15 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Approx. Miles 0 0 30 20 Approx. Kilometres Interesting Facts English name: The Kingdom of Bhutan Bhutanese name: Druk Yul (Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon) Size: 18,147 sq miles/47,000 km2 Capital: Thimphu Government: Monarchy Currency: Ngultrum. Parity with Indian Rupee Religion: Approx 70% Tibetan Buddhist Drukpa ‘Red Hat’ sect, 25% Hindu, 5% other Population: No reliable figures. Approx 700,000 Highest Mountain: Gangkar Punsum, 7,550m/24,770ft. Now the highest unclimbed peak in the world. First and only British expedition in 1986 led by our MD, Steve Berry First Briton to enter Bhutan: George Bogle in 1774 Bhutanese Rulers First ruler: Ngawang Namgyal 1594–1651. Honorary title of Shabdrung. Reincarnate figure First Hereditary King: Sir Ugyen Wangchuck. Appointed king in 1907. Died 1926 Second King: Jigme Wangchuck. Died 1952 Third King: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Died 1972 Fourth King: Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Abdicated in 2006 Fifth (Present) King: Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck (pictured above). Coronation and Centenary monarchy celebrations are expected to take place throughout 2008, an auspicious year. Coronation & Centenary Celebration 2008 As this brochure goes to print, the Bhutanese Government has yet to publish an official list of public celebrations. We may well organise special tours to tie into these events. Please register with us if you would like to be kept informed: info@himalayankingdoms.com of Bhutan

Gentle Trekking Lodges and Hotels in Bhutan Our experience over many years has shown us that it is perfectly possible to do a series of pretty day treks based from a number of centres in Bhutan without having to spend a night under canvas! We have designed this trek to take you right into the interior to visit the holiest valley in Bhutan in the Bumthang region. We will walk out to visit villages, monasteries, and hermits’ nests from the major towns of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, and Jakar. We have also tied the treks into attending important religious festivals. 16 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Above: Tiger’s Nest Monastery Below left: Mural below Cheri Gompa Photos: Ann Sainsbury The Kingdom of Bhutan £2,695 £2,170 Tue 18 Mar – Fri 04 Apr* £2,795 £2,170 Thu 03 Apr – Sun 20 Apr £2,885 £2,365 Tue 30 Sep – Sat 18 Oct Thu 02 Oct – Mon 20 Oct Tue 07 Oct – Sat 25 Oct £2,885 £2,260 Tue 04 Nov – Sat 22 Nov land only land only land only land only Grade: Gentle Day Walks: 8/9 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 10–12 Lodges: 4–6 Optional: Single Room £160 Insurance: £99* (Standard Policy) £149 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary (Spring*) Duration: 18*/19 days 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 3–5 Fly to Bhutan, attend Paro Festival walk to Cheri Gompa –6 Drive to Punakha, day walks 7–8 Trek to Chorten Ningpo, drive to Tongsa 9–12 Drive to Bumthang, day walks, drive to Gangtey 13–15 Local walks, drive to Thimphu and on to Paro for sightseeing 16–18 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Other departures vary slightly from the above Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients Featured on BBC Holiday programme Most departures attend a national festival The Chorten Path, Bhutan The spring departures attend the most important religious festival in the Bhutanese calendar, the Paro Tsechu. Here we see the unfurling of the three-storey high ‘thangka’ early in the morning. Direct rays of sunlight must not touch the sacred image that people from all over Bhutan travel once a year to see. The five-day trek to reach the least-visited of all the Himalayan capitals, Thimphu, follows the Chorten Path, the original mule track connecting Bhutan's main valleys. It is an exciting approach to Thimphu, giving an insight into Bhutan's remoteness prior to the building of the road in the early 1960s. En route we have views of Bhutan's second highest peak, Chomolhari, and other ice-clad giants. After a rest in the capital the second four-day trek again takes us through glorious country to the old capital of Punakha. 3 £2,495 £1,970 Thu 13 Mar – Sun 30 Mar,* Tue 18 Mar – Fri 04 Apr* £2,595 £2,060 Tue 30 Sep – Sat 18 Oct, Tue 07 Oct – Sat 25 Oct land only land only Grade: Moderate/Vigorous On Trek: 9 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 9/10 Camping: 7 Optional: Single Room £160 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary (Spring*) Duration: 18*/19 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, fly to Paro 4–5 Attend Paro Tsechu, visit Taksang monastery 6–10 On trek –11 Rest and sightseeing in Thimphu 12–15 On trek to Chorten Ningpo, drive to Punakha and on to Paro 16–18 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London The Autumn departures additionally visit Ha Valley on Day 16. Other departures vary slightly from the above Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients The Spring departures attend the Paro Festival 3