A Photo Cultural Tour With Jeff Davis
Featuring the Ura Festival

Bhutan is an immensely beautiful and serene land, and is a place where the Buddhist faith of its people remains the nation’s most vital cultural force. The Bhutanese joyously express their fervent faith during their festivals; in particular, the annual Ura Yakchoe is one of Bhutan's most preeminent Buddhist festivals.

The Ura Valley is considered one of the holiest locales in Bhutan. People from all over the country gather at Ura to pay their respect and in turn be blessed at the Ura Yakchoe festival. Dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry, Bhutanese people attend the Ura Yakchoe in celebration of purification and religious blessings. Arrays of colorful brocades whirl through the air as the dancers spin and dance the “thunderbolt step.” Masks of glorious demonic demons and animals arouse your senses as you watch the purification take place.

An excellent photographer, Jeff Davis is also a compelling storyteller and a skilled teacher. He will assist you in every way, enabling you to bring home wonderful memories, suitable for framing.

Outline Itinerary – 2008

April 10 & 11: USA to Bangkok.

April 12: The flight into Bhutan takes you close to the great Himalayas, offering dazzling scenic views of some of the world’s highest peaks. We drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital and spend the afternoon photographing the city.

April 13: Today we will visit the “Sunday Market,” where everyone goes to buy fruit and vegetables, rice, grains, chilies and other fresh foods - a great portraiture day.

April 14: A landscape photography day as we drive to Phunakha, over Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft), with impressive views of many towering mountain peaks.

April 15: We get up close to rural Bhutan as we hike past (and photograph) terraced rice fields to the temple of Chimi Lhakhang.

April 16: Explore Wangduephodrang Dzong and then continue our drive over Pele-la pass (3,300 m/10,800 ft) to Trongsa.

April 17: Day to visit and photograph Trongsa Dzong, built in 1648, and was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan.

April 18: Driving over the Yutong-la pass (3,400m/ 11,155 ft) we reach Bumthang.

April 19: Bumthang is the general name given to combination of four valleys – Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura with altitudes varying from 2,600m to 4,000m.

April 20: Reaching Ura we spend the rest of the day photographing the festivities at the Ura Yakchoe (the annual festival at Ura Monastery).

April 21: We have a full day today to enjoy the festivities of the Buddhist festival at Ura. People from all over Bhutan gather at Ura to pay their respect and in turn be blessed at this social gathering. Dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry, Bhutanese people attend the Ura Yakchoe in celebration of purification and religious blessings.

April 22: Today we head to Gangtey. The valley of Gangtey is one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. We will explore and photograph Gangtey village and the monastery.

April 23: A few kilometers beyond the Gangtey Monastery on the valley floor lies the village of Phobjikha. We will then continue on to our next destination at Paro, the "idyll" valley.

April 24: On our last day in Bhutan we the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries, Taktsang, Guru Rinpoche’s “Tiger’s Nest.” This evening take a stroll around Paro market and town before enjoying our Farewell Dinner.

April 25: Today we leave Bhutan, taking the return flight from Paro to Bangkok.

April 26: Return to USA.

Call us toll free at 1-800 MY INDIA (1-800-694-6342) or email us to request a detailed day-to-day itinerary.

"Jeff.........You were great in every way; a leader, a coach, a mentor, a motivator, a friend. Rest assured I will tell everyone I meet what a wonderful experience it was and to any photographer that they should try it."
- Michael Lancaster, CA

Paro Dzong

Pilgrim at the festival

Traditional hand woven fabric

At the sunday market

Masked dancer