The Mandala Within
This is a journey through Bhutan at a slower pace — a chance to explore, experience and take a little time for yourself. Along the way, you will create your own personal mandala, adding something inspired by what you see and experience each day. By the end of the journey, your circle will be filled with your own story of Bhutan.
About This Tour
An Empty Circle, Waiting to Be Filled
This is a journey through Bhutan at a slower pace — a chance to explore, experience and take a little time for yourself.
Along the way, you will create your own personal mandala. Each day, you will add something inspired by what you see and experience — a mountain, a colour, a place, a feeling or simply a moment you want to remember. There is no right or wrong way to draw it.
By the end of the journey, your circle will be filled with your own story of Bhutan. You will still see Bhutan’s temples, dzongs, mountains, villages and famous landmarks, but you will not simply move from one place to another — each day gives you a chance to slow down, notice something and make it part of your own story.
At the end of the journey, you experience something very different: creating a sand mandala and then watching it disappear. One mandala stays with you. The other teaches you to let go. That is what makes this journey different — you do not just leave Bhutan with photographs. You leave with something you created from your own experience.
“We create. We experience. We let go. And we carry something forward.”
“By the end of the journey, your circle will be filled with your own story of Bhutan.”
One mandala is created from sand and released. The other begins empty and travels home with you.
Quick Overview
Tour at a Glance
Everything you need to know about this 7-day Bhutan journey at a glance.
🗓️ Duration
7 Days
📍 Destinations
Paro • Thimphu • Punakha
✈️ Arrival & Departure
Paro International Airport
🧭 Travel Style
Cultural • Nature • Slow Travel • Reflection
🥾 Physical Activity
Easy to challenging, depending on the day
🎨 Signature Experiences
Sand mandala • Personal mandala • Meditation & sound healing
💰 Tour Price
USD $1,330 per person (based on five travelers)
🏔️ Highlight Hike
Taktshang / Tiger's Nest
What’s Included
What's Included in This Tour
When you travel with Kingdom of Happiness Tours, everything has been carefully arranged so you can simply relax and enjoy your journey through the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Bhutan Visa Arrangement
We handle your Bhutan tourist visa application on your behalf before arrival, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
Your daily Sustainable Development Fee, required by the Royal Government of Bhutan, is fully included. Your contribution supports Bhutan's free healthcare, education, environmental conservation and cultural preservation.
Professional Licensed Bhutanese Guide
You'll be accompanied throughout by an experienced, English-speaking licensed guide who shares local stories, cultural insights, history and traditions beyond what guidebooks offer.
Private Transportation
Travel comfortably in a private, air-conditioned SUV with an experienced Bhutanese driver, with the flexibility to stop whenever you wish for photographs or short breaks.
Carefully Selected Accommodation
A unique combination of comfortable hotels and a traditional Bhutanese homestay, each selected to provide a different perspective of Bhutan.
Daily Meals
Freshly prepared Bhutanese and international cuisine throughout your journey — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea/coffee with snacks at every break. Vegetarian and special dietary needs can be arranged.
Entry Fees
All entrance fees to monasteries, dzongs, museums, cultural sites, national monuments and parks are included in your package.
24/7 Local Support
Our team remains available throughout your journey — for travel advice, medical assistance, itinerary adjustments or local recommendations, we're only a phone call away.
Tour Highlights
Highlights of This Journey
Experience Bhutan through a combination of cultural landmarks, mountain landscapes, quiet walks and personal reflection.
- Fly into Bhutan through the dramatic Himalayan landscape surrounding Paro.
- Explore Ta Dzong, the former watchtower overlooking Paro Valley and now home to the National Museum.
- Visit Paro Dzong and cross its traditional wooden bridge.
- Visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest temples.
- Discover the traditional practice of creating a Buddhist sand mandala.
- Make your first mark on your own personal mandala.
- Travel from Paro to Thimphu and experience everyday life in Bhutan's capital.
- Visit the National Memorial Chorten and Farmers' Market.
- Walk through Thimphu town.
- Hike through the hills and forests above Thimphu.
- Visit a traditional Bhutanese incense factory.
- See Bhutan's national animal, the takin.
- Explore the Folk Heritage
- Explore the Folk Heritage Museum and traditional mud house
- Experience the flag-lowering ceremony at Tashichho Dzong.
- Travel through Dochula Pass between Thimphu and Punakha.
