Bhutan Expedition: Itinerary, Akomodasi dan Perlengkapan Trip

Hai hai, di tulisan kali ini aku bakal ngasih tau tentang itinerary, akomodasi dan perlangkapan yang dibutuhkan saat (akan) mengunjungi Bhutan. Semoga bermanfaat ;)

Karena aku mengunjungi Bhutan pada saat setelah musim dingin, perlengkapan untuk udara dingin tetap diperlukan karena meskipun Bhutan termasuk dataran yang kering, angin dingin tetap tidak bisa dihindari. Untuk perlengkapan yang dibutuhkan pada saat bulan Maret bisa kamu unduh di sini 

Jika kalian ke sana dalam rangka ingin memotret, disarankan membawa lensa yang memiliki focal length sedang (antara 20mm sampai 50mm), dan lensa zoom (antara 70mm sampai 200mm). jangan lupa untuk membawa memory card dan batterai lebih. Dan disarankan untuk memeriksa kondisi kamera ke professional service sebelum berangkat.

Dan berikut adalah itinerary yang aku dapat dari National Geographic Expedition saat akan bepergian ke Bhutan pada bulan yang sama. Itinerary bisa berubah tanpa pemberitahuan sebelumnya karena turis yang berdatangan di Bhutan termasuk padat dan tergantung dari travel agent di Bhutan yang kalian pilih. Dan untuk menuju Bhutan, kamu harus berangkat dari Bangkok dengan pesawat Druk Air, pemesanan bisa kamu lakukan di https://www.drukair.com.bt/

Itinerary dari National Geographic Expedition (March 9–20, 2014)
Sunday & Monday, March 9 & 10 Bangkok. Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel

Tuesday, March 11. Bangkok/Paro, Bhutan (Zhiwa Ling Hotel)

- Druk Air flight, KB #127, is scheduled to depart Bangkok at 6:50 AM and, after a short layover in Dhaka, Bangladesh, arrive Paro at 9:50 AM. As we near Bhutan (if the weather is clear), we may see the massive peaks of the eastern Himalaya, including Kanchenchunga (the third highest mountain in the world) and Bhutan's holy mountain, Chomolhari. 

- Visit Ta Dzong (dzong means “fortress”), a circular fortification that once protected the Paro Valley from Tibetan invasion. Dzongs originally served three purposes: fortress, administrative center of local government, and center for the monks' religious activity. The dzong commands sweeping views of the valley below, and is a short walk from Paro’s traditional center, Paro Rinpung Dzong.
- Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (lhakhang means “temple”) to photograph the temple in the afternoon light. 

Wednesday, March 12. Paro/Punakha (Pema Karpo)
- Drive (approximately 4 hours) to the golden Punakha Valley starts along the winding road following the Pa Chu (chu means “river”) downstream to its confluence with the Wang Chu, then up-valley to Thimphu, the current-day capital. Driving eastwards, we cross the Dochu La (la means “pass”) at 10,300 feet. Take a short walk in the forest before beginning the descent into the Punakha Valley.

Thursday, March 13 Punakha (Pema Karpo)
- Return to Punakha Dzong to capture images of the dramatic closing ceremonies of the festival. 

- We then set off on an invigorating hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten. It takes about an hour and a half from the trailhead to the top of the hill where the chorten is located. Crossing through farm-fields, there are nice views of this fertile valley along the way. The chorten itself houses hundreds of images of various protector deities, and commands excellent views of the valley below. The return from the chorten to the trailhead only takes 45 minutes or so, as it is all downhill.

- Time permitting, we’ll also visit Chimi Lakhang, a small but famous temple in the center of Punakha Valley. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the trailhead to the temple.

Friday, March 14 Punakha/Phobjika (Dewachen Lodge)
- Continue eastwards (approximately 4 hours) to the stunningly beautiful Phobjika
Valley.

