BEYOND THE CLOUDS: BHUTAN YOGA ADVENTURE 

Ten days. Wild Himalayas. Ancient wisdom.

October 21-30, 2027
starting at $9595 per traveler 
in partnership with The Travel Yogi

What You’ll Experience in Bhutan

This Bhutan yoga retreat adventure is full of only-here immersion and wonder. Through our unique connections you will experience a blessing from the nuns, stay at an active monastery, explore ancient fortresses and temples, raft the Pho Chu, mingle with monks and discover yourself in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. In this world apart, you’ll discover a moving feast of culture, nature and infectious local smiles. It’s an ideal destination for personal enrichment and deepening your yoga practice. Bhutan culture is preserved by issuing only a limited number of tourist visas each year, so they are able to welcome visitors sustainably while preserving their endemic and natural beauty.

How You’ll Experience Bhutan

Your Bhutan yoga retreat adventure will weave together the best of the country’s culture and nature—all while grounding your experience with deep breaths and yoga. Exclusive, hyper-local experiences, hiking and culture are at your fingertips. You’ll stay in beautiful, luxurious local hotels in Thimphu, Punakha, and Paro, as well as a unique overnight in a monastery, hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest (i.e., Paro Taktsang), play a friendly soccer game with monks, visit the world’s largest Buddha statue, the Buddha Dodernma and plenty more. Soak your body in a traditional hot stone bath and your spirit in the mysteries and enchantment of Bhutan.

Who Is this retreat For?

This experience is for the curious, the conscious, and the wildly alive at heart. For those who crave more than just a vacation — but a full-body, soul-stirring adventure.

Our yoga retreat adventures are expertly curated journeys designed to ignite your senses through daily movement, deep presence, cultural immersion, and awe-inspiring nature. It’s for the traveler who wants to stay active, feel connected, and return home changed in the best way.

This Bhutan adventure is brought to you in partnership with The Travel Yogi, the pioneers in blending yoga and wellness with first-class adventure travel. They set the gold standard for what transformative travel should look and feel like. And with Jess’s grounded guidance and adventurous spirit, you’ll be in the best of hands every step of the way.

Itinerary 

• DAY ONE
• Fly into Bhutan through the Paro Valley and spy the Pa Chu (Paro river) and Ta Dzong (watchtower)
• Exit the arrivals at the airport to meet up with our guide and head out for the 1 hr drive to Thimphu
• Explore Tamchog Lhakhang and Zorig Chusum
• Head to Thimpu to check-in and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant
• Join local nuns for an evening prayer ceremony
• Opening yoga class
• Group dinner and welcome to Bhutan!
  
  DAY TWO
• Sunrise yoga at the base of the Buddha Dordenma statue
• Breakfast picnic at the statue and entrance
• Traditional Bhutanese cooking lesson (and eats!)
• Transfer back to town for a lunch sampling the local cuisine
• Return to the hotel for the evening yoga class
• Group dinner at the hotel
• Optional – if you’ve got the energy, head out to one of Thimpu’s dance clubs (electronic beats, anyone?)
  
  DAY THREE
• Early morning yoga and breakfast
• Hike to Dodeydra Monastery
• Learn the rituals and participate in a butter lamp offering
• Enjoy lunch at the monastery with the monks
• Head outside this afternoon with the monks for a friendly soccer match
  • Practice your passing skills and bring a sense of humor to the pitch!
    Early evening meditation with the monastery’s lama
• Evening prayer session with monastery’s monks
• Evening dinner and overnight at the monastery
  
  DAY FOUR
• Enjoy morning yoga with your new friends from the monastery
• Say goodbye and hike back to Thimphu and catch a ride to Punakha
• Mid-drive stop in the Dochu La pass and lunch, and stunning views, at Druk Wangyel
• Walk the paddy fields to the Chimi Lhankhang – a temple dedicated to a great yogi known as the “Divine Madman”
• Check-in and enjoy an evening yoga session
• Dinner at the local hotel
   
