A tour timed around Bhutan's religious festivals, which are held in Paro in spring and in Thimphu and Bumthang in autumn. The festivals show a different side of Bhutanese culture and are enjoyable to attend.
A tour timed around Bhutan's religious festivals, which are held in Paro in spring and in Thimphu and Bumthang in autumn. The festivals show a different side of Bhutanese culture and are enjoyable to attend.
Bhutan religious festival tour
Many visitors come to Bhutan for its most popular festivals, which are held in Paro in spring and in Thimphu and Bumthang in autumn. The festivals are well worth attending because they show a different side of Bhutanese culture, and they are enjoyable to watch. Because of the interest in the festivals, these are the busiest times of year for tourism in Bhutan. We also offer an all-inclusive Bhutan and Nepal tour if you would like to visit both Himalayan countries on one trip.
If you plan a festival tour to Bhutan, we strongly recommend booking well in advance, as seats on Druk Air are limited. A festival tour lets you see a tsechu, a religious festival held every year in different parts of the kingdom at different times of year. The most popular festivals are the Paro Tsechu (March or April), the Thimphu Tsechu (September or October) and the Jambay Lhakhang Drupchen in Bumthang (October or November). A Bhutan festival tour can also be combined with a Nepal festival tour.
A tsechu is celebrated at every dzong. The main event is the mask dance, known as cham, which takes place over 3 to 4 days in honour of Guru Rinpoche. The dances are performed by both monks and lay people, and by the end of the festival the audience will have seen 12 episodes. Bhutanese people consider it important to see and understand every dance, as this earns them merit and brings them luck. It is also a time when people from all over Bhutan leave their farm work, dress in their best clothes and jewellery, and celebrate together.
Bumthang festival (mid-November)
You walk at midnight to Jambay Lhakhang to watch the most sacred dance of the festival, in which dancers dance naked around a fire. The dancers are masked, and local people sing folk songs and mingle with one another.
Paro festival
The Paro Tshechu is one of the largest religious celebrations of the Bhutanese year and one of the busiest festivals in Bhutan. Dances are performed by trained monks and lay dancers in elaborate costumes. During the tour you also visit many historical sites and see everyday life in Bhutan.
A representative of Earthbound Expeditions will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, holding an Earthbound Expeditions sign. We then transfer you to your hotel.
After breakfast, we set off in an air-conditioned bus to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley, including Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Patan Durbar Square.
Flights to Paro operate from Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka and Kathmandu. The flight offers fine mountain views. Bhutan is heavily forested, and the air on arrival is noticeably fresh. In clear weather, you can see the Paro valley under a clear sky. Overnight in Paro.
The Paro Tshechu is one of the liveliest festivals in Bhutan. It consists of dances performed by trained monks and lay dancers in elaborate costumes and masks. The central event is the display of a large silk thangka, which is regarded as the most sacred blessing in Bhutan. It is believed that seeing this holy scroll brings liberation. You spend the whole day at the festival and also visit the inside of Rinpung Dzong.
The drive from Paro to Punakha takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. The road follows the Paro Chu river to Chudzom, then follows the Wang Chu upstream to the small town of Simtokha. From there we turn right and climb to the Dochula pass, which has views of the Himalaya. From Dochula, the road descends to Wangdi and the Punakha valley. After the junction at Lobesa, the road heads north past villages and farmland to Punakha.
Drive to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, which takes about an hour. Thimphu is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights, and it combines traditional culture with modern urban life. We visit Trashi Chho Dzong, the city's best-known landmark, and then the Buddhist temple of Changangkha Lhakhang, built in the 12th century, where many parents come to have their children named. If your visit falls on a weekend, you can also see the Thimphu Weekend Market, which sells a wide range of goods. Return to your hotel in the evening.
Taktsang Monastery is one of the best-known sites in the Himalaya. It is built on the side of a cliff 900 metres above the floor of the Paro valley and is the landmark of Bhutan. The walk up takes some effort, and at the top you have wide views and a quiet, peaceful setting. The monastery dates back to the 1600s. According to tradition, Guru Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, arrived here on the back of a flying tiger and meditated here for three months. You have time to explore the monastery and enjoy the views from it.
Fly back to Kathmandu. In the evening, you have dinner with a Nepali cultural show.
Your tour ends today. Our representative will take you to the international airport for your departure.
Best travel agency
July 2024, Tripadvisor
Rajan ji and his team are excellent in taking care of yatris. The room service during the parikrama was exceptional. The way they took care of team by not getting wet and made sure that everyone wore cap and jacket all the time. I highly recommend this travel agency as the best customer centric one. Rajan ji is very flexible and made a custom travel/ itinerary according to the individual requirements.
Divine journey to Mount Kailash & Manasarovar: Unforgettable Experience
July 2024, Tripadvisor
I recently had the profound privilege of visiting Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, and it was an experience that exceeded all expectations in terms of divinity, bliss, and exceptional service. The service provided throughout the trip was exceptional. Earthbound guides were knowledgeable, compassionate, and attentive to every need, ensuring that the journey was smooth and comfortable. The accommodations, considering the remote location provided all necessary amenities. The food was nutritious and thoughtfully prepared, catering to various dietary preferences. Trip couldn’t be any better without efforts of Rajan ji and his team. Thank you Rajan ji Praveen Yellapragada
Out of the World!!!!
July 2024, Tripadvisor
Kailash/Mansarovar July 2024. True professionals, Outstanding Hospitality. Rajanji and Staff take care of every individual and there needs. They have the experience to guide teams and keep them informed at each leg in the journey. Each day briefing is done on what to expect for the day. Wonderful and blessed to have travelled with Earthbound.
Mt Kailash Yatra experience with Earthbound Expeditions Rajan Team
July 2024, Tripadvisor
Rajan ji and his team is the best in every aspect of this trip and his team was totally dedicated to give Yatris best experience of Kailash and Manasasarover Yatra. They took care of us more than a family by checking health condition of everyone every day and making very yummay and healthy food in our Trip. Rajan ji is a great leader, singer, comedian and a spiritual guru himself. Myself along with my wife, cousin and friends were blessed to have his team in our spiritual journey of Mt Kailash
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9 days
$3,387 per person
