6 DAYS YOGA AND WELLNESS TOUR.
Kindly be at the check-in counter at least 2 hours ahead of your flight departure time. Your check-in luggage limit is 30kg on Economy Class / 40kg on Business Class, and hand luggage must not exceed 5kg.
Day 1 PARO – ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
On arrival at Paro international airport you will be received by a representative of Bhutan Raewa Travels who will be waiting outside the arrival terminal of the Airport holding a placard with your name on it. The representative will be your guide for the duration of the tour and will welcome you in a traditional manner by offering a khadar (greeting scarf).
Local sightseeing of the following places:
- Drive to see the Rinpung dzong, built in 1645 to defend the valley against Tibetan invaders. The Dzong is now used as an administration center and school for monks.
- Visit The National Museum: rated as one of the finest natural history museums in South Asia which is a repository of not only precious work of art but also costumes, armor and other hand crafted objects of daily life that provide a good snapshot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. Of special interest is the gallery of thangkhas which exhibits exquisite pieces of different vintages – those depicting Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first Je Khempo and first Druk desi are of particular significance.
In the evening, we will drive to the Capital of Bhutan, check into hotel and introduction the Yogis.
Overnight at hotel – dusitD2 Yarkay.
Day 2 THIMPHU INSIGHT (B/L/D)
In the early morning, you will be guided by the top yogis, who have mastered the art of this age old practice and you will have breakfast before setting out to see the following sights;
After breakfast, we will have a hike to Tango Monastery, about 7 miles from Thimphu, the Tango Monastery is a lovely place for an excursion. The drive or walk to reach it offers beautiful views of the countryside and the Thimphu valley. The monastery dates back to the 13th century and was rebuilt in the 15th century by the “Divine mad man. (Drukpa Kinley).
On the way back, we will visit Pangri Zampa Lhakhang now used as a school for Buddhist Astrology. It was built during the first quarter of 16th century and it is the first residence of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified Bhutan during 17th century.
You will stop at the National Folk Heritage Museum, which is 19th century building dedicated to the folk arts of the Bhutanese. Deaprt for lunch.
After lunch, you will have our last stop for the day at Motithang Takin Preserve Zoo. In the early evening, you will check into hotel and you will have the following activities;
- Short and brief Yoga practice.
- After that, you will have two session on meditation and talk on Bhutanese medicine.
Overnight at Hotel – dusitD2 Yarkay.
Day 3 THIMPHU – PUNAKHA – THIMPHU (B/L/D)
The morning will begin with a Yoga practice with the view of glorious sunrise before you set out for the day. After breakfast, we will drive you to our former Capital of Bhutan (Punakha).
Punakha is a worthy place to be explored and having done with Yoga in the morning, you will be ready for some more exploring and sightseeing all around this great land. Morning after breakfast drive to Punakha valley (the old capital of the country) via the Dochula Mountain pass (3,140 m). On a clear day Dochu La offers a stunning view of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges:
Kang Bum 6,526 m Gangchhenta 6,840 m
Masang Gang 7,165 m Tsenda Gang 7,100 m
Teri Gang 7,300 m Jejekangphu Gang 7,100 m
Zongophu Gang ( Table Mt ) 7,100 m Gangkhar Puensum 7,541 m
Visit Druk Wangyel Chhorten, built by the Queen Mother for the peace and stability of the country. The 108 Khangzang Namgyal Chhortens are a new landmark for travellers as they cross Dochula, the first mountain pass into the interior of the country.
On the way visit Chimi Lhakhang, located on a hillock in the centre of the valley below Metshina. There is a short 20 minute walk through the village of Sopsokha en-route to the temple wherein you will cross paddy fields and get a feel for rural Bhutan. The temple was built by Ngawang Chogyel in the 15th century after the ‘divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small chorten there. The temple is believed to bless couples unable to have children and many people from around the world visit this holly site to seek its blessings.
Drive to see the impressive Punakha Dzong, the second of Bhutan’s dzongs. For many years until the time of the second King, it served as the seat of the government. It is the winter residence of the monastic order’s leader and his entourage of monks, and was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Inside the Dzong is the set of the 108 volumes of Kanjur – the holy book of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage, written in gold. The Dzong also safe guards Bhutan’s most treasured possession: the Rangjung Kharsapani, a self-created image of Chenrigzig which is described by Shabdrung as a treasure as vast as the sky.
Later in the evening drive back to Thimphu. Upon returning, you will have a nightly Yoga class but that would not be too strenuous because of the nature of the day’s activities, giving you quite the workout.
Overnight at hotel – dusitD2 Yarkay
Day 4 THIMPHU – PARO – THIMPHU (B/L/D)
In the morning, you will take a more vigorous routine designed with the advanced yoga practitioner in mind. Learning new moves and routines is what this trip is all about. Hopefully you will take home some new insight into how to practice yoga in your own day to day life. After an early breakfast we will drive back to Paro. Then we will have a breakfast and we will drive you to Paro.
On arrival, we will do the following activities:
- Visit Drugyal Dzong, now in ruins, was built in 1646 by Shabdrung to commemorate his victory over the Tibetan invaders, led by Mongolian Warlord, Gushri Khan. Strategically built over the only passage into Paro valley, the Dzong helped to repel numerous invasions all through the course of Bhutanese history. It so impressed the early English visitors in 1914 that the Dzong was featured on the cover of the National Geographic Magazine. In fine weather, the towering peak of Mount Jumolhari 7314 m high appears as a backdrop. This mountain which marks the frontier with Tibet is sacred and the dwelling place of goddess Jomo.
- Visit Kyichu temple one of the 108 temples built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.
After lunch, we will drive back to Thimphu and do the following activities;
- Practice Yoga for two hours.
- Wiping Sand Mandala with long life and world peace prayer ceremony lead by lama and the monks.
Overnight at hotel – dusitD2 Yarkay
Day 5 PAROINSIGHT (B/L/D)
Do the regular Yoga routine and have an early breakfast. After that, we will drive to you to Paro.
- On arrival we will take a short drive to road point from where the hike begins to the famous Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) which clings precariously to a cliff 800 m / 2,600 ft above the Paro valley. The climb up to the view point will take around three hours (depending on one’s fitness). In the second half of the 8th century, Guru Rimpoche, alighted here upon the back of a tigress, and upon meditating for three months in a cave, assumed the form of Dorje Droloe, the Terrifying Thunderbolt and subjugated the Eight Evil Spirits who hindered the propagation of Buddhism. Thereafter, the Buddhist Dharma was introduced to Paro valley and soon spread to the rest of Bhutan. Taktsang is one of the holiest sites in the country and one of the most venerated Buddhist monuments in the Himalayas.
In the evening, we will drive back to Thimphu.
Check into hotel and in the evening, you will have the following activities:
- Short and brief Yoga practice.
- After that, you will have two session on meditation and talk on Bhutanese medicine.
Overnight at hotel – dusitD2 Yarkay
Day 6 PARO – Departure (B/L/D)
We will have our final Yoga practice together before departing to the Airport. After breakfast our guide will escort you to the airport for your flight onward.
Tashi Delek!