8 Days In-Depth West Bhutan Meditation Tour

Highlights: Arrive in Paro and enjoy your leisure time in the town.

Welcome to Bhutan, the land of the “Thunder Dragon”.

Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport and give a brief introduction about themselves.

Then, you will be transferred to the hotel to check in and enjoy your leisure time in the town.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro city leisure time

Highlights: Visit landmarks including Ta Dzong Museum and Rinpung Dzong, and meditate in Kyichu Lhakhang.

After breakfast, you will visit the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry, etc. It offers a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past.

Then, you will go to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, which was built during the seventh century. You can do meditation in the Kyichu Temple, and the Buddhist master in the monastery will guide you.

After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress built in the 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Paro Rinpung Dzong

Highlights: Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery and do meditation.

In the morning after breakfast, you will start your hike to Taktsang Monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery. You will spend 5 to 6 hours on the hike.

As you approach the monastery, you will come across forests of prayer flags. This site will already prepare you for mediation at the holy place. After lunch, you can start today's first meditation. The place is naturally conducive to meditation, having been blessed by several enlightened beings in the past.

Then, you will continue hiking up to Taktshang Monastery, one of the greatest holy places associated with Guru Rinpoche in the entire Himalayan region. It's calm and tranquil, the physical environment most suited for meditation.

After exploring the monastery, you will begin your return tour to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Meditation in Tiger's Nest Monastery

Highlights: Visit the National Memorial Chorten, Buddha Dordenma and Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu.

Today, you will be transferred to Thimphu (2,350m), the capital city of Bhutan. Covering a total distance of nearly 54 kilometers, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Thimphu from Paro (2,250m).

After arriving in Thimphu, your guide will assist you in checking into the hotel. Later, you will visit the National Memorial Chorten, which was built in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third King of Bhutan, in 1974.

After that, you can explore Tashichho Dzong, the eminent fortress where the national government and central monastic body are located. In addition, here sits the summer residence of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.

Thereafter, you will head to visit Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. Here, you can see the 169-foot bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma, Vajra Throne Buddha, one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Visit Buddha Dordenma

Highlights: Hike to Tango and Cheri Monastery and do meditation.

Today, you'll visit Tango and Cheri Monastery, which are located north of Thimphu on two adjacent hills.

First, you'll reach Tango Monastery, where you can interact with the English-speaking monks. The monastery, a Buddhist institute, is about an hour’s walk uphill along well-maintained paths. Founded by Lama Gyalwa Lhanama in the 13th century, the current structure was built in 1688 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Tango Monastery also includes meditation caves where saints meditated and performed miracles starting in the 12th century.

Next, you will visit the Cheri Monastery, another one and a half hour hike uphill. Also called Chagri Dorjeden, the Monastery was established in 1620 by Lama Zhabdrung. Cheri was the first of a series of monasteries built by Lama Zhabdrung, the saint who unified Bhutan. Presently, the Monastery serves as a major teaching, meditation, and retreat center.

Stay overnight at the meditation house above Cheri monastery.

Hike to Tango Monastery

Highlights: Meditate at Dochula Pass and visit Punakha Dzong and Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in Punakha.

After breakfast, you will start the journey from Thimphu to Punakha (1,242m). The distance from Thimphu to Punakha is 71 kilometers, and it will take you 3 hours to get there.

On the way, you will have an excellent opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the solemn Bhutan Himalaya Ranges and even take photos at the impressive collection of 108 chortens at Dochula Pass (3,140m). You can also do self-meditation on the top of Dochula Pass, have hot tea at Dochula cafe, and then continue your drive to the warm valley of Punakha.

After arriving at Punakha, you will head to visit the Punakha Dzong. Standing by the riverside of Pho Chu and Mo Chu, Punakha Dzong is one of the most impressive buildings and one of the top favorite attractions in Bhutan. Moreover, the rectangular-shaped fortress is also an honorable treasury that preserves numerous Buddhist relics and historical legacies.

After witnessing the superb Punakha Dzong, you will continue to visit Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. It sits majestically on a ridge above Punakha valley with an amazing view of the countryside and the hills below.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Punakha Dzong

Highlights: Visit Chimi Lhakhang and Wangdue Dzong.

Today, you will get up early to explore Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Chime Monastery, a beautiful Buddhist monastery situated in the Punakha District of Bhutan. It stands on a small round hillock close to the village of Lobesa and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel. The place offers a peaceful setting, perfect for enjoying meditation. After that, the car will drive you back to Paro from Punakha.

Next, you will stop at the Wangdue Dzong, founded by Zhandrung in 1639. Situated on a hill commanding a breathtaking view of the valley, it is believed that Bhutan’s protective deity, Yeshey Gonpo, told Shabdrug Rimpoche that if he constructs a dzong on this ridge, he would be able to command the entire country.

In the afternoon, you will continue the overland journey back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Visit Chimi Lhakhang

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

The tour services end.