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BHUtaN – oNE oF tHE most soUgHt aFtEr traVEl DEstINatIoNs toDay.Bhutan is a unique blend of the old and new. Here is a country that is slowlyopening up to the modern world in a fine balance with its ancient traditions.those fortunate enough to visit Bhutan describe it as a unique, deeply spiritualand mystical experience. this kingdom is an adventure like no other. Bhutan is asmall landlocked Himalayan kingdom situated in the Eastern Himalayas ofsouthern Central asia. It is bordered by the tibet autonomous region of China,and the Indian states of sikkim, West Bengal, assam and arunachal Pradesh. the'land of the thunder Dragon' offers a truly unique and breathtaking experience ofawe-inspiring landscapes, a timeless Buddhist culture, stunning ancientfortresses, colourful festivals and a welcoming, friendly people. For centuriesBhutan remained relatively undiscovered by the rest of the world. since its werecautiously opened in 1974, visitors have been mesmerized by Bhutan's soaringsnowcapped peaks, alpine meadows and densely forested hills and ravinesabounding in exotic flora and fauna, and dotted with numerous monasteries,temples and dzongs. the people of Bhutan are eager to invite you and share theirundefiled nature, profound religion and timeless culture, which because of thelimited number of foreign visitors allowed, has maintained much of it authen-ticity. traveling to Bhutan is an opportunity to experience a Himalayan Buddhistculture that has had little disturbance by outside influence. BHUtaN Is oNE oFtHE most WElComINg aND UNIqUE small CoUNtrIEs oN EartH.

TibetLhasa

India

NepalBhutan

VietnamLaos

BangladeshMyanmar(Burma)

Chengdu

HONG KONG

Kathmandu

ThimphuParoPunakha

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Depart cAnAdAChengdu, cHinA Hotel OvernightChengdu, cHinA Hotel OvernightChengdu, cHinA Hotel OvernightLhasa, TiBeT Hotel OvernightLhasa, TiBeT Hotel OvernightLhasa, TiBeT Hotel OvernightLhasa, TiBeT Hotel OvernightThimphu, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightThimphu, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightPunakha, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightParo, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightParo, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightParo, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightPunakha, BHuTAn Hotel OvernightKathmandu, nepAl Hotel OvernightKathmandu, nepAl Hotel OvernightKathmandu, nepAl Hotel OvernightDepart for cAnAdA

19 day - The Hidden Treasures of the Himalayas Giant pandas: Tibet, Bhutan & nepal

First Class land tour adventure

october 12 - 30, 2017

Double occupancy $10,995single occupancy $12,995

All prices Are in cAnAdiAn dollArs And include:3 return airfarefrom ToronTo, oTTAWA and MonTreAl 3 3 nights first class hotel stayin chengdu, cHinA 3 4 nights first class hotel stay in lhasa, TiBeT 3 2nights first class hotel stay in Thimphu, BHuTAn 3 3 nights first classhotel stay in paro, BHuTAn 3 1 night first class hotel stay in punakha,BHuTAn 3 3 night first class hotel stay in Kathmandu, nepAl 3Guided Tours and meals as described in the day-by-day itinerary 3 Allyour tipping for your tour manager, local guides and drivers 3 includesthe Bhutanese Government entry permit Fee while in Bhutan and entryvisa fees for Bhutan 3 All departure taxes (except for local taxes) 3Hosted by expo cruises and Tours staff 3 Initial Deposit of $1,000 perperson is required at time of booking 3 Final Payment is due by: JUNE 15,2017. PlEasE NotE: single entry Chinese visa is required for Canadian citi-zens prior to departure, all the information will be provided to everyone afterthe final payment has been made. Visa for Bhutan will be arranged by ExpoCruises & tours in advance. Nepal entry visa will be obtained at the airportupon arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal for a fee of $30 Us (subject to change).

