M O U N T A I N S &

M O N A S T E R I E S

Y O G A R E T R E A T I N B H U T A N

Explore  the  secluded  Himalayan  Kingdom  of  Bhutan,  home  to  spectacular  mountain  views  and  monasteries  bustling  with  red-­‐robed  monks,  and  weave  yoga  into  the  fabric  of  this  magnificent  journey.  Highlights  include  a  hike  to  iconic  Tiger's  Nest,  a  working  cliffside  monastery  3,000  feet  above  the  valley  floor;  a  day  at  Gasa  Hot  Springs,  famous  for  the  healing  properLes  of  its  mineral-­‐rich  water;  and  the  spectacular  Black-­‐Necked  Crane  FesLval  celebraLng  the  migraLon  of  these  endangered  birds  from  the  Tibetan  plateau  up  north.    

Other  acLviLes  include  visits  to  chortens  (religious  monuments  symbolizing  Buddha's  physical  presence)  and  fortresses  including  ancient  Punakha  Dzong,  one-­‐Lme  epicenter  of  naLonal  government  and  religion.  Mountain  pose,  tadasana,  will  be  home  base  for  twice-­‐daily  outdoor  yoga  pracLce  in  air  so  clean  it  smells  sweet.    

This  trip  has  a  healthy  blend  of  higher-­‐end  accommodaLons  and  homestays  with  local  families.  In  Phobjikha  valley,  we  will  observe  the  cranes  roosLng  in  their  natural  habitat  and  stay  in  tradiLonal  Bhutanese  farmhouses  with  rooms  dedicated  to  travelers.  Meals  are  home-­‐cooked  around  a  warm  bukhari  stove  —  a  slow-­‐paced  luxurious  pleasure  one  must  experience  to  appreciate.    

Yoga  classes  will  be  guided  by  New  York  City-­‐based  instructor  Karen  Shelley.  Classes  are  opLonal  and  open  to  all  levels,  regardless  of  your  experience  with  yoga.    

The  trip  will  be  organized  by  MyBhutan.  To  learn  more  about  Karen  Shelley  and  the  trip  please  visit:  KarenShelleyYoga.com/bhutan  

Introduction

The  Environment  As  the  planet's  only  carbon  negaLve  country,  Bhutan  is  the  ideal  place  to  study  environmental  policy.  Visitors  will  get  to  discuss  environmental  issues  and  their  global  implicaLons  with  representaLves  of  the  Royal  Society  for  the  ProtecLon  of  Nature.

Community  Service  MyBhutan  is  partners  with  Tarayana  FoundaLon,  a  Bhutanese  NGO  that  aids  vulnerable  communiLes  throughout  the  country.  By  planning  a  trip  with  MyBhutan,  you  are  posiLvely  impacLng  the  lives  and  livelihoods  of  Bhutanese.  

Safety  Bhutan  is  ranked  #1  in  the  region  and  #16  in  the  world  on  the  2016  Global  Peace  Index.  

“Development  with  Values”  Bhutanese  simply  reject  development  that  comes  at  the  cost  of  their  quality  of  life.  Visitors  will  learn  about  the  government’s  commitment  to  Gross  NaLonal  Happiness  over  GDP  and  its  implicaLons  in  Bhutan’s  development.  

Overview & Highlights

DATE: November 6, 2017 - November 14, 2017 DETAILS: All meals, transportation, and accommodations are included unless otherwise stated. HIGHLIGHTS: - Cultural sights, including:

- cliff-hanging monasteries - sacred temples - religious sculptures - traditional schools

- Black-Necked Crane Festival - Gasa Hot Springs - Yoga at the tallest Buddha statue in the world

DAY  1  -­‐  2  Our  first  days  in  Bhutan  will  be  spent  in  Paro,  home  to  Bhutan's  oldest  fortresses  and  cliff-­‐clinging  religious  centers,  and  in  Thimphu,  home  to  the  Royal  Family  and  the  naLonal  government.  During  our  Lme  in  Bhutan’s  major  metropolises,  we  will  visit  iconic  sites,  experience  Bhutanese  food  and  culture,  and,  of  course,  pracLce  yoga.    

