Spiritual Tour for 8 nights/9 days:
As one of the last strongholds of Vajrayana Buddhism, meditation and mediation retreats are a common practice amongst Monks and Buddhist practitioners in Bhutan. Small retreat centers and hermitages are located all over the country, usually next to temples, monasteries and monastic schools. Buddhist influence Bhutan is enriched with many spiritual activities such as meditation sessions, blessings by monk, lightening butter lamps and offering prayer flags. Bhutanese architecture is well displayed in the beautiful monasteries which is a must see in Bhutan.
Fly to Paro, Bhutan, on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan. If you get a seat on the left side of the plane and the weather cooperates, you may have spectacular views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalaya, including Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga—five of the highest peaks in the world—as well as peaks in Bhutan such as Jhomolhari, Jichu Drakye, and Tsering Kang. After visa formalities at the Paro airport, your guide will meet you and drive you into town for lunch. Afterward, you'll transfer to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, set at 7,725 feet in the Wang Chu Valley. After Lunch we can visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the royal government and central monastic body.
(Overnight at the Hotel)
After breakfast we will visit Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrangling), visitors can get a good overview of the Thimphu valley from here; National Memorial Chorten- This stupa was built in 1974 in the memory of Bhutan's third King, His Late Majesty the King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is popularly regarded as Father of modern Bhutan. Changangkha Monastery, the oldest temple in the valley; Tandi nye, where guru Rinpoche had meditated once.
Afternoon we can proceed local crafts shops. (Overnight at the Hotel)
We can drive to Dodina, the northern end of Thimphu (8,600meters') and hike an hour up a steep hill to visit Cheri Monastery, or Goemba, built in 1620 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and established with an original staff of 30 monks. Today the monastery serves as the main meditation Center of the country and has more than 70 monks undergoing their three year, three-month retreat. Inside is a silver chorten holding the ashes of the Shabdrung's father. On your return you'll visit Tango Goemba (another Steep one-hour climb), founded in the 12th century (the present building was constructed in the 15th century). It is now a Buddhist institute for higher learning. Time permitting; you'll visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the royal government and central monastic body, upon your return from the hike. (1 hour driving; 4 hours hiking). (Overnight at the Hotel)
In the morning, you will visit the ancient Punakha Dzong (a Dzong is a fortress-monastery) which dates back to the 17th century, spectacularly situated at the confluence of the Mo and Pho Rivers. You will also have an optional short walk across the rice paddies to visit nearby Chimi Lhakhang, a lovely temple built by Lama Drukpa Kunley. Legend has it he subdued the demoness of the Dochu La with his "Magic Thunderbolt of Wisdom”. A wood effigy of the lama's thunderbolt is preserved in the Lhakhang, and childless women go to the temple to receive a Wang (blessing) from the saint.
After Lunch we can hike to Khamsum Yulley.
Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten : Built by the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, this Chorten is a splendid example of the Bhutanese architecture. It was built over eight and a half years and its details have been drawn from religious scriptures. (Overnight at the Hotel)
Gangtey Goenpa : is the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition which was established in 1613 by Gangteng Sangngak Choling. It overlooks the Phobjikha Valley.
Khewang Lhakhang : The Vajrayana monastery houses the Buddha of three times;past, present and future. Ample of myth and magic are associated in lieu to the construction of Lhakhangs
In the evening take natural herbal hot stone bath which has all the healing properties.
View of the valley that you get to see as you soak yourself in hot stone bath filled in with medicinal water. (Overnight at the Hotel)
Return back to Paro. In the evening you can just stroll around the river side and just relax
Perched on a small hill top of Paro valley lies a small monastery ‘Dra Karpo ‘ (split Rock), one of the holiest site in Bhutan. Guru Padmasambhava accompanied by his consort Dakini Yeshey Tshogyal and many other yogis and great master down the ages have blessed and sanctified the place. As you circumambulate, you can see the foot and hand prints and many other auspicious signs and symbols believed to have manifested through some supernatural powers. Maybe owing to all these there is a mystique tranquillity in the vicinity of Dra Karpo . It is believed that the demon took refuge inside the rock and Guru Rinpoche had Split the rock and subdued the demons.
It is believed that even the deadliest of your sin will be washed away if you can circumambulate 108 times around Dra karpo. (Overnight at the Hotel)
Today you have the option of taking a steep, 1½-hour hike to a teahouse, where you can enjoy a great view of Taktsang Monastery (its name means "tiger's nest"), perched on a cliff 2,700 feet above the floor of the Paro Valley. The hike follows a steep switchback trail through the forest, and after a break with tea and cookies, you have the option to sit outside the cafe and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings or, if you feel energetic, to continue another thirty minutes to a closer viewpoint. Much of Taktsang was destroyed by a fire in April 1998, but it is now completely rebuilt.