Pilgrimage to Bhutan with Tim & Kino

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April 4 - 12, 2025

  • Thimpu (Day 1-3)

    Our Day 1-3 destination, Thimpu is the capital - the 5th highest in the world at over 7000 feet elevation - and the largest city in Bhutan with around 75,000 inhabitants. It’s a vibrant cultural hub that provides an inviting intro to the wonders of Bhutan!

  • Punakha (Day 4-6)

    The central leg of our journey will transpire in Punakha — the farming hub of Bhutan and the ideal location for our exploration of the natural beauty of this special country. Our time here will include a day hike on the Trans Bhutan Trail.

  • Paro (Day 7-9)

    Our trip will conclude in Paro — home to the famously astounding Tiger’s Nest — a cliffside monastery built in 1692 and with direct connection to Padmasambhava himself!

On each leg of our stay we have chosen lodging that offers a comfortable space for daily morning meditation and asana practice. You just need to bring your mat and we’ll take care of the rest.

It doesn’t get any better. Daily Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga with Tim & Kino!

Itinerary

Day 1: Touching down in THIMPHU. When you land in the beautiful Paro Valley, surrounded by the Himalayas, our drivers will be there to welcome you to Bhutan. After you’ve received your bags, you will be driven about an hour to the capital city of Thimphu where you can get settled at our arrival hotel - Hotel Druk in the city center. In the afternoon we’ll take a walk to the Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the beloved third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, where we’ll learn about tantric Buddhist philosophy & iconography before returning to the hotel for a brief orientation meeting followed by a group dinner before we turn in for the night.

Day 2: THIMPHU. Each morning will kick off with meditation & asana practice before a break for breakfast and time to ready for the day, Then we’ll gather to head out on a short drive to start our leisurely hike to visit our first monastery — the Tango Gompa (“gom” meaning meditation and “pa” meaning place). After lunch along the river we’ll head back to town for a visit to the Prangrizampa Astrology School (Monastery) and then set you free to explore the Thimphu Handicrafts Market and/or the Royal Textile Academy before returning to the hotel for dinner (on your own).

Day 3: THIMPHU.  After our morning practice & a delicious breakfast, we’ll visit a stunning overview of the Thimphu Valley from Big Buddha Point, perched in the foothills high above the city. Then we’ll head to the Folk Heritage Museum restaurant where we’ll also enjoy a fabulous traditional Bhutanese meal, prepared especially for us. After lunch we'll take a 2 hour drive - with a tea break at Dochula Pass - to our next destination - Punakha - where we’ll get settled at the Meri Puensum Resort and enjoy a nice dinner there to round out the day.

Day 4: PUNAKHA. After practice and breakfast we’ll head out for a visit to Punakha Dzong - an ancient fortress! And then after lunch we’ll visit Chimi Lakhang (Temple of Drukpa Kunley - the crazy wisdom lama of Bhutan). And we’ll then offer you free time to enjoy the tranquility and dining of the beautiful resort.

Day 5: TRANS BHUTAN TRAIL. On this special day-in-nature we’ll take a rest from asana and after meditation and breakfast, at 10am, we’ll head out for a day-hike on the Trans-Bhutan Trail! A picnic lunch will be curated just for us at the mid-way point and we’ll be back to our hotel by around 4pm where you can relax and dine at your leisure.

Day 6: PUNAKHA to PARO. This morning will be a bit more leisurely with a little extra time for practice, breakfast and readying for our move to Paro - about a 3 hour drive. We’ll stop for lunch and a chance to take in the scenery of Bhutan’s countryside before arriving to the gorgeous Le Meridien nestled into the foothills of the Himalayas and with views of both snow peaks and Bhutan’s famous Taktsang Monastery in the distance. Le Meridien is home to a world-class spa and we’ll be looking to build in some time for you to spend on your own, have a relaxing massage, or a soothing traditional hot stone bath, and just enjoy the rustic luxury of the beautiful hotel and grounds.

Day 7: PARO. After morning practice and breakfast we’ll take a short drive to Kiccu Lakhang (15 min by car) - Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s monastery and a Guru Rinpoche Temple (dating back to the 8th century). Then we’ll head back into the town center where we’ll drop you off to enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing, dining and/or spa treatments on your own (with drop offs to the hotel at 2pm and 4pm)

Day 8: TIGERS NEST. Our journey through Bhutan culminates at this, the kingdom’s most iconic site: Taktsang monastery, known as “The Tiger’s Nest.” This majestic structure is located high above the Paro valley, built dramatically into the face of a vertical granite cliff. After our morning practice and breakfast we’ll take a short drive to the start of our 2 hour hike up to the nest. We’ll stop for lunch at the half-way point and then spend the afternoon exploring this ancient wonder before heading back to the hotel (arriving around 4pm) for a relaxing evening and our farewell dinner.

Day 9: DEPARTURES. Our staff will transport folks to the airport according to their respective flight schedules - with the first push off at 5am for the early (7am) flights out.

Your Hosts

Cory Bryant
Founder - The Spiritual Pilgrim

James Hopkins
Founder - Himalayan Writers Workshop

Together, Cory & James have been hosting groups in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal since 2010. Their shared love of the Buddha Dharma and commitment to its practice have formed the basis of a life-long friendship and a fantastic ability to cultivate an experience of the Vajrayana Buddhist path for you!

They will be there, right along side you, throughout this pilgrimage to provide support and serve as resources for the Buddhist cultural experience of this sacred place.

How much does it cost?

Shared room rate = $5800

Private room rate = $6600

This includes all your expenses while in Bhutan — Visa, lodging, meals, and yoga. Our drivers will greet you upon arrival to the airport and we will provide top notch service from that point forward until we return you safely to the airport for depature.

The trip cost does not include your travel to/from Bhutan. You will be responsible for booking your travel and we will provide guidance on how best to do so including a recommended agent to work with your booking your flight into Paro, Bhutan.

The deposit to secure your spot is $800 and it is nonrefundable. If you cancel for any reason you will not be refunded the deposit. We do recommend securing travel insurance for the trip and we will provide a recommended vendor for doing so.

Final payment is due by Jan 15, 2025.