In the morning, we'll drive to a Buddhist nunnery perched on a cliff above Paro. 

We will spend time meeting with the nuns, learning about their life there, and may join a few of their daily practices. Meeting nuns is less common than monks in Bhutan, but our trip will be rooted in both the feminine and masculine energies of spiritual practice, Bhutanese culture, and the land. 

After a short hike followed by a short drive, we'll drop down into a remote valley called Haa. Here, we will have lunch on a local family farm, and meet a local medicine practitioner to learn about indigenous forms of spirituality & mysticism as it has been traditionally practiced in Bhutan. 

In the evening, we will retreat to a cozy traditional lodge nestled into the heart of a small village. 

Overnight at Lechuna Lodge, Haa

Today we'll embark on a 5-hour hike through the undulating hills of Haa. Our intent will be to move a bit more slowly, so we can fully take in all of the benefits of this extended time outside. We'll keep conversation to a minimum so you can be present with your senses, but our guide will provide some insights as to what we are seeing and experiencing along the trail. 

After our hike we'll visit another local home for a hearty lunch, and experience Bhutan's traditional hot stone bath to restore ourselves from any tiredness. 

Later, we'll visit a local project initiated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), to learn how they are taking a community-based approach to nature and wildlife conservation in Bhutan. 

Dinner and overnight at Lechuna Lodge, Haa

Today we will drive to Thimphu (~3 hrs), which is the capital city of Bhutan (and Bhutan's only true urban area.) 

Coming to Thimphu gives you a glimpse of Bhutan's evolution as a modernizing economy. Nonetheless, meaning and reverence is still an integral element woven into the culture of the city. 

Our first stop will be a textiles shop where we will shop for a Bhutanese kira (for women) or gho (for men). This attire will be necessary when we attend the Druk Wangyal Festival a few days later. However, this shopping trip is also a chance for us to learn about what makes Bhutanese textiles so special, and to meet one of Thimphu's best weavers (she outfitted Kate Middleton during the Duchess' visit.)

After, we'll visit Thimphu's bustling farmer's market and have lunch at a nearby shop that is championing local & organic food in the capital. Enjoy some butter tea, warm momos, and Bhutanese soups made from native ingredients. 

You will have the rest of the afternoon to walk around Thimphu and explore on your own, or take a rest before dinner if you need it. 

Overnight at The Willows Hotel, Thimphu

This morning, after breakfast, we'll hike 3-4 hours (packed lunch en route) to a monastery that sits perched in the mountains above the city of Thimphu. 

This Monastery is one of Bhutan's most significant, and yet its environment is humble. Over the years, we have grown to become friends with its monastic residents and their presiding Lama. While it's a short day-hike from the city, it is also a world apart. 

After a tea and snack break and welcome from the monastic community upon arrival, we'll set our bags down and continue our hike further up into the hills above and beyond. Today will be our longest day of hiking, but also possibly the most rewarding. 

In the evening, we'll rest in our humble accommodations and enjoy a dinner together with the head Lama, who will share the story of the monastery with us.

Overnight at Monastery

In the morning, we will gather with the monastic community and join some of the morning activity, which may include chanting in their main hall, and a Dharma talk with the head Lama before we depart. 

We'll descend the trail back down to Thimphu, and drive (~3.5 hrs) to the lower valley of Punakha, before ascending again to our home for the next two evenings (we will also stop for lunch en-route.)

We we reach our next lodging, we'll take time to connect as a group and discuss our experience at the monastery before tucking in to homemade dishes prepared by our host. 

Overnight Dhumra Farm Resort

Today we will spend the day with the Tsherim Tshogpa Community of Nobgang. We'll explore the village with community members and our guide to help us translate, so that stories can be shared. 

Part of the day will be spent learning to cook local dishes that are distinct to this region of Bhutan, such as fried peppercorns with garlic and potatoes, all using organic ingredients from the community gardens. This village contains age-old recipes that even most Bhutanese have never even heard of.

While Nobgang is well-known in the country as the ancestral village of Bhutan's four Queen Mothers, not many people have traveled there. Bhutan's Dept. of Culture has initiated support programs to aid its aging population in creating jobs so that they are not left isolated. Projects such as this are helping young Bhutanese to appreciate the value of their rural culture, and our visit will help the community to keep its families together. 

In the local language, 'nobgang' means ' gem hill.' After visiting Nobgang, we'll see why. While walking across the hilltop, we'll hear the story of how an 18th century spiritual leader followed a shining light to this location...

Overnight at Dhumra Farm Resort

Today is the day you will don your gho and kira. We are heading to the annual Druk Wangyal Tsechu (festival.) 

Every year, this festival commemorates fallen Bhutanese soldiers who lost their lives in an early 21st-Century battle near the Indian border. Held at a high mountain pass that overlooks the Himalayas, this is one of Bhutan's most unique festivals. While the country's more famous spring and autumn festivals attract hordes of tourists, the Druk Wangyal is relatively more solemn, and is particularly striking as performances are carried out in front of a back-drop of snow-capped mountains. 

We'll spend about half the day taking in the festival before returning to Thimphu for a private cooking class with Aum Kesang, Bhutan's leader in restoring pride in its local and indigenous foods. 

After our cooking class and lunch, we'll drive back to Paro and retreat for the night. 

Overnight Himalayan Keys Forest Resort, Paro 

On our final full day in Bhutan, we will pilgrimage to Taktsang Monastery, otherwise known as Tiger's Nest. 

Taktsang is Bhutan's most iconic landmark and its main tourist hotspot. Fortunately for us, it is much less visited in December, which will lead to a quieter excursion for us. 

The Tiger's Nest is also an important pilgrimage site for the Bhutanese. Today, this is where our exploration of reverence reaches its peak. Deserving of the utmost respect, we'll use this day hike as an opportunity to discuss how we can build more reverence (for nature, for culture, for each other) into our own lives. 

After lunch and final hot stone bath at a local farm home, we'll head back to our lodge for our final dinner and a celebration. 

Overnight Himalayan Keys Forest Resort, Paro