Write & Roam travels to the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan,

April 8-20, 2026

Via Delhi, India, with optional Golden Triangle Tour (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur)

April 20-25, 2026

This tour is for those who want to witness a world rarely seen. As most people only travel here once in a lifetime, I have arranged an exquisite journey, with time to explore inner and outer worlds, in the most unexpected of places on the planet.

Bhutan is a hidden gem high in the Himalayan Mountains. What secrets does it hold for you?

• Peace and quiet are pervasive, allowing you to think, listen and create from a place of stillness, rather than chaos and distraction.

• Theta brainwaves will activate, creating flow, stress reduction, creativity, and contentment. These benefits will remain accessible long after the retreat is over. The writing tools, crafts, and techniques are based on the Gateless Method.

• Resistance will melt away. The inner critic who shouts all day long will be quieted and diminished. Let’s leave that critic behind on a valley or river.

• Nature will envelop you, filling you with awe, integrating your connectedness to everything.

• Leave worry and weariness behind. Immerse yourself in the present moment. Listen to wild rivers run, visit Buddhist stupas on the side of the road, and hear the sonorous sounds of thousands of prayer flags flapping in the wind, sending blessings across the world.

• Astonishing architecture in bold colors and designs, just like Shangri-la, will stoke your creativity and fill your senses.

• Plenty of places to shed what doesn’t serve you, and pick up some new vibes!

• Links to all the sites we will visit are in blue and bolded in the daily schedule below.

• I’m happy to have a call with you to talk about the trip! Email me at susan@susanweisbohlen.com.

  Read more about Gross National Happiness here: https://susanweisbohlen.substack.com/.../i-wanna-take-you...

  and here's a short video to tell you more: https://youtu.be/Hwd73ePzpc0?si=CHk5LO57mHBAdHd_

Most tours of Bhutan begin in the capital city Thimpu and venture East. But I’m going to take you West toward China, to the hidden paradise of Haa. This serene, peaceful valley was once known as the “hidden-land rice valley” and was closed to tourism until a few years ago. Quaint guest houses have been built with local farm-to-table food, traditional architecture, and endless nature. It’s remote, isolated, and the perfect place to begin our journey. You will have no choice but to leave the world behind, and immerse yourself in Bhutanese culture, acclimate to the altitude, and allow the adventure to begin. But don’t worry, East we will go! Take a look below at the detailed itinerary and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

Why Bhutan? My first trip there was in 2006, on a whim, to join a friend who was traveling in Nepal and India. Suffice it to say that there were so few tourists there, that when I returned with a group in 2016, a hotel manager remembered me - and my name! I fell in love with the uniqueness of this place. Wild white rivers rush around huge boulders, Monks scurry along to prayers and study, Nuns meditate, strangers bow and you feel like you have reached the end of the world — in a good way! On my first trip, my friend Sue and I sat in a shack on the edge of a town, the only place with an internet connection, and tried to send emails home. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. That may be the last time I was so disconnected from the world.

Now the internet, and wifi are pervasive, but that feeling that you are far far away is still there. And you are!

This, my fourth time in Bhutan, is a journey designed to get the most out of the trip but at a relaxed pace. We will spend multiple nights at most places so you won’t be packing and unpacking all the time. Settle in, take walks, easy hikes, visit to monasteries, and festivals. Soak in hot mineral water. See the monkeys in the trees and the spectacular flora and fauna. We’ll fly over spectacular Himalayan mountain ranges. And write. Most days we will have two hours of guided writing, wincluding meditation and prompts. With no distractions, no goals, and no pressure, you will find your voice. And you will hear the voices of others. Learn more here in this 60 Minutes piece on Bhutan from last summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g_t1lzn-1A

Our trip is 12 days and 11 nights in Bhutan. The optional Indian extension is April 20-25

COST: $6589 for a shared room. The final payment is due by February 1, 2026. Payment plans can be made if needed. Please see below what is included and what is not included inthe price. Add $480 for a single room upgrade.

