Bhutan Spiritual and Cultural Tour

Yoga and breakfast are included in the morning before a private vehicle transfers you to Upper Dopshari, where you will join the Trans Bhutan Trail for a leisurely 7-kilometer hike back down into the Paro Valley. On your way, you will be able to see panoramic views as you hike. 

Before heading back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight, take advantage of a picnic lunch along the Wangchhu River.

Begin your day by trekking along the Trans Bhutan Trail from your hotel out of Bumthang and down into the Tang Valley. At the Pema Choling Nunnery, you will end your hike for the day. Girls and women enrolled here study the Nyingma Peling Buddhist tradition for nine years and are known for their drumming ceremonies.

The trail continues south towards the sacred Mebartsho (Burning Lake), where this great treasure hunter is said to have found several of Guru Rinpoche's hidden treasures in the 15th century. When Lingpa awoke from a dream, he saw at the bottom of the Tang River a temple with many doors, one of which was open. He was summoned to this particular place on the Tang River and found there was a temple with many doors, including one that appeared to be open. A one-eyed woman handed him a treasure chest when he swam down into a cave. As a result of that feat, the swimming pool was christened "burning lake" in the presence of the locals and with a lit butter lamp that did not burn out underwater.

Visit the Lake and then transfer to OgyenCholing Palace and Museum, where you'll spend the next three nights. In addition to preserving and promoting Bhutan's cultural and historical heritage, the OgyenCholing Foundation supports social and economic well-being within the local community. LongchenRabjam (1308-63), the greatest Tibetan master of Buddhism, was the first to visit OgyenCholing. In the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, Longchen Rabjam is the most prominent writer and philosopher, regarded as the originator of the doctrines and methods of Dzogchen, the 'School of Great Perfection'.

At the OgyenCholing guesthouse, dinner will be served.    

Bumthang Tang Valley is considered one of Bhutan's most secretive areas. One of the most pristine valleys in Bumthang, Tang draws you in with its pristine beauty. Wander down verdant slopes dotted with grazing sheep and explore windswept peaks where yaks roam.

Tang is proud of its sacred shrines and spiritual heritage, which were discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa as prophesied by Guru Rimpoche. You'll love exploring the Ogyen Chholing Museum, the former residence of the local rulers, now a museum displaying artifacts that reflect the traditional way of life.

The sacred site of OgyenCholing is located at the intersection of several historic trails. Take a walk in this beautiful and remote glacial valley, meditate, take part in community activities and meet with scholars today.

The sacred site of OgyenCholing is located at the intersection of several historic trails. Take a walk in this beautiful and remote glacial valley, meditate, take part in community activities and meet with scholars today.

We will start the day with a tour of Trongsa Dzong (fortress). This was constructed in 1541 by Ngagi Wangchuck as a small meditation room. On the same spot, he discovered the self-manifested footprints of the deity Palden Lhamo. Within months, a new village called Trongsa arose around the site, which means 'new village' in the local dialect. In its current form, the Dzong was erected in 1644 and enlarged at the end of the 17th century. Trongsa is home to around 450 district monks who spend their winters there, while Bumthang is home to their summers. Before heading to the Trongsa Ta Dzong (watchtower), you will visit some of the Dzong's 23 Lhakhang (temples). This interesting museum is housed in its tower.

Following this, there will be an opportunity to ascend the old cantilever bridge and descend into the Mangdechhu Valley from the West Gate of Trongsa Dzong (fortress). As you head up the opposite valley side, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Trongsa and its Dzong (fortress) as you get closer to the viewpoint, where the Trail rejoins your vehicle.

In the Punakha Valley, proceed to Toeb Chandana village from Trongsa. Visiting the Toeb Chandana Lhakhang (temple), which is also called the Chandana Lhakhang, which means 'where the arrow landed'. In accordance with legend, the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kuenley, on his way to determine his course, fired an arrow from Tibet and it landed here in Toeb Chandana. Originally built to ward off the evil energy of a demon, Ngawang Chogyal's temple served as his religious center until the 16th century. Ngawang Chogyal's knees are said to be represented by the hills at either end of the temple, which resemble knees.

Immediately adjacent to the temple is the house of Toep Tshewang, which is believed to have been struck when Drukpa Kuenley's arrow landed. Drukpa Kuenley was said to have dressed as a hunting beggar when he courted Tshewang's wife, who drew a sword in a fit of jealous rage, which Kuenley tied. In recognition of Kuenley's divine power, Tshewang presented him with his wife to facilitate Kuenley's fulfillment of his prophecies. Kuenley's arrow is said to have struck an eleven-stepped ladder in this building, which the descendants of Tshewang have preserved as a monument for fifteen generations.

This morning, proceed northwest out of Paro and see the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery, also known as TaktshangGoemba. In the Paro Valley, the Tiger's Nest is undoubtedly Bhutan's most famous religious building, perched upon a cliff face 900 meters (2,950 feet) above the ground. In subduing the local demon, SingyeSamdrup, Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on the back of a tigress. A cave here is said to have been Guru Rinpoche's meditation spot for three months after he had subdued the demon.

Only foot traffic can reach the Monastery, which requires an hour and a half to two hours of hiking up the valley side. During the hike, you will have the opportunity to take in spectacular views from the ridge, and you will pass a small Chorten, a basic monastery, and a waterfall.

You will also be able to visit Guru Rinpoche's meditation cave as well as the extensive network of Lhakhangs (chapels) that houses images, murals, and chortens, as well as the holy spring. On the way back down to the access road, you may want to detour to the Machig-phu Lhakhang (temple).

Afterward, you will head back to your hotel in Paro to relax for the remainder of the day. If you wish to shop for souvenirs last minute, you can do so at your hotel.

Your guide will accompany you to a nearby restaurant for a farewell dinner in the evening.