Bhutan: Fall Festival

Bhutan

Experience the vibrance of Bhutanese culture

This is a classic Bhutan trip, but with some exclusive experiences that make it stand out from any other trip you might find available for Bhutan. This trip is intended for couples or adult-aged travel companions, but can be customized for children to enjoy as well. The main highlight of the trip will be witnessing and enjoying the annual Thimphu tsechu, which is Bhutan’s largest festival that takes place every autumn. The vibrant colors, music, dancing, and spiritual significance of this festival is not to be missed.

Note: This itinerary can also be customized to accommodate trips to witness the annual Paro tsechu, which takes place each spring.

Suggested length: 9 days/8 nights
Starts from: $10,500 per person

"Elevate Destinations provided an experience of a lifetime. From the initial planning to coordinating local tours and on the ground transfers, my trip was a breeze. Their expertise in recommending the must see locations was invaluable. I would definitely arrange a trip through Elevate Destinations again."

Sherri Pittman
Thailand

Bhutan: Two dancers in colorful traditional costumes and masks perform an energetic dance outdoors, each holding a drum and a stick, with a white building and observers in the background.

Highlights

Experience the annual Thimphu Tsechu (festival).
Meet with a Bhutanese astrologer and receive insights for your life.
Hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest monastery.
Enjoy a private visit with a Bhutanese traditional medicine practitioner.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Paro

After your arrival at Paro International Airport, your guide and driver will bring you to a local temple where you will receive a special blessing for your journey ahead.

You will then explore the local market in Paro, and select a gift for the local family you will be having dinner with this evening. You will get to talk about the festival culture with them, and what it means to each family member.

After dinner, enjoy a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath.

Overnight Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro

Bhutan: A traditional Bhutanese temple with whitewashed walls, ornate wooden windows, and a golden tiered roof, set against a mountainous backdrop under a bright blue sky. A white stupa stands to the right.

Bhutan: Field of vibrant purple wildflowers in the foreground with green hills and mountains in the background, beneath a partly cloudy blue sky.

Bhutan: Colorful prayer wheels with intricate floral patterns are arranged in a row within a vibrantly painted wooden frame, typical of Himalayan Buddhist temples.

Day 2

Visit the Spirit Sanctuary

Today, you get to enjoy the day at the Spirit Sanctuary. You will have an herbal treatment and consultation with the wellness practitioner, and a healthy lunch at the hotel.

Later, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, before visiting some local shops to buy your Kira and Gho (Bhutanese attire) for the Tshechu.

Overnight Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Paro

Day 3

Enjoy the festival in Thimpu

Today you will drive to Thimphu to attend the Thimphu Tshechu and witness the mask dances. After, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Thimphu, before learning about traditional paper making at Jungshi Paper Factory.

In the early evening, you will visit the National Memorial Chorten, where Thimphu residents go to socialize and say their prayers each day. You will end the day at the giant Buddha Dordenma statue and enjoy the panoramic view of Thimphu city.

Overnight Zhiwaling Ascent, Thimphu

Bhutan: Three performers wear colorful, ornate costumes with embroidered patterns, golden helmets with feathered plumes, and shields decorated with gold circles, participating in a traditional cultural dance against a blue sky.

Bhutan: A large golden Buddha statue sits atop a decorated pedestal under a partly cloudy blue sky, with green hills and trees in the background.

Bhutan: A dancer in a colorful, ornate costume and fierce tiger mask performs in front of a decorated temple, holding a round drum and drumstick during a traditional festival.

Day 4

Hike the Takin Trail

Today you will take a hike to the Takin Trail and plant tree saplings before enjoying a picnic lunch.

After, you will visit the Royal Textile Academy and learn about Bhutanese weaving traditions. You will then get to learn how to make Losar Khapsey (a local treat) with a Bhutanese family, and of course, sample some of them!

Overnight Zhiwaling Ascent, Thimphu

Bhutan: A scenic view of terraced rice fields and traditional houses nestled in a lush green valley, with forested mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Bhutan: Colorful handwoven rugs and blankets with various geometric patterns hang on a wooden fence outdoors, with a mountainous landscape in the background.

Bhutan: A row of white Buddhist stupas with golden tops and red accents sits on a grassy hillside under a clear blue sky, with distant mountains visible in the background.

Day 5

Drive to Punakha

Today you will drive to Punakha and will stop at Dochula Pass along the way to enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas.

In Punakha, you will visit Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of Fertility, and hear stories about the infamous Divine Madman.

End the day with some gentle rafting on Mo Chhu river.

Overnight Dhensa Boutique Hotel & Spa, Punakha

Day 6

Hike Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and visit a fortress

Enjoy a hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten before visiting the ancient Punakha Dzong fortress.

You will have lunch at a traditional farmhouse in Punakha. In the evening, you will be brought to a camping site that has been created especially for you. While there, you will be treated to:

Learning about local flora/fauna species with a forest ranger (contributes to training guide rangers)
Personalized astrology readings under the stars with a reincarnated monk
Sacred dances and folkloric songs by performers from the largest festivals
Bonfire and Bhutanese whiskey tasting
Traditional Bhutanese games (archery and darts)

Day 7

Enjoy a Hot Stone Bath and Temple Visit

Today you will drive back to Paro (3.5 hours) before having lunch at a favorite local restaurant.

You will also get to enjoy a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath and lunch at a traditional farmhouse.

In the evening, you will visit a local temple to join for prayers with the monks

Overnight Uma COMO Valley View, Paro

Bhutan: A bamboo steamer with three red dumplings on a green leaf, next to a small bowl of orange dipping sauce and a spoon, all set on a wooden table.

Bhutan: A large monastery with ornate roofs and white walls is built into the side of a steep cliff, surrounded by green forested mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

Bhutan: Two monks in red robes walk across a stone courtyard beside a colorful, ornately decorated building with wooden balconies and columns, likely part of a Buddhist monastery.

Day 8

Hike to the Iconic Tiger’s Nest

This morning, you will get to hike to the iconic Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang) temple that hangs over the side of a mountain cliff. While here, you will learn why this place is so spiritually significant to the Bhutanese people, before enjoying a picnic lunch on the way down.

The rest of the day is open for you to explore how you would like, whether that is strolling through the shops in Paro town or sitting out to admire the nature at your hotel and reflect on all that you have experienced.

Overnight Uma COMO Valley View, Paro

Day 9

Departure

Depart from Paro International Airport after breakfast.

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