Day 1
Boudha

ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (D)

Arrival and pick up at Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu. We drive straight to our guesthouse in Boudha, five minutes walking distance to the sacred Boudha Stupa. There may be time to rest from the journey or go for a walk to the Boudha Stupa. In the afternoon there will be an introduction to the meditation journey by instructors Alex d’Artois & Sisse Budolfsen.

Overnight: Boudha

Day 2
Boudha

FULL DAY IN BOUDHA (B, L, D)

Morning meditation session followed by breakfast. We have our introduction session to Buddhist philosophy before lunch. After lunch and a rest, we walk to the Boudha Stupa and Shechen Monastery, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu. We get to visit Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s meditation room, the founder of Shechen Monastery and one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters of out time. We have dinner in Boudha and overnight at the guesthouse.

Overnight: Boudha

Day 3
Shivapuri National Park

HIKE FROM KOPAN TO SHIVAPURI NATIONALPARK (B, L, D)

Morning meditation and breakfast. After breakfast we start our 6-7 hike that day up to Kopan and from there across the Northern hills of the Kathmandu valley to Shivapuri National Park. On our way we stop at Nagi Gompa, a nunnery nestled in the national park and we pay homage to Tulku Urgyen, the late founder of the nunnery and one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters of his generation. We take our lunch at the nunnery before doing the last stretch of the hike up to the beautifully located cottage where we will stay for the next coming nights. Dinner and overnight at the cottage.

Overnight: Shivapuri National Park

Day 4
Shivapuri National Park

FULL DAY AT THE COTTAGE IN SHIVAPURI NATIONAL PARK (B, L, D)

Morning meditation and breakfast. We spend the full day at the cottage in the Shivapuri National Park. Free morning and lunch at the cottage. In the afternoon we have a meditation and philosophy session followed by a sunset view over the Kathmandu valley. Dinner and overnight at the cottage.

Overnight: Shivapuri National Park

Day 5
Swayambhu

WE DRIVE TO SWAYAMBHU (B, L, D)

Morning meditation and breakfast at the cottage. After breakfast we drive to Swayambhu and settle into our hotel which is 20 min walk from the Stupa. We take lunch at the hotel.

Overnight: Swayambhu

Day 6
Paro

WE FLY TO PARO, BHUTAN (B, L, D)

After breakfast we depart for the international airport and fly to Paro, Bhutan. We visit Dhuntse and Kyichu Lakhang – the house of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters of this century. We spend the night at a lovely resort.

Overnight: Paro

Day 7
Jala Dzong

WE DRIVE TO JALA DZONG (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we drive to up the hill behind the dzong to begin our walk to Jala Dzong. We have lunch at camp and then visit the Dzong and enjoy the day at this location. This is also a famous location for encountering the national flower of Bhutan – the blue poppy – but only during summer season. We spend the night camping at Jala Dzong.

Overnight: Jala Dzong

Day 8
Lataykha Monastery

WE CAMP AT LATAYKHA MONASTERY (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we continue our walk to Lataykha monastery, which is a retreat location for Buddhist practitioners in the region. From this location, we can enjoy great views of Hemphug Monastery, Bemri and Phurdo Gompa.

Overnight: Lataykha monastery

Day 9
Paro

HIKE TO BEMRI, SITE OF THE 100,000 DAKINIS (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we walk to Bemri a sacred site which is known as the mountain of 100,000 Dakinis who took flight from here. We continue hiking for visits at Dhunkalha or Phurdo Gompa and return to hotel by vehicle. We spend the night at a beautifully located resort in Paro.

Overnight: Paro

Day 10
Haa Valley

CHELE LA & KILAY NUNNERY (B, L, D)

We rise early for the drive to Chele la and visit Kilay gompa (nunnery) along the way. We have a picnic lunch at the top of the pass where we will get great Himalaya views if the weather is clear. After this continue down the back side of the pass to Haa valley. We spend the night at a beautiful farmhouse.

Overnight: Haa Valley

Day 11
Thimphu valley

VISIT TO SHEKHAR DRAK & THIMPHU (B, L, D)

We visit Shekhar Drak (dedicated to Avalokitsvara, Buddha of Compassion) and continue on driving the back road of Haa. We will stop for a picnic lunch at the scenic Dobsey Dzong. We continue onto Thimphu and check into the hotel. In the afternoon – free time for exploring the city. Prior to dinner, we pay a visit to the Dordenma Buddha which sits above the city and overlooks the entire Thimphu valley.

Overnight: Thimphu valley

Day 12
Paro

RETURN TO PARO (B, L, D)

We spend the morning (half day) in Thimphu – and we can select from visits to: Zorig Chusu the School of 13 Traditional Arts, Textile Museum, the Traditional Medical Center or Memorial Chorten. Lunch in Thimphu and then return to Paro with a stop at Tamchoe monastery the famous location of Iron bridge builder Thang Thong Gyalpo and see his chain bridge and other relics located here. We spend the night back at a beautiful resort in Paro.

Overnight: Paro

Day 13
Paro

TAKTSANG/TIGER’S NEST (B, L, D)

We begin our early morning pilgrimage walk to Taktsang Monastery or the famous Tiger’s Nest. On the way back down, we have lunch at the Taktsang “cafeteria”. Return to the hotel where an optional Bhutanese hot stone bath can be organized (at an additional cost) and a farewell dinner for our last night in Bhutan.

Overnight: Paro

Day 14
Boudha

RETURN TO KATHMANDU (B, L, D)

We return to Kathmandu, Nepal by morning flight and spend our last night in Boudha. Free day and farewell dinner at Roadhouse in Boudha, with direct view to the Stupa.

Overnight: Boudha

Day 15
Kathmandu

DAY OF DEPARTURE (B)

We provide transportation to the airport.