Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Custom <strong>Tour</strong>s and Treks<br />
Sporting and Outdoor Activities<br />
Along with sightseeing, <strong>Bhutan</strong> offers quite a few sporting activities other than trekking. You can go on many day hikes and return to sleep in a comfortable lodge. Biking,<br />
archery, golfing and fishing are also available. If you like water, you can raft, kayak or soak in the hot springs. <strong>Bhutan</strong> is also good for birdwatching or staying overnight in<br />
a v<strong>illage</strong> home.<br />
c Hiking Throughout <strong>Bhutan</strong> are many opportunities for day hikes. To visit some temples and monasteries, your only option is to hike. Many hikes<br />
have some relatively steep climbs.<br />
c Birdwatching Throughout <strong>Bhutan</strong> are 670 different bird species. Good spots for birdwatching are near Punakha, the central south town of Tingtibi, the National<br />
Park Thrimshingla along the highway between Bumthang and Mongar, and along the highway between Thimphu and Phuentsholing.<br />
c Cranes The black necked cranes winter in the Phobjikha Valley adjoining the Black Mountain National Park. You can see the cranes from an observatory<br />
overlooking the fields.<br />
c Takin Preserve The Motithang Zoo in Thimphu is a preserve for the <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese national animal, the unusual takin.<br />
c Biking You can choose to tour part of the country on bicycle whether you rent bicycles in <strong>Bhutan</strong> or bring your own. The best places for biking is in<br />
Thimphu, Bumthang or between Bumthang and Mongar.<br />
c Archery Archery is the national sport of <strong>Bhutan</strong>. The range is 148 meters or 161 yards. We can arrange for you to take part in a local game.<br />
c Golfing A nine hole public course in Thimphu rents clubs.<br />
c Fishing Conventional or flyfishing is available in <strong>Bhutan</strong> along the Paro, Thimphu or Punakha rivers. You must bring your own fishing gear.<br />
c Hotsprings The <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese use the hot springs for medicinal purposes. Hotel facilities are not located near the hot springs requiring you to camp.<br />
c Homestay You can choose to spend one or more nights in a <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese v<strong>illage</strong> home. We can arrange for you to attend a local dance performance, get a hot<br />
stone bath or help with farm chores.<br />
c Rafting From October to March, rafting is available on the Punakha River with class I or III rapids.<br />
c Kayaking You can kayak in either the Thimphu or Punakha Rivers.<br />
Cultural Activities<br />
Experience the local <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese culture and history in a variety of ways. Attend a festival, visit museums or shop for local arts and crafts.<br />
c Festivals<br />
Throughout most months of the year are festivals held at Dzongs. The significant events in Buddhist history are re-enacted through music and dance. The locals believe<br />
one gains merit by attending these festivals. The event is also a main social gathering where the locals are dressed in their best textiles.<br />
c National Museum<br />
Located in Paro, exhibits rotate often and feature a regular collection that includes thangka paintings, bronze statues and rare <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese stamps.<br />
c Textile Museum<br />
Thimphu Textile Museum has a nice display of the different kinds of <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese textiles and a good video describing the different weaving techniques.<br />
c Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum<br />
Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum has displays illustrating local v<strong>illage</strong> life.<br />
c Bumthang Folk Heritage Museum<br />
Bumthang Folk Heritage Museum is similar to the Thimphu Folk Heritage Museum but requires a short walk up a hillside trail.<br />
c School of Arts and Painting<br />
At the school of arts and painting in Thimphu, you can watch the <strong>Bhutan</strong>ese students learn the traditional crafts of painting thangkas, carving statues, embroidery,<br />
weaving and blacksmithing.<br />
c Shopping<br />
In <strong>Bhutan</strong>, you can buy many of the crafts the locals make for themselves. Many of the items are Buddhist objects including thangka paintings, masks used in the festival<br />
dances, vases, prayer wheels, bells, cymbals, telescoping horns and the lute. Local handmade textiles, jewelry and bamboo containers are also available.<br />
c Paper Making Factory<br />
In Thimphu, you can visit a factory that makes paper, cards, notepaper and paintings.<br />
c National Library<br />
The Thimphu National Library contains the largest book in the world: a photography book created by MIT in Boston, Massachusetts.<br />
phone/fax 00975-020336384 (<strong>Bhutan</strong>) I 603-978-7807 (U.S.) I email info@v<strong>illage</strong>tandt.com I www.v<strong>illage</strong>tandt.com<br />
36
Change language