Thimphu Festival
(Tshechu) The biggest festival in the country is Thimphu Tshechu. It is an annual religious festival held at the Thimphu fortress to honor the Great Buddhist master Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). The 4th Druk Desi Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay initiated the festival in 1867. Thousands of people gathered, socialized, entertained, received blessings, and washed away their sins. It is an opportunity for tourists to witness the colorful and fantastic display of Bhutanese traditional culture.
- Key aspects of Thimphu Tshechu:
Time: It is held on the 10th day of the 8th month of lunar calendar.
Location: Thimphu Dzong (Thimphu Fortress).
Activities: Various colorful masked dances, religious rituals, Thangka Unfurling and Atsaras.
Purpose: Buddhists to cleanse bad karma and celebrate traditional culture.
Dress: People wear colorful national dress Gho and Kira.
- Tour Details
Tour Name: Thimphu Festival Tour
Tour type: Cultural tour and short hiking
Duration: 9Days/8Nights
Grade: Easy
Season: Mid Sept to mid Oct
Date: 02nd Oct – 04th October 2025
Place: Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha valley, and Paro
Tour Highlights
✓ Sacred mask dance performance
✓ Pristine landscape and Panoramic view from Chele-la pass
✓ Majestic Fortress and Striking Buddhist monasteries
✓ 360-degree aerial view of 108 stupas and scenic highest Himalayas peaks
✓ Visit old capital of Bhutan Punakha, explore Bhutanese village lifestyle
✓ Excursion to highest motorable pass in Bhutan, Chelela pass
✓ Hike to Tiger’s nest monastery
- Itinerary Overview
Day 01: Arrival at Paro and drive to the capital Thimphu.
Day 02: Attend Thimphu Festival and do local sightseeing
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
Day 04: Punakha local sightseeing
Day 05: Punakha to Phobjikha sightseeing
Day 06: Phobjikha to Paro sightseeing
Day 07: Excursion to Chelela pass
Day 08: Tiger nest hiking
Day 09: Departure
Day 01: Arrival at Paro and drive to the capital Thimphu.
Your flight to Paro will be the eye-catching sight of the highest mountains in the world. You will see great Himalayan peaks like Everest, Kanchenjunga, and Makalu. You will have the first glimpse of the country’s gross national happiness. Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, your company representatives from Bhutan Travel Light Tour will welcome and escort you. Your guide and driver will drive to the capital city (Thimphu). On the way to Thimphu, you will stop at Tachog Lhakhang to see the ancient iron chain bridge. Depending upon the arrival time, you will do local sightseeing in Thimphu if time permits.
Day 02: Attend Thimphu Festival and do local sightseeing
After breakfast, drive to Thimphu Fortress to attend the festival. In the afternoon, you will visit Buddha’s Point (gigantic bronze Buddha Dordenma statue), located on the mountain overlooking the southern approach of Thimphu town. You will take a short hike to see a panoramic view of the statue. Later, you will join the Buddhist devotees at the whitewashed semi-spherical Memorial Chorten. You will have a walk from Norzin Lam Street to see Thimphu’s clock tower. Interestingly, here, you will see the traffic police signaling in the heart of the town junction. However, you will continue your walk to the handicraft market, where varieties of Bhutanese souvenirs are displaced and bought for a reasonable price. Then, your day will end after visiting a handmade paper factory that produces authentic Bhutanese paper.
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha
On this day, you will drive to Punakha (the old capital of Bhutan). On the way to your destination, you will stop at Dochula Pass to see the panoramic view of Bhutan’s astounding highest snowclad Himalayan peaks. It is the best place for photographers to take a picture of a 360-degree aerial view of 108 Stupas and the snow-clad Himalayas peak. After half an hour, you will walk to Chime Lhakhang (The fertility temple). This temple is dedicated to a 15th-century famous saint called Lam Drukpa Kuenley, also known as The Divine Madman, who flourished Buddhism through outrageous and scandalous sexual exploits. In addition, your tour guide/monk will let you know more of his crazy wisdom upon your interest. Soon afterwards, you will visit Punakha Dzong (the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan through a traditional cantilever bridge). This fortress is covered with high, whitewashed walls and towers. Flowingly, you will take a break to see the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan
Day 04: Punakha local sightseeing
In the morning, you will start with a short hike from the white-water rafting point to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, which stands regally on the hillside above Punakha Valley. You will take a walk-through of paddy fields with a fantastic view of Punakha Valley. Later on, if you are interested in water rafting at your own cost, we will arrange for the rafting crew to memorialize your trip. Then, you will visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery (The Buddhist College for nuns). Here, you will see Buddhist nuns in their crimson robes.
Day 05: Punakha to Phobjikha sightseeing
Today, you will have an early morning drive to Phobjikha Valley, a u-shaped glacial valley in central Bhutan (2½ hours). Reaching Phobjikha, you will visit Gangteng monastery, which is bound on the west side by Black Mountain and the main seat of Terton, a discoverer of ancient hidden texts. Here, you will enjoy authentic Bhutanese food at a local farmhouse. In the afternoon, you will start for Gangtey Nature Trail, a distance of 4km at an Elevation of 2900m. You will walk around the potato field to the pine forest; here, hikers come across the best marshland in Bhutan. This marshland is famous for its winter home to the rare black-necked cranes. Here, cranes can be seen in the late autumn and winter (November to February). You will also visit the Black Neck Crane information Centre to learn more about this rare migratory bird through a documentary video. If you visit in the last week of October, you can see these cranes, too.
Day 06: Phobjikha to Paro sightseeing
Today, you will return to Paro, where you took your first land in Bhutan. You will walk through Nyima Zam Bridge to Rinpung dzong, the castle, and a monastery. It is one of Bhutan’s tentative sites in the UNESCO plan list for future World Heritage Sites. This is where Bernardo Bertolucci’s film “Little Buddha“‘ was shot. Just above the Dzong stands Ta dzong (watchtower fortress), now converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. Subsequently, you will stop at the Iron Bridge Maker temple on the way to town. Then, your day will end with exploring Paro town’s elegant, traditional-style houses.
Day 07: Excursion to Chelela pass
Today, in the early morning, you will drive to Chele La pass, at an altitude of 3980m, the highest motorable point in Bhutan between Paro and Haa Valley. In the afternoon, you will cover up the remaining local sightseeing in Paro. Then, you will do your final shopping in Bhutan.
Day 08: Tiger nest hiking
Today, you will get prepared earlier than before for an exciting and a little tough 5-hour hiking visit to Bhutan’s top icon. Sitting more than 800 meters above Paro Valley, perched on a cliff face of the mountain, stands the most heart-touching ‘Taktsang’ (Tiger Nest monastery). It is renowned in the outside world for its uniqueness and spectacular position.
Day 09: Departure
On this day, your guide and driver will drop you at Paro airport, where your tour guide and driver will bid you goodbye. It was nice meeting you, and we hope you enjoyed the beauty of our country. We expect you to visit again for a longer duration.
Tashi Delek, have a safe flight back home!
- A sustainable tourism Royalty (SDF) to the Royal Government of Bhutan which goes towards the economic developmental works such as in the education , health, roads, etc.
- Bhutan Visa
- Accommodations in 3- star properties. (Can be upgraded to 4 & 5-star with additional Premium)
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
- Certified English Speaking Bhutanese Guide.
- All ground transportationAll internal taxes and charges including Entry Fees
- Mineral Water while traveling
- Complimentary from company : Traditional Hot Stone Bath
- Airfare ( Can be arranged with us)
- Travel Insurance
- Any Expenses of Personal Nature
- Tips for the guide and driver