Bhutan Wisdom Quest

An immersive educational experience to unlock greater purpose, compassion, and creativity. November 15th - 25th, 2024.

Bhutan Certificate Program:

Lead With Wisdom & Compassion


Embark on a transformative quest to the mystical lands of Bhutan. Immerse yourself in this beautiful culture and unlock deeper levels of purpose, compassion, and creativity to elevate your leadership. Our program combines transformational coaching and digital learning experiences, both pre and post-quest, enabling you to integrate these profound insights into your daily life and leadership. Successful completion will be recognized with a graduation certificate for leaders engaged through organizational continuing education programs.

Bhutan Wisdom Quest Highlights

EDUCATION

Enjoy world-class education sessions with luminary leaders, coaches, and wisdom keepers to cultivate greater wisdom, purpose and fulfillment.

EXPERIENCE TRUE BHUTAN

Experience Bhutan in a way few ever do. Spend the night at the secluded Dodedhra Monastery, participating in a sacred long-life ceremony alongside revered Abbots, Rinpoches, and Monks.

COMMUNITY

Forge lasting bonds with a diverse group of leaders. Our quests facilitate deep relationships that go beyond professional networking, leading to lifelong friendships and collaborations.

PREPARATION & INTEGRATION

Maximize your immersive educational experience with pre- and post-quest coaching and group sessions, along with thought-provoking educational content to understand the true wisdom of Bhutan.

Your Bhutan Quest Faculty


Wisdom & Compassion

Dr. Dorji Wangchuk

Dorji Wangchuk, a distinguished member of the Abroad Wisdom Board, brings a wealth of experience to our community. Formerly the Press Secretary and trusted aide to the King of Bhutan he also served as the head of media in Bhutan and Dean of Royal Thimpu College. During your Bhutan Quest, Dorji will captivate you with Bhutan’s timeless wisdom and culture through his unique storytelling and exclusive invitations to extraordinary experiences that few tourists ever encounter. Notably, Dorji is not only an expert in Compassionate Leadership; he embodies it in every aspect of his life and leadership.

Brand Essence & Creativity

Brian Collins

Brian Collins is the visionary founder of COLLINS, a world-leading business transformation agency that has earned accolades including five consecutive Agency of the Year honors from respected institutions such as AdAge and D&AD. Before co-founding COLLINS with Leland Maschmeyer in 2008, Brian led the design and brand innovation division at Ogilvy Worldwide for over a decade. A luminary in the realm of design and branding, he was the first graphic designer invited to speak at The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Brian’s deep understanding of the intricate interplay between design, brand, and end-user has cemented his reputation as a sought-after expert in creativity. With a career spanning decades, his work has not only garnered acclaim but also profoundly influenced how brands communicate and engage with audiences. On your Quest, Brian will help you unlock your creative potential and reimagine your life, leadership, and organizations.

Purpose & Fulfillment

Justin Milano

Justin Milano, CEO of Abroad.io, is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive coach dedicated to empowering visionary founders and executives worldwide. Over the past decade, he has guided leaders toward operating with a profound sense of purpose and self-awareness. Through his coaching and research, Justin emphasizes that our external creations are a direct reflection of our inner selves. The depth of what we create is a mirror of the depth of who we are. During your Bhutan Quest, Justin will skillfully translate the unique teachings of Bhutan, empowering you to elevate your leadership and fulfillment.

Quest Overview

Pre-Trip Coaching & Preparation

Before you embark on your quest, our faculty and coaches will work with you one-on-one and in group sessions to prepare you for the transformative journey ahead. This is your opportunity to clarify your intentions, meet your fellow participants, and enjoy educational content that will prepare you for the experience ahead.

Bhutan Experiential Learning

Immerse yourself in the enchanting landscapes of Bhutan, interact with luminary leaders and faculty, and engage with local wisdom cultures. Learn from the Buddhist principles of compassion, mindfulness and contentment and see how they inform the approach to leadership in Bhutan.

Post-Trip Integration & Certification

Return from your journey and continue to grow through individual and group coaching sessions, leveraging insights from your trip to catalyze profound shifts in your life and leadership. As part of your quest, you will have lifetime access to our mobile app to help further your learning. For those engaged in continuing education programs through your organization, you will be recognized with a graduation certificate.

What’s Included in this Wisdom Quest


Experiential

  • Education Sessions with top faculty and coaches in Bhutan

  • 10-Nights Hotel (1-night in a sacred monastery)

  • Round-Trip Airfare Bangkok to Paro (limited business-class seats are available and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis).

