7 Days Mindfulness Journey to Bhutan - 5 Star Category

Itinerary

Day 1: PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro Bhutan
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.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: National Museum, Tag-Dzong Rinpung Dzong, Paro 12001 Bhutan
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch: At Restaurant of your choice
• Dinner: Dinner at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, a 5 star hotel in Paro, Bhutan
Accommodation included: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro, Bhutan

Day 2: The day at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

Stop At: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Neyphu Valley, Shaba Paro BT 12001, Bhutan
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.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast: At Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Lunch: At Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Dinner: At Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
Accommodation included: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro, Bhutan

Day 3: Hike and heal, your second day at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

Stop At: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Neyphu Valley, Shaba Paro BT 12001, Bhutan
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.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro, Bhutan

Day 4: Bumdra Trek, first overnight camp

Stop At: Bumdrak Monastery, Bhutan
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.
Distance: 20 minutes’ drive; 7 Kms hike, Duration: 3 – 4 hours, Camp Altitude: 3,500 meters

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.
Duration: 24 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast: At Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Lunch: Packed Lunch from Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Dinner: At the Camp Site prepared by the Trekking Chef
Accommodation included: Bumdra Camp Site

Day 5: Mediation amid the floating clouds

Stop At: Bumdrak Monastery, Bhutan
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.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the camp site prepared by trekking Chef
• Lunch: At the camp site prepared by trekking Chef
• Dinner: At the camp site prepared by trekking Chef
Accommodation included: Bumdra Camp Site

Day 6: Bumdra – Tiger’s Nest Monastery – Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary.

Stop At: Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang trail BT, Taktsang trail, Bhutan
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.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: At camp site prepared by the trekking chef
• Lunch: Packed lunch by Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary/ proper lunch at Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
• Dinner: At Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
Accommodation included: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, a 5 star hotel in Paro, Bhutan

Day 7: Departure and a new beginning

Pass By: Paro International Airport, Airport Road Paro, Paro 12001, Bhutan
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.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.