Bhutan: Weaving Spirit with Nonhuman Worlds Pilgrimage

Trip Information

2-12 October, 2024

Have you dreamt of visiting Bhutan but never made it? Have you already visited Bhutan and long to return? This may be the journey for you. We will engage our hands, our feet, our minds and our hearts in this interactive, exciting pilgrimage. With adventure by day and luxury accommodation at night, we will start our journey in the glacial valley of Paro before flying to the heartland of the country, Bumthang. Often called the Guatemala of Asia for its brilliant, bright textiles, we will use textiles as a window into the culture and history of this unique country, a metaphor truly connecting us to incredible makers as we learn about Green Weaving projects, and how textiles relate to gross national happiness and reflect the geography and ecology of the land. We will go further, exploring traditional methods of well being, connecting humans to the nonhuman spirits that in Bhutanese cosmology, we co-habitate this planet with. How do these ancient worldviews impact environmental policy and conservation today?

We will meet with extraordinary, unforgettable, and  remarkable people: from sheep herders and wool spinners, to royal weavers who teach us how to weave, heritage keepers sustaining natural dyes, to monks, meditators, Buddhist philosophers and charismatic female diviners to artists, hip fashion designers translating tradition into contemporary style, to politicians working to balance economic needs while honoring nonhuman worlds. Come join us if you’d like to explore and possibly weave some of Bhutan’s profound spirit of land, people and textiles into your being in a once in a lifetime transformative journey.

Trip Duration: 10 days 

Group Size: 8-16 paxs

Trip Cost: $10995.5/person. Single supplement $1410
A special journey benefitting the non-profit ATW80Fabrics Foundation. Includes a $500 ATW80F tax-deductible donation.

Highlights:

  • Explore Yatra traditional woolen weaving traditions of Central Bhutan;

  • meet with weavers and sheep growers

  • Visit Royal Textile Museum

  • Workshop at Royal Academy in Bhutanese Weaving

  • Workshop in Natural Dying learning local botanicals

  • Meet Royal Weaver and Green Textile Weavers

  • Meet Monks, Meditators, Buddhist philosophers and female charismatic diviners to understand more deeply Bhutanese worldview and cosmology

  • Meet contemporary artists and fashion designers

  • Explore Sacred Sites of the Paro Valley -pilgrimage to Taksang or Dzong Drakha

  • Travel with personal inside connections: Carroll Dunham has deep thirty year connections, friendships, family, colleagues exploring Bhutan since 1991.

  • Stay in luxurious yet authentic accommodations

Itinerary

Oct 3 Day 1: ARRIVAL
Flying in from Bangkok, our descent into the Himalayan valley of Paro is nothing less than dramatic. While some may choose to rest to recover from jet lag, there will be an optional visit to the National Museum. Welcome dinner.7,200 ft Zhiwaling Hotel PARO.

Oct 4 Day 2: FLY TO BUMTHANG 
A 35-minute flight from Paro to Bumthang (cutting out 3 days of driving). Highly protected environmentally, Bumthang is known for Burning Lake where Padmasambhava hid sacred scriptures discovered in the 15th century. We will do a gentle walk about the village. Rinchenling Lodge Deluxe BUMTHANG.

Oct 5 Day 3: MYTHS, TALES, ANCIENT TEMPLES & THE ART OF WEAVING AND SPINNING WOOL
After optional yoga and meditation in the morning, we will explore Jambay Lhakang, one of the most ancient temples of Bhutan, built in the 7th century by Songsten Gampo. We will continue on to Kurjay Lhakang. After lunch we will have a special presentation by a village elder on weaving and spinning yatra (wool cloth). Rinchenling Lodge Deluxe BUMTHANG

Oct 6 Day 4: EXPLORING TANG & CHUMEY VALLEYS, SHEEP REARING & BUDDHIST NUNNERY 
We will explore the Tang Valley at 13,000 feet. We will meet with the last sheep herder communities of Bhutan determined to sustain this ancient tradition of sheep herding.  We will cap off this special day at a nunnery for a special recital of prayers for all beings.  Rinchenling Lodge Deluxe BUMTHANG

Oct 7 Day 5:  DEPART BUMTHANG, FLY TO PARO, DRIVE TO THIMPU
A short flight we return to Paro where we will drive one hour to Thimpu, the nation’s bustling capital where we will settle into Zhiwaling Ascent, a retreat from the city nestled into the forest near where the former King and his wives reside and close to the Takin Reserve where Bhutan’s National animal, (Budorcas taxicolor) resides. Zhiwaling Ascent THIMPU

