visit the National Textile Museum and browse its exhibitions. Bhutan’s weavings and brocades are considered spiritual expressions and are admired for their diversity and sophistication.
Terma Linca (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Thimphu
After a morning exploring the country’s more modern side in Thimphu, visit the Traditional School of Painting and the Arts to watch students practicing the ancient arts of Bhutanese thangka painting, mask making, and wood carving. Tonight, get a behind-the-scenes perspective on contemporary Bhutan during a lively Bhutanese banquet with members of the government, local dignitaries, and respected professionals.
Terma Linca (B,L,D)
Day 10 — Paro
Our journey in the kingdom culminates with a hike to the most famous pilgrimage site in Bhutan: Taktsang Lhakhang, or the Tiger’s Nest Temple (9,300 feet). Visible from afar, this stunning monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. This evening, celebrate your Bhutanese adventure at a festive farewell dinner.
Zhiwa Ling Hotel (B,L,D)
Days 11 & 12 — Paro/Bangkok, Thailand/U.S.
Fly to Bangkok and check into our hotel. The following morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight via Bangkok, arriving home the same day.
Novotel Suvarnabhumi Hotel (B, L; B)
Optional Extension
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia - Pre- or Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days
Related Trip
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
Ira Block
For more than thirty years, Ira Block has covered assignments around the world for National Geographic magazine. His photographic subjects are as varied as the destinations stamped in his passport—from dinosaurs in the Gobi desert to hidden treasures in China, Mongolia, and Tibet, from Incan mummies in Peru to the North Pole by dog sledge, from Aboriginal people in Australia’s Arnam Land to the Native Americans of the southwestern United States. His interest in Asian culture led to “The Samurai Way,” a story he shot in Japan, and “Restless Spirits,” featuring Xi'An, China's Terra Cotta soldiers. His enchantment with the continent also led to a recent photographic workshop he led in Bangkok and a personal journey into the study of an ancient Japanese martial art. Ira leads National Geographic photo workshops in New York City, and he has also taught in Abu Dhabi, Boston, Maine, and at the School of Visual Arts Digital Masters Program in New York. Ira’s most recent National Geographic story, illustrating prehistoric global warming, appeared in the October 2011 edition.
Ira will join the following departure:
Oct 21 - Nov 01, 2012Expedition Dates 
2012
- Oct 21 - Nov 01, 2012
indicates a departure that has a slightly different itinerary than the one shown on this page. Click the icon to see the day-to-day itinerary.
Expedition Costs
Please Note: Following a recent decision by the Bhutanese government in June of 2011, all travelers to Bhutan in 2012 will be subject to a new Bhutan tourism tariff. The increase in the tariff, which equals $400 per person and only applies to trips in 2012, will show up as a surcharge on your invoice.
What To Expect
This is an active exploration with optional hikes that range from one to five miles and excursions that involve stairs and uneven footing. The average elevation in Bhutan is 8,000 feet above sea level. This trip is not suitable for those who suffer from cardiac, respiratory, or circulatory disorders or a disability that limits mobility. Participants should be physically fit.
We will stay at first-class hotels in Bangkok, Paro, and Thimphu; at a rustic lodge (without electricity) in Phobjika; and at a comfortable but basic hotel in the Punakha Valley.
