HIDDEN LANDS AND SECRET FIRE

Oct 24 – Arrive in Paro, Bhutan, on a 6:30 am flight from Bangkok, Thailand, (arr. 9:55) or a 13:30 pm flight from Delhi, India (arr. 16:10). Those arriving from Bangkok may visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, Bhutan’s first Buddhist temple. Program orientation and introductions prior to a Bhutanese welcome dinner. Overnight hotel in Paro. (alt. 2,280 meters; 7,524 feet)

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Oct 25 – Visit Ta Dzong, Bhutan’s National Museum, and hike from there to the monastic fortress of Rinpung Dzong for an immersive introduction to Bhutan’s Vajrayāna Buddhist culture. Free time after lunch to explore downtown Paro. Overnight hotel in Paro. (alt. 2,280 meters; 7,524 feet)

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Oct 26 – Today begins with a 25-minute charter flight to Bumthang, Bhutan’s cultural and historical heartland with an array of ancient temples and sacred sites in a beautiful mountain valley. After lunch, we will visit the 7th century Jambay Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to Maitreya, the future Buddha, on the final day of its annual festival. We will walk from there to Kurjey Guru Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the tantric mahāsiddha Padmasambhava, for teachings and transmission of Tummo, the Yoga of Inner Fire. Time permitting, we will also visit Tamshing Monastery, a primary seat of the 15th century treasure revealer Pema Lingpa, an emanation of Padmasambhava. Overnight at Mountain Resort. (alt. 2,621 meters; 8,599 feet)

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Oct 27 – Today we will visit Tharpa Ling, the ‘Place of Liberation’, established in the 14th century by the great Dzogchen master Longchen Rabjam Drimé Özer. From the main temple,

we will hike one hour to Choedrak Monastery (3,800m), built against a cliff face, to visit Padmasambhava’s meditation cave and the rock throne (Longchen Zhugthri) where Longchenpa wrote part of his famous ‘Seven Treasuries’. The cliff is considered the residence of the powerful deity Dorji Yudonma, one of the twelve protectresses of the Himalayan Buddhist world. Choedrak will serve as a support for teachings on Dzogchen to augment the practice of Tummo. Overnight at Mountain Resort. (alt. 2,621 meters; 8,599 feet)

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Oct 28 - (Dakini Day) – Today we will drive northeast to the ancient region of Lhuentse (also

known as Kurtoe), the ancestral homeland of Bhutan’s kings, passing through a diversity

of landscapes, passes, vegetation, and climates. Teachings and group practice in the

afternoon. Overnight at Takila Guest House (alt. 1,815 meters; 5,956 feet) and/ or Phayul

Resort (in Autsho). (alt. 920 meters)

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Oct 29 – After visiting Guru Nangsey Zilneon, a colossal 173-foot statue of Padmasambhava who established numerous pilgrimage sites in Lhuentse when coming from Tibet, we will proceed to Rawabi village and Druk Zangri Khamar, a Vajrayāna center connected with the Chöd lineage of the 11th century Tibetan yoginī Machig Lhapdrön, situated on a beautiful ridge with views of Tibet. Here we will experience Machig’s ritual dance tradition for severing dualistic concepts and realizing the Buddha’s teachings on the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) and its connection with Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen. Overnight at Takila Guest House (alt. 1,815 meters; 5,956 feet) and/ or Phayul Resort, in Autsho. (alt. 920 meters)

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Oct 30 – Today we begin a two-night trek on an ancient trade and pilgrimage route connecting eastern and central Bhutan with Tibet. Our route will begin at Ungaar village (1,500 meters), situated above Khaine Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples built in the mid 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet to subdue obstacles. This was also the legendary route followed by Padmasambhava when he travelled to the Bumthang Valley after leaving the hidden land of Khenpajong along the Tibetan border. After performing Mountain Incense Smoke Offering (Riwosangchod), we will hike four to five hours through rhododendron and pine forest and areas known for medicinal plants to reach a spectacularly located campsite. Overnight at Pemi Luxury Camp. (2,950 meters; 9,678 feet)

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Oct 31 – After morning practice, we will hike approximately three and a half hours from Pemi to the crest of the Rodong La pass (4,109 meters, 13,482 feet), overlooking scenic mountain valleys covered in lush pine forests to the hidden land of Khenpajong and the peaks of the Himalayas beyond. The area is rich in folklore concerning spirits and yetis as well as locations where lamas and yogis from Bhutan and Tibet practiced Tummo, the Yoga of Inner Heat, as well as Dream Yoga. From the pass, we will proceed downhill for another two hours to an alpine yak pasture. Hot meals and refreshments will be served along the way. Overnight at Phokpey Luxury Camp. (3,680 meters, 12,073 feet)

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Nov 1 – This morning we will practice at the hermitage and temple of Khramai, a location renowned for Tsalung and Tummo as well as for sightings of Yeti, the proto-hominids of Himalayan lore. We will then descend approximately four hours through enchanting lichenstrung fairy forests of bamboo and hemlock to Ogyen Choling Manor, constructed in the 16th century by Tsokyey Dorji, a descendant of the treasure revealer Tertön Dorje Lingpa. Overnight at Ogyen Choling Heritage House. (alt. 3,000 meters, 9,843 feet)

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Nov 2 – Teaching and rest day at Ogyen Choling Manor and its temple dedicated to twenty-one forms of Tārā, the ‘mother’ of all Buddhas. Time permitting, we will also practice at Longchen Rabjam’s ‘Cave of Great Bliss’ (Dechen Phug). Overnight at Ogyen Choling Heritage House. (alt. 3,000 meters, 9,843 feet)

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Nov 3 – After morning practice in Ogyen Choling’s Temple of the Twenty-One Tārās, we will hike via the Bumphug (‘Vase Cave’) of Guru Padmasambhava and Dorje Lingpa to Tak Rimochen, a temple dedicated to Padmasambhava and his consorts Mandāravā and Yeshé Tsogyal at the base of a tiger-striped cliff. Overnight at Ogyen Choling Heritage House. (alt. 3,000 meters, 9,843 feet)

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Nov 4 – Leaving Ogyen Choling, we will drive one and a half hours to Jakar for a thirty-minute flight back to Paro. After lunch, we will have free time to explore downtown Paro, to visit Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang–a temple established by Mahasiddhā Thangtong Gyalpo (1361–1485 CE)–or to enjoy traditional Sowarigpa massages and Bhutanese hot stone baths. Overnight at hotel in Paro. (alt. 2,280 meters; 7,524 feet)

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Nov 5 – Today we will hike to the world heritage site of Paro Taktsang (‘Tiger’s Nest’), followed by a visit to Yeshé Tsogyal’s ‘Lion Cave’ (Senge Phug) and Chöd practice at Machig Phug, the cave hermitage of the renowned female Tibetan siddha, Machig Lhapdrön. Lunch at Tiger’s Nest Teahouse. Overnight at hotel in Paro. (alt. 2,280 meters; 7,524 feet)

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Nov 6 – Morning group practice and discussion with Himalayan Sowarigpa wellness programs in the afternoon. Farewell dinner and closing ceremony. Overnight at hotel in Paro. (alt. 2,280 meters; 7,524 feet)

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Nov 7 – Morning departure from Paro Airport to Delhi, India, or Bangkok, Thailand.

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