Skip to content
ELC
A forested Himalayan valley under low cloud, with a gilded temple roof in the foreground

The Elemental Wellbeing Retreat

A 7-day retreat created with ELC School and the Contentment Foundation Bhutan.

Duration
7 days
Difficulty
Easy
Price
On request

For groups seeking a genuine inward journey, rather than simply a change of scenery. This retreat weaves together Bhutanese wisdom traditions and contemporary wellbeing practices, moving through the four elements — Wind, Earth, Water and Fire — as both metaphor and lived experience.

Highlights

  • A Heart Circle with students and the founding principal at ELC School
  • The Four Pillars of Wellbeing, led by the Contentment Foundation Bhutan
  • Wind Ceremony — create and raise your own prayer flags
  • Earth Ceremony — a silent walk to Khamsum Yulley Monastery
  • Water Ceremony — a sand mandala created and released by the river in Paro
  • Fire Ceremony — a closing circle on what to carry forward and what to let go
  • The pilgrimage hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery
Package 01 poster — The Elemental Wellbeing Retreat, drawn as a mountain, river and sun inside a green medallion.

The route

Where this journey goes

The places this journey moves through, in order. Day-by-day timings are confirmed with you when we build your dates.

  1. 1

    Paro

    Arrival, and the first evening in the valley

  2. 2

    Thimphu

    A Heart Circle at ELC School, the Four Pillars of Wellbeing, and the Wind Ceremony

  3. 3

    Khamsum Yulley, Punakha

    A silent walk to the monastery for the Earth Ceremony

  4. 4

    Paro riverside

    A sand mandala created and released by the river — the Water Ceremony

  5. 5

    Taktsang

    The climb to Tiger's Nest, then the closing Fire Ceremony

Format

How it runs

Fixed 7-day retreat structure. The elemental ceremonies can be scaled up or down in intensity, while the overall arc remains intact.

Best for

Who it suits

Retreat groups, wellbeing organizations, and spiritually curious travelers.

Partners

Who you will meet

  • ELC School (Madam Deki Choden)
  • Contentment Foundation Bhutan
  • Yoga Yangchen
  • Volunteer Artists' Studio Thimphu (VAST)

Inquire

Ask about The Elemental Wellbeing Retreat

Tell us your dates and group size and we will come back with availability and a firm price.

We use the details you provide only to answer your inquiry. We never share them with third parties.

See the other journeys

Five journeys, each one adjustable to your dates and interests.

All packagesPhoto gallery