Custom made itinerary, discover the Essence of Bhutan without the need for long drives or change of accommodation.

Please note: all aspects of this itinerary can be modified according to your wishes. Costs for transport and a licenced guide are always on request.

Day 1: Arrival

• Arrival at the international airport in Paro
• Guest Experience team will welcome you at the airport
• The Sanctuary is only a 15-minute ride from the airport
• Upon arrival, you are invited to participate in a special Buddhist transformation ritual before entering the Sanctuary
• Our Guest Experience team will accompany you to your room and will make sure all is in order
• A 4-course set lunch will be served in the restaurant
• In the afternoon we invite you for a complimentary consultation with one of our in-house Traditional Bhutanese Medicine Doctors
• After the consultation, you can have your first wellness treatment
• The 6-course set dinner will be served on the restaurant terrace if weather permits 

Day 2: Acclimatisation 

• Breakfast in the restaurant with a freshly blended healthy morning shot and à la carte menu 
• Today is all about relaxation and acclimatization, so the following activities are examples how you can spend your day:
• Visit the library with a wide collection of magazines and books
• Short hike in the Neyphu Valley with a guide and accompanied by a homemade picnic lunch
• Enjoy the infinity pool and sundeck terrace
• Herbal walk in the garden
• Lunch and dinner will be served in the restaurant at the time of your choice

Day 3: Tiger's Nest

• The day will start in the tea bar with an early cup of herbal tea and healthy fruit shot.
• The ride to the Tiger’s Nest base is about 45 minutes.
• The hike up to the Tiger’s Nest will take about 2-4 hours depending on your fitness level – during the hike there will be several pauses, where you can enjoy a packed breakfast.
• In the Tiger’s Nest, a still operating Monastery, your guide will give you a tour and explain the meaning of all the different rooms and altars. 
• Return to the Sanctuary in the afternoon, and recommend a hot stone herbal bath to prevent muscle pain the next day.
• Before dinner, we invite you to dress in traditional Bhutanese clothing, and our team will take pictures of you. 
• In the evening you have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Bhutanese dinner.

• Before breakfast you can join a yoga class or meditation session
• After breakfast, hop in the car to Chele La. At around 3,988 meters it is the highest motorable pass in Bhutan. It is also the perfect place to hang some prayer flags for your well-being and a long life.
• If you feel fit and adjusted to the high altitudes, you can still hike up another 305 meters and experience a 360-degree view of Bhutan's natural beauty, including the Paro and Haa valleys
• Continue from Chele La Pass to Hat to explore the Haa Valley and have a homemade picnic lunch 
• After lunch, visit Lhakhang Karoo - built in the 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Goempo
• On the way back, hike Kila Goenpa Nunnery which will take about 1-2 hours
• Back in the Sanctuary, enjoy dinner and a wellness treatment in the evening

Day 5: Thimphu

• After breakfast visit Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, about a one-hour drive from the Sanctuary
  
• On the way to Thimphu, stop at Chuu-zom, the junction between Paro and Thimphu where you will see different types of stupa across the river
• Take a short detour towards Dochu La pass, located at 3000 meters above sea level, 30 minutes from Simtokha junction. On clear days this site offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountain ranges
• Lunch will be taken in one of the many local restaurants in Thimphu
• After lunch, visit the Simply Bhutan Museum, where you will have a chance to see and learn all about Bhutanese culture.
• If there is time left, we recommend to visit the Choki Traditional Art School. CTAS is the only private institute in Bhutan that provides free education to underprivileged youths who have a keen interest in learning the traditional arts and crafts.
• Late afternoon drive back to the Sanctuary, just in time for the 6-course dinner

Day 6: Remote Bhutan

• Before breakfast, join a yoga or meditation session
• After breakfast, visit the remote villages around Ugyen Guru Lhakhang and Pangbisa in the Haa Valley. 
• Take a packed lunch or enjoy a Bhutanese meal at a farm
• In the afternoon, enjoy a wellness treatment before dinner

Day 7: Eutok Goenpa Monastery

• Before breakfast, you can join a yoga class or meditation session
• After breakfast, hike to the Eutok Goenpa monastery, right across the valley under the guidance of one of our guides (about 1 hour)
• At the Monastery you will be welcomed by the head monk, and some Buddhist rituals will be performed
• You will have the opportunity to talk to the monks and the students. Our guides will translate if necessary.
• During the hike back to the Sanctuary pause to enjoy a home-made picnic lunch
• In the afternoon you can use the wellness facilities, participate in traditional Bhutanese sports, enjoy a wellness treatment, or join a Bhutanese cooking class with our Chefs.
• The 6-course dinner will be served on the restaurant terrace if weather permits.

Day 8: Paro

• Before breakfast, you can join a yoga or meditation session 
• After breakfast, we leave for Paro, where we can visit the Paro Dzong, the Bhutan National Museum, the newly renovated farmer's market, and the Tashi Gonphel handmade paper factory
• For those interested in textiles, fashion, and art, you can learn more about weaving and the traditional dress of Bhutan, the gho and kira, by visiting a textile shop or gallery. 
• Lunch will be taken in one of the local restaurants in Paro to discover the Bhutanese version of dim sums. 
• The afternoon can be used for wellness treatments, a nice swim and a rest on sundeck terrace, or a visit to the Namgay artisanal beer brewery in Paro
• Surprise farewell dinner will be served on the restaurant terrace - if weather permits.

Day 9: Farewell

Standard inclusions:

• Stay in the selected room type
  
• Daily full board including breakfast, 4-course lunch and 6-course dinner
• Packed breakfast or lunches for day trips
• Home-made picnics
• Tea bar with 20 herbal teas
• All drinks, soft drinks, fruit juices, house wines and local beers
• Complimentary consultation with in-house traditional Bhutanese Medicine doctor 
• Daily 1 guaranteed treatment such as massage, hot stone herbal bath or moxibustion (click here for all available treatments)
• Daily complimentary yoga and meditation sessions in group
  
• Cooking and pottery classes, traditional Bhutanese archery and darts (click here for all experiences)
• Access to all wellbeing services and facilities such as indoor heated pool, gym, saunas and steam rooms
  
• Free laundry service (max. 4 pieces per person per day) 
• Personalised itinerary planning
• Special welcome ceremony
• Early check-in and late check-out (upon availability)

Not included in the rates:

• For all stays in Bhutan, there is an obligatory Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $ 100 per person per night which is levied by the Government of Bhutan. This is not included in the shown price and it is your responsibility to arrange this, just like the visa for Bhutan (costs $ 40 per person). These can be easily arranged together online. 
• It is possible to arrange your own trip through Bhutan but you need to make use of an official registered guide and hotel. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary has an in-house travel agency to arrange this all for you. The costs for hiring transport and a licensed guide to visit sites will be added onto the rates as well as the entry fees for touristic sites and donations.