Day 6: ROYAL TEXTILE ACADEMY WEAVING & NATURAL DYE WORKSHOP, VISIT VAST CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER
After optional meditation and yoga, we will make our way first to the Royal Textile Museum. Afterwards, we will go to the Royal Textile Academy for a weaving demonstration and dyeing workshop with some of Bhutan’s foremost heritage treasures. We will enjoy lunch in the city and for those interested we will visit VAST a contemporary artist collective and meet its founder, visionary Asha Karma Wangdi.  Zhiwaling Ascent THIMPU

Day 7:  (WEAVING & NATURAL DYE WORKSHOP), ROYAL WEAVER, GREEN WEAVERS
Waking to meditation and yoga, we will return to the Royal Textile Museum for part two of our weaving and dying workshop. After lunch free time to explore Thimpu, or meet with Royal weaver. We will visit the Green Weaving, Center,  a weaving social enterprise of the Bhutan Youth Development Fund, that not just weaves fabrics but educates young people and enhances the wellbeing of weavers and artisans, designed to incubate a model for Gross National Happiness in education and eco-business as it strives to keep traditional Bhutanese weaving flourishing in contemporary life.  Zhiwaling Ascent THIMPU

Day 8:   TRADITIONAL MEDICINE & HERBAL HEALING & FABRICS, TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFTS, TANGO MONASTERY HIKE
After optional morning yoga and meditation, we will visit the traditional medicine center and learn more about natural dye and healing herbs, conservation and function of medicinal plants and their role in healing and textiles. Afterward, we will visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum - the 13 traditional handicrafts of Bhutan from painting, mud sculpture, boot making, embroidery and more. Optional hike to Tango monastery, a 17th century monastery named after a horse-headed rock. Others may use this time to explore the city and shop before we travel back to Paro.  Zhiwaling PARO

Day 9: PILGRIMAGE TO TIGER’S NEST, DZONG DRAKHA, PARO OR REST
Our final day is a day of pilgrimage to sacred sites. From Taksang, known for its cave to Dorje Drolo, Buddha of Crazy Wisdom, filled with sacred daggers of protection. For those who chose the magnificent 2000 feet hike up to World Heritage Site  Taksang “Tiger’s Nest”, where the great saint Padmasambhava flew on the back of a pregnant tigress, we will depart after an early breakfast. Others may choose a leisurely morning, taking off for Dzong Drakha with temples to Tara, mother of liberation and Tsheringma, a mountain goddess of life with a 30 minute hike to reach before exploring the town of Paro. Others may choose to rest and take advantage of the massages and hot rock steam baths before we meet for our final farewell dinner. Zhiwaling PARO

Day 10: DEPARTURE
Departure from Paro

Secure your place on our limited journeys with $500 tax deductible donation supporting the mission of ATW80Fabrics.

You can can also pay by check or money wire. Email us at atw80fjourneys@gmail.com for details.

Trip Leader, Carroll Dunham

Offering over 30 years of experience guiding journeys, medical anthropologist Carroll Dunham brims with an insatiable curiosity for exploring different ways of living, cultural traditions, rich geographies, and the natural history and biodiversity of this planet we call home. With a rich background in Buddhism, medicinal plants, and traditional healing systems, Carroll reveals remarkable makers, farmers, herders, designers, ecologists, and spiritual leaders who lend insight into the human ingenuity of plastic-free fabrics. 

With boundless enthusiasm, Carroll Dunham has been leading journeys and pilgrimages for over 30 years with National Geographic, Wilderness Travel, and Wild Earth Journeys.

What’s Include 

  • English-speaking local guides

  • Transfers upon arrival and departure (if applicable)

  • Transportation provided on-trip

  • Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary

  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary

  • Non-alcoholic beverages at included meals

  • Bottled or filtered water at included meals, private transfers, and activities

  • Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary

  • All gratuities except the Expedition Leader

  • Bhutanese government tourism tariff and Visa

  • International Flight: BKK/PBH/BKK Economy Class (Subject to Change) per person $1,032.00

  • Domestic Flight: PBH/BUM/PBH Economy Class (Subject to Change) per person $510.00

What’s Not Include 

  • Internal flights are an additional cost (to BKK)

  • Airfare to and from destination, as well as internal airfare where applicable

  • Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance

  • Visas when applicable

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Expedition Leader gratuities

  • Meals not noted as included (discretionary)

  • Additional beverages (discretionary)

  • Passport fees, visas, and visa photos as required

  • Phone calls, laundry, and other items of a personal nature (discretionary)