“WRITING & WELLBEING IN BHUTAN” WITH ERIC WEINER

APRIL 21ST - MAY 1ST, 2024

“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.”

This sentiment, from the writer Henry Miller, lies at the heart of the Himalayan Writers Workshop. What is it about certain places that spark personal transformation, self-discovery? How can we best convey this “new way of looking at things,” in our writing, and in our lives? How can we combine well-being and writing?

Best-selling travel writer Eric Weiner will guide participants through these questions, and more, during the ten-day workshop in a truly magical place. We’ll learn about Bhutan’s innovative policy of Gross National Happiness and meet with one of its key architects. We’ll hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. We’ll meditate. (No experience required.) We’ll seek inspiration in some of the classics of travel writing. And, of course, we will do plenty of writing ourselves (again, no experience required.) We’ll learn how journaling can enrich our journeys, and how writing about a place enables us to experience it more deeply. 

We’ll discuss roadblocks to good writing and how, contrary to popular belief, happiness and writing are not mutually exclusive. The workshop provides a collegial, nurturing environment, with the glorious people and scenery of this Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom as our inspiring backdrop. Join us for what promises to be a truly once in a lifetime journey.  

Day 1: Touching down in THIMPHU. When you land in the beautiful Paro Valley, surrounded by the Himalayas, our drivers will be there to welcome you to Bhutan. After you’ve received your bags, you will be driven about an hour to the capital city of Thimphu (7,900 ft) where you can unwind from your journey at the Namgay Heritage Hotel, rest, and soak up the atmosphere.  After everyone has arrived, each person will have private one-on-one meeting with Eric. In the evening, there will be a brief orientation meeting for our new community of writers, and a group dinner at the Namgay Heritage Hotel before we turn in for the night..

Day 2: THIMPHU. After our morning meditation & an early breakfast at the Namgay Heritage Hotel, we’ll gather for a brief group meeting and then head out on our first adventure.  We’ll enjoy a short walk and a stunning overview of the Thimphu Valley from Big Buddha Point, perched in the foothills high above the city of Thimphu. Afterwards, we’ll stop by the Memorial Chorten, built in memory of the beloved third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, where we’ll learn about tantric Buddhist philosophy & iconography before returning to the hotel for lunch. We'll spend the afternoon writing or relaxing, and perhaps visiting the nearby Thimphu Handicrafts Market before gathering again for dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: THIMPHU.  After our morning meditation & a delicious breakfast at the Namgay Heritage Hotel, we’ll gather for our daily group meeting with Eric & James. This morning we’ll go deeper into Bhutanese life on a private tour of Thimphu. We will visit the Royal Textile Academy to admire the displays of unique and intricate Bhutanese weavings Afterwards we’ll gain insight into rural Bhutanese life at the Folk Heritage Museum, a replica of a traditional mud-and-timber farmhouse, where we’ll also enjoy a fabulous traditional Bhutanese meal, prepared especially for us. After lunch we'll spend the afternoon writing or relaxing, or you may take your own personal journey through the streets & markets of Thimphu before the writers gather once again for dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY This morning, after meditation and breakfast, we’ll drive to Paro Valley, for one of the most spectacular 30 minute flights in the world - the Paro to Bumthang flight. Out the window of the plane you’ll pass range after awe-inspiring range of Himalayan peaks, before touching down in Bumthang, the “heartland of Buddhism” in Bhutan. In 746 AD, the great bodhisattva, Guru Rinpoche, arrived in Bumthang, where he exorcised a demon from the king, thus restoring peace to the region & converting the people to Buddhism. We will visit one of Bumthang’s most important monasteries, Kurjey Lhakang, before enjoying a quick lunch and a 3-hour drive to our new home in the Thang Valley, the magnificent 18th century Oygen Choling Heritage House.

Day 5: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY For the next 3 days, we’ll dive deep into our writing at the inspiring Oygen Choling Heritage House, perched on a commanding hilltop in rolling Thang Valley. I addition to excellent food, the historic property offers gardens, a museum, hiking trails, and it’s own meditation hall where we’ll hold our morning meditations. After meditation & breakfast we’ll have our morning meeting, and then spend the rest of the day in one-on-one mentoring sessions with Eric, writing on our own, or strolling through the small village & nearby hills for inspiration. In the evening we’ll gather in the kitchen, or around the fire, for a discussion with Kunzang Choden, a descendant of the original family owners of Oygen Choling, and the first Bhutanese woman to write a novel in English.

