RIGHT OF PURIFICATION

There’s something fascinatingly untarnished about Bhutan, where Gross National Happiness is determined as being more important than Gross National Product, and monks are still found playing board games, sharing stories and laughing. While the Buddhist Kingdom, also known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, has seen more hotels and shops pop up to provide for travellers, its culture and traditions have held firm.  

Immerse yourself in this gloriously unfaltering culture, with a wellness escape steeped in spiritual traditions. On arrival into the valley town of Paro, after taking in its ornate buildings and sacred sites, you’ll be whisked away in a private car to the first of four incredible lodges to experience Bhutanese therapies such as traditional hot-stone baths. For the next few days you’ll be free to explore the magic of Bhutan at your own pace, from the sprawling forests and lush green valleys, to the sacred monasteries. 

You’ll take a refreshing hike up to the Tango Monastery (the premier Buddhist academic institution in Bhutan), visit the Dochula to take in a stunning panoramic view of the Himalayas, and hoist a traditional prayer flag to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. At Gangtey Goenpa, you will have a chance to talk with the monks who still reside within the monastery, taking in their culture and philosophies. 

In a remote glacial valley, you can discover healing springs within hidden caves, and you’ll have the great honour of sharing a meal with local monks. You’ll witness a traditional ceremony of Tsechu dances at a local monastery, where you will receive a rite of purification to cleanse your body, speech and mind and receive blessings for a long and prosperous life. Your journey will culminate in a hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest. Through lush pine forests and colourful prayer banners, you’ll trek to the sacred Buddhist site where you will and take part in an offering of 108 Butter Lamps, symbolising the wisdom of the awakened mind. 

You will return home after this incredibly special trip with a free mind and awakened spirit.