  • Bhutan $100 per day sustainable tourism fee

  • Welcome Thai massage in Bangkok

  • Massage or Hot Stone Bath after Tiger's Nest Hike

  • All Meals, excursions, and river rafting experience

  • Guest speakers with Bhutanese spiritual and environmental leaders

  • Guide Tips

Digital

  • Executive coaching session pre and post-the Quest (2 total)

  • Group coaching sessions pre and post-the Quest (2 total)

  • License to Abroad’s proprietary Self and Leadership Assessments

  • Digital learning content on Abroad’s mobile app to learn the unique wisdom of Bhutan pre and post the experience.

  • Quantitative and qualitative measurement of impact

  • Donation to Bhutan Center for Wisdom through Abroad Generosity

I N V E S T M E N T

Single Supplement: $2,500

$12,500


Cancellation Policy: 100%: 60+ Days Prior to Arrival || 50%: 30+ Days Prior to Arrival || 0%: Within 30 Days of Arrival

Schedule a 30-Minute Interview


We are diligent to make sure this is the right educational experience for you at this time in your life. Due to the small size of the group, we are looking for impact-minded leaders and people committed to their personal and professional growth to create the best possible experience.

FAQ

  • Expect a minimum of 15 people and a maximum of 25 people. We keep group sizes small to build community and allow access to places normal tourists cannot visit.

  • We are diligent to make sure this is the right experience for you at this time in your life. Due to the small size of the group, we are looking for a group of socially-minded leaders and people committed to their professional and personal growth. Bhutan is a spiritual nation and very different than traveling to Tuscany or the Caribbean. For these reasons, we want to make sure expectations are aligned and you get everything you want from this immersive learning and travel experience.

  • Absolutely, given this is a life changing experience, many leaders find great value and transformation in bringing their significant other. However, we have also seen other leaders utilize this time for personal contemplation and reflection. We will explore this in your 30-minute interview.

  • Our lead guide is Dr. Dorji Wangchuk, the former Press Secretary to the King of Bhutan, Dean of Royal Thimpu college, and former head of Bhutan media. Joining Dorji is a remarkable ground team of top Bhutanese guides and wisdom keepers who ensure every detail of your experience is tended to so you can focus on your learning and growth.

  • You need to arrive in Bangkok by no later than the afternoon of November 15th to receive a Thai massage and join an introductory dinner. On the return, you need to book your flights on or after 8 p.m. local time on November 24th, or the morning of November 25th. Please pay close attention to the time changes you will experience on the flight to Bangkok to ensure you book the right flight. Your flights from Bangkok to Paro are included and business class seats are provided to participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • The COMO hotel group, owners of the COMO Metropolitan Bangkok are long-term partners in Abroad so we have a wonderful relationship. We can put you in contact to book additional nights pre-post the Quest if you want to enjoy Bangkok or visit COMO's property in Phuket. If you want to spend more time in Bhutan, we can connect you with our trusted local guides.

  • Bhutan is famous for imposing expensive daily tourism fees and requiring certified tour guides for all travelers. They do this to ensure their pristine nation does not get overrun by tourism and backpackers like other major tourist centers. Bhutan is allocating money for each traveler to minimize the environmental impact of travel.

  • A full packing list will be provided once you sign up through our Bhutan Participant Dashboard.

  • Fundamental to Abroad's mission is building regenerative collaborations with our indigenous partners. You will learn more about this throughout the Quest, but expect at least one experience where we give back to the communities that welcome us.

  • Bhutan is tucked in the Himalayan mountains so trekking/hiking is an important part of the experience. On the Quest, we have three hikes to Dodedhra Monastery (2-3 hours), Chumphu Nye (6-7 hours), and Tiger’s Nest (4-5 hours). On two of the hikes we will reach 11,000 feet in elevation, with the ascent requiring 1-2,000 ft of climb. If you cannot do any of these hikes, this likely is not the best trip for you. However, if you want to take a break from one of the hikes, we can arrange optional tours or rest at the hotel.

  • There is an ATM at the airport where you can get Bhutanese Ngultrum on arrival

  • We advise you to check with your cell phone provider to see if you can have reasonably priced international service in Bhutan. If you need a SIM card, then it’s provided as part of your Quest.

  • Yes, travel insurance is required to travel with us in Bhutan, and you are also required to agree to our Terms and Conditions and release of liability. We will provide recommendations for a reasonable travel and health insurance plans, as well as plans that will cover your entire investment for the Abroad Quest should you need to cancel for unforeseen reasons.

  • +60 Days - Full Refund

    +30 Days - 50% Refund

    Within 30 Days - No Refund, although we will do our best to recapture any investment

  • Abroad will reserve massage times for the group and provide a staff contact at each hotel for you to reserve your massage or hot stone bath at your desired time.

  • Abroad will host an intro session with our faculty and Bhutan guides. After the Quest, we will schedule a group integration call and individual coaching sessions to help you integrate this powerful life experience.