A 12 Day Spiritual Retreat to the Kingdom of Bhutan with Group Leader Alicia LoBiondo

Trip Highlights

• Visit the Second Largest Buddha in the World-The Buddha Dordenma- Thimphu
• Hike the legendary Tiger’s Nest- Paro
• Travel to 3 major cities in Bhutan: Thimphu, Punakha, Paro
• Receive various Buddhist Teachings from the Lamas, including meditation instruction *Optional
• Astrology Monastic College-get a reading from the lamas
• Visit 7th Century Temples and make offerings of butter lamps, incense
• Soak in the Medicinal Hot Stone Baths
• Practice archery, the national sport of Bhutan, and dinner at a farmhouse in Paro
• Nature trail hikes in every city
• Yoga practice in every city with Alicia
• Yoga and Sound Healing with Bhutanese Yoga Instructor in Thimphu
• Thangka Painting with Master Bhutanese Artist

What’s not Included in the Tour Price?

• SDF-The Sustainable Development Fee (*SDF): paid separately to the Royal Government of Bhutan and Immigration, this is a $100 USD royalty per person, per day
• Bhutan Visa Fee
• Your International Flight into and out of Bhutan via Kathmandu, New Delhi or Bangkok
• Your transiting Visa for the hub countries you will be responsible for attaining your transit Visa
• Tips for Driver and Guide, read more in the Bhutan Checklist about suggested tipping.

• All inclusive Tour price, $3,350 USD per person, paid to Cypress Himalaya via Wire Transfer
• 12 Day *SDF-Sustainable Development Fee (daily royalty) $1,200 USD. We submit your Visa application to Immigration, and they submit to us your Visa, we email it to you. Please send a 2×2 white back ground passport size photo (you can email this to us)
• Visa Fee is $40 USD paid to Immigration
• Flights into Bhutan. There are only 3 International Hubs that our 2 Bhutanese Airlines fly everyday into Bhutan. Please choose, Round Trip flights Approximate Cost from these Hubs only: WE book your seats. Approximate Cost: Kathmandu, Nepal-$470 USD, Bangkok, Thailand -$935, New, Delhi, India $570
• All Taxes included

Alicia LoBiondo-Certified Yoga Instructor and Group Leader

Food/Meal Options

• Breakfast will be a choice of continental, breads, pancakes ,eggs, coffee and teas. 
• Lunch and dinners consist of freshly cooked organic vegetables, a meat dish and either Bhutanese red rice or white rice, and a noodle dish.  
• Veg and Non Veg options at each meal, sometimes influenced by the cuisine of India, Nepal, chefs will try to incorporate traditional dishes of Bhutan. 
• None of the main dishes are spicy. 

Traditional Bhutanese foods

Please inform us of your food sensitivities, we will try our best to adjust the menus

• Bhutan is close to 100 percent organic, we will visit some incredible market places in Paro and Thimphu if time permits.
• Red Rice is by far the most popular exported grain, (pictured)
• The main dish for the Bhutanese is a chili cheese dish called Ema Datshi, and also momo’s which are a dumpling influenced from Tibet and Nepal.
• Beef, chicken and pork are the most popular meats, there is no butchery in Bhutan, it’s imported from India. 

Helpful Links and Resources about Bhutan

• Tiger’s Nest Monastery– Paro Taktsang, the most famous destination in Bhutan and in the Buddhist world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang
• About Bhutan-The Land of the Thunder Dragon. Editorial Highlights, Monarchy, Heritage, Policies and more https://bhutan.travel/about

• History of Gross National Happiness (GNH) https://www.gnhcentrebhutan.org/history-of-gnh/
• Buddha Dordenma-2nd Largest Seated Buddha in the world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Dordenma_statue
• Bhutanese favorite pastimes, Hot Stone Baths: https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/hot-stone-baths-the-bath-culture-of-bhutan
• More about our activity in Neyphu, Paro https://takemyclassinbhutan.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=112&action=edit