- Experience meditation and sound healing in the mountains.
- Visit the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens.
- Walk through the countryside to Chimi Lhakhang
- Spend quiet time beside the river in Punakha.
- Explore Punakha Dzong between the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.
- Cross the Punakha Suspension Bridge.
- Return to Paro and complete your personal mandala.
- Hike to Taktshang Monastery, better known as Tiger's Nest.
- Create a small sand mandala yourself.
- Witness the release of the sand mandala as a reflection on impermanence.
- Leave Bhutan with your own personal mandala — a circle filled with memories of the journey.
Why This Journey Is Different
A Journey You Slow Down to Feel
Most journeys through Bhutan are about visiting beautiful places and seeing as much as possible. This one gives you a little more time to feel the journey.
You will still see Bhutan’s temples, dzongs, mountains, villages and famous landmarks, but you will not simply move from one place to another. Each day gives you a chance to slow down, notice something and make it part of your own story.
The mandala becomes a quiet thread throughout the journey. You start with an empty circle and, day by day, fill it with small pieces of your experience — a colour, a mountain, a feeling, a memory or something that caught your attention. There is no pressure to create a beautiful artwork — it is simply your space to pause and reflect.
“One mandala stays with you. The other teaches you to let go. That is what makes this journey different.”
And at the end, you experience something very different: creating a sand mandala and then watching it disappear.
“You do not just leave Bhutan with photographs. You leave with something you created from your own experience.”
Quick Reference
Your Journey at a Glance
A day-by-day snapshot of the route and the main experiences along the way.
- Day 1Arrive in ParoParo Valley • National Museum • Paro Dzong • Kyichu Lhakhang
- Day 2Paro → ThimphuSand mandala experience • Tachog Lhakhang • Memorial Chorten • Farmers’ Market
- Day 3ThimphuBuddha Point hike • Incense Factory • Takin Preserve • Folk Heritage Museum • Tashichho Dzong
- Day 4Thimphu → PunakhaDochula Pass • Meditation & sound healing • 108 Chortens • Chimi Lhakhang • Riverside
- Day 5Punakha → ParoPunakha Dzong • Suspension Bridge • Paro town • Complete personal mandala
- Day 6ParoTaktshang / Tiger’s Nest • Sand mandala creation & release
- Day 7Paro → DepartureFinal reflection • Completed mandala • Airport departure
Who Is This Journey For?
Designed for Travellers Who Don't Want to Rush
The Mandala Within is designed for travellers who want to experience Bhutan without rushing from one attraction to another. It may particularly appeal to travellers who enjoy:
Cultural experiences
Mountain landscapes
Gentle reflection
Walking and hiking
Traditional Bhutanese life
Meditation and quiet time
Creative experiences
Slow travel
The journey does include physical activity, including a 2–3-hour hike in Thimphu and the more challenging hike to Taktshang.
Why This Journey Is Different
Beyond Sightseeing — A Journey You Help Create
Most journeys through Bhutan are about visiting beautiful places and seeing as much as possible. This one gives you a little more time to feel the journey.
You will still see Bhutan’s temples, dzongs, mountains, villages and famous landmarks, but you will not simply move from one place to another. Each day gives you a chance to slow down, notice something and make it part of your own story.
The mandala becomes a quiet thread throughout the journey. You start with an empty circle and, day by day, fill it with small pieces of your experience — a colour, a mountain, a feeling, a memory or something that caught your attention.
There is no pressure to create a beautiful artwork. It is simply your space to pause and reflect.
And at the end, you experience something very different: creating a sand mandala and then watching it disappear. That is what makes this journey different.
One mandala stays with you.
The other teaches you to let go.
You do not just leave Bhutan with photographs. You leave with something you created from your own experience.
You do not just leave Bhutan with photographs.
You leave with something you created from your own experience.
Day by Day
The Full 7-Day Bhutan Itinerary
ARRIVAL DAY · PARO
📍 Arrive in Paro — The Empty Circle
Your journey begins with a beautiful flight into Paro, one of the world’s unique mountain airports. As the aircraft makes its way through the Himalayan mountains, your first glimpse of Bhutan reveals green valleys, traditional villages, prayer flags and mountains stretching into the distance.
After completing your arrival formalities, your guide will welcome you at the airport. From here, we begin the drive through the beautiful Paro Valley.
