This is a pilgrimage…

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 5: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY For the next 4 days, we’ll dive deep into our practice at the inspiring Oygen Choling Heritage House, perched on a commanding hilltop in rolling Thang Valley. In addition to excellent food, the historic property offers gardens, a museum, hiking trails, and it’s own meditation hall where we’ll hold our morning meditations. After meditation & breakfast we’ll have our morning teaching, and then spend the rest of the day exploring on our own with the nearby village and hills for inspiration. In the evening we’ll gather in the kitchen, or around the fire, for a discussion with Kunzang Choden, a descendant of the original family owners of Oygen Choling.

Day 4: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY This morning, after early meditation and breakfast, we’ll drive to Paro Valley, for one of the most spectacular 30 minute flights in the world - the Paro to Bumthang flight. Out the window of the plane you’ll pass range after awe-inspiring range of Himalayan peaks, before touching down in Bumthang, the “heartland of Buddhism” in Bhutan. In 746 AD, the great bodhisattva, Guru Rinpoche, arrived in Bumthang, where he exorcised a demon from the king, thus restoring peace to the region & converting the people to Buddhism. After enjoying a quick lunch we’ll begin our 3-hour drive to our new home in the Thang Valley, the magnificent 18th century Oygen Choling Heritage House, stopping at the dramatic mountain gorge of Mebar Tsho along the way.

Day 6: On our second day at Oygen Choling Heritage House, after practice & breakfast, we’ll have our morning teaching and then we’ll drive a short distance to the trailhead for a hike up to Thowa Drak, one of most important “yogi caves” in Bhutan. The 8th century Buddhist yogi Guru Rinpoche spent several years practicing & teaching in caves all over Bhutan, four of which are on the Thang Valley. We’ll enjoy a moderate hike up to the spectacular cave & a temple that overlooks the Thang Valley, with dramatic snow peaks in the distance. After our hike, we’ll return to the Heritage House for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll gather with Tulku-la for a practice and teaching session before gathering for a healthy meal prepared for us, from Oygen Choling’s own gardens.

Day 7: On our third day at Oygen Choling Heritage House, after practice & breakfast, we’ll have our morning teaching and then we’ll set out on a moderate 2-hour hike through the fields and streams of the Thang Valley the 14th century Tag Rimochen Lhakang temple, built at the foot of a rock cliff by the great treasure-revealer Pema Lingpa. According to legend, the yogi Padmasambhava meditated on a giant rock here, and together with his two consorts Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal, left footprints on the sheer rock walls. After our hike, we’ll return to the Heritage House for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll again enjoy a practice and teaching session with Tulku-la before gathering for our last dinner in the cozy Ogyen Choling dining room. After dinner we’ll enjoy some of the local spirits around the wood stove before turning in for the night.

Day 8: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY & JAKAR On our fourth day in the Thang Valley, after practice & breakfast, we’ll have a leisurely morning, and we’ll have some time on our own to relax or explore the village around Oygen Choling Heritage house, before heading to Jakar for our last night in the Bumthang region. Along the winding & scenic way, we’ll stop for an invigorating hike up to Kunzang Drak Monastery, another of the four 8th century Guru Rinpoche caves in the region. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, and when we arrive in Jakar we’ll have time to explore Kurjey Lhakang, a temple that holds a body print of Guru Rinpoche, or Jambey Lhakhang, one of 108 monasteries that in mythology were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night. That evening we’ll relax by the fire in the cozy Swiss Guest & enjoy a hot tea, glass of wine, or some local home-made beer, with our fellow pilgrims.

Day 9: Paro. This morning we’ll have an early flight from Jakar back to Bhutan’s Paro Valley (7,300 feet). We’ll settle into our stunning hotel - the Naksel Boutique Hotel - nestled into the foothills of the Himalayas and with views of both snow peaks and Bhutan’s famous Taktsang Monastery in the distance. After lunch we’ll gather for a brief afternoon session with Tulku-la, then we’re free to enjoy the rest of the day at Naksel’s world-class spa. Spend some time 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 ground.

Day 10: 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 11: 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.