April 24 - May 7, 2010 with Nadine McQuarrie, Assistant Professor of Geosciences. An optional pre-tour extension to Tibet will be available through our tour operator.

Isolated from the outside world for centuries, closed off to visitors until three decades ago, the Kingdom of Bhutan in the eastern Himalayan Mountains is anachronistic yet visionary. Ruled by a series of highly educated kings, it has consciously cultivated both a fiercely-guarded traditional culture and the world's most pristine environment. To safeguard both of these national treasures of environment and culture, the kingdom has consciously adopted a controlled tourism policy. Visitors to Bhutan must be either guests of the government or tourists on a group program. Independent travel is not permitted. Join Princeton April 24 – May 7, 2010, for a look inside this hidden kingdom.

Arrive in Bhutan, by way of Bangkok, Thailand, and investigate Thimphu, the charming capital nestled in the Himalayas. Thimphu's emergence as a capital city only occurred in 1952. Unlike many modern cities, Thimphu has kept a strong national character in its architecture. Spend the next few days exploring the interior reaches of the kingdom, traversing the Dochula Pass (10,300 ft.) and the Pele La Pass (11,300 ft.), which divides western Bhutan from the central and eastern part of the country. The villages and monasteries in central Bhutan were reachable only by foot or by mule until the 1970s. The journey concludes with a stay in Paro. Visit the National Museum and join other pilgrims to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the most sacred temples in Bhutan.

About the Study Leader
Nadine McQuarrie, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, will serve as study leader for this Journey.

Interested in the areas of tectonics and structural geology, with a particular interest in the evolution of mountain belts, Professor McQuarrie joined the Princeton faculty in 2004. Prior to coming to Princeton, Professor McQuarrie was a postdoctoral scholar in tectonics at Caltech and taught at the University of Arizona and Idaho State University. Her work has taken her into the field along the Central Andean fold-thrust belt in Bolivia and Peru, in various ranges in the western United States, and in Bhutan Himalaya.

During the journey she will discuss with participants the basic geologic and tectonic structure of the Himalayan region, the impacts of tectonics on climate, and developments in Princeton’s ongoing fieldwork in Bhutan.

To make a reservation, fill out the form in the brochure or contact Princeton Journeys at (609) 258-8686 or journeys@princeton.edu.