BHUTAN RETREAT 2027
LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON
10 Day Journey Through Culture, Nature & Spirit
Seeking Expressions of Interest​
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This page offers a general outline of a potential10 day journey through the wonders of Bhutan.
A rare opportunity to immerse yourself in Bhutans incredible culture, landscapes, and spiritual traditions.
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At this stage, I am not asking for full commitment, but rather an indication of genuine interest.
If enough of us feel called to this adventure, we will move forward with detailed plans.
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If Bhutan has been on your horizon, or if this invitation sparks something in you, please let me know whether you would seriously consider joining. Your response will help us shape this journey into reality.
The Wonders of Bhutan
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Bhutan, often called the “Last Shangri-La,” is a land where ancient culture and pristine nature exist in rare harmony. Nestled in the Himalayas, its dramatic landscapes range from soaring snow peaks to lush valleys dotted with fluttering prayer flags and cliffside monasteries. Bhutan is the only country to measure its success through
Gross National Happiness, reflecting its deep commitment to wellbeing, culture, and ecological balance.
Wild yet deeply hospitable, Bhutan offers a glimpse of a world where spiritual tradition, community, and the natural environment are woven into daily life. It is a place of awe and stillness, where the sacred feels tangible in the mountains, forests, and the people themselves.
THE LEGENDARY FESTIVALS OF BHUTAN
Our journey will be timed to coincide with one of Bhutan’s legendary festivals,
where ancient tradition, dance, and devotion come vividly to life.
Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous, joyous affairs. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu & Paro
The Dzongs come to life with colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and towns folk dress in their finest clothes and join together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and other rituals are performed in the Dzong courtyard and temples. Tourists are allowed into the Dzongs to watch the spectacle, but not the inner sanctuaries.
A 10 Day Immersion in Bhutanese
Culture, Nature and Spirituality
Each day will be bookended by morning and evening practice, a steady anchor as we travel through Bhutan’s valleys, temples, and mountain paths.
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Mid journey, we will pause in a quiet corner of the countryside, taking a few days in a monestary for a deeper immersion, where stillness and practice can unfold more fully in the embrace of Bhutan’s natural and spiritual beauty.
A POTENTIAL ITINERARY
Culture
Days 1 - 3
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Living Traditions & Timeless Heritage
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To settle in, after we land in Paro, we will begin with ​
Exploring Paro Dzong and wander the charming streets of Paro town.
Visit Thimphu, Bhutan’s vibrant capital, with its markets, museums, and monasteries.
Experience the Punakha Dzong, one of the most beautiful and historic fortresses in Bhutan.
​​​Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre. Watch women weave beautifully patterned, high-quality, traditional Bhutanese fabrics on looms.
Explore the Vibrant Centenary Farmers Market and Changlimithang Archery Ground.
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.
Spirit
Days 3 - 7
Experience a Legendary Bhutanese Festival followed by a stay in a Buddhist Monestary
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​For two days, we will step into the heart of Bhutan’s legendary festivals—alive with vivid colors, sacred dances, and blessings that carry centuries of devotion. These are not performances, but living traditions..
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We then step into the stillness of monastic life, spending two nights in a Bhutanese monastery—joining the monks in their Vajrayana (Buddhist) rituals and deepening our own practice contained by the majestic silence of the mountains.
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Nature
Days 7 - 10
Nowhere in the Himalayas is the natural environment more rich and diverse than it is in Bhutan.
Bhutan’s high, rugged mountains and deep valleys are rich with spectacular biodiversity, making one of the world’s ten most important biodiversity ‘hotspots.
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While nature is an ever present experience in Bhutan, we will take time to visit and enjoy the stunning beauty of
The Haa Valley,
and of course we can't leave Bhutan without a day long to hike to Bhutans most famous site.
Tigers Nest Monestary
This itinerary is not the final plan but simply to give you an idea of the kind of journey we are considering
WHAT WILL IT COST?
​Bhutan is not a budget destination, and that’s entirely intentional.
The country follows a “high value, low impact” tourism model to protect its culture and environment.
So yes, visiting Bhutan is more expensive than many other places in Asia.
But in return, you get a more meaningful, immersive, and sustainable travel experience.​
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Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
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Bhutan replaced its previous “Minimum Daily Tariff” with the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).
This is a daily charge that all tourists (except Indian nationals) must pay.
This fee supports initiatives in conservation, education, and infrastructure.
The SDF is a per-person, per-night fee.
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Initially set at US$200, it was reduced in 2023 to US$100 for adults.
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So that is approximately AUD$150 per day before we consider other expenses
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​A Tour Guide in Bhutan
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A local tour guide is still mandatory for all foreign visitors.
We will be paying for the support of local tour operators
to help us organise all aspects of travel in Bhutan
This, of course will add to costs, but it will be money well spent,
as guides will help the whole experience run smoothly
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We have not finalised the exact itinerary and activities so we can't give the exact cost yet.
We will endeavour to keep prices down as much as possible,
but you can expect this10 day tour will cost somewhere between
AUD$5500 - $7000​​
payment plans will be available
Mountains, Monasteries, and Mysteries
A Journey Through the Treasures of Bhutan
LIMITED PLACES
The four pillars that guide Bhutan's unique path toward collective happiness are
good governance,
sustainable development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.
WATCH VIDEO
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Bhutan: A Tapestry of Mountains, Sacred Valleys, Timeless Culture.
About Paul Wooden
Paul has been practicing and studying yoga and meditation for 40 years and teaching for 35 years.
He draws from his experience in many different styles and traditions and, through a practical understanding of their underlying unifying principles, weaves together a cohesive and integrated approach to yoga.
Paul is a unique voice in the world of yoga. He has a way of bringing the sometimes abstract teaching of yoga into ordinary language making them accessible and workable in our lives.
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For Paul, yoga is first and foremost a relational process, with technique being a way to serve a deepening and more intimate relationship with ongoing moment to moment reality of our lives.
Working with Paul is an invitation to the deeper dimensions of practice. His particular way of working opens us to the sensitivity and receptivity necessary for the subtler inner practices. He has been running retreats for over 2 decades and finds them fertile ground for real transformation.
He continues to study the inexhaustible richness of the wisdom traditions and complements these studies with a more contemporary understanding of the human condition, including developmental psychology, integral theory and trauma work (somatic experiencing) which seeks to help uncover and release the binding patterns of trauma in the body.