16-Day
Spiritual Pilgrimage Retreat Wutaishan & Mongolia
A Journey into the Heart of Manjushri and Jetsun Dampa
📅 June 26 – July 11, 2028
PART A (June 26-July 3): China & Inner Mongolia
PART B (July 4 - 11): Outer Mongolia
🔹 Limited to 8 Pilgrims
Since the time of the historical Buddha, devoted practitioners have embarked on nekhor—sacred pilgrimages to the very sites where enlightened deities and great masters once walked. Outside of India, the primary lands of pilgrimage are Tibet, China, and Mongolia. Collectively, these realms represent the Three Lords of the World: Avalokitesvara in Tibet, Manjushri in China, and Vajrapani in Mongolia.
Pilgrimage is a profound practice in which one steps entirely outside their daily routine to focus on deeply connecting with the heart of the lineage, generating immense merit, and purifying the mind. The masters of our ear-whispered lineages traversed these lands on foot, seeking to deepen their own realizations while blessing these environments for future devotees like us.
Dakini’s Whisper is incredibly excited to announce a rare and powerful journey to China—specifically to Mount Wutaishan, the breathtaking sacred abode of Manjushri—and onward to the vast landscapes of Mongolia, the historical land of the Khalkha Jetsun Dampas. This once-in-a-lifetime spiritual adventure will offer the precious opportunity to walk in the footsteps of past masters and receive intimate teachings from Khandro-la and other high lamas in Mongolia.
JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS
Spiritual Practice & Lineage Connection
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Deep Purification & Merit: Undertake a profound pilgrimage to the blessed sites of our lineage for deep merit accumulation and mental purification.
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Intimate Empowerments: Receive intimate transmissions, teachings, and empowerments from Khandro-la, Oser Rinpoche, and other high lamas.
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Shared Chö Practice: Forge a living connection to the lineage by practicing at the holy sites and alongside traditional Mongolian Chö practitioners.
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Homage to the Masters: Pay deep respects before the kudung (holy remains) of His Holiness the 9th Khalkha Rinpoche, Khandro-la’s revered teacher.
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Connect to the Source of Dakini's Whisper, The Dakini Ear-Whispered Lineage: Visit the land where KL did a 108 Spring Wandering Retreat, the sites where our lineage masters walked and practiced Cho and Deities.
Sacred Sites, Monuments & Art
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Beijing Sanctuaries: Offer prayers before the great Je Tsongkhapa statue and the magnificent 55-foot sandalwood Maitreya Buddha.
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Sacred Circumambulations: Walk the holy paths around the White Stupa at Miaoying Temple and Gandan Monastery's 85-foot golden indoor Avalokiteshvara statue.
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Ancient Architectural Marvels: Explore historical wonders, including the Yungang Grottoes and the pure silver Shakyamuni Buddha at Dazhao Temple.
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Rare Masterpieces: View sacred artifacts in Ulaanbaatar, featuring original Zanabazar bronze sculptures and traditional wrathful deity masks.
Wilderness Trekking & Monastic Rituals
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Gobi Desert Resonance: Walk among the 108 Shambhala Stupas to connect with the raw, natural energy of the desert landscape.
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Tuvkhun Hermitage Trek: Ascend the high-altitude forested ridge to visit the remote mountain retreat where Zanabazar spent 30 years in meditation.
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Evening Fire Puja: Participate in a powerful nightfall fire offering ceremony assisted by traditional Mongolian monks.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
PART A: China & Inner Mongolia
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Phase 1: The Foundations (Days 0–4) – Arrive in Beijing, journey to Wutaishan to pray before the great Je Tsongkhapa statue, circumambulate the White Stupa, and visit the Yungang Grottoes in Datong.
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Phase 2: Inner Mongolia (Days 5–7) – Take a bullet train to Hohhot to pay respects to the pure silver Shakyamuni Buddha at Dazhao Temple, visit the "Little Potala" (Wudangzhao), and drive north to the border at Erenhot.
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Phase 3: The Gobi Entrance & Northern Pivot (Days 8–9) – Cross into Mongolia at Zamyn-Uud, take a 4WD trip to the 108 Shambhala Stupas at Khamariin Khiid, and board an overnight sleeper train to Ulaanbaatar.
PART B: Outer Mongolia
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Phase 4: The Sacred Orkhon Valley & Central Retreats (Days 9.5–14) – Arrive in Ulaanbaatar for teachings and transmissions from Oser Rinpoche, followed by an evening fire puja.
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Phase 4 (Continued): Drive to the ancient Mongol capital to visit Erdene Zuu Monastery and Shankh Monastery, then hike or ride horses up to Tuvkhun Hermitage, where Zanabazar spent 30 years meditating.
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Phase 4 (Continued): Explore the peaceful ruins of Manzushir Monastery and take a Gandan Monastery tour to circumambulate the golden Avalokiteshvara statue and view the holy remains of the 9th Khalkha Rinpoche.
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Phase 5: Closing the Loop (Days 15–16) – View wrathful deity masks and sacred art at Ulaanbaatar museums, enjoy a celebratory final dinner, and take a direct flight back to Beijing or home.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Health, Travel & Dietary Requirements
Mandatory Travel Insurance
Due to the remote nature of the areas we are visiting, all pilgrims are required to have travel insurance (such as Allianz) to cover medical or life-threatening emergencies.
Physical Requirements
This trip will require considerable walking and long stairways to temples. You must be physically able to walk a few miles a day and handle Mongolia's rugged terrain. Rural Mongolia offers almost no accessibility for mobility-impaired visitors; those with limited mobility are strongly advised to visit only the Wutaishan portion, which is much more accessible. Please connect with us beforehand to discuss any concerns.