  DAY FIVE
• Early morning yoga and breakfast at the hotel
• Hike to the Khamsum Yuelley Monastery
• Head out for a big day on the river rafting either the Mo Chu or Po Chu rivers
  • Raft through the stunning Bhutanese backdrop and by the 17th-century Punakha Dzong – no experience necessary, just a willingness to paddle and get wet!
• Enjoy a post-rafting riverside picnic
• Head to explore the Punakha Dzong on an ancient walking path
• Traverse Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge
• Dinner and bonfire evening at Aum Karma’s farm home (no evening yoga)
  
  DAY SIX
• Morning yoga and group breakfast
• Enjoy a day of leisure as you take a well-deserved pause to explore Punakha, get a massage or relax on property
• Enjoy lunch together on property
• Stroll the river, head off for a hike or continue with a fully rejuvenating and relaxing afternoon
• Evening outdoor yoga
• Group dinner at the hotel
  
  DAY SEVEN
• Early morning yoga and breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to the historic town of Paro
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant
• Head into the woods with local experts to learn the technique of textile dyeing and weaving
  • Traditional textiles in Bhutan are highly regarded and have an important cultural and historical language all their own
• Evening yoga session and dinner at the hotel
  
  DAY EIGHT
• Early morning yoga at the chorten-style Buddhist temple Dungtse Lhakhang
• Enjoy breakfast a local cafe
• Drive to the stunning Chelela Pass
• Luxuriate in a picnic at 13,000ft with stunning views of the sacred mountains of Jomothari and Jichu Drake
• Evening yoga to unwind
• Group dinner at the hotel
  
  DAY NINE
•  Early morning hike to the Taktsang Monastery Tiger’s Nest
• Morning yoga along the hike 
• Enjoy a picnic breakfast
  • This most famous of Bhutan landmarks requires a hike of approximately 5 hours to reach the monastery
• Learn the history and significance of the monastery as one of the most sacred and venerated sites in Buddhism
• Head back into town post-hike and explore Paro
• Luxuriate hike weary muscles in a traditional hot stone bath
• Final Bhutan yoga 
• Group farewell dinner 
  
  DAY TEN
• Group breakfast and final Bhutan goodbyes
• Transfer to the Paro airport for your flight to Bangkok and onward back home

What's Included: 

• Ten days in-country with an expert local English speaking guide
• Bhutan visa and permit management
• Round trip flight from Bangkok to Bhutan
• Breakfast each morning at our hotels
• All lunches including local eateries and picnic(s)
• All dinners in a local restaurant or at our hotels
• Morning and evening yoga on most days (please see the full itinerary for yoga schedule)
• Four nights luxury boutique hotel in Thimphu
• Two nights luxury boutique hotel in Punakha
• Two nights luxury boutique hotel in Paro
• Full day excursion and hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery
• Blessing and ceremony with local nuns
• Pho Chu rafting adventure
• Overnight in an active monastery with the monks
• Evening prayer sessions with local nuns
• Friendly soccer match with monastery monks
• Explore Punakha Dzong
• Up close and personal with one of the worlds largest Buddha statue – the Buddha Dodernma
• Cooking class and eats
• Drive through and time to explore the Chelala Pass’s vibrant flora and views of Mt. Jomolhari
• Stroll the paddy fields to Chimi Lhakang
• All entry fees for the above sights and additional activities as listed on the itinerary

What's Not Included

Your Adventure Leader

Jess Gumkowski is a mindset coach, yoga instructor, and retreat adventure leader who has been guiding people into the unknown since 2017.

In 2009, she traveled to India to teach massage to Tibetan refugees, and the Himalayas left an imprint. She wondered for years if they would ever call her back.

When Jess became a partner with The Travel Yogi in 2023, she saw Bhutan while choosing her first adventure and immediately knew: not yet.

Then a past traveler reached out, hoping to travel with Jess again in 2027 — ideally somewhere in Asia.

She knew. It was time.

Now, the Himalayas are calling her back, and this time, she’s bringing you with her.

A 500-hour certified yoga instructor, mindset coach, and The Travel Yogi partner, Jess brings depth, curiosity, and a willingness to say yes when the answer is clear.

You know when you know.