BHUTAN RETREAT
8 Day Journey Through
THE LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON
April 2028
Our 2027 tour is now fully booked
Due to interest in a shorter and less expensive option, I am now seeking expressions of interest for this 8 day retreat/tour through Bhutan during the spring festival time (April) in 2028.
The Wonders of Bhutan
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 four pillars that guide Bhutan's unique path toward collective happiness are
good governance,
sustainable development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation.
THE LEGENDARY FESTIVALS OF BHUTAN
Our journey coincides with Bhutan’s legendary spring festival season, a time when sacred dance,
tradition, and devotion awaken the living spirit of tradition.
Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous, joyous affairs.
The Dzongs (monasteries) 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.
OUR TOUR
A 8 Day Immersion in Bhutanese
Culture, Nature and Spirituality
Each day of our journey is bookended by morning and evening practice — a steady anchor as we travel through Bhutan’s valleys, temples, and mountain paths.
While Bhutan offers enough depth to explore for months, this pilgrimage is designed as a meaningful immersion, allowing us to experience the essence of this remarkable kingdom with presence, ease and spaciousness.
THE FOUR MAIN HIGHLIGHTS
Thimpu
1 NIGHT
Thimphu, Bhutan's charming capital, gracefully blends traditional Bhutanese culture with contemporary life, without losing its deep spiritual character. Wander through local markets, visit ancient monasteries and sacred temples, admire exquisite Bhutanese craftsmanship.
Punakha Valley
2 NIGHTS
Punakha Valley is a place of remarkable beauty.
Ancient monasteries, suspension bridges draped with prayer flags, traditional villages, and the magnificent Punakha Dzong create a landscape where culture, nature, and spirituality remain deeply intertwined.
Haa Valley
Spring festival
3 NIGHTS
Witness mesmerising masked dances, colorful traditional costumes, sacred rituals in the enchanting Haa valley, one of Bhutans most beautiful natural landscapes
Tigers Nest
FULL DAY HIKE
Tiger’s Nest Monastery is Bhutans most famous landmark. Perched dramatically on a cliffside 900 meters above the Paro Valley, it offers breathtaking blend of spiritual devotion, Himalayan architecture, and pilgrimage mystique.
ITINERARY
Please Note ; This is a suggested itinerary and still to be finalised with Tour agent.
Each day will be bookended with morning and evening practice with Paul
Arrival in Paro → Transfer to Punakha Valley
DAY 1
We meet at Bangkok Airport for our early flight to Bhutan.
After arriving at Paro International Airport, we head directly to the spectacular Punakha valley.
· Overnight: Punakha
Explore Punakha Valley
DAY 2
Punakha Valley is one of Bhutan’s most enchanting landscapes. At its heart lies the magnificent Punakha Dzong, set dramatically at the confluence of two rivers. With its warm climate, fertile valleys and timeless Buddhist culture, Punakha offers a glimpse of Bhutan at its most serene, fertile and deeply spiritual.
· Overnight: Punakha
Thimpu
DAY 3
Thimphu is Bhutan’s vibrant mountain capital, where ancient Buddhist traditions meet a quietly modern way of life. Thimphu offers colourful markets, sacred monasteries, traditional arts and crafts, and striking Himalayan views. A fascinating place to experience Bhutan’s living culture, spirituality and unique national identity.
Overnight: Thimpu
Tigers Nest
DAY 4
Tiger’s Nest (Paro Taktsang) is Bhutan’s most iconic sacred site, dramatically perched on a sheer cliff high above the Paro Valley. A hike up a beautiful mountain trail through pine forest, prayer flags and breathtaking Himalayan scenery, the monastery is steeped in legend and spiritual significance. A powerful and unforgettable journey to one of the Himalayas’ most extraordinary places.
· Overnight: Paro
Haa Valley Spring Festival
DAY 5
After morning practice and breakfast, we head through incredible mountain scenery to the Haa Valley for the spectacular Spring festival celebrations.
· Overnight: Haa Valley
Haa Valley Spring Festival
DAY 6
Haa Valley Festival is a vibrant celebration of Bhutanese culture set amidst the pristine beauty of one of Bhutan’s most secluded valleys. Experience traditional music, dance, local food, ancient customs and traditional sports, while meeting the people and discovering the unique heritage of this remote Himalayan community.