Includes All Meals

While On Our Land Tour*

dAy 1 – depArT cAnAdAMeet our tour host at the Toronto airport for overnight flight with CathayPacific to Chengdu via Hong Kong. (In-flight meals)

dAy 2 - cHenGdu, cHinAMet on arrival in Chengdu and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day isat leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel. sHEratoN CHENgDUHotEl or similar - 3 nights. (In-Flight meals, D)

dAy 3 - cHenGdu, cHinAAfter breakfast you will enjoy a full-day tour with a visit to the world’slargest stone Buddha statue (233 feet (71 meters), Grand Buddha ofLeshan, a UNESCO World Heritage-site. Trek up and down the trails aroundthe whole structure, and visit ancient Buddhist temples along the way.Admire intricate architectural and structural designs of the Lingyun Templeand Wuyou Temple. (B,l,D)dAy 4 - cHenGdu, cHinAToday’s tour highlights include a guided tour of Chengdu Panda Research &Breeding Center followed by a guided walking tour around Jinli AncientStreet. Tonight, enjoy a hot pot dinner and experience Sichuan culture andtraditions with a cultural show which includes the Mask Changing magic.(B,l,D)

dAy 5 - lHAsA, TiBeTAfter breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrivalin Lhasa Gongar Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Restof day is free at leisure for your acclimatization. Dinner is in our hotel.FoUr PoINts By sHEratoN HotEl or similar - 4 nights. (B,D)dAy 6 - lHAsA, TiBeTHead off to Norbulingka, Dalai Lama’s former summer residence from thelate 18th century to the late 1950s. Located at the west suburb of Lhasa,Norbulingka was constructed during 1740s, and is 36 hectares in area. Thestanding minister of Tibet during the Qing government ordered the firstpalace to be built for the recreation of the 7th Dalai Lama; Later, the 8th,13th, and 14th Dalai Lamas also built their own palaces here. After 200years of expansion, it has become one of the many typical Tibetan Palacesand gardens. The “Dadenmingjiu Palace,” which means the new palace,built by the 14th Dalai Lama, is the grandest, with temples, palaces andvillas joined together. Dalai Lamas, from the 7th down, all spent summershere. Now, people go to Norbulingka with tents and foods on holidays fordancing and singing throughout the day and night. Lunch is at the HeritageHotel. After lunch, we will proceed to Drepung Monastery. Situated to thewest of Lhasa, the monastery was founded in 1416 by one of the TsongKhapa disciples. It was the largest and richest yellow sect monastery in the

world. Drepung had seven colleges and could house over 10,000 monksbefore the revolution. Last stop is at the Sera Monastery. Sera means“Hailstone” in Tibetan, which is situated 15 Km North of Lhasa city, whichwas complete in 1419. It is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibetwhere 10,000 monks were housed during Ming Dynasty. Sera mean "WildRose Garden" in Tibetan because lush wild rose woods once grew around it.Dinner will be served in our hotel. (B,l,D)

day 7 - lHAsA, TiBeTDrive 60 km eastward (approx. 1-2 hours) to visit Ganden Monastery. Themonastery is located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of LhasaRiver in Tagtse County. The monastery stands at an altitude of 3,800meters (12,467 feet) above sea level. Ganden Monastery is one of theearliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet which ranks the firstamong the six famous temples of Gelugpa - a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.Ganden Monastery was completely destroyed during the rebellion of 1959.In 1966 it was severely shelled by Red Guard artillery and monks had todismantle the remains. Most of Tsongkhapa's mummified body was burnedbut his skull and some ashes were saved from the fire by Bomi Rinpoche,the monk who had been forced to carry the body to the fire. Re-buildinghas been continuing since the 1980s and the "red-painted lhakhang in thecentre is the reconstruction of Ganden's sanctum sanctorum containingTsongkapa's reliquary chorten called the Tongwa Donden, 'Meaningful toBehold. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route our drive back to Lhasa. (B,l,D)

