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The Thimphu Tsechu is one of Bhutan's most important and popular festivals, held in the capital city for three days starting on the 10th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. This 7-day Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour offers a chance to experience this grand event and explore Bhutan's rich cultural heritage. Highlights include visits to Tamchhog Lhakhang, the Folk Heritage Museum, Changangkha Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong, Paro Rinpung Dzong, Taktshang Goemba, and more.
Included/Excluded
- The Bhutan SDF
- All accommodations
- Meals and mineral water
- A licensed English-speaking guide
- A driver and vehicle
- Air fare
- A visa fee of US$40
- Alcohol
- Gifts/Souvenirs
- Travel insurance and personal bills
- Museums & Monument Fees
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival in Paro (2,250m); Transfer to Thimphu (2,350m)
Upon your arrival in Paro via Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, your tour guide will meet you at the airport. After completing customs and visa formalities, you will be taken to Paro town for lunch.
Next, you will travel to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city, following the Pachu River. The drive takes about 1.5 hours, with a stop at Tamchhog Lhakhang, a hereditary temple of Bhutan’s iron bridge builders.
Thimphu, surrounded by rolling mountains, lacks skyscrapers and heavy traffic. It is known for its beautiful dzongs, fresh air, and friendly locals. Upon arrival, visit Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan and the government headquarters. You will also explore the National Library and the Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house turned museum.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Day 2: Thimphu - Attend the Thimphu Festival
Spend the whole day at the Thimphu Festival, enjoying various mask dances and folk dances, along with the antics of jokers in the crowd. These performances, by trained monks and laymen in colorful masks and costumes, are deeply rooted in Bhutanese culture and tradition. Locals gather in their finest Gho’s and Kira’s, creating a festive atmosphere.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Day 3: Thimphu - Attend the Thimphu Festival
Continue enjoying the Thimphu Festival. In the afternoon, you can visit other famous heritage sites in Thimphu, such as Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the valley, built in the 12th century. It offers a panoramic view of Thimphu Valley and houses an impressive figurine of Chenresig in its inner sanctum. You will also visit the Takin Preserve to see Bhutan’s national animal.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Day 4: Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m)
After a delicious Bhutanese breakfast, travel northeast to Punakha, Bhutan’s former capital. Stop at Dochu La Pass (3,100m) to enjoy a refreshment and an unobstructed view of the Great Himalayas.
After lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m), continue to Punakha. Visit the renowned Punakha Dzong, considered the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan, located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. You will also visit Chimi Lhakhang, a popular monastery built in 1499 by Ngawang Chogyal.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Day 5: Punakha to Paro
After breakfast, drive from Punakha to Paro, ascending to Dochu La Pass. The journey offers another opportunity to view the stunning Himalayan ranges. Stop along the way for photos at scenic spots.
After lunch, visit the Paro National Museum, which houses fascinating collections of art, relics, religious Thangka paintings, and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps. Later, explore Paro Rinpung Dzong, a 17th-century fortress that protected Paro Valley and offers picturesque scenery and tranquility.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Day 6: Trek to Taksang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest)
After breakfast, start your trek to Taktshang Goemba (Tiger's Nest), perched on a cliff at 3,120 meters in Paro Valley. It is Bhutan’s holiest temple, where Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) is said to have flown on the back of a tigress and meditated in the cliffside caves for three months. Enjoy panoramic views of Paro Valley from here.
After lunch, you can opt for a stone bath or explore the area at your leisure.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Day 7: Departure from Paro
Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your departure. The tour ends here.
Tour Map
Bhutan is a year-round destination. There are four seasons: summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), winter (December to February) and spring (March to May). But because of the range of altitudes in the country, and the influence of the north Indian monsoons, the climate is incredibly varied.Â
In the south, the humid, subtropical climate is fairly consistent year-round, with temperatures between 15oC and 30oC. Central Bhutan, with its temperate forests, has a more seasonal climate, with warm summers and cool, dry winters. The northern regions are much colder during winter. Because of the high altitude, mountain peaks are snowy year-round and the lower reaches remain cool in summer.Â
In summer, the Indian monsoon season runs from late June or July to late September, mostly affecting the southern regions. Most farming activities take place in the summer, when crops thrive in verdant landscapes.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterised by bright, sunny days and some early snowfall at higher elevations. It’s the season of feasts and festivals as farmers reap the fruits of their work.
From late November until March, the crisp, clear and sunny winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 metres. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan the name Drukyul, which means Land of the Thunder Dragon in Dzongkha (Bhutan’s national language).Â
Bhutan’s generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. It is a botanist’s delight, with nature in full bloom. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June.
The SDF is USD 100 per night for adults from all countries except for India. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay USD 50 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
The SDF for Indian nationals (showing a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card) is Nu. 1,200 (or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees) per person, per night. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay Nu./INR 600 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.
While most monuments in Bhutan are free, some are chargeable. For the full list of monument fees, please click here for more information. Children below 18 years will have a 50% concession and children aged five years and below will be exempted. Most monuments are open from 9am – 5pm each day. In June 2023 it was announced that foreign visitors can now visit monuments whenever they are open to the general public, without any restrictions.
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