Tour in Bhutan >> Bhutan Dragon Festival Tour

Thimphu Tsechu and Thangbi Mani Festival tour with some optional walks.

A visit to multicolored Bhutanese festivals is an experience that enthralls and captivates one's attention. Bhutan inspires a b allegiance to its traditional roots and cultural trails. Dragon Festival Tour is designed to get you under the surface of Bhutanese culture. It gives you an opportunity of witnessing two of Bhutan's most colorful festivals called Tsechus: one in urban Thimphu and the other in a small rural village in central Bhutan. This same tour allows you to visit well preserved centuries old Dzongs (fortress), temples and monasteries. You will also meet the natives of different villages with whom you may interact, see their homes and learn about their daily lives. We also may meet and see weavers in their homes, farmers in fields, monks in monasteries and children at schools. It’s a journey with an opportunity to witness how traditional and modern cultures can still be together and that the concept of overall national harmony could be adopted elsewhere too.

Travel Bhutan with us! We go above and beyond to make your stay in Bhutan, a personal, seamless and truly unique experience! We go to great heights to make your Bhutan tour effortless, personalized and truly unforgettable! We have grown into a large network of offices, but our vision has always remained simple, clear and deeply rooted in our initial ideal – breathing life into every journey we plan.Our visit is in autumn, when the mountainsides are vibrant with amazing fall colors, the skies are clearer and the weather at its best. This is one of our signature trips that we have been leading since 2001. Join us on this remarkable journey!.

Trip Intinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Paro – Thimphu ( L/D) . Fly from Delhi, Kathmandu or Bangkok depending on your Druk Air flight bookings. Upon arrival in Paro (Bhutan) airport, clear your immigration (visa pre-arranged by our company), clear customs and then you are met by your Guide and driver. Transfer to the capital, Thimphu, which takes about 1hr. Along the way, you will be introduced with the rest of the group members. This afternoon, depending on the available time, visit Thimphu Tsechu Festival in progress (first day of the festival). We also have the time to visit massive Tashicho Dzong and familiarize with Thimphu. Dinner and briefing at your hotel. Overnight in Thimphu, Hotel Riverview or Jumolhari.

Day 02: Thimphu Tsechu Festival ( B/L/D). After breakfast, drive up to Sangaygang View Point ridge for view of Thimphu city. En-route, visit a Takin Sanctuary and Zilukha nunnery. Transfer to the festival venue near Tashicho Dzong. Attend the festival for the whole morning. Today is the 2nd day of the festival. Assemble and transfer back to the hotel for lunch and short break. In the afternoon, return to the festival. After the festival, we should be able to see an archery match in progress at Changlimithang (the national sport of Bhutan). Free evening for stroll around the town. Overnight in Thimphu , Hotel Riverview or Jumolhari.

Day 03: Thimphu - Gangtey (Phobjikha Valley) ( B/L/D). Drive on a spectacular road over Dochu La Pass (3050m) to the low laying valley of Wangdiphodrang (1400m). After short break at Wangdi, continue drive uphill through the black mountains (national park) into the ‘hidden and beautiful Phobjikha valley. (total 5+hr drive) Visit the ancient Gangtey Gompa monastery and take a walk in the valley. You may also see the rare and endangered Black-necked Cranes. Because of the conservation measures, there is no electricity in the valley. The lodges use solar powered cells or generator to light which is turned of after dinner. Hot water is provided in the bucket and rooms are heated with wood stoves. Overnight in Phobjikha , Hotel Dewachen Lodge or similar.

Day 04: Gangtey -Trongsa - Jakar (Bumthang) ( B/L/D). In the morning, you have an opportunity to take a self-guided walks in the valley. After breakfast around 9am, we drive back to re-join the east-west highway. Cross Pele la pass (3400m) and arrive in Trongsa after about 3hr drive. Visit Trongsa Chokhor Dzong, the largest and one of the most impressively situated Dzongs (fortress) in the Kingdom. After lunch in Trongsa town, continue drive for another 2hr to Jakar in Bumthang district, traversing across spectacular Yotong pass. Take a leisurely stroll in the small town of Jakar in the evening. Overnight in Bumthang , Mepham Guest House or best available.

