15D Cultural Bhutan & Paro Festival! Apr 11-25, 2006
On this cultural odyssey, take a step back in time for a glimpse of traditions and customs disappearing from the rest of the Himalayan world. Guarded by gigantic mountains and covered with thick primeval forests, Bhutan will enchant you with its natural beauty and the spiritual, generous, and welcoming attitude of its unassuming people. As you visit the country's impressive dzongs (fortress-monasteries that are thriving centers of worship and culture) and meet the people on hikes through the countryside, you'll see how the past remains an integral part of the very vibrant present.
A highlight is the Tsechu or religious festival, an exuberant and earthy affair featuring fancifully costumed dancers performing masked dance-dramas before hundreds of onlookers. Mingling with the locals in this joyous celebration - a highlight of their social calendar - is a unique honour, bestowed to only a limited number of visitors each year.