Arrive in Paro and Settle Into the Valley
Once you have checked into your hotel, there is time to rest and settle in after your flight. There is no need to rush — you have just arrived in Bhutan.
Visit Ta Dzong and the National Museum
Our first sightseeing stop is Ta Dzong, the former watchtower overlooking the valley and now home to the National Museum. Walking through the museum, you begin to discover Bhutan through art, history, traditions and stories from Bhutan’s past.
Explore Paro Dzong
From Ta Dzong, continue to Paro Dzong. Cross the traditional wooden bridge before entering the dzong and take time to appreciate the traditional Bhutanese architecture, the views across Paro Valley, the surrounding mountains and the details of the wooden bridge.
Visit Kyichu Lhakhang
Continue to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples. This is a quieter experience and a good place to begin understanding the spiritual traditions woven into everyday life in Bhutan.
The Empty Circle
For the first day, there is nothing you need to accomplish. You have just arrived. Let yourself settle into the surroundings — notice the landscape, the mountains, the temples, the small details.
By evening, return to the hotel for dinner and a restful night. There is nothing to draw tonight. Your circle is still empty. Tomorrow, you will make the first mark.
PARO → THIMPHU
📍 Paro to Thimphu — Discover the Sand Mandala and Make Your First Mark
Today introduces the central idea of the journey: the mandala. You will learn how a traditional sand mandala is created, have the opportunity to work with coloured sand yourself, and then begin creating a personal circle inspired by your own experiences in Bhutan.
Discover the Sand Mandala Tradition
This morning, visit the Phuba Sand Mandala Display Center. Here, you will meet the person responsible for the centre and learn about the traditional Buddhist practice of creating mandalas with coloured sand — seeing how the sand is carefully placed to create intricate patterns, learning the meaning behind different elements, and experiencing the patience and concentration involved. You will also have the opportunity to create a small section of a sand mandala yourself under guidance.
Begin Your Own Personal Mandala
From here, you begin creating something of your own. Your mandala is not a copy of a religious mandala or a sacred Buddhist design — it is personal to you. Think of it simply as a personal drawing that gradually becomes a collection of your experiences, thoughts and memories from Bhutan. You do not need to know how to draw and it does not have to look perfect. You can use colours, lines, shapes, patterns, simple drawings, memories or feelings. Each day, you will return to your circle and add something.
Make the First Mark
Today, you make your first mark. You may know immediately what you want to put on the page, or you may sit for a while before deciding where to begin. Both are fine. You do not have to fill the circle — just start with one line, one shape or one small idea.
Travel From Paro to Thimphu
After lunch, leave Paro and drive towards Thimphu. On the way, stop at Tachog Lhakhang, where you can cross the traditional iron bridge, spend time at the temple, look across the river and take in the surrounding landscape.
Visit the National Memorial Chorten
Continue towards Thimphu and visit the National Memorial Chorten. Throughout the day, local people come here to pray, walk around the chorten and spend quiet moments.
Explore the Farmers’ Market
Later, visit the Farmers’ Market, where farmers from different parts of Bhutan bring fresh produce and local products — an opportunity to see another side of Bhutan, less about monuments and more about everyday life.
Walk Through Thimphu Town
As the afternoon comes to an end, take a relaxed stroll through Thimphu town and notice people going about their day, small shops opening onto the streets and the city gradually slowing down.
Return to Your Circle
Back at the hotel, return to your drawing. Think about everything you have seen since arriving — the mountains of Paro, the sand mandala, the temple, the bridge, the river, the people at the market. Maybe one of these things will find its way into your circle. Your circle is no longer empty. The story has begun.
THIMPHU
📍 Discover Thimphu — Hike, Culture and Everyday Bhutanese Life
Today combines a 2–3-hour hike above Thimphu with several cultural experiences that reveal different sides of Bhutanese life. The hike takes you away from the busy streets and into forests and hills, while the afternoon brings incense, traditional homes, Bhutan’s national animal and the quiet atmosphere of the evening flag-lowering ceremony.
Hike From Buddha Point to Changangkha
Begin the morning at Buddha Point, where the great Buddha statue looks across Thimphu Valley. From here, set off on a 2–3-hour hike towards Changangkha, through hills above the valley, forest, mountain slopes and quieter surroundings away from the city, with views of Thimphu below. There is no need to rush — take time to walk, stop for photographs, catch your breath and enjoy the landscape.
