Garuda Sunshine

Sacred Earth Tours

Sacred Travel

Garuda Sunshine Sacred Earth Tours is committed to curating travel experiences that transcend the ordinary, specializing in sacred site tours and spiritual journeys. Our expeditions blend reverence for ancient wisdom traditions with the awe of exploring some of the world’s most stunning landscapes.

Our mission is to foster spiritual growth and personal transformation through visits to the world’s most significant sacred sites. We prioritize small group experiences, meticulously planned itineraries, and enthusiastic tour leaders dedicated to sharing their wisdom and guiding you towards a deeper spiritual connection.

Since 2010, we’ve been leading spiritual journeys across the globe, crafting custom sacred tours and retreats spanning destinations like Peru, Mexico, India, Ireland, England, Bali, Turkey, Bhutan, and beyond. Collaborating closely with our passionate tour leaders, we design sacred travel programs that enrich your inner journey while immersing you in the cultural essence of each country we visit. Our itineraries are infused with personal connections and insights drawn from years of experience and local expertise.

What makes our trips so special..

Garuda

Garuda, the mythic bird of India, holds a revered place in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Known as the king of birds, Garuda is a powerful and majestic creature, often depicted with the golden body of a man, a white face, red wings, and an eagle’s beak. He is the mount of Vishnu, the preserver and protector deity, symbolizing swiftness, strength, and the rays of the sun. Garuda’s role as a divine protector makes him a symbol of freedom, travel, and exploration. In many stories, Garuda’s journeys across the heavens and earth represent the soul’s quest for enlightenment and the pursuit of higher knowledge.

Naming our travel company after Garuda encapsulates these values and aspirations. Just as Garuda soars high with grace and power, our travel company aims to offer exceptional journeys that lift the spirit and expand horizons. We strive to provide experiences that are not just about visiting new places, but about embarking on transformative adventures.

By evoking the image of Garuda, we promise our clients the reliability and excellence symbolized by this legendary bird. Our goal is to ensure that every journey is as swift, seamless, and uplifting as a flight on Garuda’s wings, delivering not just travel services, but profound and enriching experiences.

No Distance Is too Far

Whether nestled in a hidden oasis within the heart of the Himalayas, or engaging in an ancient Peruvian healing ritual in the magic of the Sacred Valley, our transformational travel offers the perfect sacred spaces to untangle, heal, expand and thrive.

Discover a rich tapestry of wellness and spiritual experiences designed to help you untangle and unwind, inspire and awaken, through yoga, guided meditation, Tibetan healing therapies, massages, and much more. Experience the profound tranquility and rejuvenation that only Garuda Sunshine Sacred Earth Tours can provide.

YOur Guides

David Sunshine – Founder & Lead Guide

David Sunshine, visionary behind Garuda Sunshine Sacred Earth Tours, has embarked on a journey of exploration since his first solo adventures in Europe at the age of 16. By age18 David was living in India at a Tibetan monastery while teaching English to young monks and receiving Buddhist wisdom teachings from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Over the years his travels through Asia, Europe and South America have deepened his reverence for the sacredness and beauty of the Earth. Drawing on his expertise in Buddhism, yoga, shamanism, mindfulness, Ayurveda, Hindu, and Tibetan philosophy, David curates transformative experiences that blend cultural immersion with spiritual exploration and fun.

Each tour he meticulously crafts is a journey into the heart of the sacred, offering participants a container for personal discovery. Through these excursions David invites others to share in his love and passion for culture, spirituality, and healing arts while embarking on their own path of growth and awakening.

Padma Vajra – Co-Lead Guide Nepal

Iin Nepal David will be co-leading an incredible journey with a sincere Buddhist practitioner, friend and spiritual travel guide, Padma Vajra. Padma Vajra is a Vajrayana Buddhist yogi initiated in the Nyingma tradition, the oldest Buddhist school in Tibet. His extensive training with Buddhist yogic masters from Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal uniquely qualifies him to guide us through the Kathmandu Valley’s ancient esoteric traditions.

With David and Padma, embark on an immersive pilgrimage, delving deep into the rich spiritual heritage of the region. They can’t wait to share this transformative experience with you!