Upon  arrival  to  Paro  InternaLonal  Airport,  we  will  be  greeted  by  our  guide  with  a  tradiLonal  welcome:  a  white  scarf,  a  tashi  delek  and  a  hearty  smile.  We  will  then  pile  all  our  luggage  into  the  vans  in  preparaLon  for  our  60  minute  drive  to  Thimphu.  On  our  drive,  we  will  stop  at  one  of  the  most  scenic  government  buildings  in  the  world,  Rinpung  Dzong,  and  the  home  to  some  of  Bhutan’s  most  ancient  relics,  the  NaLonal  Museum  of  Bhutan.    

In  Thimphu,  we  will  join  the  local  worshippers  in  their  clockwise  turns  around  the  striking  Memorial  Chorten.  Built  in  1974  in  memory  of  the  Third  King  of  Bhutan,  His  Majesty  Jigme  Dorji  Wangchuck,  the  Chorten  is  one  of  the  most  iconic  sights  in  Thimphu.  We  will  then  visit  Tashichho  Dzong,  the  seat  of  the  government  and  home  to  the  throne  room  and  the  king’s  offices.    

Our  second  day  in  Thimphu  will  begin  with  an  opLonal  morning  yoga  pracLce  at  the  hotel  followed  by  a  hike,  about  60  minutes  up  and  30  minutes  down,  to  Cheri  Monastery.  At  this  hillside  monastery  we  will  meet  with  the  monks  who  meditate  here  for  three  years,  three  months  and  three  days.  Aker  we  arrive  back  in  Thimphu  from  our  hike,  we  will  visit  the  Parizampa  School  of  Astrology  where  we  will  meet  with  students  who  study  our  interdependence  with  the  stars,  planets,  seasons,  and  rhythms  of  the  cosmos.  The  rest  of  the  akernoon  will  be  spent  at  the  Takin  Preserve  where  we  will  meet  the  naLonal  animal  of  Bhutan  and  at  the  Crak  Bazaar  where  we  will  shop  for  tradiLonal  handicraks.

DAY  3-­‐4  The  third  day  will  be  split  between  Thimphu  and  the  popular  Punakha  Valley.  In  Thimphu  we  will  start  the  day  with  a  yoga  pracLce  in  front  of  the  world’s  largest  Buddha  statue.  Towering  169  feet  on  a  hill  above  the  city,  the  statue  is  visible  from  every  part  of  Thimphu.  Aker  yoga,  we  will  visit  the  NaLonal  Folk  Heritage  Museum,  eat  a  tradiLonal  Bhutanese  lunch  at  the  restaurant,  and  meet  students  at  the  NaLonal  InsLtute  for  Zorig  Chusom  (thirteen  tradiLonal  arts  of  Bhutan)  to  learn  more  about  the  history  and  tradiLons  of  Bhutan.    

On  the  way  to  Punakha  we  will  cross  one  of  Bhutan’s  highest  passes,  Dochula,  to  take  in  a  panoramic  view  of  Bhutan’s  snow  covered  peaks,  including  the  highest  unclimbed  mountain  in  the  world,  Gangkhar  Puensum,  and  visit  108  Chortens  and  a  Lhakhang  built  to  commemorate  Bhutan’s  2003  victory  over  Indian  insurgents.  We  will  arrive  in  Punakha  in  the  evening.    

We  will  begin  our  first  day  in  Punkaha  with  a  yoga  pracLce  at  the  hotel  conference  hall  and  the  rest  of  the  morning  visiLng  the  picturesque  Punakha  Dzong  and  the  gold-­‐topped  Khamsum  Yulley  Namgyal  Chorten.  The  akernoon  will  be  spent  in  Gasa  at  the  hot  springs  where  Bhutanese  dip  themselves  in  the  hot  water  to  heal  ailments,  both  of  the  mind  and  body.    

DAY  5-­‐8  The  morning  of  our  fikh  day  will  commence  with  a  yoga  pracLce  at  the  Gasa  Dzong,  a  temple  that  sits  above  the  Punakha  Valley.  From  Punakha  we  will  drive  to  Phobjikha  to  live  like  the  locals.  Everything  from  chores  around  the  house  to  cooking  a  tradiLonal  Bhutanese  meal  to  sipng  beside  a  warm  bukhari  stove,  will  be  experienced  at  a  local  farm  with  a  local  family.    

