Maile first visited Bhutan in 1992 when she was 10 years old and spent a month with her father trekking through the Bhutanese Himalaya, soaking up the Buddhist culture and making friends. Throughout her childhood, her family’s home welcomed the many University of Hawaii Bhutanese students, and she grew up with the smell of Bhutanese incense, sounds of chanting and philosophical discussions over dinner.
In high school, Maile studied Iyengar yoga at Silent Dance Center and at Te Aro Astanga in New Zealand during graduate school as a Rotary Scholar. She returned home and completed her 300-hour yoga teacher training with Bhavani Maki at Yoga Hanalei in 2009. Maile continued to deepen her yoga practice by studying yoga sutra with Lynn Theodose and Jho Goodwin.

In 2013, Maile combined her passions by teaming up with one of her friends in Bhutan: Thinley Choden of Bhutan Tours & Travels. Now she leads hatha yoga, pranayama and meditation retreats. Maile’s focus on proper alignment, integrated breathing and examining the asana practice as a vehicle to greater self-understanding allows yogis of all ages and levels to deepen their practice and create holistic health.

Maile returned to Bhutan for her second successful yoga retreat in 2018. Now planning her 3^rd trip in 2020, Maile is thrilled to be deepening connections within Bhutan, with her amazing students and with her practice.

Let Maile be your guide as you explore the hidden lands of happiness within yourself.

Our retreat will have two daily sessions of yoga and meditation in the mornings, before breakfast and evenings, before dinner

Day 1: Friday 18^th September 2020

You will be welcomed at Paro International by our team and then transferred to Thimphu, the capital, which is an hour’s drive from Paro.
In the evening, welcome and introduction circle followed by yoga and meditation.

Day 2: Saturday 19^th September 2020

After breakfast, we head out for a full day of sightseeing covering most of the popular sites around Thimphu like the Tashichho Dzong (the ancient fortress of Thimphu) and The Weekend Farmer’s market. A short hike, around 2-3 hours, on the Kuensel Phodrang Nature Trail in the afternoon.

Day 3: Sunday 20^th September 2020
Transfer to Punakha
Distance: 85 Kilometres.     Drive Time: 3 Hours

Today, we transfer to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan. Along the way we will also be covering some sights and experiencing nature. After lunch we take on a short hike to visit Chimmi Lhakhang (temple).

Day 4: Monday 21^st September 2020

A full day of sightseeing around Punakha. We will be visiting the major sights of the valley like the Punakha Dzong followed by a short to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten in the afternoon.

Day 5: Tuesday 22^nd September 2020
Transfer to Haa
Distance: 180 Kilometers.     Drive Time: 5-6 Hours.

Our longest day in the vehicle. We head back towards the west to Haa. The western most Dzongkhag (district) of the country. A major chunk of day hours will be spent in the car today. We will make stops along the way to take pictures of the scenery and to stretch your legs and body.

Day 6: Wednesday 23^rd September 2020

A full day hike around the valley. Stop at the village of Yangthang to get a tours of the local houses and visit the READ community center.

Day 7: Thursday 24^th September 2020

Visit the White and Black temple in the morning and walk around the tiny town of Haa.

Day 8: Friday 25^th September 2020
Transfer to Paro
Distance: 65 Kilometers.     Duration: 2 Hours.

Drive back to Paro retracing the same route that brought us to Haa. In the afternoon we visit the Dzong of Paro and the National Museum.

Day 9: Saturday 26^th September 2020

We hike to the one of the most important religious and iconic sites of Bhutan, Paro Taktshang, also more popularly known as the ‘tiger’s nest’. The hike will about 4-5 hours in total.

NOTE: due to the early start to the day, we will not have our usual yoga and meditation session this morning.

Day 10: Sunday 27^th September 2020

Departure Day

NOTE: Morning yoga and meditation maybe compromised depending on the time of the departures.

Kindly drop us a message if you are keen to find out more!

* $5790 EARLY BIRD OFFER TILL 31^st MARCH 2020

• Round-trip airfare from Bangkok/Delhi to Paro
• Double room on twin sharing basis
• Single room supplement is an additional USD50 per day per person 
• Daily yoga/meditation sessions with Maile Walters
• Yoga props: meditation mala, yoga mat and 3 blankets (yoga blocks are not available, please bring you own if you think you would need them)
• All three meals (does not cover beverages ordered in hotels/restaurants)
• Bottled mineral water for the entire trip
• English speaking and knowledgeable guide
• Comfortable bus and reliable driver
• Museum and other entrance fees
• Visa fees and processing charges
• Gratuity for guides and drivers
• Tourism Development Fund
• Government taxes
• All administrative cost
• Full service & assistance before, during and after your Bhutan trip

* $5790 EARLY BIRD OFFER TILL 31^st MARCH 2020

• International round trip airfare from your respective countries to Bangkok/Delhi
• Any other beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) ordered in restaurants and hotels
• Travel or health insurance
• Wire transfer/Credit Card fees
• Laundry
• Any other personal/miscellaneous expenses