I just returned from a 12-day trip to Bhutan where I wanted to experience everything that this remote Buddhist kingdom had to offer. What I discovered is that 12 days is not nearly enough time to see everything in Bhutan! That said, I had a fantastic experience and am overflowing with excitement about the experience. In fact, I've created two separate itineraries for next fall that I am inviting all of you to join me on.
The trek was eight days, and I couldn't help but compare the experience to my time in Nepal last year. It's a totally different kind of trekking experience so I won't even begin to try to pick favorites - it's impossible!
Bhutan is what makes trekking in Bhutan so special. It's the land of Gross National Happiness, where economic prosperity is only a means to an end - the end goal being happiness. It's the last Buddhist kingdom and many will say the "Last Shangri-La". The country, which only opened up to westerners barely 30 years ago, has truly retained its ancient culture and you feel it every minute of every day: the architecture, the national dress, the warm and friendly people and the rural atmosphere. With only 700,000 people in the country, you always feel like you've stepped backwards through time.
Trekking here is a magnificent experience! Less of a "Himalayan adventure" and more of a high-altitude, rural country experience. Here you see yaks and yak farmers, high alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers, families who've been practicing agriculture for a thousand years, and even the well-worn ancient trading route to Tibet. That said, we crossed three different passes, the highest of which was just over 16,000 feet, and witnessed the breathtaking, snow-capped Himalayas including Jhomolhari I, Jhomolhari II and Jitchu Drake. It is a physically strenuous trek, but one that is definitely worth the time and effort.
I hope you will join us next fall to experience the magic and beauty of trekking in Bhutan!
Sacred Peaks and Valleys: Jhomolhari Trek
Happy travels!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Magnificent China and Tibet
In February 2010, Sierra Club leader Brad Carlson and I (for Grand Asian Journeys) scouted China and Tibet to inspect hotels and sites for a Sierra Club Outings trip in 2011 and for future Grand Asian Journeys adventures. We both loved China - it was the first time for both of us - and are always happy to go to Tibet (we've both been there several times). We are happy to announce that Grand Asian Journeys is expanding our China offerings for 2011 and that Sierra Club Outings is offering a trip combining China and Tibet in October 2011.
Our journey began in Beijing. We visited Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Ming Tombs. The highlight of my Beijing visit was the four hour hike from Jinshanling to Simatai on the Great Wall. While the majority of the wall is in good shape, there are sections that desperately need renovation. The guide told me that this was the least busy of the three sections open to visitors which I greatly appreciated. Back in Beijing, our operator put together a wonderful Peking Duck dinner. Usually I frown at the idea of eating a duck but this was different - you've got to try it to believe how good it tasted! While the topic is Chinese cuisine, the next night we walked down the food lane in Beijing. If you are into weird food, this is your alley: bugs, snakes, scorpions, silk-worms, sheep private parts...
From Beijing we took the forty-eight hour train to Lhasa. This high-altitude (the highest in the world), high speed train is truly an engineering feat. As we made our way into the high Tibetan-plateau, we passed by several Tibetan villages. The soft sleeper consisted of four beds, two on each side with one above the other, in a small compartment. While definitely recommended, this ride should NOT be taken if you don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. The Chinese love to smoke and regularly ignore the "No Smoking" sign.
It had just snowed when we got to Lhasa and the surrounding hills wore white patches. Every March, Tibet witnesses demonstrations during the anniversary of the 1959 uprising. There was heavy security presence with both the army and police doing their rounds at the Barkhor Square. We were two of the very few foreigners in Lhasa and we actually didn't see a single outsider during our stay in Tibet.
From Lhasa, we flew into Chengdu. The highlight of the Chengdu visit was the Bifenxia panda reserve. There were several spacious enclosures with baby pandas, middle-aged pandas and older pandas. The clumsy babies were definitely a treat to watch. On the final night in Chengdu, we and our guide went out for a hot pot dinner. And the dinner was SPICY HOT! Dinner was followed by the famous face-changing show.
Grand Asian Journeys has designed a similar program which includes historical Xian where you visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. Check out the program on our website:
http://grandasianjourneys.com/destinations/trip/18/magnificent_china_and_tibet/china
Visit our website at www.grandasianjourneys.com or call 888-586-7750 for more information.
Our journey began in Beijing. We visited Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Ming Tombs. The highlight of my Beijing visit was the four hour hike from Jinshanling to Simatai on the Great Wall. While the majority of the wall is in good shape, there are sections that desperately need renovation. The guide told me that this was the least busy of the three sections open to visitors which I greatly appreciated. Back in Beijing, our operator put together a wonderful Peking Duck dinner. Usually I frown at the idea of eating a duck but this was different - you've got to try it to believe how good it tasted! While the topic is Chinese cuisine, the next night we walked down the food lane in Beijing. If you are into weird food, this is your alley: bugs, snakes, scorpions, silk-worms, sheep private parts...
From Beijing we took the forty-eight hour train to Lhasa. This high-altitude (the highest in the world), high speed train is truly an engineering feat. As we made our way into the high Tibetan-plateau, we passed by several Tibetan villages. The soft sleeper consisted of four beds, two on each side with one above the other, in a small compartment. While definitely recommended, this ride should NOT be taken if you don't like the smell of cigarette smoke. The Chinese love to smoke and regularly ignore the "No Smoking" sign.
It had just snowed when we got to Lhasa and the surrounding hills wore white patches. Every March, Tibet witnesses demonstrations during the anniversary of the 1959 uprising. There was heavy security presence with both the army and police doing their rounds at the Barkhor Square. We were two of the very few foreigners in Lhasa and we actually didn't see a single outsider during our stay in Tibet.