dAy 8 - lHAsA, TiBeTSpend the day sightseeing in Lhasa. We will visit the legendary worldfamous Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama andthe political center of Tibet. Its towering red and white edifice and goldroof rises 985 feet above the valley floor and can be seen for miles around.Potala Palace, situated to the west of old Lhasa, on a hillock was originallybuilt in 640 during the reign of King Tsrong Tshen Gampo and wasexpanded to its present structure, during 17th century by the 5th DalaiLama. This sacred 13 stories Palace has 1000 rooms with elaborate frescopaintings of the 5th Dalai Lama, decorated statues and Tibetan paintings.Potala Palace was the Head Quarters of the former rulers and winter homefor successive Dalai Lamas. Note: Since only a limited number of visitors areallowed to Potala Palace every day, the order of sightseeing places will bedecided by your guide. Lunch is at Yabshi Phunkhang Hotel. Spend the daysightseeing with visits to the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street and SeraMonastery. Jokhang Temple is situated in the centre of old Lhasa was orig-inally built in 647 AD by craftsman from Tibet, China and Nepal by KingTsrong Tshen Gampo. This temple is the spiritual centre of Tibet and theholiest destination for all Tibetan Buddhist. In the centre of the hall you cansee most previous and religious golden “Shakyamuni Buddha” relic, whichExpo Cruises & Tours | 416.439.6311 | 1.888.819.7447 | www.Expo-Cruises.com 29

was brought by Chinese Princess Wen Cheng from China in 700 AD as awedding gift from her parents. We will then head to Barkhor Street, acircular street around the Jokhang Temple in the center of the old section ofLhasa. Bargain with the local vendors in the oldest street with its tradi-tional Tibetan style. Tonight we will have for our enjoyment a specialTibetan Opera Dance Show. (B,l,D)

dAy 9 - lHAsA - KATHMAndu - THiMpHu, BHuTAnAfter breakfast, we head to local airport for our flight to Paro. The approachto Paro International Airport is like no other. On a clear day we will get aspectacular view of the mountains and the valley below including thesacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drake peaks in Bhutan. You will be met onarrival at Paro airport by our local guide. Once you have completed allairport formalities, you will begin your drive toward Thimphu. This is ascenic journey and takes approximately 2 hours. Check in your hotel.BHUtaN sUItEs or similar - 2 nights. (B,D)

dAy 10 - THiMpHu, BHuTAnThis morning’s tour will include a visit to the Folk Heritage Museum. Thishouse has been turned into a replica of a traditional farmhouse as it wouldhave been equipped about a century ago. A tour of this almost- livingmuseum will give you a glimpse into the way most Bhutanese lived then,and how rural people still live today. We will also visit Thimphu's NationalTextile Museum and the National Institute for Zorig Chusum which iscommonly known as 'the painting school'. Continue our tour with visits tothe National Library, with its extensive collection of priceless Buddhistmanuscripts; the National Institute of Traditional Medicine show room,where Bhutan's famed traditional herbal medicines are compounded anddispensed. Head off to visit the Memorial Chorten, large Tibetan-stylechorten, built in 1974 by the Royal Queen Mother to honour the memory ofthe third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Changangkha Lhakhang. Youwill be able to witness archery matches everywhere you go in Thimphu &Paro. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan, hundreds if not thousands ofBhutanese practice this form of outdoor activity. (B,l,D)

dAy 11 - THiMpHu - punAKHA, BHuTAnAfter breakfast, travel by road to Punakha, ancient capital of Bhutan, situ-ated at the confluence of the Mo Chu and Pho Chu (Mother and Father ).Drive up to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/10,130ft) stopping briefly to take in theview and admire the chortens, Mani walls, and prayer flags which decoratethe highest point on the road. We will stop briefly to see the spectacularviews of the eastern Himalayan mountains from the 109 stupas built in 3tiers spiralling up the top of the crest. The town is the winter headquartersof the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks. Take a short visit to DrukWangyal Lhakhang (monastery) overlooking the unique 108 spiral of

