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Festivals
Bhutan has a number of spectacular annual festivals (known as tsechu's), which take place roughly over the same period each year. If you going to visit Bhutan, it makes emminent sense to try and integrate a festival into your itinerary.
The two largest and most accessible are Thimphu and Paro but we will endeavour to include more festivals within a reasonable travelling distance within Bhutan.
Locals come from miles around to attend these festivals of dance, feasting and socializing in their best clothes. These itineraries have been designed to show you Bhutan at its finest; focusing on the Festival whilst not ignoring the other parts of Bhutan that you will not want to miss such as the Tigers Nest Monastery.
If you wish to add a trek to a festival tour, e-mail Travel and Trek
The Festivals
Download the itineraires for the up and coming Festivals:
Thimphu festival 16 - 23 Sep 2010
Wangdi Festival, Wangdiphodrang, 15 – 17 Sep 2010
Paro Festival, 15 - 22 Mar 2011
Regardless of which Festival you choose to attend, the itineraries are similar but in a slightly different order due to the geographic location of where it is. As an example, if you are attending the Paro Festival, you are likely to fly into Bhutan just a day or so before it begins (if not during!) whereas if you are attending the Thimphu Festival, you are likely to arrive a few days before, spend some time in Paro before heading to Thimphu and the Fesitival itself.
Either way, you will feel the buzz of the town. The very colourful events take place in the huge Dzongs and often take the form of stories, played out by the masked dancers who have rehearsed for many weeks; it is a wonderful social occasion. You will be escorted in and out of the event to make best use of your time. The Festival itself is to commemorate the birth of the great Saint who introduced Buddhism to the Kingdom
Your itinerary will be geared to exploring the plethora of sights in this western part of Bhutan, which include the other two main towns of Punakha and Wangdi.
When you eventually return to Paro, you will visit one of the icons of Bhutan – the Tigers Nest Monastery. Perched 900m up a cliff, this impressive structure is a 90 min stiff walk up the hillside but well worth it. After you have spent some time learning about its impressive history it is time to descend and return to your hotel for the final night.
At some point, there maybe an opportunity to try a hot stone bath at a local farm, which will include a meal. The mountain water in these traditional wooden built baths is heated by stones heated on fires for many hours and it is surprising just how fast the water gets hot! Don't be shy, have a go, you may only be there once!
