On this unique trail running and wellness retreat, you'll explore the world's only country that is ruled by happiness-centric policies and fosters a culture of heart-swelling kindness. As you run through the velvet-green valleys of this remote Himalayan kingdom, share paths with yak herders, hear the droning chants of monks residing in cliffside monasteries and inhale crisp mountain air tinged with incense.
Bhutan is the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” where colorful prayer flags and flowering alpine meadows inspire spiritual renewal. Over 10 spirit-enriching days, you’ll run and trek through tidy rice paddy terraces, rural villages and picturesque blue-pine forests and sleep in Himalayan valleys peppered with sacred sites.
Much more than a running retreat, the Bhutan Mindful Running Retreat is an immersion in a culture that embodies mindful living and measures wealth in terms of Gross National Happiness. You'll meditate with Buddhist monks, relax in a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath, try your hand at the national sport of archery and learn to cook traditional delicacies with a Bhutanese chef.
Your retreat leader supports you throughout this journey that takes places in your spirit, as much as does through the captivating country of Bhutan.
The real journey begins before you’ve even left home! There are some additional steps involved with preparing to travel mindfully in addition to the usual preparation like booking flights, reviewing your packing list and even reading interesting facts and tips about traveling in Bhutan. You’re in for a journey that has the potential to open your mind to new experiences, and possibly open your heart to new insights about who you are and what really matters to you.
To help you prepare for this process, visit your To-Do list to watch the video called “Travel with H.E.A.R.T.”, which tells you more about the steps shared here. And we encourage you to set an intention for your retreat and then write that intention down. Need some guidance on how to set an intention? Add the Transformational Travel Journal to your retreat package and we’ll mail it to you before the retreat expressly for this purpose.
You arrive first in Kathmandu, you will likely be tired from the long trip, but you can relax knowing that our driver-guide will meet you at the airport and whisk you directly to our hotel, the luxurious Dwarika's Kathmandu hotel so you won't have to deal at all with the chaos of this sprawling, busy city. Once you arrive in the serene spaces of Dwarika's you know you will be well cared for by their staff as well as hours.
Just before dinner, meet with your retreat leader and other retreat participants in the hotel bar, then proceed to dinner before retiring early for a good nights' sleep. Once we make the short flight from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan, and settle into our first hotel there, your retreat leader will conduct the official welcome meeting, during which she'll walk through all the logistics for the rest of the trip. This meeting is important because we know it can take a while for the mind to catch up with the body when arriving in a new place.
Our first run is intended to be relatively easy to shake-off the jetlag and help acclimate to the elevation. Your retreat leader will teach you about the Power Posture, which serves as the foundation for the mindful running techniques you'll learn the rest of the week. While it will be excited to take in all that Bhutan has to offer, from it's delicious food to stunning mountain scenery and immense temples and Buddha statues, honor the fact that it takes a little time for your mind to catch up with where your physical being is.
.jpg?fit=crop&crop=entropy&w=600&auto=format)
In the next few days of the retreat, every moment will offer you a new experience and it's a lot to take in all at once. From trying new foods to hearing locals converse in their native tongue to the thinner air, and the smell of incense, your senses will be overstimulated at times. And yet, when you stay curious to the experience and keep an open mind, you will see incredible things. Such as Dodeydra Monastery, perched high on a hill overlooking Thimphu valley, and is home to student monks who have dedicated their lives to Buddhist philosophy. Here you will have the opportunity to meet the monks, maybe share a cup of tea, and learn about their daily life and studies.
You'll also start notice that unlike a lot of other places, Bhutan isn't full of foreigners, and that's by design. The Bhutanese government has limited the number of visitors that can come here in order to preserve Bhutanese culture and communities' heritage. So simply being here, in one of the most culturally pure places in the world, is a gift in itself.
.jpg?fit=crop&crop=entropy&w=600&auto=format)
At this point in the retreat, you’ll notice that the runs are a bit longer and some days may be a bit more challenging with longer hills (one of our longer runs, is about 8 to 9 miles on the Gangtey Nature Trail), but at this point you're ready for it because you've been working towards this throughout the retreat.
Besides, with the support of our attentive Bhutanese running guides and expert retreat leader, you can feel confident in your ability and safe to decide what's best for you, even if that means choosing not to run on a particular day. And if you are up for the challenge, you can lean into mindful resilience, a powerful practice that involves not powering your way ahead (as is our tendency, especially for type-A people or perfectionists), but to really discover what it means to physically relax and stop resisting what's hard. In this process, you just may discover what it means to meet a goal by focusing on the process instead of the outcome.
Such a mindful running moment can mean doing something you thought was beyond your abilities with relative ease and flow.
Nearing the end of our retreat, we find ourselves in Punakha, where we'll have shorter runs plus a hike up to Tiger's Nest monastery, and experience that will elicit such awe that may be unlike anything you've felt before. You'll also have a bit more free time to enjoy the outstanding spa treatments available at the 5-star Bhutan Sacred Sanctuary, a luxurious hotel that offers the ultimate luxurious pampering you deserve. At this point, we encourage you to be thankful for what you have accomplished this week, not necessarily in terms of the miles run or sites visited, but how many moments of awe you experienced, meaningful connections made with new people and nature's beauty appreciated. You can also take this time to practice gratitude, a mindfulness practice that can actually re-wire your brain to make you more stress resilient, which will certainly serve you well when you return home to your busy life. If all this sounds like a lot, rest assured that your retreat leader is still present to support you wherever you are in this journey, giving you space to discover things at your own pace, with no expectation or pressure.