Day 6: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY On our second day at Oygen Choling Heritage House, after meditation & breakfast, we’ll have our morning meeting and then we’ll drive a short distance to the trailhead for a hike up to Thowa Drak, one of most important “yogi caves” in Bhutan. The 8th century Buddhist yogi Guru Rinpoche spent several years practicing & teaching in caves all over Bhutan, four of which are on the Thang Valley. We’ll enjoy a moderate hike up to the spectacular cave & a temple that overlooks the Thang Valley, with dramatic snow peaks in the distance. After our hike, we’ll return to the Heritage House for lunch. In the afternoon we’ll again enjoy one-on-one mentoring sessions with Eric, and writing on our own before gathering for a healthy meal prepared for us, from Oygen Choling’s own gardens.

Day 7: BUMTHANG REGION, THANG VALLEY & JAKAR

On our third day in the Thang Valley, after meditation & breakfast, we’ll have a leisurely morning with Eric, and we’ll have some time on our own to relax or explore the village around Oygen Choling Heritage house, before heading to Jakar for our last night in the Bumthang region. Along the winding & scenic way, we’ll stop for an invigorating hike up to Kunzang Drak Monastery, another of the four 8th century Guru Rinpoche caves in the region. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, and when we arrive in Jakar we’ll have time to explore Kurjey Lhakang, a temple that holds a body print of Guru Rinpoche, or Jambey Lhakhang, one of 108 monasteries that in mythology were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night. That evening we’ll relax by the fire in the cozy Swiss Guest & enjoy a glass of wine, or some local home-made beer, with our fellow writers.

Day 8: PARO. NAK-SEL BOUTIQUE HOTEL

This morning we’ll have an early flight from Jakar back to Bhutan’s Paro Valley (7,300 feet). We’ll settle into our stunning hotel - the Naksel Boutique Hotel - nestled into the foothills of the Himalayas and with views of both snow peaks and Bhutan’s famous Taktsang Monastery in the distance. After lunch we’ll gather for a brief afternoon meeting with Eric, then we’re free to enjoy the rest of the day at Naksel’s world-class spa. Spend some time on your own, have a relaxing massage, or a soothing traditional hot stone bath, and just enjoy the rustic luxury of the beautiful hotel and grounds.

Day 9: PARO. NAK-SEL BOUTIQUE HOTEL. After morning meditation & breakfast, we’ll gather for our daily group meeting with Eric & James, and then spend the morning writing on our own. After a delicious lunch at Nak-sel, we’ll have an easy hike down the hill to visit the seventh-century Kyichu Lakhang. Kyichu is one of the two oldest temples in Bhutan, and is believed to be holding the left foot of an ogress whose body is so large that it covers Bhutan and most of eastern Tibet. After returning to Naksel Boutique Hotel we’ll enjoy a feast of delicious Bhutanese food, and be treated to traditional Bhutanese dancing. That evening we’re again free to enjoy a relaxing massage, or a soothing traditional hot stone bath, in Naksel’s world-class spa.

Day 10: PARO, TAKTSANG (TIGER’S NEST) Our journey through Bhutan culminates at the kingdom’s most iconic site: Taktsang monastery, known as “The Tiger’s Nest.” This majestic structure is located high above the Paro valley, built dramatically into the face of a vertical granite cliff. After our morning meditation and our meeting with Eric, we will take the steep, strenuous trek up to the temple (or to a nearby viewpoint) and enjoy a spectacular landscape dotted with pine trees, prayer flags, and ancient shrines. After our pilgrimage up to Bhutan’s most dramatic monastery, we’ll hike back down the mountain and return to the luxurious Naksel Boutique Hotel for a hot dinner. Afterwards we’ll again be free to enjoy a relaxing massage, or a soothing traditional hot stone bath, in Naksel’s world-class spa.

Day 11: Saying farewell to BHUTAN. After morning meditation and a luxurious breakfast at Naksel Boutique Hotel our group of writers will gather for one last group meeting with Eric. We will share final thoughts, and our personal writing aspirations, and then it will be time to say goodbye & head back home.  Our staff will provide transportation to deliver you to Paro airport & will be available to help you with anything you need for your onward journey…

All rooms are shared, but private rooms are available for an extra fee depending upon availability.

