Mindfulness Journey to Bhutan

On arrival at the Paro International Airport your tour guide and driver will welcome you.

Depending on your energy and time, you will visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong/Fortress of Heaped Jewels, a fine example of the ostentatious Bhutanese art and architecture.  The Dzong is located in the heart of the town and a few minutes walk through Nyimazam, one of the few last remaining traditional cantilever bridges in Bhutan. Dzongs serve as a monastic institution and as district administrative office.

Located above the Dzong is the National Museum that houses various antiques and artifacts of Bhutan and provides a glimpse into Bhutan’s rich cultural and religious history.

Or, check in your hotel at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

On your first day at the Sanctuary you will receive a consult with our trained traditional medicine doctors, your designated Well-Being Guides. Aligned with your personal goals, they will create a customized well-being program for the duration of your stay, including a selection of wellness treatments, activities, and a dietary advice, which our Chefs will make sure to follow in preparation of your meals.

Today afternoon we combine some nature with culture by taking you on a short hike to the Eutok goenpa, the monastic school across the valley from the Sanctuary.

As per your personalized well-being program you will also do one or more of the following:

• Wellness treatment
• Meditation or yoga (either guided or on your own)
• Swim, gym or take a stroll
• Special activity such as cooking or pottery class, archery or khuru (Bhutanese darts)

Tip: Start reading your complimentary copy of The Restful Mind, which is placed in your room.

To start off the day in the best possible manner, you will either do some yoga, meditation, swim, gym or a short walk.

Now you have adjusted somewhat to your new home we can really start your (re-) connecting to yourself. Nature is one of the best possible healers, so we will take a long hike through our beautiful valley and halfway stop for a short meditation and a picnic.

After your return to the Sanctuary you will first receive a relaxing and healing traditional medicine treatment in our wellness area, and if needed meet again with one of our Well-Being Guides to check your condition.

The rest of the afternoon and evening are your own, and you can make further use of any of our wellness facilities and services, continue reading The Restful Mind or take part in one of our special activities. In the evening during dinner we will have a mystery guest who will share their inspirational story of a transformational journey.

Since tomorrow you have to wake up early for your hike to Bumdra, we recommend you get a good night’s rest.

The Bum Dra trek is one of the most beautiful short duration treks in Bhutan with only one night camping in the wild. But the scenery and landscape may well be worth compared to all of the other treks and also in terms of the adventure and the experience that goes along as you hike up. Also called the ‘The Trek of the Thousand Dakinis’ (celestial female beings) you can even explore the numerous sacred and holy caves where the angels had convened. You can also get a spectacular view of the Taktsang Monastery from the top, which you will not see from the usual tourist route.

From your hotel, drive for about 20 minutes till you reach the road end at Sangchhoekor Buddhist College perched on a hill top at 2,800 meters. It is a beautiful hike with sweeping views of the Paro valley, the Himalayan ranges and meadows adorned with prayer flags till you reach the campsite just below the BumDrak Monastery.

Stretch your body. Hot tea, porridge and soup of your likings will wait for you at the dinning tents with chair and table with basic heating system. You can rest and relax at your campsite or hike a little uphill, on a rocky cliff with a Ariel view of Tiger’s Nest Monastery and Paro Valley, amid the floating clouds, you can chose to meditate.

In the morning, hike 2 hours up hill gaining 210 m covering almost 2.36 Km till you reach 2 of the 3 sky burial. At the top, over looking the Paro Valley and the mountain top carpeted with blue, yellow and purple shrub Rhododendron flowers, cool fresh air and the clouds floating beneath, on a flat area atop, you will either undergo guided mediation with your mediation teacher or meditate on your own. Then followed by Yoga for those interested while others just enjoy the scenic beauty of Himalayan Mountains. Hot tea with some snacks will be served on the mountaintop.

Lunch, Dinner and night at the campsite.

Enjoy the beautiful sunrise from your campsite and after a hearty breakfast start your hike towards the sacred Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The trail is through forests of rhododendron and pine trees and is a moderately leisurely hike. Most of the tourists only visit the main temples at the Tiger’s Nest, however you are a lucky few to be able to visit the temples on the top particularly the Zangdopelri temple. Zangdopelri means or is the mystical Glorious Copper Colored Mountain of Guru Rinpoche and you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the other temples far below.

Short mediation at the main temple, Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

After visiting the temples on the top, hike further down to visit the main temples and gradually climb down till you reach the base where your vehicle and driver waits to take you to your hotel. 

After returning to the Sanctuary we recommend you to take a hot stone (herbal) bath with a full body kunye massage to really relax your weary limbs and revive yourself for this evening’s event.

Tonight the Chefs at the hotel will prepare you a special healthy Bhutanese family style dinner and the Sanctuary team will give you a short traditional dance performance.

Today is all about connecting to your inner-self and quiet contemplation.

You can either decide to spend some time outside of the Sanctuary, in our valley, by going on one of the many available hikes, or to just stay in and find some peace in one of the many quiet and scenic spots of the Sanctuary, where you can meditate, do yoga, swim, gym, or read a book. Of course, our wellness facilities and our Well-Being Guides will be at your full disposal as always.

Most of the flights from Bhutan leave in the morning, so we recommend you to make the most of your remaining time at the Sanctuary by doing one more yoga or meditation session, and have a healthy leisurely breakfast. Although the time in Bhutan has come to an end, it signifies one of new beginnings in your own personal journey.