Visit Nado Incense Factory
After the hike, visit the Nado Incense Factory, one of the oldest incense factories in Bhutan. Learn about traditional Bhutanese incense, natural ingredients, the preparation process and the role of incense in Bhutanese culture and spiritual practice.
Visit the Takin Preserve
Continue to the Takin Preserve, home to Bhutan’s national animal. The takin is an unusual-looking animal, and you will also hear the local story that explains its connection with Bhutan.
Experience the Folk Heritage Museum
From there, visit the Folk Heritage Museum. Walk through the traditional mud house and see how Bhutanese families lived in earlier times — the rooms, kitchen, tools and household objects bring everyday life from the past into view. There may also be an opportunity to experience traditional activities, including archery, Bhutan’s national sport.
Experience the Flag-Lowering Ceremony at Tashichho Dzong
Later in the afternoon, make your way to Tashichho Dzong for the flag-lowering ceremony. As the national flag is slowly lowered, the atmosphere changes — for a few moments, the busy capital becomes quiet and respectful, and with the evening light falling across the courtyards and traditional architecture, the dzong feels particularly peaceful.
Let the Circle Grow
By the end of today, you will have seen many different sides of Thimphu: the mountain trail, the forest, the smell of incense, the takin, the old mud house, the colours of the dzong and the sound of the flag ceremony. You do not have to put all of these into your drawing — choose whatever stayed with you. One day, one experience and one mark at a time, your circle is beginning to take shape.
THIMPHU → PUNAKHA (VIA DOCHULA PASS)
📍 Thimphu to Punakha — Meditation, Mountains and the River
Today takes you from Thimphu through pine and cedar forests to Dochula Pass before descending into the warmer Punakha Valley. The day’s central pause is a meditation and sound-healing session at Dochula, followed by the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens, a countryside walk to Chimi Lhakhang and quiet time beside the Punakha River.
Travel From Thimphu to Dochula Pass
Leave Thimphu this morning and make your way towards Punakha. As the road climbs through the mountains, pine and cedar forests surround the route, the air becomes cooler and the forest gradually opens. When the weather is clear, Himalayan peaks appear across the horizon.
Meditation and Sound Healing at Dochula
At Dochula, slow down for a while. Settle into a gentle meditation and sound-healing session. The mountain air, quiet surroundings and sound of the singing bowls create a natural pause in the middle of the journey.
Visit the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens
Afterwards, visit the 108 Druk Wangyel Chortens. The chortens sit across the hillside with the mountains behind them. Spend time walking around, enjoying the views, sitting quietly and having a warm cup of tea.
Descend Into Punakha Valley
From Dochula, the road begins its descent towards Punakha. The landscape changes again — the cooler mountain forests gradually give way to warmer valleys, fields, villages and traditional Bhutanese homes.
Walk to Chimi Lhakhang
On the way, visit Chimi Lhakhang. A short walk through the countryside takes you past fields and traditional houses before reaching the temple — a lovely opportunity to experience a quieter and more rural side of Bhutan.
Sit Beside the River
Later, continue towards Punakha and settle beside the river at a café. Enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the water move through the valley.
What Moves, What Remains
This is a good place to return to your circle. You have travelled through forests, mountains and villages today, sat quietly at Dochula, walked among the chortens and followed a country path towards Chimi Lhakhang. Maybe the mountains will appear in your drawing, or the chortens, a village path or the river itself. As evening comes, the valley becomes quieter — the river continues moving while the mountains remain where they are, a simple reminder that some things are always moving while others stay.
PUNAKHA → PARO
📍 Punakha to Paro — Punakha Dzong, the Suspension Bridge and Completing Your Circle
Today begins in Punakha with one of Bhutan’s most striking dzongs and a walk across the Punakha Suspension Bridge before the journey returns to Paro. The evening is deliberately slower, giving you time to walk through Paro town and complete the personal mandala you have been creating since Day 2.
Explore Punakha Dzong
Our morning begins at Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most beautiful and important fortresses. The dzong sits between the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, surrounded by mountains, jacaranda trees, flowing water and traditional Bhutanese architecture. Spend time exploring its courtyards and temples.
Cross the Punakha Suspension Bridge
From the dzong, continue to the Punakha Suspension Bridge. The bridge stretches across the river, with colourful prayer flags moving gently in the wind. Crossing it gives you another view of the valley, the rivers below, the surrounding mountains and the prayer flags in the wind.