· Overnight: Haa Valley
Paro
DAY 7
After our final morning in Haa valley, we head back to Paro to explore colourful local markets, traditional handicrafts, and the charming streets of Paro town.
As our journey comes to an end, we’ll take time to pause, reflect and savour the experiences we’ve shared. The places we’ve visited, the people we’ve met, the beauty we’ve encountered and the moments of connection along the way
· Overnight: Paro
We Say Goodbye to Bhutan
DAY 8
After one last morning practice together we head to the airport for our flight back to Bangkok
Accomodation and Food
Accommodation will vary as we move from place to place. From comfy rooms at villas and resorts,
and cosy intimate rooms at homestays.
Below you will find some images of what to expect regarding accommodation in Bhutan.
Food in Bhutan
Bhutanese food is hearty and deeply comforting, centred on rice, seasonal vegetables, chillies, and rich cheese-based dishes, blending earthy mountain flavours with a warming, rustic simplicity.
In Bhutan, traditional cooking methods are still preserved and farm-to-table food is the norm. Most meals are native to the region and simple to prepare. While the central region is well known for traditional cottage cheese, maize, potatoes, and other vegetables are farmed extensively in eastern Bhutan. Vegetable, rice, and lentil soups are a favourite in Bhutan’s Himalayan regions, keeping the locals warm during the harsh winters. The Bhutanese also eat a lot of foraged greens like fiddlehead ferns.
Let me know your dietary needs so we can accommodate you.
Cost
RETREAT/TOUR
SHARED ROOM - $5750
SINGLE ROOM - $6250
This price includes the
Return Flight From Bangkok to Bhutan
and
the mandatory Sustainable Development Fee.
$1500
DEPOSIT REQUIRED
TO SECURE YOUR SPOT
Includes
-
7 Nights Accommodation
-
All Meals
-
Sustainable Development Fee
-
Visa Fee
-
All Internal Travel with Guide
-
Festival
-
Return Flight From Bangkok to Bhutan
-
Bottled water
&
Practice with Paul twice per day
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Not Included
Return Flights Australia to Bangkok
Extra Drinks
Tips
Massages and Wellness Treatments
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) 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, approximately AUD$150 per day.
For a 8 day tour, your contribution to these initiatives is approximately $1000.
This is already included in price.
A Tour Guide in Bhutan
A local tour guide is mandatory for all foreign visitors.
We will have the support of a local tour operator to help us organise all aspects of travel in Bhutan.
This, of course will help the whole experience run smoothly.
PLEASE NOTE
LIMITED PLACES
Early commitment is important because we need to travel and operate as a cohesive group.
Our tour agent organises our Visas and the arrival and departure flights to and from Bangkok. In Bhutan these are closely linked.
Once flights are booked, adding late participants can create logistical challenges:
Seats on the Bangkok–Paro--Bangkok flight may no longer be available, which will throw a spanner in the works and could disrupt the carefully planned arrival and departure schedule.
To ensure a smooth, shared experience for everyone, it’s essential that the group is confirmed well in advance and moves together.
Bookings are on a first in, best dressed bases.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Once flights (as mentioned above) have been issued, all airfare refunds are strictly subject to the terms and conditions of the airline.
We will be travelling with Druk Air; so any refund, credit, or cancellation outcome relating to flights is determined solely by the airline and remains outside the control of the tour organiser or booking agent. Having said that, Druk Air has a pretty favourable Refund Policy.
The following cancellation terms apply to all non-flight tour costs:
-
Cancellations made before March 31, 2027 will receive a 50% refund of the tour price, unless the participant’s place is filled, in which case a full refund (less administration fee) may be issued.
-
Cancellations made after March 31, 2027 are non-refundable, unless the participant’s place can be filled, in which case a full refund (less administration fee) may be issued at the sole discretion of the organiser.
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.
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.
PAY IN FULL
SHARED ROOM - $5750
Includes Bangkok - Paro flight & SDF
SINGLE ROOM - $6250
Includes Bangkok - Paro flight & SDF
PAYMENT PLAN
SHARED ROOM
DEPOSIT - $1500
DUE NOV 2026
MARCH 2027 - $2150
AUGUST 2027 - $2150
Includes Bangkok - Paro flight & SDF
PAYMENT PLAN
SINGLE ROOM
DEPOSIT - $1500
DUE NOV 2026
MARCH 2027 - $2400
AUGUST 2027 - $2400
Includes Bangkok - Paro flight & SDF