EARLY BIRD! $5989. Pay in full by January, 2026 and save $600.

Cost for India extention TBA

An $850 partially refundable deposit will hold your place. Credit Card payments include a 4% processing fee. You can pay via Venmo to susan-weis-bohlen (last for of cell are 2096); Zelle: 4109792096; PayPal using Send Friends Money option to susanweisbohlen@gmail.com; or check to Breathe Books, 20 Clarks Lane, Reisterstown, Md 21136.

Single supplement Bhutan: $40 per night ($480)

Price includes a Bhutanese travel Visa; dedicated guide and driver; 11 nights hotels; 3 meals a day; water; entrance and festival fees; all travel within the country including the Bumthang-Paro flight; exceptional writing salons; personal one-on-one session with Susan for an Ayurvedic or writing consultation; extraordinary sights; a once-in-a-lifetime experience; new friends!

Not included: Flights to Bhutan from the US, or your originating country; flight from Delhi to Bhutan and return; tips for guide and driver; alcoholic drinks; espresso drinks; snacks; laundry services; mineral hot baths and spa services.

If traveling from the US we will depart on Friday, April 11 from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. to Delhi, India, arriving on Sunday monring April 12, (approximately 1:30 am arrival) and our flight to Bhutan is on Sunday, April 12 at 4:45 am. I will tell you the recommended flights when you sign up. Flights from Delhi to Bhutan are currently $565. If traveling from Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia, please make arrangements to meet us in Bhutan by 7 am on Sunday, April 12, or we will make arrangements to join the group at your expense. Travel insurance is highly recommended. We use https://www.travelinsured.com/agency/.

This is high-altitude trip. Please check with your health care provider for any issues that might arise when travelling over 13,000 feet. There are medications like acetazolamide, which can help you to acclimate.

Daily Itinerary:

Day 1: HAA: The flight into Paro begins our journey to the spectacular beauty of Bhutan. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro Valley. Hint: Those seated on the left side of the flight will have a magnificent view of the snow-covered peaks of Mt. Everest. The first gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After resting in a hotel near the airport for a few hours, we will drive to Haa Valley.

Our afternoon journey takes us over the Chelela pass, one of the highest points (3,780 m/12401 f) of drivable road in Bhutan. You will see incredible views of the highest mountains of Bhutan and the scenery is magnificent. Then onto the Forbidden Valley of Haa (which only opened to tourism in 2002), which borders China. Dinner and overnight at the Haa Heritage Hotel. 

Day 2: Haa. We will continue sightseeing with a visit to the Dzong of Haa and the temples of Haap Chhundu (guardian deity of the valley). In the late afternoon, we will settle in for our first writing session at the hotel.

Day 3: Haa. In the morning drive a short distance to hike (45 minutes) to the Juneydrak hermitage from Katsho village. This Cliffside retreat also houses the right footprint of Machig Labdron, a female Tibetan tantric practitioner whose practice of Chod, a spiritual practice, has heavily influenced all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Juneydrak is a magical temple on the edge of a cliff. The hike is steep but not too hard and the reward is worth it. Time spent in this small shrine is very moving. We’ll have a meditation, then descend to a picnic lunch. After being inspired by the sights and sounds, we will write in the afternoon together. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4:  Haa – Drive to Thimphu. After breakfast depart to Thimphu, the capitol city, a 2.5 hour drive. Thimphu has a population of about 100,000 and is made up of just three streets of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. After lunch visit the National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk; and also visit National Institute of Traditional Medicine; the Art & Craft School, where children still learn the ancient art of Buddhist painting. Evening ends with a walk through the main streets of Thimphu and also visit the Farmer’s Market, where everyone goes to buy fruits and vegetables, rice, grains, chillis and other fresh foods. The crowded stalls offer many colourful local items such as yak tail dusters, butter tea cups, turquoise from Nepal and Tibet and musical instruments and finally visit Handicrafts Emporium, which has all types of Bhutanese handicrafts for sale.  Dinner and overnight at Capitol Hotel.

