Recommend January 2011 - (Page 46)

ECO-ADVENTURE THE HIMALAYAS, TAIWAN & THE PHILIPPINES TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU Left to right: Mount Everest; diving in The Philippines; and Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan. Asia has to be on the bucket list for every eco-adventure traveler. From the Himalayas with its colorful collection of unique destinations such as Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Northern India, to island destinations such as Taiwan and The Philippines, thrillseekers and active vacationers alike can ﬁnd a host of vacation adventures in some of the world’s most exotic locales. Tiny Bhutan, the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” butts up against the Indian state of Sikkim to the west and Tibet to the north and is situated on the eastern end of the Himalayas. This small country—a little less than 15,000 sq. miles and with fewer than 1 million inhabitants—is, nevertheless, big on diversity with sub-tropical plains and jungles in the south and Himalayan peaks in the north that top 23,000 ft. The overall result is an unforgettable vacation experience where travelers will experience a land that’s stayed true to its timeless, ancient traditions and cultures and will have the opportunity to visit a host of huge fortresses called dzongs, monasteries built all around the country and colorful festivals, as well as see a variety of wildlife because the country’s devotion to Buddhism has meant that the hunting of animals is strictly forbidden. The largest of Bhutan’s mammals are the Asiatic elephant and rare Indian rhinoceros and they also boast the tigers, leopards, the red panda and the national animal of Bhutan, the strange goat-like takin. In the mountains, the grey wolf preys on horned animals such as the blue sheep, serow and goral and the snow leopard roams above the treeline in the summer and has been sighted at altitudes above 18,000 ft. GRAND ASIAN JOURNEYS (888 586-7750; grandasian journeys.com) has an introductory program to Bhutan called Enchanted Journey to the Thunder Dragon with highlights such as the exploration of monasteries and palaces in the cities of Paro, Thimpu and Punakha, tours and hikes in the beautiful valleys of Phojibka and Bumthang, as well as a hike to the legendary Taktshang Monastery, also called Tiger’s Nest, on a trail through pine trees festooned with Spanish moss and occasional ﬂuttering prayer ﬂags. The capital city, Thimphu, is a gallery of traditional Bhutanese culture and in the Thimphu market, travelers can shop for handicrafts and immerse with locals in their daily routines. They’ll also have a chance to experience Trongsa Dzong, overlooking the cascading Mangde River and engage A26 recommend.com http://www.grandasianjourneys.com http://www.grandasianjourneys.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
A New Look at Ancient Egypt
Celebrity Cruises' Eclipse
Asia Travel Planner
Viking River Cruises' Viking Sky
Discovering Piedmont, Italy
Latin America 2011
The M Resort in Las Vegas Hits its Off-Strip Stride
Gansevoort Miami Beach
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Recommend January 2011