NEW TRIP
With Two Masked Dance Festivals and Tawang Monastery
Eastern Bhutan & Arunachal Pradesh
Overview
Explore the most intriguing regions of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India and the less-traveled reaches of eastern Bhutan with our veteran WT Trip Leader Roger Williams. Beginning in India, we head into lush hill country of Arunachal Pradesh, then cross Sella Pass (14,000'), the highest motorable road in this northeast region, to reach the landmark Tawang Monastery (10,400'), the largest monastery in India and a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists. We'll meet the local Monpa people here and learn about their ancient Buddhist culture. The next leg of our journey brings us to the small Himalayan nation of Bhutan, entering from its remote eastern side. Here we explore traditional villages and fortress-like monasteries, including the 17th century Trashigang Dzong, and witness spectacular masked dance festivals. Join us for a unique journey with a vivid blend of natural beauty and fascinating cultural sites—plus serendipitous moments of discovery along the way!
Arrive: Kolkata, India
Depart: Kolkata, India
Highlights
- Explore the enormous monastic complex at Tawang, a revered pilgrim site and the largest Buddhist monastery in India
- Enjoy the idyllic Monpa village of Zemithang, with its huge Gorsam Chorten stupa
- Witness masked dance festivals at the Trashigang and Mongar monasteries in undiscovered eastern Bhutan
Itinerary
Arrive in Kolkata and enjoy a full-day tour of this fascinating ancient city, then fly to the city of Tezpur for a drive Balipara in the tea-growing country of India's eastern state of Assam.
We drive into the serene hills of Arunachal Pradesh to Dirang, with visits to Mandala Top (10,000'), with its 108 Buddhist stupas, and Dirang Dzong, a 17th century citadel. The people of this region are Monpas who practice a pre-Buddhist religion called Bon as well as traditional Tibetan Buddhism. Driving over the Sella Pass (14,000'), the highest motorable road in northeast India, we explore the picturesque town of Tawang (10,400') and the stunning Tawang Monastery, the largest in India. A scenic day trip brings us to the idyllic Monpa village of Zemithang (6,960'), home to the massive 10-story-high Gorsham Chorten, a virtual replica of Kathmandu's Bodhnath Stupa.
In Bomdila, we visit the Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Ling Monastery, whose temple of Buddha attracts pilgrims in great numbers. After an overnight in Guwahati, we cross the border and enter Bhutan, with overnights in the ancient town of Trashigang, once a bustling trade center with Tibet. Today it attracts the semi-nomadic Merak and Sakteng people, who come here to trade their yak butter for other goods. At the Mongar Dzong, we witness a traditional Tibetan Buddhist festival with spectacular masked dances.
At Trashi Yangtse, we visit the sacred Gom Kora Monastery, where Guru Padma Sambhava, one of the founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism, is said to have mediated, and Zorig Chusum, a school for Bhutan's traditional arts and crafts. Returning to Trashigang, we witness the annual festival at the 17th century Trashigang Dzong. We'll also visit Woesel Choeling, a thriving monastic community with about 300 monks, and the Khardung Anim Dratshang nunnery. After a final visit to Chador Lhakhang, one of the most sacred monasteries in eastern Bhutan, we return to Samdrup Jonkhar, drive to Guwahati, and fly to Kolkata for departing flights on Day 19.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. The most important requirements for this off-the-beaten-path journey are a spirit of adventure and the understanding that you are visiting a remote and fascinating region of the Himalayas. There will be long drives on most days, using minivans or small buses (depending upon the size of our group). Travel conditions can be very basic, and trip members should be prepared for rugged mountain roads. We will have several days at moderate to high altitudes, getting as high as 14,000' with overnights at 10,400'. That said, this part of the Himalayas is a hidden gem with some of the most stunning monasteries and temples in the entire region. It is a rich repository of traditional Tibetan and Bhutanese culture.
Review Trip Level Details
There is a significant amount of road travel on this journey, some of it on winding mountain roads or gravel tracks. On some of our explorations, there may be some rough off-trail footing, so this trip is best suited for people who have a good sense of balance. The highest altitudes are in the Arunachal Pradesh portion of the trip, with the crossing of the Sella Pass (14,000') on Day 6, and we have three overnights in the town of Tawang at 10,400 feet.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Some people experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude—slight headaches and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
We will experience a wide range of weather as we travel through Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan, from the humid, subtropical climate of lower altitudes to chilly alpine conditions at high altitudes, such as our overnights in the town of Tawang at 10,400 feet.
This is a less traveled region of the Himalayas and the hotels are somewhat basic, as is the cuisine. We use a varied range of hotels on this trip and they are the best available in the local regions. Guest rooms have en suite bathrooms.
Please be aware that many hotels/lodges in Bhutan provide simple buffets at lunch and dinner. The cuisine in Bhutan is generally based on basic rice with stir-fry and stew options. If you have any dietary restrictions, be sure to advise us on your application form.
We will be going to high elevation on this trip. It is not uncommon to experience headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, shortness of breath, and fatigue at altitude. These can occur when you first arrive at higher elevations and usually decrease in severity with time. We have designed this itinerary to allow for appropriate rest and acclimatization, but for your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. While on trip, be sure to drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty, and avoid pushing yourself too hard, however physically fit you may be or feel. You may want to consult with your physician about bringing medication to prevent altitude sickness, such as Diamox. You can learn more about altitude and how to prepare for it in our video linked here.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.