 Day 5: Thimphu valley sightseeing – Depart to Punakha. In the morning after breakfast and our writing session, we’ll visit the Folk Heritage Museum, which is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibition of items and artifacts used in rural households, and the Textile Museum, where the art of traditional weaving is still kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in its color and design. We’ll drive to Punakha, through a forest of pine and cedar, festooned with hanging lichen high up near Dochula pass (3,050 m), with panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. After stopping for tea and the view, we descend along a series of hairpin bends to the fertile valley of Punakha, visit imporessive Punakha Dzong, (built in the 1600s) remarkably located between the rivers of the Mo (Female) Chu and Pho (Male) Chu and also pay a visit to more intamate temple Chhimi Lhakhang, of the “Divine Madman” built in 1499. Dinner and overnight at hotel, Bhutanic Resort

Day 6: After breakfast and morning writing, we continue our overland travel towards Bumthag, passing Wangdue, (pronouced Angdee) a major town in Western Bhutan where we make a short stop to view the Wangdiphodrang Dzong dramatically located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers. We then climb steadily passing through semi-tropical vegetation and then to Pelela Pass, an alpine environment of rhododendrons and dwarf bamboos, and finally to Gangtey. Gangtey lies on the flanks of the Black Mountains, with a monastery dating back to the 17th century, and fascinating valley of Phobjikha. The gentle sloping hillsides of Phobjikha is described as " the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas". This is the winter home of black-necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the north to pass winter in milder and lower climate. In the afternoon we’ll see the Gangtey Goempa monastery, which was built in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinley which holds many antique relics and walk a nature trail. Hotel: ABC Lodge Gangtey

Day 7: Gangtey – Trongsa – Bumthang After as early breakfast, we drive to Bumthang via Trongsa. The drive to Bumthang is approximately 4 to 5 hours. This route is traditionally considered the boundary between West and East Bhutan. If the weather is clear the Himalayan ranges can be seen, particularly the peak of Chomolhari to the west. En route we cross Chendebji Chorten built many centuries ago to supress a demon! Lunch will be served at lovely Water fall café in Trongsa, next to the roaring river with huge boulders. After lunch visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong, ancestral home of the ruling dynasty, and finally to Bumthang. Evening attend the Yoga Shala class at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel, Rinchenling Lodge 

Day 8: Bumthang valley is one of the most spectacular valleys in Bhutan and also the heartland of Buddhism. Here many great teachers meditated and left in their wake many sacred grounds. The Guru and his lineage of Tertons (treasure finders), have led to the sprouting of many temples in the valley. Today we will rest, walk around the town for shopping and visit the amazing Six Senses Resort for (optional) spa treatments and visit the Swiss farm where you can buy cheese and local fruit products. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Bumthang – Day excursion to Ura valley After an early breakfast and writing, we’ll drive to Ura valley which is the last valley of Bumthang, which lives on livestock and potatoes faming. Picnic lunch served and after lunch drive back to Bumthang and on the way visit Tang Membar Tso, the Burning Lake and nunnery. Evening ends with a walk through the Chamkhar town. Back at the hotel you can schedule a hot stone mineral bath to relax before we fly back to Paro the nest day. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 10: After breakfast, we will fly to Paro and check into our hotel. In the late afternoon, we will have a writing salon. Dinner and overnight at Metta Resort.

Day 11: This morning we will hike to the truly magnificent Tiger Nest Monastery (4 miles round trip, elevation: 3,120 meters/10,232 feet). No worries if it feels challenging as there is a cafe about one and a half hours up and I’m happy to rest there with you. At the top, you will see the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. After the visit, we will head back to town, to rest and pack and have one last session together. You can also take an optional walk through Paro’s main shopping district. Dinner and overnight at the hotel TBA.

Day 12: On our last morning in Bhutan, we will soak in the beauty as we drive to Paro and fly home. Those continuing on to the 5-day tour of the Golden Triangle in India, we will stay overnight in Delhi. India itinerary and pricing will be published shortly.