The  following  day  we  will  pracLce  yoga  at  the  farmhouse,  either  in  the  living  room  or  outside  in  the  garden  and  then  get  ready  for  one  of  the  most  celebrated  fesLvals  in  Bhutan,  the  Black-­‐Necked  Crane  FesLval.  The  fesLval  is  the  annual  celebraLon  of  the  arrival  of  the  endangered  black-­‐necked  cranes  who  winter  in  Phobjikha.    

Our  last  day  will  begin  with  yoga  at  our  hotel  and  then  a  short  drive  back  to  Paro  for  a  hike  to  one  of  Bhutan’s  most  iconic  sites  -­‐  Tiger’s  Nest.  High  above  the  floor  of  the  Paro  Valley  (3,000  feet),  is  a  monastery  seemingly  floaLng,  weightless,  halfway  up  a  sheer  cliff-­‐face.  The  hike  can  take  anywhere  from  3-­‐6  hours.  Visitors  can  opt  to  take  horses  up  but  the  final  approach  to  the  lhakhang  has  to  be  made  on  foot.  

Aker  the  hike,  we  will  spend  Lme  in  the  town  of  Paro  where  we  will  eat  dinner  at  a  local  restaurant.    

We  will  depart  from  Paro  early  the  next  day.  

Karen  began  pracLcing  yoga  in  2004  as  a  way  to  integrate  a  healthy  balance  of  movement  and  sLllness  into  her  life.  Today,  she  delivers  this  balance  to  her  students  through  studio  classes  in  her  hometown  of  New  York  City,  and  around  the  world  through  global  yoga  retreats.  She  weaves  energy,  fluidity,  play,  sLllness,  and  tons  of  hands-­‐on  assists  into  her  teaching,  and  blends  a  strong,  internal  metronome  with  aqenLon  to  precision  and  alignment.    Prior  to  teaching  yoga,  Karen  spent  15  years  working  in  publishing,  adverLsing,  and  nonprofit  management.  Her  experience  as  a  professional  communicator,  manager,  and  event  planner  influences  the  way  she  approaches  teaching.  She  offers  precise  instrucLon  and  creates  an  organized  learning  plarorm  for  her  students.  Whether  standing  on  two  feet,  two  hands,  or  all  of  the  above,  Karen  finds  a  sense  of  grounding  in  both  her  pracLce  and  her  teaching.  She  offers  students  an  opportunity  to  find  their  edge,  seqle  into  their  body  and  breath,  and  safely  arrive  home  within  their  pracLce.  

Karen  is  cerLfied  E-­‐RYT-­‐200  (Experienced  Registered  Yoga  Teacher)  by  the  Yoga  Alliance,  with  hundreds  of  addiLonal  hours  of  advanced,  specialized  training.  Karen  is  also  a  YACEP  (Yoga  Alliance  ConLnuing  EducaLon  Provider),  making  it  possible  for  yoga  teachers  to  earn  conLnuing  educaLon  units  for  parLcipaLon  in  her  retreats.  

Off  the  mat,  Karen  works  on  the  editorial  staff  for  Yoga  InternaLonal.  

An  avid  and  curious  traveler,  Karen  is  delighted  to  join  hands  with  MyBhutan  to  help  bring  awareness  to  Bhutan's  treasures  and  the  country's  deep  connecLon  to  mindfulness.  

MyBhutan works very closely with the government and the private sector to enhance quality of services and create the opportunity for tourists to finally be able to visit Bhutan at the cost of the minimum daily tariff rate. Your trip will be arranged with one of our trusted tour operators who will service you in Bhutan.

Total cost for one person - including your accommodations (double room), meals, transportation (private car) and your tour guide - is $3,999 for bookings made by May 30, 2017. The cost for bookings made from June 1, 2017 on is $4,630 per person. Couples will be placed in a double room and single travelers will share a double with another single traveler. Rates can be adjusted for single travelers wanting a single room.

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Reservations

By booking a trip with MyBhutan, you are directly contributing to the bettering of the lives of marginalized Bhutanese. MyBhutan gives proceeds from your trip to the Tarayana Foundation, our nonprofit partner. Tarayana Foundation is a registered CSO (Civil Society Organization) that works to nurture and uplift disadvantaged communities in Bhutan.

Some 70% of the responsibility for reducing poverty countrywide has been outsourced to Tarayana Foundation by the government.

Tashi Delek (“Thank you and best wishes”) from MyBhutan and Karen Shelley!