BHUTAN FOR THE ACTIVE TRAVELER
Wilderness and Travel Medicine Conference
November 4 - 18, 2010 (fully booked)
October 19- November 2, 2010 ( newly opened dates)
16 Hours Category I CME Credit

National Geographic has called Bhutan "the last Shangri La". The remote Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan is a country of mountains, untouched forests, and fortified monasteries that lies nestled in the high Himalaya sandwiched between the planets two giants: India and China. A country the size of Switzerland and with a population of less than two million, it vigilantly protects it ancient traditions, religion and culture. Traveling there is like visiting Nepal or Tibet forty years ago.

This new course on Wilderness and Travel Medicine will take us on a journey that will lead us through the heart of Bhutan. We visit its capital Thimpu, its great monasteries at Paro, Trongsa, Punakha, and Bumthang as well as hiking mountain trails to visit its rural villages. It will feature a visit to the yearly festival of the black-necked crane in the Phobjikha valley. The highly endangered black-necked crane summers in the high valleys of the Tibetan plateau and when the lakes and marshes begin to freeze with the coming of winter, the cranes fly south across the Himalaya at altitudes of 30,000 feet to reach the Phobjikha valley where they spend the winter.

Bhutans spectacular mountain scenery provides the perfect setting for active day hikers to explore its remote villages and mountain paths.

The culmination of our journey will come at the end of our trip when we hike for 3 hours to visit the "Tigers Nest" of Takstang, the most famous and sacred of Bhutans monasteries. Perched on side of a sheer cliff 3,000 ft above the Paro valley, the monastery is built over a cave. No other monastery in the world can match the grandeur of Takstangs natural setting. As part of our medical seminar we will have a chance to meet with Bhutanese physicians and visit their hospitals. Although a poor country, Bhutan offers free medical care and education to all of its citizens. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: A great way to experience Bhutanese culture and traditions and Himalayan trekking within a short time frame Active day hikes in spectacular Himalayas Stay in comfortable lodges Immerse yourself in Bhutan's rich Buddhist culture and traditions Spectacular Himalayan scenery Enjoy the famous Festival of the Black-Necked Crane Trip Cost: $4,395 Includes all transfers, all lodging, guiding, and most meals. Internal Airfare: $805 (Estimate round-trip from Bangkok) Single Supplement: $500 Additional CME Cost: $695 (16 hrs Category I CME)

ITINERARY: Bhutan: The Last Shangri La Featuring the Jambay & Prakhar Festival Oct 19th ~ Nov 2nd, 2010 Day 01) Tue, Oct 19, Thursday: Bangkok-Paro-Thimphu Arrive Paro and after going through the entry formalities, visit the National Museum and transfer to the local restaurant for lunch. 2 hr drive brings you to the capital Thimpu.Hotel Riverview or similar. Day 02) Wed, Oct 20: Thimphu Morning for discussions. Visit the National Institute for 'Zorig Chusum' where students study 13 arts and crafts including carpentry, painting, carving, sculpture and embroidery - an integral part of Bhutan's heritage. Visit the Folk Heritage Museum and the National Library with block printed Buddhist manuscripts. In the In the afternoon drive to Tango Monastery about 25 kms north of Thimphu valley. Hike up to Tango monastery about an hour which is used as monastic school and also retreat center. Transfer back to hotel. Day 03) Thu, Oct 21: Thimphu - Wangdi In the morning visit the Textile Museum, Paper factory. Drive to Dochula Pass , if weather permits you will get magnificent views of the Bhutan Himalayas. Visit the 108 stupas and new temple at the pass. Descend to the Valley whose low altitude (4,000 ft) allows two rice crops each year and visit the Wangdiphodrang Dzong. Overnight at Hotel Day 04) Fri, Oct 22 : Wangdi - Phobjikha - Trongsa In the morning drive to Phobjikha, where the black necked cranes spend their winter months in this valley. Visit the beautiful Gangtey Goempa Monastery (one of the sacred Nyinmapa monastery in Bhutan. Afternoo, proceed to Trongsa on route visit the Chendibji Chorten. Overnight at hotel. Day 05) Sat. Oct 23 : Trongsa - Bumthang In the morning visit the Trongsa Dzong . After lunch proceed to Bumthang crossing over Yotongla pass. En route visit the Yatha weaving center at Zukney. Afternoon visit the Jakar Dzong. Overnight at Lodge. Day 06) Sun. Oct 24 : Bumthang In the morning spend the whole morning witnessing the Jambay Lhakhang Festival. Many local from all over Bumthang valley come to see the festival. In the afternoon, visit some of few selected important temples such as Kurje, Tamshing. we drive to the remote Bumthang valley, known for its ancient dzongs and traditional villages. Overnight hotel in Bumthang. Day 07) Mon. Oct 25: Bumthang Morning drive to Prakhar village and see the Prakhar festival. This is also one of the most important festival in Bumthang and many people around that area come to attend the festival. In the evening visit the typical farm house to taste the local wine (araa) and see /taste the buckwheat noodles, local delicacy. Overnight at hotel. Day 08) Tue, Oct 26 : Bumthang In the morning drive to Tang valley and visit the Ugyencholing Palace. Visit the Palace and its fine museum. On the return journey visit the Tak Rimpoche monastery, one of the oldest in Bumthang valley. Overnight at hotel. Day 09) Wed, Oct 27: Bumthang -Trongsa In the morning drive to Trongsa and visit the Trongsa Taa-Dzong Museum. Overnight at Hotel. Day 10) Thu, Oct 28 : Trongsa - Punakha In the morning proceed to Punakha and visit the Chimi-lakhang. Overnight at hotel. Day 11) Fri, Oct 29 : Punakha In the morning hike up to Khasum Yulay Namgyal Chorten, built by the royal family. It offer panoramic view of the Punakha valley. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon we will visit the Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdung Nawang Namgyal at the confluence of the Phu Chhu and Mo Chuu rivers. Overnight Punaka hotel. Day 12) Sat, Oct 30 : Punakha - Thimphu-Paro In the morning drive to Thimphu and visit the weekend market. Free time for shopping. Afternoon, drive to Paro. Overnight at hotel. Day 13) Sun. Oct 31: Paro In the morning visit the weekend market where local farmer come to sell their agriculture products. Drive to Bondey and from there take a short hike to Dzongdra Kha monastery located on a small cliff. In the afternoon, visit the Paro Dzong. Overnight at hotel. Day 14) Mon, Nov 1 : Paro Hike up to Takstang Monastery (The Tiger's Nest), about 2 hours, built into a sheer cliff face above the Paro valley. Legend has it that Buddhist Saint Padma Sambhava landed here after flying across the Himalayas. Lunch at the tea house. Overnight hotel. Day 15) Tue, Nov 2 : Paro - Bangkok In the morning fly back to Bangkok. FACULTY: Philip C. Rasori, M.D. has taught wilderness and travel medicine on all seven continents including Antarctica. He fell in love with Bhutan during the two prior trips that he led there. He is the director of Global Survival International and for the last 20 years has been the medical director of Village Hopecore International. Village Hopecore International operates a highly successful health and micro-enterprise project for poor village women in Kenya. For 18 years, Dr. Rasori taught travel medicine and international health as part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

For detailed itinerary or to register for Bhutan please call
Bio Bio Expeditions at 1-800-246-7238