From Lhasa, we flew into Chengdu. The highlight of the Chengdu visit was the Bifenxia panda reserve. There were several spacious enclosures with baby pandas, middle-aged pandas and older pandas. The clumsy babies were definitely a treat to watch. On the final night in Chengdu, we and our guide went out for a hot pot dinner. And the dinner was SPICY HOT! Dinner was followed by the famous face-changing show.
Grand Asian Journeys has designed a similar program which includes historical Xian where you visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. Check out the program on our website:
http://grandasianjourneys.com/destinations/trip/18/magnificent_china_and_tibet/china
Visit our website at www.grandasianjourneys.com or call 888-586-7750 for more information.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek in Nepal
In May 2010, Grand Asian Journey's Chief Adventure Officer, Jwalant Gurung, scouted the Dhaulagiri Circuit for a Seattle-based outdoor club, The Mountaineers. They were planning a trek around Dhaulagiri and he wanted to make sure that it could be done safely, in addition to familiarizing the guides and staff with the route. Jwalant now ranks The Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek among his favorites! Needless to say, Dhaulagiri is now a featured Grand Asian Journeys trek, and we're one of the few trekking companies to offer this rare opportunity.
How is this trek different than other treks in Nepal? We asked Jwalant, and here's what he had to say:
"Firstly, the views are unprecedented! Dhaulagiri I is a very majestic mountain, and you have the rare opportunity to actually touch the main massif."
"Secondly, this is NOT a tourist-highway like some other popular treks have become. And because of this, the flora and fauna are very pristine, not to mention that this is also prime snow-leopard country."
"Thirdly, while the trek is similar to other Nepal treks in that it begins in the sub-tropical region with thick oak and rhododendron forests and ascends into alpine country, there are very few ‘Zion-like' canyon landscapes in Nepal. That is what it's like on the stretch that leads up to the Base Camp."
Grand Asian Journeys would love to share this pristine journey with up to 12 adventurous people. Please join us from May 8-26, 2011 for a trek around Dhaulagiri with an optional climb of a 6,000+ meter peak. As an added bonus, mountaineer Craig Anderson will be joining us on this trek. Craig was on the first American teams on the Dhaulagiri I and K2 expeditions. He will inspire and delight you with his rich experience and incredible stories. Craig also has the first ascent of Hiunchuli (6,441m), one of the most difficult of Nepal's trekking peaks.
Trek information: http://grandasianjourneys.com/destinations/trip/33/dhaulagiri_circuit_trek/nepal
Visit our website at www.grandasianjourneys.com or call 888-586-7750 for more information.
How is this trek different than other treks in Nepal? We asked Jwalant, and here's what he had to say:
"Firstly, the views are unprecedented! Dhaulagiri I is a very majestic mountain, and you have the rare opportunity to actually touch the main massif."
"Secondly, this is NOT a tourist-highway like some other popular treks have become. And because of this, the flora and fauna are very pristine, not to mention that this is also prime snow-leopard country."
"Thirdly, while the trek is similar to other Nepal treks in that it begins in the sub-tropical region with thick oak and rhododendron forests and ascends into alpine country, there are very few ‘Zion-like' canyon landscapes in Nepal. That is what it's like on the stretch that leads up to the Base Camp."
Grand Asian Journeys would love to share this pristine journey with up to 12 adventurous people. Please join us from May 8-26, 2011 for a trek around Dhaulagiri with an optional climb of a 6,000+ meter peak. As an added bonus, mountaineer Craig Anderson will be joining us on this trek. Craig was on the first American teams on the Dhaulagiri I and K2 expeditions. He will inspire and delight you with his rich experience and incredible stories. Craig also has the first ascent of Hiunchuli (6,441m), one of the most difficult of Nepal's trekking peaks.
Trek information: http://grandasianjourneys.com/destinations/trip/33/dhaulagiri_circuit_trek/nepal
Visit our website at www.grandasianjourneys.com or call 888-586-7750 for more information.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
India, Bhutan, Vietnam -- Here we come!
Beginning in October, for 2.5 months, the Grand Asian Journeys' team will be scouting the corners of India, Bhutan and Vietnam to develop bold new itineraries for 2011 and beyond. Our mission: to find the most incredible, vibrant, culturally-rich, memorable, photographic and off-the-beaten-path places in these countries where we travel. Bhutan and India, we have visited in the past and taken many satisfied clients to these remarkable countries.
And in 2011, Grand Asian Journeys will be adding Vietnam to our repertoire...and that is a true scouting mission. We're going to start in the North in Hanoi, work out way into the hill country at Sapa, the beaches at Halong Bay, down towards Hue and Hoi An to absorb the rich food culture and markets, to Danang to experience the adventurous side of this beautiful country, and then into Saigon, to experience life in a major city with museums, culture, shopping, tailors and so much more. Our last few days will be spent looking for the most remote, welcoming beaches on the islands at Can Dao.
Stay tuned for updates from the road. And in the meantime, happy traveling!
And in 2011, Grand Asian Journeys will be adding Vietnam to our repertoire...and that is a true scouting mission. We're going to start in the North in Hanoi, work out way into the hill country at Sapa, the beaches at Halong Bay, down towards Hue and Hoi An to absorb the rich food culture and markets, to Danang to experience the adventurous side of this beautiful country, and then into Saigon, to experience life in a major city with museums, culture, shopping, tailors and so much more. Our last few days will be spent looking for the most remote, welcoming beaches on the islands at Can Dao.
Stay tuned for updates from the road. And in the meantime, happy traveling!
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