Travel Back to Paro
Later, leave Punakha and begin the journey back towards Paro. The landscape changes once again — from the warmer Punakha Valley back towards the mountains and forests of western Bhutan. When you reach Paro, settle into your hotel and take some time to rest.
Walk Through Paro Town
Later in the evening, head out for a relaxed walk through Paro town. Explore small streets, local shops and cafés, and find somewhere comfortable to sit with a cup of tea or coffee and watch the town around you.
Complete Your Circle
Tonight is different. Your circle has been growing since the second day, and now it is time to bring it together. Sit with your drawing and look back at what you have created — the mountains of Paro, the sand mandala, the hike through Thimphu, the incense, the old mud house, Dochula, the meditation and sound healing, the village paths, the rivers, the bridge and the small moments in between. There is no need to change anything just because it is the final evening — add what feels missing, if anything does, or simply leave part of the circle open. Let the drawing belong to you.
By the end of the evening, your personal mandala is complete. Tomorrow brings a different kind of experience: you will hike to Taktshang and later return to the sand mandala tradition, creating something carefully, knowing that it will eventually be dismantled and released. Your personal mandala will be different — it will stay with you. Tonight, simply sit with what you have created. The circle is complete. Tomorrow, we learn how to let go.
PARO (TAKTSHANG DAY HIKE)
📍 Taktshang / Tiger's Nest — The Sacred Journey, Creation and Release
Today takes you to Taktshang Monastery, better known as Tiger’s Nest, followed by the final sand mandala experience. The hike is the most physically demanding part of the journey, while the later creation and release of the sand mandala brings the central theme of impermanence into direct experience.
Hike to Taktshang Monastery
Today takes us to one of the most extraordinary places in Bhutan — Taktshang Monastery, better known as Tiger’s Nest. Begin the hike through the pine forests above Paro Valley. Along the trail, notice the prayer flags, the pine forest, the changing views of Paro Valley, the sound of the wind and the moments when you stop to catch your breath. The hike is not only about reaching the monastery — there is something to notice along the way. At the top, spend time exploring Taktshang and taking in its remarkable setting, built into the cliffs high above the valley.
Rest After the Hike
After returning from the hike, take time to rest and refresh. The pace changes again.
Return to the Sand Mandala Tradition
Later, return to the Phuba Sand Mandala Display Center. At the beginning of your journey, you learned how a traditional sand mandala is made. Now you return to experience the process yourself. Under the guidance of the practitioners, you will create your own small sand mandala, patiently place the coloured sand, form the design carefully and experience the concentration involved in the process. As you work, you may find yourself thinking about the places you have visited, the people you have met and everything that has found its way into your personal circle.
The Release
Once the sand mandala is complete, something unexpected happens: it is dismantled and the sand is released. Something that took patience, concentration and time to create is allowed to disappear. This is the idea of impermanence — a reminder that things change, nothing remains exactly as it is, and sometimes letting go is part of the process.
The Two Mandalas
Today, the two mandalas come together. One is created from sand and then released. The other has been built slowly from your own experiences and will travel home with you. One reminds you to let go. The other reminds you what you experienced. Perhaps that is the most meaningful part of the journey: we create, we experience, we let go, and we carry something forward.
After such a full day, return to your hotel and allow the evening to be simple. There is nothing more you need to add. Your mandala is complete. The journey that began with an empty circle has come full circle.
PARO → DEPARTURE
📍 Paro Departure — Your Circle, Your Story
Your final morning in Bhutan is intentionally quiet. Before leaving, spend time with the personal mandala you created, reflect on the places and moments that shaped it, and then travel to Paro International Airport with your completed circle in your hands.
Look Back at Your Completed Mandala
Before leaving Bhutan, spend some time with your completed mandala. Look at the circle you started several days ago. At the beginning, there was nothing inside it. Then, little by little, Bhutan found its way in — the mountains, rivers, temples, bridges, colours, sounds, people and small moments you noticed along the way. Some of these things may be easy to recognize in your drawing; others may only have meaning to you. And that is exactly how it should be. Your mandala was never about making a perfect piece of artwork. It was about slowing down enough to notice what you were experiencing and giving yourself a place to put those experiences.
The Final Moment
Before leaving Bhutan, take one last look at your circle. Think back to the person who arrived in Paro several days ago with an empty page. Now you leave with something that could only have been created by you. The sand mandala was created and released. Your own mandala remains — a small reminder of the places you travelled, the things you noticed, the people you met and the time you gave yourself during these days in Bhutan.
