Overview
- Journey style
- Festival Tours
- Route
- Paro · Punakha · Wangdue Phodrang
- Flexibility
- Private and fully customisable
The Paro Tshechu, held every spring, is Bhutan’s most popular festival. It features sacred mask dances honoring Guru Rinpoche and invoking tantric deities to dispel misfortune. Highlights include the Shingje Yab Yum, Durdag, Shanag (Black Hat Dance), and Drametse Ngacham, performed inside Paro’s Rinpung Dzong. Locals and visitors alike attend to celebrate their faith and earn spiritual merit. For the 2026 and 2027 dates, the thongdrel and how attending works, read our Paro Tshechu guide.
Experience and learn about Bhutan and its traditions by:
- Visiting the grand Paro Festival
- Going for local sightseeing
- Exploring various monasteries and fortresses
Highlights
- Seasons: Spring
Price includes
- A minimum of 3-star accommodation (4 & 5 stars can be upgraded at an additional fee)
- All meals / Tea & snacks
- All internal transport (excluding Domestic flights)
- Sightseeing with entrance fees
- An experienced English speaking tour leader
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), government fees & visa fee
Price excludes
- Flights
- Travel & Health Insurance
- Additional personal expenses such as souvenirs, meals, snacks, alcohol, laundry, tips, and gratuities for the tour leader and staff.
The Sustainable Development Fee, visa and permits are all included — see how the Bhutan visa & permits process works.
Day by day
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival: Paro - Thimphu
Driving Duration: 1.5hrs/ 65km
Elevation: 2350m / 7710ft
Land at Paro's International Airport, drive on to Thimphu for sightseeing
Attractions:
- Picturesque Paro Valley
- National Memorial Stupa/chorten in Thimphu
- Traditional Weekend market
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu
Day 02 Thimphu sightseeing
Elevation: 2200m/7218ft
A day excursion in Thimphu Valley
Attractions:
- Buddha Point (Gigantic statue of Lord Buddha)
- Centenary Farmers Market
- Dechenphrodrang Monastery
- 13 Bhutanese Traditional Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum)
- Tashichho Dzong
Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu
Day 03 Thimphu - Punakha sightseeing
Driving Duration: 2hrs/76km
Elevation: 1310m / 4300ft
Punakha sightseeing
Attractions:
- Do Chula Pass
- Chimmi Lhakhang
- Punakha Suspension bridge
- Punakha Dzong
Overnight in Punakha
Day 04 Punakha - Paro
Driving Duration: 3-4hrs/ 142km
Elevation: 2250m / 7382ft
Drive to Paro recrossing Dochula Pass & Thimphu
Attractions:
- Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong)
- Paro Ta Dzong (National Museum)
- Explore Paro Town
Overnight at the hotel in Paro
Day 05 Paro (Full day at the Paro Festival)
Elevation: 2250m / 7382ft
A day excursion at the Paro festival
Attractions:
- Explore the significance of the annual Festival
- Traditional Bhutanese attire (Gho & Kira)
- Colorful displays Thanka and Thongdrel (silk appliqué)
- Vibrant mask dances decorated with silk brocade customs
- Traditional dances and folksongs
Overnight at the hotel in Paro
Day 06 Paro - Hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery/ Spend another day at the festival
Driving Duration: 4.5hrs/ 172 km
Elevation: 2250m / 7382ft
Optional: hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery or spend another day at the festival
Attractions:
- Tiger's Nest Monastery
- Kyichu Lhakhang/temple
Overnight at the hotel in Paro
Day 07 Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be escorted to the airport for departure. Leave Bhutan behind but take with you the great experiences as you board your departing flight.
Like the look of this itinerary? Every departure is customisable.
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In pictures