Thimphu is the largest city in Bhutan, and is the country’s capital. It’s a thriving cultural hub, full of street markets & temples, and yet it is the only capital city in the world without a traffic light. In Thimphu, you'll spend a total of 3 nights at the Namgay Heritage Hotel, an authentic heritage hotel with a few modern flourishes, just a short walk from the downtown streets. The rooms are beautifully appointed, in traditional Bhutanese style, and you'll have everything you need for a very comfortable stay. There is also an exercise room and swimming pool on premises. The rooms are equipped with a writing desk, and there are quiet corners to work in the gardens in case you’d like to sneak off for a little time on your own.

During our 3 nights in the Thang Valley you will stay at the spectacular Oygen Choling Heritage House, the former residence of a local ruling family, descended from Longchen Rabjam, a 14th century Buddhist master who first established the Oygen Choling area as a sacred place of meditation. Crowned by the manor house, which was fully-restored after a devastating earthquake in the 1800’s, the Ogyen Choling estate now consists of a Palace, a Museum and a private Temple where we will hold our morning meditation sessions. The Heritage House is owned & managed by Kunzang Choden, the first Bhutanese woman to publish a novel written in English, and her Swiss husband Walter Rodher. The rooms of Oygen Choling Heritage House are rustic & authentic, but very comfortable… each with wood-burning stoves and ultra modern bathrooms. Each day you will enjoy healthy home-cooked meals, made with home-grown vegetables from the garden, prepared with a subtle blend of Bhutanese & Swiss cuisine.

Before our early-morning flight to Paro the next day, we’ll spend a single night at the Swiss Guest House in Jakar. The Swiss Guest House is a charming place, located in a woodsy area surrounded by apple trees, that looks out across the valley towards Jakar Dzong. Each of the Swiss Guest House’s cozy rooms has a wood-burning stove and traditional Bhutanese decor. In addition to Bhutanese cuisine, the restaurant serves home-made cheese and beer from a nearby brewery.

For the final leg of our journey, we will return to Paro and you will spend your last 2 days at the luxurious Naksel Boutique Hotel & Spa. Nestled on the edge of the national forest, Naksel derives its name from the Dzongka word for “Forest,” which is only fitting for this Himalayan sanctuary that combines unparalleled views of nature - Mount Jumolhari, Tiger’s Nest Monastery, and the Paro Valley below - with world-class relaxation & rejuvenation. The rooms at Naksel are traditionally designed with Bhutanese wood craftmanship, complete with modern amenities. You will not only have a chance to unwind and reflect on your creative journey, but you can also take advantage of Naksel’s “Medicinal Water Spa" which specializes in relaxation and healing therapies, such as the hot stone bath, which uses traditional Bhutanese medicine, combined with Himalayan herb & massage techniques.

We always seek accommodation that strikes the balance between modern comfort and local flavor.

Program Fee:

$6,490 (USD) regular program fee double occupancy (+$800 for single room depending upon availability)
Final payment deadline: March 21, 2024.

A non-refundable deposit of $700 is required at the time of registration to hold your space.

Late registration: After March 21, 2024 we can accommodate late registration only in the event that a space remains available. If a late registration is possible after March 21, 2024, full payment is required at the time of registration to hold your space and the entire payment is refundable.

The program fee includes: your 11 day visa to Bhutan, 10 nights accommodations, 3 vegetarian meals per day on most days, bottled water and tea/coffee at meal times, scheduled excursions to pilgrimage sites, knowledgeable guides and teachers, all entrance fees, land transportation within Bhutan, and airport transfers.

Fee does not include: airfare to and from Bhutan, airport or departure taxes not included in your air ticket, additional hotel nights before or after scheduled program dates, unscheduled activities and excursions, soft drinks, alcohol and espresso drinks, phone calls, massage services, shopping, laundry or other personal expenses, additional meals, drinks and snacks, travel insurance, trekking extensions, or single supplements ($800 depending upon availability).

The program begins Sunday afternoon (around 1pm) April 21st, 2024 and ends after breakfast on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024. If you're pressed for time, you may arrive on April 21st, 2024 and depart on May 1st, 2024. It may be possible to arrive a few days early, or stay for awhile after the workshop has concluded. Please inform us if you require an extra night or two on either end of the trip and we'll put you in touch with our agent in Bhutan to make those arrangements for you. (A cost for extended visa & extra hotel nights would apply)