I am only taking TEN people on this trip! To reserve your space you can send me a partially refundable deposit or $850 to Venmo: susan-weis-bohlen (last four of cell are 2096); Zelle: 4109792096; Paypal using the send friends money option to susanweisbohlen@gmail.com; or send a check to Breathe Books, 20 Clarks Lane, Reisterstown, MD 21136. If you would like to use a credit card, a 4% fee will be added.

About Susan:

After the extraordinary experience of running my bookstore, Breathe Books, for 10 years, I closed the shop in 2014 to concentrate on my Ayurvedic practice. Little did I know that publishers who once asked me to sell their books would now be asking me to write them! I wrote three books on Ayurveda between 2018 and 2023. That incredible adventure led me deeper into creative writing and I began taking classes, workshops, and retreats. I started with a deep dive into a retreat with Suzanne Kingsbury, founder of the Gateless Writing. My interest in this type of writing (memoir, fiction, non-fiction) was not only sparked – it was set on fire!  During and after COVID I took so many online and in-person classes, including with iconic writing teacher and author Natalie Goldberg, best-selling author Laura Munson, and Diablo Writers Workshop, Dani Shapiro, learning craft and structure.

I have spent hundreds of hours learning the art of creative writing and teaching it as well. It’s almost as if I had a mini-MFA and I continue every day to hone the craft and I love teaching others. In April 2022 I led my first writing retreat in West Virginia, which was followed several more in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. In 2023, and 2024 I led groups in Iceland and also in 2024 to Buthan. In August 2025 I will be teaching Writing and Ayurveda at Kripalu in Western MA. (see testimonials below). I have been leading international trips (England, Peru, Bhutan, and India) since 2007.

Additionally, if you are interested in publishing I am happy to talk to you about my path and how you can make it happen. From the query letter to the proposal, finding an agent, going the traditional publisher route, or checking out the incredible new options for hybrid-publishing, I can help you find your way. My books are with Simon & Schuster and Quarto Group, published in the US and foreign language editions. I’ve had great success and I can’t wait to share with you everything I have learned.

Testimonials:

“What a glorious week! I’ve just returned from Casa Om Potomac after a few days of a writing retreat led by Susan Weis-Bohlen. It was a fun, inspiring, and a safe space to be creative. I made new friends and they are all goddess warriors. We laughed, cried, and danced. Share your story. Open your heart. You will find magic!” Alex H.

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to connect with so many creative, special women at the Casa Om workshop. Your facilitation was excellent. Casa om was beautiful, the food was excellent, and just unwinding along the beautiful Potomac river with the birds and the groundhogs and other beautiful nature sounds and beautiful grounds was a real healing for me. The opportunity to share and write about our experiences past, present and future dreams was also a healing for me. I hope to attend future seminars and experiences with you and maybe even a trip to a beautiful place that you and Larry explore with others. I highly recommend your workshops to creative people who want to explore their inner lives, creative writing skills, and express in dialogue their thoughts, experiences and wisdom, as well as, humor and laughter. As an observant Jew I enjoyed the mid week schedule as well.”
Shoshana S.

“I. LOVE. SUSAN'S. WRITING. CLASS and the Gateless method.  This class allowed me to discover my writer.   If you've ever had an inkling to write, then this is where you can discover your voice.  It's encouraging and supportive, inviting your writer to come out and explore. Susan provides a safe environment to express yourself whether it's a list of words, phrases, or sentences.”  MR

“My Write-and-Roam trip to Iceland under Susan's enthusiastic leadership was just what the doctor ordered! Great generative prompts, helpful crafts tips, wonderful writing and feedback, amazing sights, and delicious meals in simple but elegant lodging amongst a group of warm, open, intuitive women (and one man). Our Icelandic guide Heida was terrific too. Highly recommend.” DR

“My favorite parts of the trip were having regular writing practice to look forward to, and the restaurants were enjoyable. The trip was well led and planned and well explained, and what was planned was clear. There was enough flexibility and light-heartedness to make it easy and fun. The writing time really helped to break the ice and to get acquainted with each other.” CM