Khangzang Wangyal Chortens (stupas). On a clear day you can see almostall the Himalayan peaks including the highest peak, Mt. Gangkar Puensumwhich is about 7440m. Enjoy tea at Dochula cafe before driving to Punakha.Visit Chime Lhakhang, a 30 min drive by car to the point of hike, and 30 minwalk to the monastery. The Lhakhang is a small 15th century templefamous for its fertility endowments/rites due to the blessings of LamDrukpa Kuenley also known as the 'Divine Mad man'. This evening, we willsee Traditional Bhutanese cooking and farming demonstration at one of thefarm houses in Punakha. We will begin with milking of cow, followed bychurning of milk and making the cheese and butter. Watch local winebrewing of ARA and preparation of the national dish "Emadasti".KUNZaNg ZHINg rEsort or similar - 1 night. (B,l,D)

dAy 12 - punAKHA - pAro, BHuTAnAfter breakfast, head to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten , standingmajestically on a strategic ridge above the Punakha valley. Built over aperiod of 9 years, Bhutanese craftsmen including carpenters, painters, andsculptors consulted the Holy Scriptures rather than engineering manuals, toconstruct this 4-storey temple. It is a splendid example of Bhutan’s finearchitectural and artistic traditions and the only one of its kind in the world.Built by Her Majesty the Queen Mother, this temple is dedicated for the wellbeing of the kingdom and the benefit of all sentient beings. Proceed toPunakha Dzong, built strategically at the Junction of Pho Chu and Mo Churivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religiousand administrative centre of the region. Damaged by four catastrophic firesand an earthquake, the Dzong has been fully restored by the present King.The Dzong is open for visitors during Punakha festival and in summermonths when the monk body moves to Thimphu. Drive back to Paro andcheck in our hotel. tasHI Namgay rEsort or similar - 3 nights.(B,l,D)

dAy 13 - pAro, BHuTAnParo is located at an altitude of 2300m above sea level and this valley servesas an ideal spot for rice growing. Today, we will have a choice of hiking upthe Taktstang Monastery (Tiger Nest) or visit Ta-dzong, Paro Dzong andDrugyel Dzong. For those who wish to hike up to the monastery, we willembark on a hike or take the horse to Taktstang Monastery (Tiger NestMonastery). The monastery is perched on a cliff more than 2000 feet aboveParo Valley. This site is considered very sacred by pilgrims of all walks ofMahayana Buddhism and a highlight of one's visit to Bhutan. The hike takesabout 3-4 hours. We will enjoy our lunch at the View Point. Drive south toSatsham Chorten, built in memory of the late Dilgo Khentse Rimpoche, andcontinue on to Kyichu Lhakhang, built in seventh century by Tibetan KingSongtsen Gonpo. This evening, once back to your hotel, you can take aleisurely guided walk of the town of Paro. (B,l,D)

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dAy 14 - pAro, BHuTAnVisit Ta-dzong (Paro Museum), formerly built as a watchtower for ParoRimpong Dzong and now the National Museum. Among the exhibits is aspectacular collection of Thangkas, both ancient and modern. Of particularimportance are Thangkas depicting Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the firstJe-Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and the first Druk Desi. There is adisplay of Bhutan’s extensive Philatelic collection on the top floor. At theend of the gallery a doorway leads to the Tshogshing Lhakhang, the templeof the Tree of Wisdom, which was built between 1965 and 1968. Thismuseum offers a great orientation in Bhutan's in History, cultural, religious,natural and economic life. Continue our tour with visits to Paro Dzong, oneof Bhutan's most impressive and well-known dzongs, and the finestexample of Bhutanese architecture you'll see and the ruins of DrukgyelDzong, located 10 kms from town. (B,l,D)

dAy 15 - pAro - KATHMAndu, nepAlAfter breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Kathmandu. We will visitPashupatinath Temple, one of the most important Hindu Temples in Nepal.The temple served as the seat of the national deity, Lord Pashupatinath,until Nepal became a secular country, at least on a formal level. The templeis listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. The temple is one of the 275Paadal Petra Sthalams (Holy Abodes of Shiva on the continent). Hindusalone are allowed to enter the temple premises. Non-Hindu visitors areallowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati River.Visit Boudhanath stupa, an important Buddhist stupa. Boudhanath wasprobably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions; various inter-esting legends are told regarding the reasons for its construction. After thearrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, thetemple has become one of the most important centers of TibetanBuddhism. sHaNgrI-la HotEl or similar - 3 nights. (B,D)

