Buddhism cultural holiday in Bhutan
Description of Buddhism cultural holiday in Bhutan
This Buddhism cultural holiday in Bhutan is an exquisitely crafted introduction to the history of Buddhism in this Himalayan kingdom, as well as an in-depth exploration of how religious customs and traditions continue to inform modern life here. And far from observing from a distance, you’ll be invited to respectfully participate in many rituals, allowing for greater appreciation of their importance to local people.
A highlight will be a day spent at the Nalanda Buddhist Institute in Punakha, where the novice monks are always keen to practise their English and you can learn a great deal about their life while sharing details of your own culture. You’ll meet the institute’s principal to discuss meditation practises, and hike picturesque hillsides in the footsteps of Buddhist scholars, saints, pilgrims and wandering yogis. The atmosphere of peace and serenity is utterly beguiling.
Bhutan’s clergy is almost entirely financed by the government, with most monks coming from economically disadvantaged homes. So as well as enlightening visitors into Bhutanese Buddhism, this tour also makes much-needed contributions to temples and monasteries through donations and offerings that contribute to nutritious meals as well as clothing and hygiene.
Another memorable day finds you visiting the villages of Nobgang and Talo, where your guide will introduce you to local farming families for a fascinating snapshot into rural life and how they practise Buddhism in their communities.
The capital, Thimphu, is an intriguing blend of modernity and ancient tradition. Business people mingle on the pavements with monks in their robes, while the city is home to many notable temples, dzongs, chortens and nunneries. An hour’s hike through rhododendron forest just beyond the capital brings you to the hillside Tango Monastery. Here you can participate in monastery life, perhaps by making an offering or lighting a butter lamp in a traditional form of prayer.
Punakha is Bhutan’s ethereal ancient capital, home to one of the country’s most prestigious dzongs. Colourful prayer flags flutter in the breeze, and the local guide who will accompany you throughout the tour will be on hand to explain their significance. Every member of your tour group will have a flag hoisted in their name, and you can also arrange for wish fulfilment flags to carry the names of friends and relatives.
In Paro you can undertake one of the most beloved spiritual pilgrimages in Bhutan – the hike up the legendary Taktsang Monastery, an enormously significant Buddhist site that clings to the cliffside. Here you’ll have a chance to have any lingering questions you may have answered by a Buddhist scholar.
This is a tailor made trip – talk to your tour operator about coinciding your visit with any of the vibrant religious festivals for which Bhutan is well-known.
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3 Reviews of Buddhism cultural holiday in Bhutan
Reviewed on 31 Mar 2019 by Takashi Otani
What I remember the most are the amazing people I met in each city or village during my travels. As for the operator, this family run business took care of me like an extended family member. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Jul 2017 by Glenda Izumi
...I couldn't have asked for a more awesome two weeks. Every days was terrific, serene, and beautiful! Couldn't have hoped for anything better! Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Our role in promoting Responsible Tourism is small but meaningful and adds much to the preservation and promotion of our country’s unique cultural heritage, environmental preservation, promotion of sustainable development and establishment of good governance which are the four main pillars of Gross National Happiness, the sole guiding development principle of our country.It is our aim that visitors will appreciate Bhutan through its living culture and pristine environment and the people of Bhutan will in turn benefit from their interaction with our visitors.
Our walking tour programs are popular and have always been environmentally friendly. Our hiking trails fall within the Jigme Dorji National Park, the second largest protected area in Bhutan. Park fees generated from our walking trails received from each individual person on the hike goes to the Nature Recreation and Eco-tourism Division for the Department of Forestry to help manage and implement several conservation and livelihood development initiatives within and around the park.
The vehicle used for your transfer points will also transport food and equipment. We ask our guests understanding since in this way we can avoid using a separate car to transport food and equipment thereby reducing the gas used and the emissions from the vehicles.
We avoid using plastics that only have a short-term use. If plastic is necessary, like plastic bags to keep clothes dry in for example, we buy bags that can be used again, by the next tourist.
Whenever possible, we don’t buy any drinks in plastic bottles, opting instead for glass bottles or local paper packages. If buying plastic bottles can’t be avoided, we make sure the bottles are handed back to us for recycling and correct disposal.
We do not have a place to recycle batteries, therefore, we request our guests to take back batteries so that it can be recycled if the facility is available to them back home.
We prefer to boil and cool water for drinking rather than buying lots of plastic water bottles that will only increase the amount of waste.
We ensure that all our vehicles have an exhaust-gas analysis (emissions inspection) done. We walk to close by destinations instead of driving. Our itineraries adopt walking culture because walking tours are the best way to really explore and discover an area. By minimizing the use of vehicles, we can contribute in saving fuel and maintaining a sound environment, besides keeping ourselves in sound health.
I walk to office every day and use public transport to travel out of town. My contribution is small but nonetheless worthwhile and enjoyable
People
We have a dedicated team of well trained local staff. Two guides, two drivers, one office manager, one office assistant, one cook and a camp assistant all of whom can perform their job at the office and in the field professionally and safely. We offer good salaries to our staff plus an exceptional new year bonus. All are staff have “personal accident insurance” against possible accidents at the office and in the field. We also have a Group Insurance scheme in place for staff medical/health emergencies. We have a retirement benefit scheme in the form of a Provident Fund account with the Royal Insurance corporation of Bhutan. We ensure that our staff our appropriately equipped for harsh weather conditions. We also make available a yearly clothing allowance because we require that everyone working on our tours is properly outfitted. Our guides and staff are the backbone of the organization and we could never run successful trips without their support.We support our local organic producers by purchasing as much food for our tours as possible from the Centennial Farmer’s market and local groceries. We also support local advocacy groups by donating time and money to their good causes, especially with programs related to youth development in the country.
Our guided tours follow strict cultural procedures. Our groups are briefed on suitable behavior earlier to the tour departure. We want to preserve the culture of Bhutan that you've read about!
Many of the children who become monks come from economically disadvantaged homes, have a single or no living parent, or live with either their grandparents or other relatives. Therefore, the clergy is almost totally financed by the government. Limited resources spread thinly among all the institutes and monasteries pose a challenge in the provision of nutritious meals, hygienic and adequate living conditions, and quite often, even clothes. Our Buddhism Tours provide contributions in form of Monastery donations and offerings to spiritual leaders. The donations offered help in the provision of nutritious meals, hygienic and adequate living conditions and clothes.
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