Brent Olson’s Journal

To celebrate my 20th anniversary with Geographic Expeditions, I’ve decided to organize a special trip to Bhutan. I wanted to find a way to give back to Bhutan a small portion of the rich blessings the kingdom has given me over the past two decades. Since my first trip to Bhutan in 1986, I’ve grown increasingly fond of the wonderful people, the rich culture and the striking landscape of this remote Himalayan kingdom. In my almost 40 trips, I’ve had the great honor of meeting Bhutanese from all walks of life – from villagers to the Royal Family and I’ve learned what an incredibly rare place Bhutan truly is.

By returning to Bhutan so frequently, I’ve had a close-up view of the changes and challenges that the country faces as it evolves from a medieval society and cautiously and wisely enters the 21st century. I look forward to sharing the beauty of Bhutan, the wonder of its Buddhist culture, and the hospitality of my Bhutanese friends with my GeoEx trip mates.

As an added bonus, “Giving Back to Bhutan” will have the special focus of raising funds for three very special projects. The Bhutanese organizations that will benefit from our donations include the Gangtey Gompa Restoration Fund, which is at work restoring one of the country’s oldest and most important temples; Pemacholing, a new nunnery in central Bhutan benefiting local women who wish to learn more about Buddhism; and the Tarayana Foundation, whose mission is “to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged of Bhutan help themselves.” I hope that those of you who join me on this trip not only have an enriching and educational journey, but also come away with a deeper understanding of what makes Bhutan such a bright and rare treasure in today’s world. Geographic Expeditions will match each traveler’s tax deductible contribution of $500 or more, up to $1,500 per traveler.

We’ll travel to central Bhutan to visit the beautiful Bumthang region which has always been one of my favorite parts of the kingdom.
Many special activities and serendipitous events will inevitably be added to our program as it evolves between now and our U.S. departure (and while we are traveling in Bhutan). I promise that I’ll do my best to make this trip an insightful and amazing journey. I truly hope you will consider joining me on this very special departure!

For more information on this trip or to receive a detailed itinerary, please go to:
http://www.geoex.com/trip.asp?tripID=4860

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