Saturday, March 15. Phobjika (Dewachen Lodge)
- Exploration of the beautiful alpine valley of Phobjika begins with a visit to Gangtey Goemba (goemba means “monastery”), one of the oldest private monasteries in Bhutan. Against a backdrop of forest-clad mountains.

- From the goemba, set off on an optional, scenic hike (about 2 hours) around the valley, stopping to meet a family at a local farmhouse along the way. Then visit the classrooms of a local school to mingle with students and teachers, and to glimpse the future of Bhutan.

Sunday, March 16. Phobjika/Thimphu (Taj Tashi Hotel)
- Depart for Thimphu, the current-day capital of Bhutan and home to the royal family. The drive is long (approximately 7-8 hours), but we’ll break it up with stops for photos and short walks. Cross the Dochu La, where thousands of prayer flags flutter in the wind and 108 chortens (small memorials) dot the landscape. Weather permitting, capture images of 200 miles of Himalayan summits from atop the pass.
- Thimphu is Bhutan’s largest city. It is the seat of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the home of the Royal Family, and the main center for most international aid organizations. As the only true city in Bhutan, it is a unique mix of Himalayan and Western sensibilities.
- Upon arrival in Thimphu (and time permitting), we visit the National Textile Museum, where we have a chance to see Bhutan’s most celebrated art form.

Monday, March 17. Thimphu/Paro. (Zhiwa Ling Hotel)
- Dedicated to exploring Bhutan’s largest city. Among the highlights of our visit is a trip to the school for traditional arts. We can go inside the classrooms as students learn the ancient traditions of thangkha painting, sculpture, metalwork, and the like. The school was founded in an effort to preserve Bhutan’s ancient artistic heritage, which is intertwined with Buddhist religious art. In addition to the school, we may be able to visit a small factory where beautiful tree-bark paper is made by hand.
Depending on our group’s interests (and time permitting), we may also visit:

• Tashichho Dzong
• The Royal Silver and Goldsmiths
• The Handicraft Emporium
• Game enclosure overlooking Thimphu to view takins
• The Drubthob Goemba Nunnery
• The Archery grounds (where you might catch an archery match)
• The Indigenous Hospital (which dispenses traditional Tibetan medicine)

Late this afternoon, return to Paro.

Tuesday, March 18 Paro. (Zhiwa Ling Hotel)
- Set out to make a pilgrimage to one of the most important religious sites in the Himalaya, Taktsang Lhakhang, known as The Tiger’s Nest. The visually striking monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The legend of Taktsang dates back to 747 AD when Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), in the wrathful form of Guru Dorji Droloe, is believed to have arrived at this site on the back of a tiger and subdued the evil spirits in the region.

Wednesday, March 19 Paro/Bangkok, Thailand. (Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel)
This morning we depart the Land of the Thunder Dragon and head to Bangkok.

Thursday, March 20. Bangkok.
Depart Bangkok for your return flight.

HOTEL CONTACT INFORMATION

PARO ZHIWA LING HOTEL (Free wifi available)

Tel: (975) 8 271 277
Fax: (975) 8 271 456

PUNAKHA PEMA KARPO HOTEL (Free wifi available)

Tel: (975) 1 770 9381
 

PHOBJIKA DEWACHEN LODGE (no wifi and television available)

Tel: (975) 1 716 2204
 

THIMPHU TAJ TASHI HOTEL (Paid wifi available)

Tel: (975 2) 336 699
 

Catatan tambahan: suntik vaksin typhoid termasuk perlu karena udara dan air di sana tidak terlalu bagus. Aku terkena demam dan radang tenggorokan karena tidak sengaja menelan air dari keran hotel saat wudhu. Di Thimpu banyak toko yang menjual barang kebutuhan kita, seperti shampoo, sabun, pembalut sampai balsam. 

Untuk informasi lebih lengkap tentang Bhutan termasuk tour, kamu bisa kunjungi http://www.tourism.gov.bt/

Jika ada kekurangan, bisa mention aku di twitter @nurinuriii atau tinggalkan komentar di kolom yang sudah ada.

Terima kasih :D