Thimphu Tsechu
Tour Summary
Festivals are the biggest tourist attractions. Religious in nature, for Bhutanese, they are very sacred and thus mandatory to attend and receive blessings. They portray Bhutanese culture in its finest forms – folk songs and dances, masked dances, religious costumes, people from various ethnic backgrounds, food, mannerism, etiquette, etc. Its is colorful, joyous and high-spirited, the only time of they year Bhutanese take respite from work and get together. Thimphu Tsechu falls in the month of October. If you desire to see the uniqueness of Bhutanese culture, then visit Bhutan coinciding the Thimphu tsechu.
Districts: Paro, Thimphu, Wangduephodrang, Punakha
Entry: Paro
Exit: Paro
Day 01: Arrival in Paro to Thimphu (1.5 hrs drive)
Fly on the wings of the Dragon to Bhutan, on arrival in Paro International Airport, complete the immigration formalities and exit through only one arrival gate where HBT dedicated team who will be holding placard, no one will be missed. We welcome with khaddar and proceed to Thimphu which will take about an hour and half. The route will follow Paro River until Chuzom from where we will bend towards Thimphu river taking us to the heart of capital city Thimphu. The entire stretch of drives is very scenic and picturesque as we pass by some of the beautiful villages of Bondey, Shaba, Isina etc until we enter welcome gate in Thimphu. Tachongang Lhakhang- En-route to Thimphu, stopover for little leg stretch walk crossing Paro River or enjoy the views from the roadside depending your arrival time. Chuzom- Meeting point of two rivers (Thimphu & Paro) this is tri junction of highway leading to Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing into three directions. Enjoy the lovely picture of beautiful portrait of our King and Queen placed at chuzom which is so welcoming to all who visits Bhutan. Witness Thimphu Tshechu if time permits- Overnight in Thimphu, altitude 2400m
Day 02: Thimphu Festival
Festivals are preformed to honor Buddhist saint Guru Rimpoche who brought Buddhism in the country in the 7th century. Tse meaning date and chu meaning tenth are performed annually in all the districts coinciding with the tenth day of the Bhutanese calendar. After breakfast, we will proceed to the festival site and witness the most interesting annual festival of eastern Bhutan (Tsechu) for the whole day. Thimphu Tshechu: One of the biggest festivals in the country is the Thimphu Tshechu. This festival is held in the capital city for three days. The Tshechu is witnessed by thousands of people, both local and tourists. The actual Tshechu is preceded by days and nights of prayer and rituals to invoke the gods. Mask dances like the Guru Tshengye (Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche), Shaw Shachi (Dance of the Stags) and many more are performed.Overnight in Thimphu
Day 03: Thimphu to Punakha (2 hrs drive)
We will witness the festival before we proceed to Punakha. After lunch, Start the most scenic drive to Punakha from Thimphu over dochula pass which takes about two hours. After the break at Dochula, the road descends into Wangdue and Punakha taking us to one of the warmest places of Bhutan. Buddha Dordenma- The Buddha Dordenma is located at a top of the hill in Kuenselphodrang Nature Park and overlooks the southern entrance to Thimphu valley. The Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic 51.5-meter tall statue, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. Folk Heritage Museum-This museum was established in 2001 and provides visitors with fascinating insights into the Bhutanese material culture and way of life, especially the life of Bhutanese in remote parts of Bhutan. Dochula Pass- The pass is at a popular location as it offers a stunning 180 degree panoramic view of the Great Himalayan mountain ranges. The view is especially scenic and very clear on winter days with snowcapped mountains forming a majestic backdrop to the tranquility of the 108 chortens gracing the mountain pass. Punakha Dzong- Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Happiness). Punakha is still the winter residence of Je-Khenpo religious head of Bhutan. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck convened the first National Assembly here in 1952. This is one of the finest and must see Dzongs of Bhutan. The Dzong stands in between meeting point of two rivers, Phochu and Mochu making the most photogenic Dzongs of Bhutan. Punakha Suspension Bridge- Punakha suspension bridge is considered one of the longest of its kind in Bhutan. The bridge connects the dzong with the villages Shengana, Samdingkha and Wangkha on the other bank of the Po Chhu river. In these small villages, locals sell their wares in tiny, traditional shops. Visitors can stop here for a quick and authentic view of true Bhutan. The suspension bridge is only about 15 minutes’ walk from Punakha Dzong Overnight in Punakha, altitude 1350m
