Bhutan's Hidden Jewel         New for 2011                          Trip Grade 4
Trekking to Gangkar Punsum, highest unclimbed peak in the Himalaya

Trip Dates: • October 15 – November 5, 2011 Land Cost: • $6,395/per person (does not include airfare)    $100 Discount if you sign up by April 10, 2011    We need to have names to reserve seats for the flight Bangkok to Paro,    Bhutan on Druk Airways by April 15, 2011 Single supplement: •$30 per night, if available, and payable only on site.

Local Flights: • Bangkok-Paro-Bangkok on Druk Airways, $820 round-trip. Included in Land Cost: All meals and accommodations in Bhutan, all ground transportation in Bhutan by private car/bus and driver, services of professional guides throughout the time in Bhutan (Bill Liske, Brad Johnson and local guide), services of a full trek staff on trek, communal gear such as tents and sleeping mattresses, entrance and Bhutan visa fees. Not Included: All flights, tips to staff, accomodations and any other expenses in Bangkok. General: • 22-day trip beginning and ending in the USA • 7 nights lodging, 11 nights full service camping • All meals included in Bhutan

Bhutan first opened its borders to the western world for cultural and trekking trips in 1974 and it averaged less than a 1,000 tourists a year for the first decade. By the year 2000 around 3,000 visitors entered the country. In 2006 that number had more than doubled and now in the last few years over 20,000 people visit this traditional Buddhist kingdom. In comparison to the hundreds of thousands of people who visit Nepal, Bhutan is still considered a quiet and unspoiled region of the world and retains much of its traditional culture.

Focusing on the recently opened central Himalayan region of Bhutan, this trip is designed to give trekkers an in-depth exposure to the entire kingdom of Bhutan. Our 12-day trek visits the Gangkar Punsum and Bumthang valleys, both places still very much locked in their world of tradition. The height of the trek will take us to the base of Gankar Punsum, at 24,837 ft., the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Still unclimbed because Bhutan does not allow climbing on any of its Himalayan peaks.

Not only is this a trip for those who like trekking in wild, unspoiled places but we will be visiting some of the most amazing Buddhist temples and shrines found anywhere in the Tibetan Buddhist world.

This is a trip not to be missed and one that promises traditional culture and unspoiled beauty of the Himalayan world.

Trip Guides

This trip has the added attention of having 2 western guides and one guide from Bhutan, all with extensive guiding experience in the Himalayan mountain regions.

Bill Liske, a native of Colorado and living in Ridgway, Colorado has been guiding trekking groups in the Himalayan region since 1982.  He worked for Colorado Outward Bound School for 25 years as instructor and course director and organized and guided many groups in the Himalayan countries of Nepal, Sikkim and Tibet. Bill is considered by many people in the adventure travel industry as one of the most knowledgeable western trekking guides, specializing in Nepal, Ladakh, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan. Bill had guided groups in Bhutan now for 21 years. He has studied the religions, art and cultures of Asia, South Asia, E. Africa, Middle East, Europe and South America. Bill is an expert on the textiles and antiquities of the Tibetan plateau and has lectured at various museums around the United States. His expertise on Bhutan will bring an in-depth knowledge of the regions of Bhutan you will be visiting.

Tashi Topkay, 41, was born in the town of Paro located below the Taksang Montastery (or Tigers Nest Monastery) of Bhutan will be our Bhutanese guide. His father was a diplomatic attaché in Lhasa in the 1940’s for the Dalai Lama. Tashi speaks excellent English and has an incredibly quick wit. He has traveled in the USA and taken the Outward Bound guides training course, which taught him to be well organized and cool-headed in a crisis. Tashi is extremely knowledgeable on the Bhutanese history and culture; there is not a question he cannot answer regarding Bhutan and the places we will be visiting. His family still works the original family farm, which we will visit during our trip.

Brad Johnson, a native of Colorado is owner of Peaks & Places Travel. Brad has been organizing and guiding trekking and climbing trips throughout Peru and Nepal since 1982. He has participated in 8 expeditions to climb some of the world’s highest peaks, including Everest, K2, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. In addition he has guided many “lower” peaks in Nepal and led trekking trips as well throughout Nepal and other countries of the world. Brad brings a wealth of knowledge and regarding trekking and climbing in mountains from around the world. He wrote and published a full color guidebook titled, Classic Climbs of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru, which is considered by many climbers to be the best guidebook on climbing in Peru. Brad currently lives in Ridgway, Colorado with his wife Rosmery, a native of Cuzco, Peru.