Kendra Suell – Special Guest Nepal

Kendra’s path has become intricately woven with the vibrant threads of ancient wisdom traditions for over a decade, each thread a step in her relentless pursuit of profound transformation. Now a Vajrayana Buddhist yogini initiated in the Nyingma lineage, Tibet’s oldest school, her journey began with immersive experiences in Zen Buddhism, Shri Vidya, Kashmiri Shaivism, Raja and Hatha Yoga, and the Shamanic traditions of her indigenous North American ancestors. This rich foundation, both unique and universal, informs her practice as she delves deeper into the ever-unfolding mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism.

Drawn to the heart of this wisdom, Kendra currently resides in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she absorbs the city’s ancient esoteric energies, channeling them to empower her mission of bridging the wisdom of the ages with the needs of our modern world.

GARUDA SUNSHINE SACRED EARTH TOURS

Terms and Conditions

1. Booking and Payment

1.1 Reservations

A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 USD is required to secure your reservation.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure date.
Reservations made within 90 days of departure require full payment at time of booking.

1.2 Payment Methods

We accept payment via bank transfer, credit card, or check.
Credit card payments may incur an additional processing fee.

1.3 Pricing

All prices are quoted in USD.
Prices are subject to change until full payment is received.
Published prices are based on current exchange rates, tariffs, and taxes.

2. Cancellation and Refund Policy

2.1 Cancellation by Participant

Cancellations must be submitted in writing.
Refund schedule:
- 90+ days before departure: Full refund minus deposit
- 60-89 days: 50% refund minus deposit
- 30-59 days: 25% refund minus deposit
- Less than 30 days: No refund

2.2 Cancellation by Garuda Sunshine

We reserve the right to cancel any tour due to insufficient participation.
In the event of cancellation by Garuda Sunshine, participants will receive a full refund including deposit.
Garuda Sunshine is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by participants in preparing for the trip.

3. Health, Safety, and Medical Conditions

3.1 Pre-Existing Conditions and General Health

Participants are responsible for obtaining medical clearance for travel if necessary.
Participants must inform Garuda Sunshine of any physical, emotional, or mental conditions that may affect their participation.
We reserve the right to decline participation to anyone whose health or actions impede the tour operation.

3.2 Illness During Tour

Garuda Sunshine Sacred Earth Tours is not responsible for any illness, injury, or medical conditions that arise during the tour.
While we will assist in arranging medical care and support to the best of our ability, all medical expenses are the sole responsibility of the participant.
No refunds will be provided for tour portions missed due to illness.
If a participant requires medical evacuation or early departure due to illness, all associated costs are their responsibility.

3.3 Covid-19 and Other Infectious Diseases

Participants acknowledge the inherent risk of exposure to infectious diseases while traveling.
Garuda Sunshine is not liable for any illness contracted before, during, or after the tour.
Participants agree to follow all local health guidelines and requirements.
Testing, quarantine, or other health-related expenses are the responsibility of the participant.

4. Travel Requirements

4.1 Documentation

Participants are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents.
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date.
Proof of travel insurance is required for all participants.

5. Tour Operation and Changes

5.1 Itinerary Changes

Itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary without prior notice.
No refunds will be given for any unused services.

5.2 Accommodation Policy

All tour prices are based on single room occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Double room arrangements are available only for participants traveling together who specifically request shared accommodation.
While we select quality accommodations, standards may vary by location and culture.
Changes in accommodations may occur; Garuda Sunshine is not responsible for any participant dissatisfaction with accommodations.

6. Early Departure and Tour Participation

6.1 Voluntary Early Departure

Participants who choose to leave the tour early do so at their own risk and responsibility.
No refunds will be provided for unused portions of the tour.
Early departure does not nullify any terms of this agreement.

7. Sacred Site and Cultural Respect

7.1 Code of Conduct

Participants agree to follow guidelines for respectful behavior at sacred sites.
Appropriate dress and conduct are required at religious sites and ceremonies.
Participants agree to follow instructions regarding cultural protocols.

8. Acceptance of Terms

By purchasing a trip or placing a deposit on a trip, one acknowledges that one has read, understood, and agrees to these Terms and Conditions.