Journey to Bhutan’s Spiritual Center – with Bhutanese Guide Tshering Jamtsho–October 29th — November 9th 2023
Join us for a journey of a life time to the Spiritual Heart of Bhutan. The remote valley of Bhumtang! Visit the majestic fortress at Trongsa, experience the Tscheu festival at Djakar, hike to a magic lake and climb to Tigers Nest monastery high above the Paro valley .
Bhutan is known for its unique culture and tradition. We have been leading spiritual journeys to Bhutan with our guide Tshering Jamtsho for the last 10 years. Tshering has won the hearts of our many travelers with his laughter, gregarious nature and in depth of knowledge of Vajrayana Buddhism along with his personal contacts with the many Llamas through out the kingdom.
For years, Bhutan has deliberately isolated itself from the outside world and has only recently opened its borders to visitors. Since then, Bhutan has gained almost mystical status as a real life Shangri-la. In Bhutan, the Vajrayana Buddhist culture is integrated into every aspect of daily life, and those fortunate enough to visit describe it as a unique, mystical and deeply spiritual experience.
Abbreviated tour schedule:
Arrive Bhutan and drive to Punakha. The flight from Bangkok into Bhutan(included) will take you over the vast plains of the Indian subcontinent and then over the dense green vegetation of the Kingdom’s sub Himalayan ranges. You will get breathtaking views of the worlds highest and most majestic peaks as the plane approaches the Dragon Kingdom’s cloud scraping airstrip at the Paro International airport at an altitude of 7330 ft
Tshering, our Bhutanese guide, will be there to receive you after you have completed the necessary immigration and visa formalities. The first part of the journey will follow the Paro river and provide plenty of photo opportunities. After about half an hour’s drive you will reach the confluence of two rivers, one flowing from Thimphu and the other from Paro.
From the confluence we will follow the Thimphu river pass through Thimpu and drive to Punakha, the old capital of Bhutan. The journey will take about three hours. It will take you across the Dochula Pass (3050M) with a spectacular view of the eastern Himalayas. The pass is also marked by 108 stupas dedicated to world peace by Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. Upon arrival in Punakha we will check into our hotel.
This morning we will visit the Sangchen Liendrup Choling . This nunnery was built by the King’s maternal Grandmother in 2010. It is one of the most popular stops on our tour. We will have the opportunity to meditate with the nuns . There is also the opportunity to light candles with the nuns in the sanctuary.
After breakfast will visit Punakha Dzong built in 1637, was once the old capital of Bhutan and is today the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body. The Dzong occupies an important place in the history of monarchy in Bhutan as the first King of Bhutan, King Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned here in 1907. The Dzong also houses Bhutan’s most sacred relic, the Ranjung Kharsapani (the self created image of Avolokitesvara).
The inner-most sanctum of the temple houses the Marchen Lhakhang, containing the embalmed body of the Shabdrung, the first secular leader of BhutanSomething about this place commands our reverence. The rivers that flank the Dzong are called the Mo Chu (Mother) and Po Chu (Father), and indeed, Punakha is where modern Bhutan was born. This has been considered a deeply auspicious site since the 14th century, and all seems timeless and serene.
After lunch we will have the opportunity to cross the The Punakha Suspension Bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan. It is located in the Punakha district, and it connects the two sides of the Po Chhu river.
After breakfast we journey (5hrs) into Eastern Bhutan by road, traverse the picturesque Pele La Pass, on our way to Trongsa, the ancestral home of Bhutan’s royal family and from where the first two kings ruled the kingdom .Trongsa means “the new village” in Bhutanese, which comprises retreats, temples and hermitages of monks. Its rich history is traced to the founding of a temple in the area by the Drukpa lama, Ngagi Wangchuk, ancestor of Zabdrung Namgyal, who came to this place from Ralung in 1541, and built a small meditation room in 1543. One day he had been meditating nearby in a village called Yuling and witnessed a light (“from a body of lamps”) at the furthest point of the spur. He believed this t o be an auspicious sign and erected a temple on the spot, on a mountain spur high above the gorges of the Mangde Chhu, at an altitude of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).[Long before you reach it, you see the resplendent Trongsa Dzong in the valley centre.
We will visitTrongsa Dzong before continuing our journey to Bumthang. Trongsa Dzong, built in 1647 is a labyrinth of temples, corridors, offices and living quarters for the monks. The foundations of Trongsa Dzong were laid in the 16th century by Pema Lingpa and flourished during the 17th century under Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal. The impressive fortress is a massive structure, its wall looming high above the winding Mangde Chu Valley, commanding the east-west road. is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan. It was enlarged several times during the 18th century; the Chenrezig Lhakang was built in 1715 and a whole complex, including the Maitreya (Jampa) temple, was added in 1771. After we will have lunch and then drive to Bumthang Valley(2hrs) where we will stay at the Swiss Guest House. The Swiss Guesthouse was the first Guesthouse in Bumthang. It is situated at Karsumphe, a historical place with a small, traditional farmhouse, which was once the residence of the famous “Karsumphe Angye”, the older sister of the first King of Bhutan.
Good Morning in Bumthang! This region that spans from 2,600-4,500m is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of its oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons (“religious treasure-discoverers”) still linger in this sacred region. Today we will visit teschu festival at the Jakar Dzong or the “Castle of the White Bird” dominates the Chamkhar valley and overlooks the town. Constructed in 1549. The focal point of the tsechus are the sacred Cham dances which are banned in Tibet. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century teacher Padmasambhava and other saints. After visiting the Djakar Festival we will have lunch and then visit Jambay Lhakhang temple one of the 108 temples built by Tibetan King Songsten Gampo in 659 AD. It is one of the 108 monasteries built by him to subdue evil spirits n the Himalayan region. This temple is one of the most fabulous places to visit in Bumthang.
Today we will travel along the river and visit Tamshing Lhakang this temple was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century. We will then hike crossing the river on a foot bridge to Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava medi tated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. This afternoon we will have time to explore the town of Bumthang.
Membartsho (The Burning Lake) We will visit in Tang valley is a wide spot on the Tang river). This is a short drive from Bumthang and is considered to be one of the greatest pilgrimage sites of Bhutan. Pema Linga found several of Guru Rinpoche’s hidden treasures here. The importance of this site is indicated by the extensive array of prayer flags and the small clay offerings called ‘Tse Tsa’ in rock niches. Afternoon will be free to explore Bumthang on your own or spend time in self reflection and quiet at the Swiss Guest house
Thimpu to Paro. We now find ourselves back in modern Bhutan. The good news is there is allot of shopping opportunities to be had. So we will spend this morning exploring the shops and markets of Bhutan. After lunch we will visit Kichu Lhakang temple in Paro, which was built in 659 (7th century) by the Tibetan King Tshongtsen Gampo. It is believed that he built 108 temples across the Himalayas and that Kyichu happens to be one of the last remaining. The Jowo Temple of Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songsten Gampo. we will travel to Paro (1 1/2 hr
Tigers Nest After breakfast, hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, which is the most famous monastery in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche, an Indian saint is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. It is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above Paro Valley. The hike to reach the viewpoint to the monastery makes for a nice half-day excursion. While visiting the monastery we will chant with the monks a mantra in the very cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated. After our descent we will have a farewell dinner together at the hotel