Day 04: Punakha to Paro (3 hrs drive)
As we proceed to Paro, we will retrace the journey crossing over Dochula, up until Chuzom and further to Paro. The entire stretch of drive will refresh your mind and give you second chance to enjoy the great snowcapped mountain views of the Himalayas from Dochula. Riverside Visit- visit to riverside to enjoy the crystal clear river and group video/photo is must in Paro. HBT guides will take you to the best place to enjoy at beautiful river banks of Paro. Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point- The Paro international airport is among the top 10 most stunning and challenging airports in the world. The view point offers an exquisite view of the Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong- 'Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’, is ranked one of the best Bhutanese architecture. The massive buttressed walls that tower over the town are visible throughout the valley, particularly when landing at Paro Airport. The Dzong also offers administrative seat of the district of Paro. The Dzong was built in 1644 under the order of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. National Museum of Paro- Perched above Paro Dzong it was watchtower built in 1649 to protect the undefended Paro Dzong located below, renovated in 1968 to house the National Museum. Today this museum houses the best collections of all time historical items making worth for a visit. Paro Town- Tiny Paro town actually can offer lot more, there are many authentic handicraft shops, readily available Bhutan made products, grocery and imported garment shops beside having many small restaurants around. Outdoor Activities- Nicely made and well maintained activity place attached to whole sell Buddha statue store, offers wearing Bhutanese dress, playing archery and darts for guests visiting Bhutan. The center is maintained and operated by HBT herself and its free of cost for all HBT guests Overnight in Paro, altitude 2200m
Day 05: Paro Sightseeing
This picturesque region in the kingdom is covered in fertile rice fields and has a beautiful, crystalline river meandering down the valley. Paro has more of historical sites, high-end tourist resort and many souvenir shops for shopping including world famous Takstang. Taktsang/Tiger’s Nest Temple- is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious Buddhist site in the world. The name Taktsang translates to “The Tiger’s Nest”. The temple is one of the holiest sites in Bhutan which clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the valley. Although good trekkers can make it to the top in two hours, most of the guests take whole day to complete the hike. Hot-stone Bath- Hot stone bath is very unique to Bhutan and offers great medicinal values. In most cases, the bathtub is made of wood placed on a ground level in quite hut for the privacy. A couple can get into one bathtub to soak. Enjoy the great ancient techniques of curing body ache, joins pain and harness many other values. This is on additional cost check with guide/driver. Overnight in Paro
Day 06: End of the Tour
GROUP SIZE: Any group Size |
TOUR MONTHS: 26th sept- 28th Sept 2021 |
Minimum Daily Package Inclusions
⇒ Accommodation in 3 stars approved hotels
⇒ US$ 40 per person visa fees (single entry only)
⇒ Visa arrangement for your stay in Bhutan as per the itinerary
⇒ 35% SDF – Sustainable Development Fees
⇒ Meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner
⇒ English speaking licensed tour guide
⇒ Transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary, check vehicles
⇒ Entrance, museums and park fees indicated in the itinerary
⇒ Bottled drinking water throughout the journeys
Minimum Daily Package Exclusions
⇒ Flight Fares of any kind (domestic or international)
⇒ Personal Expenses, phone calls, laundry, shopping, etc
⇒ Gratitude or Tipping
⇒ Single Room Supplement
⇒ 4 stars & 5 stars Hotels/Resorts
⇒ Language Speaking Guide
⇒ Travel and Medical Insurance
⇒ Extra Activities Cost (Cycling, Motorbike, River Rafting, Horse Ride, etc)
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