The influence of Buddhism is highly visible in every aspect of Bhutan and Bhutanese life. Countless sacred monasteries, temples, stupas, religious institutions, prayer flags and
prayer wheels which dot the countryside provide a strong infrastructure and atmosphere for the teach- ings of the living faith. Religious ceremonies and rituals are performed regularly with reverence through- out the country. On auspicious days Bhutanese families make pilgrimages to manasteries to offer prayers and butter lamps.

Embark on a journey that will open your heart and mind. Experience and understand a rich spiritual tradition past and present of this last Mahayana Buddhist kingdom in the himalayas. This is a special journey for your inner self.

Day 1: Arrive Paro
Day 2: Hike to Dzongdrakha Temple
Day 3: & 4 : Thimphu
Day 5 : Thimphu -Punakha -Gangtey Gompa
Day 6 : Gangtey -Tongsa
Day 7 : Tongsa -Jakar
Day 8 : Jakar
Day 9: Jakar -Singkhar valley
Day 10 : Shingkhar -Tongsa
Day 11 : Tongsa -Thimphu
Day12:Thimphu
Day 13 : Thimphu -Paro (hike up to the viewpoint of Taktsang Monastery
Day 14 : Paro -Bangkok/Delhi/Katmandhu Special arrangements on this trip:

a) Special performance of festival mask dances by the Royal Academy of Performing Arts;

b) A butter lamp offering ceremony and special prayers (for world peace) by monks at a Bhutanese family house. You will also have a chance to taste the Bhutanese butter tea. A tradtional Bhutanese lunch will be served at the ceremony with the monks.

c) In Jakar, we will visit the holy site and pilgrimage place of Membertso, which means burning lake, it is actually a gorge than a lake, and refers to the most famous episode of Pemalingpa's life. To silence sceptical minds, the saint plunged into the river with a burning butter lamp and declared: I "if I am a demon, I shall ~ie!. If I d~n't, an~ I am the true spiritual son of Guru Rinpoche, thIS lamp will continue to bum even under water and I will recover hidden holy treasures !". Pemalingpa discovered the treasures and the place took its present name. Here each of us will float a butter lamp with special prayers.

d) At Dochula or Pelela, a prayer flag will be hosted in the name of every member of the group. Arrangements can also be made to include the names of their loved ones on the prayer flag. The prayer flags will be especially blessed by monks before hosting. Prayer flags transmit prayers to the Gods and keep up a constant communication with the heavens. Prayer flags fluttering in the wind are a simple reminder of the clarity and ubiquity of the Buddhist faith.

e) In Paro, a hike to Dzongdrakha Temple will be arranged. Dzongdrakha (8,100') is situated on the cliffs above the terraced fields of Bondhey village, an area in which Guru Rinpoche meditated in the 8th cen- tury. Dzongdragkha is a peaceful village with four special temples. The four different temples are dedicated to "Tara" , "Tshering- ma" the goddess of long life, "Guru Rinpoche" and "Jowo Jampa", the future Buddha.

[Contact us for detailed itinerary]

Tashidelek!