day 16 - KATHMAndu, nepAlThis morning, we will visit the Swayambhunath Stupa Temple or known asMonkey Temple because of some holy monkeys living in parts of the templein the north-west. The temple is a stupa on top of the hill and one of themost famous land marks of Nepal. It is the most ancient and enigmatic ofall the holy shrines in Kathmandu Valley. Continue our tour to KathmanduDurbar Square, site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, a former residence of theking. At the square you will find the palaces of the Malla and Shah Kingswho ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square alsosurrounds quadrangles revealing courtyards and temples. There are around50 temples in the vicinity. We will visit the 17th Century Durbar complex,Hanuman Dhoka, Paravati temple, great Bell and Drum, Bhairav and TalejuTemple. A few steps away, is the Temple of the Living Goddess, where we

may catch a glimpse of the Kumari at one of the open windows overlookingthe inner courtyard. All around the splendour of historical monuments isthe hustle & bustle of the market place. Lunch is at the Patan Musem Cafe.Patan Durbar Square is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here,we will visit the Golden Gate, the sky piercing temple of Taleju and thestatue of Yogendra Malla, Krishna Mandir, Sati Temple, Hiranya VarnaMahabiar (the golden temple), Mahabouddha with views of old carvedwooden windows through the streets, curios shop and Bazaars. Later wewill visit Tibetan handicraft center and see Tibetan Refugees settlement andtheir Handicraft working process such as Knitting weaving, finishingwoollen carpets. Return to our hotel for dinner. (B,l,D)

dAy 17 - KATHMAndu, nepAlAfter breakfast, visit Nagarkot, situated 34 km north-east of Kathmandu, isone of the most beautiful sites in Nepal. With an altitude of 2200 metres,this is an ideal place to watch sunrise over Mt. Everest. There are magnifi-cent sites of other mountain peaks too from this place. Lunch will be servedat the Club Himalaya. Lunch is at the Club Himalaya Resort. Rest of theafternoon is at leisure. Dinner is in our hotel. (B,l,D)

dAy 18 - KATHMAndu - HonG KonGAfter breakfast, we will visit Bhaktapur City (City of Devotees), a UNESCOWorld Heritage site. Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square (UNESCO WorldHeritage Site). Bhaktapur means "the city of devotees" in Nepali language.It is also known as Bhadgaon and was founded in 889 AD by King AnandDev. Today it covers an area of four square miles and is flanked by KhasaKhusung and Hanumante Rivers. The palace complex in the middle of thecity portrays the prosperity of the Malla years and the details at which thecrafts people then worked. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows stands in thesquare, which was also home to many kings of Bhaktapur. The kings ofBhaktapur ruled over Kathmandu and Patan from the 12th century to the14th century. The massive gate to the square was constructed by KingBhupatindra Malla (1697 to 1722) who took pride in his own engineeringand building skills. His skills must have been impressive indeed as the gate,though it looks small now, was among the biggest in the Valley. Among theother monuments in Bhaktapur are the big bell, the Golden Gate, the five-tiered temple of Nyatapola (scene of the film Little Buddha), the BhairabTemple, and the Dattatreya Square with its woodcarving and metalworkmuseums. Surrounded by beautiful farming area, visitors to Bhaktapur willeasily fall in love with the city. Dinner is at our hotel before our transfer tothe airport for flight to Hong Kong. (B,l,D)

dAy 19 - HonG KonG - cAnAdAConnect with a non-stop flight aboard Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong back toCanada. (In-Flight meals)

Expo Cruises & Tours | 416.439.6311 | 1.888.819.7447 | www.Expo-Cruises.com 31