Thimphu Tshechu Festival

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival on Paro(2250) -Drive to Thimphu (2350m)

  • Altitude: 2350m
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: L D

  Your Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour begins with the flight into Paro on our national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. The first gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you are met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to settle in. Your Bhutanese escort will greet you on arrival, and then drive you the short distance to hotel. Paro is a picturesque valley with quaint clusters of hamlets amid terraced paddy fields. Although the site of the nation’s first airport Paro still retains tradition by way of architecture and farming. After lunch depart to Thimphu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1½ hour. Thimphu has a population of about 98,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening visit the Handicrafts Emporium, which has all types of Bhutanese handicrafts for sale. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Thimpu

• Day 2 : Perticipate in Thimphu Festival

  • Altitude: 2350m
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: B L D

  After breakfast, attend the Thimphu festival where the whole day is spent in the festival with various mask dances and folk dancers along with jokers actions in the crowd.Particularly Tsechu means the 10th day of lunar month which is connected with the birthday of the great tantric master, Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), whose birthday is celebrated on the tenth day of the fifth month. Most of the tsechus are related to teachings of Guru Rimpoche. You will see some of the following mask dances: Dance of the Lord of Death and His Consort (Shinje Yab Yum) Dance of the Black Hats with Drums (Shanag Nga Cham) Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Sticks (Jug-Ging) Dance of the Lord of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag) Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Sword (Dri-Ging) Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging with Drums (Nga-Ging) Dance of the Stag and the Hounds (Shawa Sachi) Overnight stay at the same hotel in Thimphu

• Day 3 : Last Day of Tshechu fesitval untill Afternoon -Half day Sightseeing in Thimpu 2350m

  • Altitude: 2350m
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: B L D

  As a last day of the festival, just few mask dances will be performed until afternoon. Some cultural songs and dances will be also performed in between for the viewers during the festivals time.After your lunch proceed for sightseeing at other places like visiting Later visit the school of Arts and Crafts which was established to preserve and promote our age old practice. The students here are taught 13 different traditional arts and crafts. Visit the folk Heritage museum, to see the house of living traditions in some of the rural areas or the living house in olden days,Memorial Chorten and Takin’s preservation center. Overnight in Hotel, Thimphu.

• Day 4 : Thimphu Drive to Punkaha (1310)

  • Altitude: 1310
  • Duration: 5hrs
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: B L D

  In the morning,after breakfast drive 10 minutes to the Buddha point to see one of the largest statues of the Buddha in the world. Also the Thimphu city is best viewed from the Buddha point as well. Drive to Punakha for 3 hours with short stop tea break at Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, you could have a superb view of the Bhutan’s Himalayas,Later we descend through varied forest and finally witness the highly cultivated valley of Punakha. . Have lunch in Punakha Following the beautiful hiking trail through the beautiful rice fields to reach the Chimmi Lhakhang. The temple is on a hillside in the middle of rice fields and has become a pilgrimage site for childless couples.after then visit beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Based on the prophecy of Guru Padmasambava the dzong is situated between two famous rivers, Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). Punakha was also the capital of Bhutan until 1955. Overnight in Hotel,Punakha.

• Day 5 : Punakha Drive to Paro (2250)

  • Altitude: 2250m
  • Duration: 4hrs
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: B L D

  Drive to Paro for 4 hours and check in at the hotel first. Have lunch in the town. After lunch you will visit the National museum, the museum which houses numerous collections of arts and artifacts. This museum is also rated as one of the best museum in Asia. It was originally built in the 17th Century as a watch tower for the dzong below. After lunch visit Paro Ringpung dzong built in 1646 and now serves as head of the administration for Paro district. You can stroll around in the town in the evening for your last minute souvenirs shopping. Overnight stay in Paro.

• Day 6 : Taktsang Monastery Hiking

  • Altitude: 3200m
  • Duration: 5-6hrs
  • Accommodation: Hotel
  • Meal: B L D

  Today after breakfast we drive towards the base of the Taktsang Monastery and begin our hiking for the Taktsang Monastery. The trail to Taktsang Monastery takes about 3 hours and upon reaching the Monastery one can have the majestic view of the Paro valley which makes you forget all your sweat during the hike. After spending some quality time on the Tiger’s Nest we walk back to the road point and then visit Kyichu Lhakhang one of the oldest temple in Bhutan. Overnight at Hotel. Paro

• Day 7 : Departure Day

  • Meal: B

  Your Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour terminates today so after breakfast, Your Guide will you drop airport and help you with the exit formalities and bid you farewell and wish you happy journey back home.