Of Rainbows and Dragons: Bhutan East to West and Northeast India
September 22 to October 9, 2017
This 18 day tour will begin in Kolkata, India. Here we will spend time learning about Kantha embroidery and exploring a local bazaar before flying to Guwahati, Assam. Before driving to the border with Bhutan we have time to visit Sualkuchi, famous for muga and eri silk weaving. Our tour in Bhutan will focus on its vibrant cultural and artistic heritage with special emphasis on Bhutan’s most distinctive art form: its textiles. Specially patterned fabrics serve as dress, carrying sacks, household furnishings, adornments for sacred spaces, and gifts for celebratory occasions such as weddings. We will spend 14 days in Bhutan driving west from Samdrup Jongkhar to Paro. Along the way we will be visiting weavers, witnessing religious festivals and visiting local markets, historic sites, and museums.
Tour Cost: TAC members $4096 based on shared occupancy of rooms with a group of 16 participants. The single supplement is $652. There is an additional $45 surcharge for non TAC members. Included in the cost of the tour are all hotels, meals, ground transportation, entrance fees to historic sites and museums as well as services of an English-speaking guide throughout the tour, and gratuities. The cost of the tour includes a $400 tax deductible donation to the Textile Arts Council. Not included are personal expenses such as laundry, etc. Also not included are international airfare, visas for Bhutan and India and travel insurance, which is mandatory.
Physical Activity Requirements: In Bhutan, while we will be staying at relatively low altitudes ( 5000’-7000’),we will be traveling on winding mountain roads and going over mountain passes (Donchula is 10,000’) Participants need the ability to be able to walk on rough paths in to rural villages and climb steps to historic and religious sites. The hotels in Bhutan, especially eastern Bhutan, are rather basic and not suited for people with mobility problems. Please discuss this tour with your physician to determine if you have any medical condition that would prevent you from actively participating in the tour.
For More Information Contact: Tour Organizer: Mary Connors, khamsing88@yahoo.com Textile Arts Council, TAC admin, 415 750 3627 tac@famsf.org
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