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.
Depending on the time of your flight your tour guide and driver will drop you to the Airport, or if it’s an afternoon flight you can continue exploring the valley and its popular attractions.
Visa formalities is smooth and hassle free for tourists as only registered tour companies/operators can apply for tourist Visas with the Tourism Council of Bhutan. As your chosen tour company, once we confirm your travel dates, flights and logistics we will apply for your Bhutan Visa. All tourist Visa approval is 100% guaranteed and Visa approval only depends on your imminent travel dates. Visa usually gets approved 1 month prior to your arrival date to Bhutan.
You can either purchase your flight tickets online https://www.drukair.com.bt or we can do on your behalf. It will be more convenient for you and for us if we purchase your flight tickets, as there is no difference in the price whether you or we purchase. However, as a Registered Ticketing Agent of both the Airlines in Bhutan, we will be the first ones to know if there are any changes in the flight timing or schedule, and we can immediately liaise with the airlines for the next best options and reschedule accordingly the hotels and itinerary.
The second advantage is if there are any promotional rates we can avail the offer and pass it on to you which is not possible if you buy online.
Yoga is gaining popularity in Bhutan and there are few yoga centers offering scheduled sessions by professional yoga teachers at no cost or a minimum fee. Also luxury premium hotels like Uma by Como, Six Senses and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary offers free yoga classes for their in house guests as per their schedule. For walk in guests the additional cost for a 1 hour yoga session with their in-house teacher at Uma by Como in Paro is USD 120.00 for 1 person.
However, if you do not need a teacher, then we can provide yoga mats which will be kept in your car all times and whenever you want you can ask your guide to take you to a good spot to do your yoga. There are many scenic spots and plenty of opportunity for outdoor yoga session by yourself or with your traveling group.
We also arrange special wellness and Yoga retreat trips on request.
Tourism in Bhutan is managed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and as per the Tourism Policy any tourists wishing to visit Bhutan must tie up with a local tour operator for Visa and all logistics. The policy also mandates that each tour group irrespective of the number of people in a group, must have a tour guide and a driver. While all this sounds restrictive, suffocating and almost like traveling to North Korea where they also have the guided tour policy, however please be assured the similarity ends at these words. Bhutan is a liberal country and one of the safest places to visit and live in. Tour itineraries are customized as per the interests of the guests and the guests has the liberty to choose their duration of travel and places to visit. Guests have the liberty to start their day at any time they choose, spend extra time at a site or skip any sight if not interested.
The tour guide and driver are more like local companions showing you the places and providing local insight into the culture of Bhutan, while also taking care of all logistics and ensuring you have a hassle free comfortable holiday in Bhutan.
Our Cancellation Policy
Tour programmes booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows:
After Booking – receipt of funds - 10% of the rate
Within 30 days from the start of the program - 15% of rate
Within 14 days from the start of the program - 50% of rate
Within 7 days from the start of the program - 75% of rate
Less than 7 days or without notice - 100% of rate
After arrival in Bhutan - 100% of the rate
No Refund will be extended for early departure
Our tour itineraries are flexible and customized as per the guests’ interests, hobbies and preferences. At the onset of our communication we always inform our guests of the same and to let us know their interests and accordingly we discuss and finalize the itinerary. There are many places to visit and numerous things to do, and it may not be possible to visit all the places, therefore we provide the options and our guests choose the same as per their interests.
Additionally, our website has a complete list of attractions and things to do, so guests can pick and choose their preferred places and activities.
No you do not have to eat at preselected restaurants. For breakfast you can eat at your hotel, and for lunch and dinner you can try out the many restaurants that serve traditional Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines. We also do not like to limit our guests to eat only at the hotels and buffet. Your guide will take you to these restaurants as per your food preference. As long as the restaurants are not 5 star, all 3 meals are included in the tour package.
Changangkha
Thimphu, Bhutan
Mobile - 00985-17131261