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Mindful Bhutan: Pilgrimage & Wellness Retreat
9 Days / 8 Nights

Mindful Bhutan: Pilgrimage & Wellness Retreat

Meditation, sacred sites and the Gelephu Mindfulness City

9 days Easy Max 3,120 m Paro · Thimphu · Punakha · Trongsa · Bumthang · Gelephu
Overview

Meditation, sacred sites and the Gelephu Mindfulness City

Bhutan measures progress by Gross National Happiness, and this journey invites you to experience its contemplative heart. Guided meditation sessions with a monk or lay teacher, butter-lamp offerings, nunnery visits and silent forest walks are woven into a pilgrimage through the kingdom’s most sacred places.

The journey ends in the subtropical south at Gelephu, where the new Mindfulness City — including spiritual projects such as the Drikung Kangyur Labyrinth — is taking shape.

Duration9 Days / 8 Nights
Best seasonOctober–April
GroupPrivate: 1–10 guests
Start / EndParo → Gelephu

Journey highlights

  • Guided meditation with a Buddhist teacher
  • Butter-lamp offering at Kyichu Lhakhang
  • Overnight near Taktsang with dawn prayers
  • Kurjey & Jambay Lhakhangs in Bumthang
  • Visit to Gelephu Mindfulness City
Day by day

Itinerary

Day1

Arrive Paro

Arrival, gentle afternoon walk and butter-lamp offering at Kyichu Lhakhang.

Overnight: Paro Meals: L, D
Day2

Tiger’s Nest pilgrimage

Hike to Taktsang with time for meditation inside the monastery’s caves.

Overnight: Paro Meals: B, L, D
Day3

Paro – Thimphu

Visit the Memorial Chorten with local devotees; afternoon meditation session at a monastery above Thimphu.

Overnight: Thimphu Meals: B, L, D Drive: 1 hr
Day4

Thimphu – Punakha

Dochula and Punakha Dzong; evening walk to the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery.

Overnight: Punakha Meals: B, L, D Drive: 3 hrs
Day5

Punakha – Trongsa

Drive over Pele La to Trongsa.

Overnight: Trongsa Meals: B, L, D Drive: 6 hrs
Day6

Trongsa – Bumthang

Arrive in Bumthang; afternoon at Jambay Lhakhang.

Overnight: Bumthang Meals: B, L, D Drive: 3 hrs
Day7

Sacred Bumthang

Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing and the Burning Lake; evening hot-stone bath.

Overnight: Bumthang Meals: B, L, D
Day8

Fly to Gelephu

Domestic flight (or drive via Zhemgang) to Gelephu. Afternoon visit to Gelephu Mindfulness City and its spiritual sites.

Overnight: Gelephu Meals: B, L, D
Day9

Depart Gelephu

Transfer to Gelephu airport for Paro connection, or exit overland to Assam.

Meals: B

B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Itineraries may be adjusted for weather, festival dates and road conditions.

Good to know

What’s included

Included

  • Bhutan visa processing (US$40 visa fee included)
  • Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$100 per night
  • Licensed English-speaking Bhutanese guide throughout
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver
  • 3-star government-certified hotels on twin-sharing basis
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner), tea & bottled water
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums on the itinerary
  • Airport transfers in Paro

Not included

  • International flights to and from Paro (we can book Drukair / Bhutan Airlines)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Single-room supplement
  • 4- and 5-star hotel upgrades (available on request)
  • Alcoholic drinks, laundry, phone calls & personal expenses
  • Tips for guide and driver
Reviews

What travellers say

“The meditation sessions with a monk in Bumthang were profound. Every detail was handled with such care that I could simply be present.”
D
Dr. Mei Lin TanSingapore · March 2026
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