The concept of spirituality is broad and allows for many interpretations. It usually involves a search for the meaning of life and a connection to something greater than ourselves. So it is a universal experience – it touches us all. Bhutan is a country that focuses on spirituality and Bhutanese consider it sacred, transcendent or simply a sense of aliveness and connection. If you are looking for a spiritual connection, Bhutan is the country to visit: Among monks and Buddhist practitioners in Bhutan, meditation retreats are a common practice to establish a spiritual connection. There are many small retreat centers and hermitages throughout the country, mostly near temples, monasteries and monastic schools.
As part of the package, you get the opportunity to meet with highly esteemed masters and receive spiritual teachings. Some of the most ancient temples and monasteries are also visited.
In these retreats and meditation centers you can escape the worries and stress of everyday life.
Paro valley, at an altitude of 2280m, will surely touch your senses and leave you wanting for more. For there is so much to see and do in this scenic valley steeped in history. Once you check in to your hotel, it will be almost lunchtime where you will get to try out, perhaps for the very first time, sumptuous Bhutanese cuisines.
After lunch, our team will take you around to acclimatize yourself with the altitude. Thereafter, we will visit Kichu Lhakhang (built in the 7th century and one of the first monasteries that helped spread Buddhism in Bhutan). Thereafter, we will drive to Thimphu (the drive takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes). Once there, and once you’ve checked into your hotel, we will visit Tamcho Lhakhang.
In the morning, our spiritual expert will give you an introductory session on Vajrayana Buddhism, the Buddhist sect followed in Bhutan. After breakfast, we will drive up to Kuenselphodrang (Buddha Point) to start the day with a session of Sorig yoga in full view of the 169-feet Buddha statue, the tallest Dordena statue in the world. Sorig yoga basically cleanses your nervous system through different breathing techniques and meditation. From there, we will visit the monastery in Dechenphodrang and meet up with a Buddhist master who will give you a lowdown on the Vajrayana tradition and its significance.
In the evening, we will visit the Tashichhodzong. Located along the banks of the Wangchhu River the massive fortress was built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and rebuilt in its present form in 1965 by the Third King of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. It houses the throne room, various ministries, and the central monastic body. It also serves as the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (the Chief Abbot).
In the morning, after breakfast, we will drive to Dochula where we will have a yoga and meditation session amidst the backdrop of breathtaking stupas standing tall across the magnificent Himalayan ranges. The mountain pass offers the perfect sanctuary to attune to your inner self and set out on journey of self discovery.
After the sessions, lunch will be catered at the pass itself following which we will drive to Paro.
No trip to Paro, or even Bhutan for that matter, is complete without a visit to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery or Taktsang. The Tiger’s Nest is undoubtedly the most visited and the most photographed of all the monuments in Bhutan. Standing on the edge of a 3,120m-tall cliff, above a beautiful forest of blue pine and rhododendrons overlooking the Paro valley, the monastery is of tremendous religious significance to the Bhutanese. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on the back of a tigress to subdue a local demon. The monastery was built in 1692 to honor and worship the Guru. The hike up to the Tiger’s Nest is give-or-take a two-hour ascent and, the view from the top, is well worth the climb.
So, we will hike up to the legendary Monastery in the morning with our experts guiding you every step of the way. Once we het to the Monastery, we will have a meditation session and offer prayers of gratitude for all the blessings we continue to receive.
Lunch will be catered at the base of the monastery. In the evening, you can soak in a complimentary hot stone bath - courtesy of Orog Travel.
Goodbyes are particularly difficult. But then all good things must come to an end. So, after breakfast, we will drive you to the airport. Trust us when we say you will surely miss Bhutan as much as we will miss you.