EDGE CITY BHUTAN
Edge City x Abroad in Bhutan
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
A small, curated Edge City cohort will join an Abroad Quest exploring consciousness, culture, innovation, and human flourishing alongside Bhutanese leaders and builders.
The journey includes access to the Bhutan Innovation Festival and is designed to deepen relationships between the Edge City community, Abroad's global network, and people shaping Bhutan's future.
What We'll Do
Experience Bhutan's Cultural Heritage and Landscapes
Visit remote ancient monasteries, engage with monks, and learn about the Gross National Happiness philosophy that shapes Bhutan’s approach to governance and daily life.Discover the Gelephu Mindfulness City
Learn about the visionary urban project launched by the King, focused on mindfulness, sustainability, and long-term human flourishing.Connect with Bhutanese Leaders and Builders
Spend time with Bhutanese founders, innovators, and leaders working across technology, culture, sustainability, and new models of development.Join a Cross-Generational Community
Learn alongside Edge City peers, a wider Abroad cohort, and the full community of builders and thinkers at the Bhutan Innovation Festival.
Itinerary
March 23: Arrival in Bhutan
- Arrive in Paro and transfer to your hotel.
- Meet the wider Abroad Quest cohort and begin the shared program.
- Spend one to two days inside the Bhutan Innovation Festival; the $1,500 ticket is included.
- Learn alongside the Festival's community of builders and thinkers, plus Abroad's Bhutanese Wisdom Faculty.
Tiger's Nest
- Take part in a guided excursion to the sacredTiger’s Nest monastery.
Thimphu and Local Exchange
- Travel from Paro to Thimphu, with time for guided cultural visits, landmarks, and exchange with people shaping Bhutan's future.
Quest Programming
- Join sessions led by Dr. Rob Wolcott, Justin Milano, and Abroad's Bhutanese Wisdom Faculty.
- Edge City participants may also have opportunities to contribute to formal programming.
Dodedhra Monastery
- Take part in a guided visit to Dodedhra Monastery.
- Entrance fees and temple donations are included.
Cultural and Community Exchange
- Spend time with Bhutanese leaders, founders, and builders through conversations and shared experiences. Exact sessions are being finalized.
March 30: Departure
- Conclude the Quest and transfer to the airport, or continue onward independently.
The detailed daily schedule is being finalized and remains subject to change.
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Dates: March 23rd – 30th, 2027
Locations:Paro, Thimphu, Tiger's Nest, Dodedhra Monastery, and the Bhutan Innovation Festival
Price: $6,000 double occupancy / $7,250 single occupancy
How to join:ENROLLMENT DETAILS COMING SOON
It feels like stepping into another world. The landscapes are untouched, the buildings are hand-carved, and the people you meet exude warmth and kindness.
The values run deep. From architecture to governance, Bhutan prioritizes culture, environment, and long-term human flourishing.
The country is entering a new chapter. With the launch of Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan is opening up to innovation, but on its own terms. We want to offer our help in that journey.
A sandbox for frontier tech. Bhutan has used clean hydropower for Bitcoin mining and has deployed Bhutan NDI, a national digital identity system. It offers a rare view into how frontier technology can be developed within a distinct cultural and institutional context.
You’ll get to spend time with monks, mountain guides, government leaders, and the team behind GMC. You’ll hike to remote monasteries, walk ancient footpaths, and share ideas with fellow builders.
Trip cost is$6,000 double occupancy or $7,250 single occupancy.Round-trip airfare to Bhutan is arranged separately by each participant.
Accommodation Options:
- Single Occupancy: $7,250 per person
- Private room in 3-star+ hotels adjacent to the main Quest accommodations, March 23–30.
- Includes the full Quest program and Bhutan Innovation Festival access.
- Double Occupancy: $6,000 per person
- Shared room in 3-star+ hotels adjacent to the main Quest accommodations, March 23–30.
- Includes the full Quest program and Bhutan Innovation Festival access.
Included in Every Ticket:
- Bhutan Innovation Festival ticket and 1–2 days of access (value $1,500)
- Seven nights of lodging from March 23–30.
- All in-country transportation, including airport transfers.
- Breakfast and dinner, picnic lunches on excursion days, snacks, and water.
- Guided excursions, entrance fees, and temple donations, including Tiger's Nest and Dodedhra Monastery.
- Quest programming, photography, and a traditional Bhutanese gho or kira.
The experience also includes:
- Airport transfers and all transportation within Bhutan.
- Breakfast and dinner, plus picnic lunches on excursion days.
- One to two days at the Bhutan Innovation Festival.
- Guided excursions, entrance fees, and temple donations.
- A traditional Bhutanese gho or kira, Quest photography, and access to Abroad and BIF's broader community.
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Abroad
We've partnered closely with Abroad. It is hosting a seven-night Quest around the Bhutan Innovation Festival. The program combines festival access, cultural immersion, guided excursions, and facilitated sessions. Quest hosts include Justin Milano and Dr. Rob Wolcott, with Craig Lucas and Timour Kosters as guest contributors.
- Justin Milano, Founder and CEO of Abroad.
- Dr. Rob Wolcott, professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Kellogg and Booth and co-host of the Quest.
Spend a week inside Bhutan's cultural, spiritual, and emerging innovation landscape while learning alongside a curated intergenerational group. The experience combines the Bhutan Innovation Festival with intimate Quest programming and guided immersion across Paro and Thimphu.
This expedition is designed for next-generation leaders who are:
Interested in the intersection of consciousness, spirituality, society, and technology.
Builders, researchers, or investors curious about emerging ecosystems and new models of development.
Eager to learn from Bhutanese leaders and contribute thoughtfully when invited.
Looking to deepen your network of technologists, innovators, and optimistic futurists.
A creative thinker who brings fresh perspectives to complex challenges.
You'll leave with a new community of peers and a grounded view of Bhutan's approach to culture, spirituality, innovation, and human flourishing.
Edge City is a ‘society incubator’ dedicated to advancing human flourishing. We create environments perfect for practical experimentation with new ideas, technology, culture, and organizations committed to moving humanity toward a brighter future.
We've developed a new format of gathering that is best suited for experimentation to further human flourishing. We call them “popup villages.” These villages last 1–2 months and bring together 1,000 people to live and collaborate, with roughly 200-300 of those being full-time residents. The temporary nature of these events creates freedom to experiment outside of the box, mixed with a shared sense of urgency and ambition to build and ship before the end of the month, similar to a college semester.
We create environments where you can do your best work while feeling your best, from daily workouts and healthy meals to good sleep and mindful habits. It's innovation at its most creative, health at its most natural, and community at its most fun.
Besides our popup villages, we also host occasional expeditions, like this event in Bhutan.
Read more about what we've accomplished so far, or check out our roadmap to see where we're headed.
