- Small-group trip timed to a festival
- 9 days
- Paro · Thimphu · Punakha
Tshechu Festival Group Trip
Nine days on the western route, timed so the group spends two days at a tshechu, one of Bhutan's masked-dance festivals. Each departure names its festival, and festival dates follow the lunar calendar.
About this trip
The order of the other days depends on where the festival is held.
Good for: Travellers who'd like to see a tshechu with a small group.
- Rhythm
- Two festival days, then Thimphu and Punakha
- Walking
- Easy town and valley walking, plus Tiger's Nest
- Best booked
- 4–6 months ahead
- Group
- Same plan for everyone, with a festival briefing before the dances
Highlights
- Two days at a tshechu with your guide
- Sacred masked dances and festival crowds
- Tiger's Nest hike
- Dochula pass and Punakha Dzong
Dates and seats
No dates published yet
We publish each departure here with its price, group size and places left. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll let you know when suitable dates open.
Your route
Paro Days 1–22 nights
Drive about 2 hours
Thimphu Day 51 night
Drive about 2.5 hours
Punakha Days 6–72 nights
Drive about 4 hours
Paro Days 8–91 night
Fly home on day 9
Day by day
Day1ParoArrive in Paro
Meet your guide and the group at Paro airport. Keep the first evening easy with a walk through town.
Day2ParoTiger's Nest and festival briefing
Hike to Tiger's Nest, usually 4–6 hours return. Later, your guide runs through the festival plan, etiquette, timings and what to bring.
Day3FestivalFestival day
Arrive early for the opening ceremonies and masked dances. Your guide helps the group find a good viewpoint and explains what is happening.
Day4FestivalFestival day
A second day at the tshechu, with time to step out for lunch or a quieter walk and return as the dances build.
Day5ThimphuThimphu
Tashichho Dzong, the National Memorial Chorten and a local market, at an easier pace after the festival days.
Day6PunakhaOver Dochula to Punakha
Cross the Dochula pass, stopping for mountain views if the weather is clear, and visit Punakha Dzong beside the river.
Day7PunakhaPunakha Valley
A gentle valley walk and a village visit, kept deliberately light after the festival.
Day8ParoReturn to Paro
Drive back to Paro, around 4 hours, with a free evening in town.
Day9ParoDepart
Transfer to Paro airport for your onward flight.
In the price
- Twin-share hotels at the Comfortable tier
- All meals
- A licensed Bhutanese guide with the group throughout
- Group vehicle and driver
- Visa, permits and the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
- Entry fees for every site on the itinerary
Not in the price
- International flights to Bhutan
- Travel insurance
- Single-room supplement, if you want or need a room to yourself
- Tips and personal spending
Rooms and solo travellers
Rooms
Two travellers share a twin room at the per-adult price. We don't pair travellers from different parties, so an odd number in your party means one single room, at the supplement shown on each departure.
Travelling solo
You get a room of your own, and the price we show for one adult already includes it.
Travelling solo in BhutanFestival etiquette
A tshechu is a religious event first. Your guide briefs the group before the first festival day; these are the basics.
- Dress modestly, with long trousers or a long skirt and covered shoulders.
- Don't point your feet towards the dancers or altars, or interrupt prayers and rituals.
- Turn off phone sounds during ceremonies, and don't use flash inside temples.
- Ask before taking close-up portraits, and follow your guide's lead on where to stand.
Questions about this trip
When does the Tshechu Festival Group Trip run?
Departures are timed to a named tshechu, so the dates follow Bhutan's official festival calendar. Each departure shows which festival it visits and its exact dates.
How active is the trip?
Easy town and valley walking, plus Tiger's Nest. The whole group follows the same plan, set before you book.
I'm travelling solo. What will I pay?
Rooms are shared in pairs, and we don't pair travellers from different parties, so a solo traveller takes a single room. The price we show for one adult already includes the single-room supplement.
What if the departure doesn't reach its minimum group size?
We offer a comparable alternative or a full refund of payments made to us, as set out in our cancellation terms.
When do I pay, and can I change my booking?
You pay the deposit shown on the departure when you book, and the balance 60 days before departure. You can move to another departure once with no Guided Bhutan Tours administration fee when you ask at least 45 days before departure, and cancel with no administration fee at least 45 days before; any price difference applies.
Can I do this route on my own dates?
Yes. Take the similar private tour, which runs on the dates you choose with a guide just for your group.
Where you'll stay
These are examples of hotels we often use on this tour. We may book a different hotel of the same standard, depending on availability.
Paro · 3 nightsHotel Kaachi GrandIn Paro town, with rain showers, floor heating and balconies facing the mountains.4-star- Thimphu · 3 nightsAriya HotelA modern hotel in the capital with a spa, restaurant and gym.4-star
Punakha · 2 nightsDhensa Boutique ResortValley views and a pool, ten minutes from the dzong.4-star
