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7-Day Tshechu Festival and Heritage Tour

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Overview

This 7-day Festival and Heritage Tours is only available from 15th September to 21st September, allowing you to witness two Tshechus at two different locations; Wangdue Phodrang and Thimphu.

Tshechu festivals are rich and happy expressions of Bhutan's ancient Buddhist culture. Tshechus play a significant role in shaping Bhutan's religious tradition and culture and forms one of the important aspects of heritage in Bhutan. It is also to mark the important events in the life of the second Buddha, the Tantric master known as Guru Rinpoche.

Tshechu festivals are big family and social occasions. People dress up in their finest clothes and most striking jewellery in coral and turquoise. They pack picnic lunches in their traditional bamboo baskets and stay all day at the festivals which are usually held in the dzongs (fortresses) or at monasteries.

The mask dances performed are composed based on the visions of various religious masters. For those with faith and belief, it is a form of attaining enlightenment. There is also the displaying of a huge applique Thangkha scroll called “Thongdroel” with a unique power to grant blessings. Although one may see the same mask dances being performed, each area has its own unique significance.

Various folk dances are also performed by the general public, such as the Royal dancers, students, and local people. Atsara or clowns, with their expressive masks, are an indispensable element in any religious festival in Bhutan, they make jokes and entertain the crowd.

Other aspects that will be covered during the Bhutan trip include visits to various traditional, cultural, religious and natural heritage sites of Bhutan. The tour has been designed to enable you to not just see Bhutan, but to experience it in every sense which will leave you feeling refreshingly different.
Culture & Arts
Hiking & Trekking
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Wellness

Itinerary

Day 1

Paro Arrival and Travel to Thimphu

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Paro Arrival and Travel to Thimphu

After meeting you at the Paro International Airport, your guide and driver will take you to your hotel in Thimphu via the Dawa Penjor Heritage Farmhouse for lunch. You will then proceed to Bhutan's capital city, Thimphu. After checking in at the hotel, you will visit a few monuments bearing historical, cultural and national significance to Bhutan, including the Simtokha Dzong, Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory and the Centenary Farmers Market.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Riverview3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Simtokha Dzong

    Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory

    Centenary Farmers Market

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Dawa Penjor Heritage Farmhouse

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Paro International Airport to Thimphu

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

    Thimphu

    Semtokha

Day 2

Thimphu to Wangdue Phodrang

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Thimphu to Wangdue Phodrang

After breakfast, you'll embark on an adventurous journey to Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha Valley. En-route, you'll visit Dochula Pass to admire the views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Along the way, you'll stop to visit Royal Botanical Park where you'll have lunch. Then you'll pay a visit to Lampelri and the Chimi Lhakhang Monastery before arriving at Wangue Ecolodge. After checking in to the lodge, you'll have the opportunity to visit the nunnery in Wangdue Phodrang.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Wangdue Ecolodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Dochula Pass

    Royal Botanical Park

    Chimi Lhakhang

    Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Thimphu to Punakha

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thimphu

    Dochula

    Punakha

    Wangdue Phodrang

Day 3

Attend Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu

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Attend Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu

Join the local community in witnessing Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu at Tencholing Army grounds. You will get the opportunity to meet local people as well as take photographs. You will get to see all sorts of mask dances and folk dances being performed by the local people. Later on, you'll visit Baylangdra Ney, where you will have the opportunity to take a 3-hour hike to the holy site and back, or to explore the sacred sites at the base of the hike.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Wangdue Ecolodge3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tshechu at Wangdue Phodrang

    Baylangdra Ney

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Punakha to Wangdue Phodrang

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Wangdue Phodrang

Day 4

Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu

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Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu

After breakfast, you'll visit Punakha Dzong, which was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the founding father of Bhutan. You'll then move towards Thimphu where you'll check into Namgay Heritage Hotel and have lunch in a local village restaurant before visiting historical, monumental and cultural sites. These include a visit to the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, the Memorial Chorten, and Kuenselphodrang.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Namgay Heritage Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Punakha Dzong

    Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan

    Memorial Chorten

    Kuensel Phodrang

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Babesa Village Restaurant

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Wangdue Phodrang

    Punakha

    Thimphu

Day 5

Attend Thimphu Tshechu

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Attend Thimphu Tshechu

Today you'll visit the Thimphu Tshechhu held at the Capital's Trashichidzong, the perfect area to witness the preservation of rich Bhutanese culture despite some modernisation. You'll enjoy all sorts of mask dances and folk dances performed by the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and the local people. In the afternoon, you'll visit the Folk Heritage Museum, the Takin Preserve, the Zilukha Nunnery and enjoy some free time in the afternoon.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Namgay Heritage Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Thimphu Tshechu

    Folk Heritage Museum Kawajangsa

    Zilukha Nunnery

    Motithang Takin Preserve

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Bhutan Kitchen

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thimphu

    Motithang

Day 6

Thimphu to Paro to Hike to Taktsang

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Thimphu to Paro to Hike to Taktsang

After breakfast, you'll drive around 1.5 hours to reach the starting point of the hike to Taktsang Monastery. Paro's Taktsang Monastery is perched on a cliff edge and is one of the most iconic landmarks of Bhutan. After hiking to Tiger's Nest or the cafeteria midpoint, you'll enjoy lunch with a view. By early evening, you'll check into the Rema Resort and enjoy a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath to relieve your tired body from the hike.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rema Resort3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hike to Tiger's Nest

    Hot Stone Baths

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Taktsang Cafeteria

    Yue-ling Restaurant

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Thimphu to Paro

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thimphu

    Paro

Day 7

Paro Airport Drop Off

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Paro Airport Drop Off

This is the final day of your 1-week Bhutan trip. After breakfast, depending on your departure time you can enjoy some free time exploring the local arts and crafts shops Para has to offer. You'll then be escorted by your guide and driver to Paro airport, they will assist you with formalities and bid you a safe journey home.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Local Arts & CraftsOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Rema Resort to Paro International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Paro

Included in Price

  • 6 nights accommodation
  • 19 activities
  • 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits

Notes

There is a $65 per night Sustainable Development fee that is compulsory to enter Bhutan.
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