This retreat is suitable for you if you’re comfortable running and/or hiking six days in a row. Our shortest run is 30 minutes, but most are between 2 to 3 hours (including hiking sections, water breaks and photo ops). We recommend that for this retreat, you:
Note: The total run distance for this retreat will be between approximately 30 to 40 miles at most. Each day’s run in this itinerary is represented by time spent on the trail rather than miles run because the mileage covered will depend largely on your run pace. Faster runners will cover more mileage than slower runners on some days. These run times include breaks to enjoy the views, take photos, eat and drink. The precise route and trails run may change due to changes to trail routes, weather conditions, guide recommendations and other safety considerations.
Bhutan's pristine environment, with high rugged mountains and deep valleys, offers ecosystems that are both rich and diverse. With some of the strictest environmental conservation laws in the world, this country is filled with robust forests, and wildlife.
The trails on this retreat are a mix of single-track trails, with some unpaved and paved roads leading us through small villages. The terrain is a varied mix of rice terraces, expansive alpine valleys, Himalayan forests and mountainside monasteries. You will experience some sustained up hills, but we have built time into the itinerary for those of you who wish to hike those sections. On the trails you may experience exposed sections, or loose rocks or tree roots. Some of the trails we will be running are also used by the locals for commuting to work or school, so we will take care not to disrupt their daily activities.
Bhutan is 8,000 feet above sea level on average. This retreat has been designed so the elevation increases as you travel, allowing for better acclimatization. The retreat starts at about 4,500 feet above sea level in Kathmandu and eventually you will reach a high point of 10,000 feet above sea level at the Tiger's Nest Monastery on day 9. The hike (not a run) to Tiger's Nest will be the most strenuous, with a 1,500 feet of elevation gain in the first two miles. But the reward of visiting this iconic site will be well worth it.
On this retreat, runners will find they need to adjust their running pace at higher elevations. We have taken this slower pace into account, so you will have plenty of time to run or hike at your own speed.
Experience exceptional dining! Most meals are included in your retreat package, and we handpick high-quality restaurants for unforgettable culinary experiences.
Bhutanese cuisine is a delightful blend of spicy and savory flavors, featuring a variety of dishes centered around rice, red and white meats, and abundant vegetables. Traditional Bhutanese meals often incorporate fiery chili peppers, cheese, and unique herbs, offering a distinct culinary experience reflective of the country's rich cultural heritage.
We make every effort to accommodate your dietary preferences and restrictions. However, there are occasions when we may face limitations. You'll have a chance to indicate your specific dietary requirements in the retreat participant intake form.
Please note that alcoholic drinks are excluded, and snacks and beverages outside of meals and trail runs are not included.
While most of your major expenses on this retreat will be covered by your package price, you may still want to have some local currency for purchasing handicrafts and souvenirs, or for personal expenses.
The official currency in Bhutan is the Ngultrum (BTN). The Ngultrum is always at par with the Indian Rupee, and the Indian Rupee is also accepted as legal tender throughout Bhutan.
Major international currencies (USD, EUR, GBP) can be exchanged at the Paro airport, at banks, and at some hotels. However, ATMs and banks are hard to find outside of the capital of Thimphu, and the exchange rate at hotels will not be as favorable, so there will be time given at the airport for members of the group to exchange money upon arrival. When exchanging money, we recommend using new bills in either $50 or $100 denominations. You will also be given time to exchange currency back at the end of the retreat.
The US Dollar is accepted at many gift shops, hotels, and other tourist-oriented businesses. You may also tip your driver and guides in US dollars, British Pounds, or Euros. (Note: a general guideline for tipping is $5-10 per day for your guide and $3-5 per day for your driver, but it is at your own discretion)
Credit cards are typically only accepted at some of the larger handicraft emporiums and shops. Your hotels on this retreat will also accept credit cards which can be used for any personal expenses such as gift shop purchases, additional spa treatments, food and beverages outside of the retreat meals, or laundry. Please be aware there may be transaction fees when using a credit card.
One of the best ways to deepen your experience with mindfulness during and after your retreat is to add the Transformational Travel Journal to your package. This co-branded journal by Run Wild Retreats in partnership with the Transformational Travel Journal provides an intentional space to write, draw, sketch and otherwise creatively express what meaning this travel experience has for you. Filled with thoughtful writing prompts, inspirational quotes and mindfulness-inspired ideas, we highly recommend using this journal to help you enhance your mindful running experience. Price includes shipping.
Bhutan 
Inspired by a blend of Vedic Philosophy and Buddhist Medicine, Dwarika's Resort focuses on the complete wellbeing of an individual, drawing on the knowledge and holistic lifestyle of the Himalayan region. It is a story of nurturing harmony within the spirit, body and mind. Wellbeing is an ongoing voyage of self-discovery. Each element of the resort has been designed to enhance this journey within, by addressing each of the five senses. Various experiences have been created in the resort to guide you through your personal journey.
Unwind from your adventures in Bhutan with our exclusive 1-Night Integration Package. We'll take care of every detail, from airport transfers to dinner and breakfast, all inclusive of taxes and fees. Get ready to embrace stress-free international travel. .jpg)
.JPG?fit=crop&crop=faces&h=150&w=150)