Depart Bhutan
Your guide and driver will accompany you to Paro International Airport for your departure. As the aircraft leaves Paro and the mountains slowly disappear behind you, the journey comes to an end. But the story does not — you take your circle with you. The circle closes. The journey continues.
What’s Included
What's Included & Excluded
Experience Bhutan through a combination of cultural landmarks, mountain landscapes, quiet walks and personal reflection.
✓ Included in This Tour
✓Bhutan Visa Arrangement — we handle your Bhutan tourist visa application before your arrival.
✓Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) — your daily SDF is fully included in your tour package.
✓Professional Licensed Bhutanese Guide — an experienced, English-speaking guide throughout your journey.
✓Private Transportation — a private, air-conditioned SUV with an experienced Bhutanese driver.
✓Carefully Selected Accommodation — comfortable hotels and a traditional Bhutanese homestay.
✓Daily Meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/coffee with snacks in every break.
✓Entry Fees — all entrance fees to monasteries, dzongs, museums, cultural sites and parks.
✓24/7 Local Support — our team remains available throughout your journey.
✕ Not Included
✕International Flights
✕Travel Insurance
✕Personal Expenses
✕Alcoholic Beverages
✕Laundry Services
✕Optional Activities
✕Tips and Gratuities
✕Personal Shopping
✕Additional Hotel Services
Book This Journey
Book Your 7-Day Mandala Within Journey
Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers and any particular experiences that are important to you, and our team will confirm availability and send full itinerary and pricing details.
By submitting this form you agree that Kingdom of Happiness Tours may contact you regarding your enquiry.
Starting from
$1,330
Includes all meals, accommodation, guide, transport, camping equipment, visa arrangement and SDF. Solo and small group rates available on request.
📞 +975 16107830
💬 WhatsApp: +975 16107830
✉ hello@kingdomofhappinesstours.com
Tour Highlights
- Traditional sand mandala experience
- Your own personal mandala, built day by day
- Meditation & sound healing at Dochula Pass
- Taktshang / Tiger’s Nest hike included
- Comfortable hotels & a traditional Bhutanese homestay
- Visa & Sustainable Development Fee included
🏕️ Best Travel Season
March–May and September–November offer the clearest skies and best conditions for hiking and camping on this route.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Honest, complete answers about the mandala experience and this 7-day Bhutan journey.
What makes The Mandala Within different from a typical Bhutan tour?
The journey combines Bhutan’s cultural and natural highlights with a personal mandala experience. Instead of simply visiting places and moving on, you return to your own circle throughout the journey, adding colours, memories, landscapes, feelings and small moments from your experience.
What is the sand mandala experience in Bhutan?
The journey introduces you to the traditional Buddhist practice of creating a mandala with coloured sand. You will have an opportunity to experience the patience and concentration involved in the process and later create a small sand mandala yourself under guidance. The sand mandala is then dismantled and released as a reflection on impermanence.
Is this 7-day Bhutan itinerary suitable for a slower cultural experience?
Yes. The itinerary includes temples, dzongs, villages, markets, traditional homes, mountain trails and cultural experiences, while deliberately allowing time for meditation, reflection, quiet walks and personal creativity. The intention is to experience Bhutan at a slower pace rather than simply see as many attractions as possible.
Do I need a visa to visit Bhutan for this journey?
Yes, unless you are a national of India, Bangladesh or the Maldives. Visas are arranged in advance through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, processed online, and typically take around five working days — this is fully handled for you as part of the Bhutan Visa Arrangement included in this journey.
What is the Sustainable Development Fee and is it included?
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a nightly fee that funds Bhutan’s free healthcare, free education and environmental conservation programmes. It is currently USD $100 per person per night for most international visitors. It is fully included in the price of this journey.
How physically demanding is this 7-day Bhutan journey?
Physical activity ranges from easy to challenging depending on the day. Day 3 includes a 2–3-hour hike above Thimphu, and Day 6 includes the more demanding uphill hike to Taktshang / Tiger’s Nest. You do not need to be an experienced trekker, but should be comfortable walking uphill and on uneven ground.
Create. Experience. Let Go. Carry Something Forward.
One mandala is made from sand. It is carefully created, experienced and released.
The other begins as an empty circle. It slowly fills with your own experiences.
One disappears. The other comes home with you.