Dietary Requirements
For the China portion, dietary options are abundant, with a wide array of vegetarian choices. However, in Mongolia (once outside the capital city), there will be absolutely no vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options. Our tour will eat only what is offered by nomadic families, which usually includes yak or mutton, root vegetables, dairy, and noodles. We ask all pilgrims to view these dietary changes as offerings of generosity. No exceptions will be made unless there are life-threatening allergies.
SPIRITUAL PREREQUISITES
* Dakini's Whisper Member (Jade & Above)
* Mantra Accumulations: To properly prepare for this profound experience, participants must complete:
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10,000 Manjushri mantras (after Manjushri transmission)
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10,000 Refuge and Bodhicitta
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10,000 Prostrations
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10,000 Vajrayogini 8-Line Praise
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Vajrayogini ley-rung (optional, but required for the fire puja in Mongolia)
Use DW Ngondro Tracker
DETAILED ITINERARY
PART A
Phase 1: The Foundations (Days 0–4)
Day 0: Arrive in Beijing, China
by 8 pm. Overnight in hotel– on your own.
Day 1: Beijing (Yonghegong)
to Wutaishan
Pray before the great Je Tsongkhapa statue and the 55-foot sandalwood Maitreya Buddha. Overnight in Wutaishan.
Day 2 – Wutaishan
Circumambulate the White Stupa at Miaoying Temple. Some group practices.
Day 3 - Wutaishan Peaks
Pay respects at Pusading (the Tibetan summit) and numerous other holy sites.
Day 4 - Lotus Altar (Wutaishan) & Datong
See the mechanical lotus at Luohou Temple.
Day 4 (continue) - Datong
Drive north to Datong to see the Yunggang Grottoes– Possibly see the Hanging Temple and wooden pagoda. Overnight in Datong.
Phase 2: Inner Mongolia (Days 5–7)
Day 5 – Datong to Silver Buddha (Hohhot)
Bullet train to Hohhot (2 hours). Pay respects to the pure silver Shakyamuni Buddha at Dazhao Temple (consecrated by the 3rd Dalai Lama) and visit Xilituzhao Temple.
Day 6 – "Little Potala" (Wudangzhao/Batou)
Hohot to Wudangzhao (2-hour drive) Excursion to the sprawling Lhasa-style monastic university hidden in the Yin Mountains.
Day 7 – Drive to the Border
Journey north across the plains to Erenhot. Overnight at a border hotel. Drive through the “kissing dinosaurs of Erenhot”. Possibly see rural temples along the way.
Phase 3: The Gobi Entrance & Northern Pivot (Days 8–9)
Day 8 – Into Mongolia
Land border crossing to Zamyn-Uud, followed by a short regional train to Sainshand. Cho Practice.
Day 9 – Gobi Shambhala
4WD trip to Khamariin Khiid -
Walk the 108 Shambhala Stupas and connect with the natural desert energy. Board the overnight sleeper train north to Ulaanbaatar.
PART B
Phase 4: The Sacred Orkhon Valley & Central Retreats (Days 9.5–13)
Day 9.5 – Ulaanbaatar
People who did not attend the China portion arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Arrive by 6 pm. Overnight in a hotel– on your own.
Day 10 – Ulaanbaatar
(approximate arrival 9 am): Main sites of the capital city. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 11 – Karakorum & Erdene Zuu
Drive to Karakorum & Erdene Zuu (5-hour drive) and Shankh Monastery (25-minute drive), practice CHO, and overnight at Orkhon Waterfall.
Day 11 (Continue)
Drive south through the steppes into the ancient Mongol capital of Kharkhorin to visit Erdene Zuu Monastery.
Significance: Founded in 1585 by Abtai Sain Khan (after meeting the 3rd Dalai Lama), this is Mongolia's earliest surviving active Gelug monastery, surrounded by a massive wall of 108 white stupas.
Day 11 (Continue)
Afternoon: Drive to the quiet Shankh Monastery, one of Mongolia's oldest seats founded by Zanabazar in 1647, renowned for its rare Kalachakra Mandalas depicting 722 deities.
Overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger.
Day 12 - Tuvkhun Hermitage
Morning Trek: Drive and hike (or ride horses) up to Tuvkhun Khiid, perched high at 2,600 meters on a forested mountain ridge. This is the exact rocky hermitage where Zanabazar spent 30 years meditating and creating his legendary Buddhist bronze sculptures.
Overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger.
Day 13 - The Sacred Valley to Manzushir and Bogd Mountain
Activity: Drive east toward Ulaanbaatar, stopping on the rugged south slopes of the Bogd Khan Sacred Mountain to explore the peaceful ruins of Manzushir Monastery.
Day 14 - Ulaanbaatar and Gandan Monastery Tour & Tsok
Visit Gandan Monastery to circumambulate the 85-foot golden indoor statue of Avalokiteshvara.
Gandan Monastery tour and archive tour. See kudung (holy remains) of His Holiness the 9th Khalkha Rinpoche.
Phase 5: Closing the Loop (Days 14–16)
Day 15 - Ulaanbaatar Oracles, Protectors & Sacred Art
View the wrathful deity masks at the Choijin Lama Temple Museum and the original Zanabazar bronze masterpieces at the Fine Arts Museum. Celebratory final dinner.
Day 16 - Ulaanbaatar - Return Flight
Visit any final sites in the capital before flight time.
Transit: Direct 2.25-hour flight from Ulaanbaatar (UBN) back to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) to connect to your international flight home or fly direct from Ulaanbaatar.
This retreat is limited to eight participants. The cost is offered on a sliding scale to support those with limited financial means and to encourage those able to contribute at the maximum level.
To reserve your spot, please deposit $900 at your earliest convenience.
The remaining balance is due by December 2027.
(If you wish to pay in three installments, please inquire.)