Day 05: Full day around Jakar (Bumthang Valley) ( B/L/D). Bumthang is justifiably regarded as the cultural heart of Bhutan. Many monasteries, temples, old houses and ancient sites dot the area. The valley is relatively wide, with fields of buckwheat and apple orchards and the hills are covered with mixed confer forests. Our full day tour by drive and easy walks will access Jampay Lhakhang temple complex, Chakar Temple nearby, Kurjey and then we walk across to Tamshing monastery. From Tamshing, we continue an easy walk of less then an hour through the farms to Swiss Farm area. Visit Swiss farm, where you can purchase Cheese, Apple cider, brandy and likes. After lunch, visit Jakar Dzong, situated atop the ridge overlooking the township and also visit the new and active Kharchu Dratshang monastery of Namkhai Nyingpo. If there is time available, you will be taken around to visit Wool Dying workshop, Wood Craft center, peek at Wangdicholing palace with its water-turned prayer wheels. During the dinner, we will sample some of the local food such as the buckwheat noodles or Buckwheat pancakes. Overnight in Bumthang , Mepham Guest House or best available.

Day 06: Around Jakar (Visit Thangbi Mani Festival) ( B/L/D). In the morning, drive short distance north of Jakar to Thangbi (also spelt Thankabi) village to attend a small rural festival. The festival is held in the courtyard of a relatively small Thangbi Gompa, built in 1470 by Shamar Rinpoche. The monastery is currently the center for 50 Gomchens (lay/married monks) who live nearby village. Activities and dances at the festival are much like the ones in Thimphu, but this is far smaller and visitors are mainly from the nearby villages. Outside, in the open area, there is usually a small fair with various gambling stalls, fortune tellers, and food and craft vendors. We eat our picnic lunch with the locals and towards the late afternoon, return to Jakar, where we can cover any remaining sights. Overnight in Bumthang , Mepham Guest House.

Day 07: Bumthang - Punakha ( Wangdiphodrang) ( B/L/D). Head back to western Bhutan, re-crossing Youtong la pass into Tongsa and across Pele La pass to the semi-tropical valley of Wangdi-Punakha. The drive is long one, but we will make occasional pause to take pictures, meet the locals along the way, to ease this long but spectacular journey of diverse landscapes, vegetations, villagescapes. Our main stops along the way are Zungey village of Bumthang to see the Yathra weavers and in Wangdiphodrang, we visit its interesting towns and also view the ridge-top fortress of Wangdi. Our accommodations are near the town of Punakha. Overnight in Punakha, Meri Phuensum Resort or best available.

Day 08: Punakha & Wangdue Valley ( B/L/D). Drive to the idyllic countryside north of Punakha and start a half hour walk up to Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, a shrine recently built by the royal family. We walk back downhill and follow ancient riverside trails amid whitewashed farmhouses to the architectural wonder of the 17th century Punakha Dzong. (Those who do not wish to walk can drive with the van and skip the hike). After visiting Punakha Dzong, enjoy a half-hour walk through the fields to visit Chimi Lhakhang monastery. Overnight in Punakha, Meri Phuensum Resort or best available.

Day 09: Punakha - Thimphu ( B/L/D). Head back to Thimphu, re crossing the magnificent Dochu La Pass, with one more opportunity to get panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayas. At the pass, we also stop for tea and savor the views of the snow-capped peaks. This afternoon, visit the sights in Thimphu; ones we have missed earlier. This may include visit of traditional art school (painting school), National Memorial Chorten, the textile museum and others as per available time. Overnight in Thimphu, Hotel Riverview.

Day 10: Thimphu - Paro ( B/L/D). After further tour of Thimphu in the morning, drive to Paro, which takes around 1hr. In Paro, proceed directly to visit National Museum of Bhutan, housed in the ancient watch tower, and then follow it by visit of Dungtse lhakhang temple. After lunch in Paro, visit Kichu temple built in 7th century, followed by drive to the north-end of the valley to see the ruins of Drugyal Dzong. We also visit one of the farm houses in the valley. Visit Paro town and then in the evening, we visit Rinphung Dzong. Overnight in Paro, Tandiling Resort or Gantey Palace.

Day 11: Paro (Hike to Takstang) ( B/L/D). Transfer to the trail head for day trek uphill to Takstang. Riding ponies/mules can be requested on the previous day. The mules will go only as far as the Taktang cafeteria (first view point of Takstang) but for walk further uphill to visit the monastery, and for return downhill, one must be able to walk. Lunch will be served at the Takstang cafeteria with view of Takstang and Paro valley. Return trek downhill and free evening in Paro to pursue your own interests until farewell dinner. Overnight in Paro, Tandiling Resort or Gantey Palace.

Day 12: Departure (B). Departure transfer to Paro airport according to your flight times. In general, Druk Air flights depart Bhutan in the morning and arrive at the destination in the late afternoon. Because they keep changing their schedule, when you plan your home-bound flights or other extension, we recommend that you stay overnight in Bangkok, Delhi or other airports before connecting. Or at the least, make sure that your connections are not earlier then late evening flight.