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.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.
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Itinerary
Day 1
Paro Arrival and Travel to Thimphu
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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
Hotel Riverview★3 star
Activities
Simtokha Dzong
Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory
Centenary Farmers Market
Restaurants
Dawa Penjor Heritage Farmhouse
Transportations
Private Driver from Paro International Airport to Thimphu
Meals
Lunch and dinner
Destinations
Paro
Thimphu
Semtokha
Day 2
Thimphu to Wangdue Phodrang
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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
Wangdue Ecolodge★3 star
Activities
Dochula Pass
Royal Botanical Park
Chimi Lhakhang
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery
Transportations
Private Driver from Thimphu to Punakha
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Dochula
Punakha
Wangdue Phodrang
Day 3
Attend Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu
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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
Wangdue Ecolodge★3 star
Activities
Tshechu at Wangdue Phodrang
Baylangdra Ney
Transportations
Private Driver from Punakha to Wangdue Phodrang
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Wangdue Phodrang
Day 4
Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu
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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
Namgay Heritage Hotel★4 star
Activities
Punakha Dzong
Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan
Memorial Chorten
Kuensel Phodrang
Restaurants
Babesa Village Restaurant
Transportations
Private Driver from Wangdue Phodrang to Thimphu
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Wangdue Phodrang
Punakha
Thimphu
Day 5
Attend Thimphu Tshechu
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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
Namgay Heritage Hotel★4 star
Activities
Thimphu Tshechu
Folk Heritage Museum Kawajangsa
Zilukha Nunnery
Motithang Takin Preserve
Restaurants
Bhutan Kitchen
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Motithang
Day 6
Thimphu to Paro to Hike to Taktsang
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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
Rema Resort★3 star
Activities
Hike to Tiger's Nest
Hot Stone Baths
Restaurants
Taktsang Cafeteria
Yue-ling Restaurant
Transportations
Private Driver from Thimphu to Paro
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Destinations
Thimphu
Paro
Day 7
Paro Airport Drop Off
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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
Local Arts & CraftsOptional Activity
Transportations
Private Driver from Rema Resort to Paro International Airport
Meals
Breakfast
Destinations
Paro
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What’s included?
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
What’s not included?
Alcohol beverages
Domestic flights
Gratuities
International flights
Laundry
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Trekking permits
Notes
There is a $65 per night Sustainable Development fee that is compulsory to enter Bhutan.
Starting From
AU$ 1,719/ per traveller sharing
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Benefits of this trip
Bhutan in 7 days
4-star, 3-star accommodation
24/7 in-destination support from your local designer
