How long is the Trashigang Festival tour?

It is a 15-day, 14-night festival tour, offered from November to December and timed around the festival on 18–20 November 2026.

Which places does this tour visit?

The route runs from Paro to Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha/Gangtey and Bumthang via Trongsa, with a day excursion to Tang Ugyen Choling Palace, then Mongar, Lhuentse and Trashigang for the festival, a day excursion to the Merak villages, and a domestic flight back to Paro for the hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery.

How difficult is the Trashigang Festival tour?

The itinerary ranges from 1242 m to 3750 m over 15 days, and includes the hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery on day 14.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a minimum of 3-star accommodation (4 and 5 star can be upgraded at an additional fee), all meals with tea and snacks, all internal transport (excluding domestic flights), sightseeing with entrance fees, an experienced English-speaking tour leader, bottled water in the vehicle, and the Sustainable Development Fee, government fees and visa fee.

What is not included?

Flights, travel and health insurance, and additional personal expenses such as souvenirs, meals, snacks, alcohol, laundry, tips and gratuities for the tour leader and staff are not included.

Trashigang Festival, East Bhutan — 15 Days

Overview

Journey style: Festival Tours
Route: Bumthang · Gangtey · Lhuentse · Mongar · Paro · Punakha · Thimphu · Trashigang · Trashiyangtse · Trongsa · Wangdue Phodrang
Flexibility: Private and fully customisable

The Trashigang festival is a popular celebration in the eastern region that attracts people from all walks of life. Even the nomadic people of Merak and Sakten come to attend the festival by wearing their unique attire which makes them stand out in the crowd. The festival is observed for three days every year by featuring mask dances and folk dances in honor of Guru Rinpoche. In this way, the festival provides an opportunity for people from remote communities to come together and listen to the teachings of Padmasambhava.

During the trip, you will be escorted from Western region to the Eastern region whereby you can expect the following from the trip:

Stop at the Paro Airport Bird’s Eye View point
2 hrs of hike on Gangtey Nature Trail
Learn about the customs of Merak and Sakten communities
Views of towering peaks and valleys from the flight
Local sightseeing
4-5 hrs of hike to the Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)

Trip Cost
The minimum daily tour package covers the following services.

Highlights

Seasons: Fall & Winter

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

Drive on to Thimphu and check into your hotel, Thimphu sightseeing

Attractions:
- National Memorial chorten
- Tashichho Dzong

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu

Day 02 Thimphu - Cultural Sightseeing

Elevation: 2200m/7218ft

Culture sightseeing in Thimphu valley

Attractions:
– Buddha Point (Siddhartha Gautama in seated position)
– The 13 traditional arts and crafts (Closed on weekends & Government Holidays)
– The Jungshi paper factory
– Centenary Farmers’ Market
– Takin Preservation Center

Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu

Day 03 Thimphu - Punakha

Driving Duration: 2hrs/76km
Elevation: 1310m / 4300ft

Drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass (3100m/10200ft) for sightseeing

Attractions:
- Do Chula Pass
- Chimi Lhakhang
- Punakha Suspension bridge
- Punakha Dzong

Overnight in Punakha

Day 04 Punakha - Phobjikha (Gangtey)

Elevation: 2900m/9510ft

Drive on to Phobjikha valley

Attractions:
- Gangtey Monastery
- Gangtey Nature Trial
- Black Necked Crane Information Center

Overnight at the lodge in Phobjikha

Day 05 Phobjikha – Bumthang via Trongsa

Driving Duration: 160 km/ 4.5 hrs
Elevation: 2800m / 9185ft

Drive on to Bumthang via Trongsa

Attractions:
- Pele la Pass (3,300m)
- Chendebji Chorten
- Trongsa Dzong
- Trongsa Museum
- Youtongla Pass

Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang

Day 06 Bumthang Sightseeing

Elevation: 2800m / 9185ft

A day excursion in Bumthang valley

Attractions:
- Jakar Dzong
- Jambay Lhakhang/ temple
- Kurjey Lhakhang
- Tamshing Lhakhang

Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang

Day 07 Bumthang - A Day excursion to Tang Ugyen Choling Palace

Duration: 1.5hrs/50km
Elevation: 2800m / 9185ft

A day excursion to Tang Ugyen Choling Palace

Attractions:
– Tang Valley
– Membartsho Lake
– Pema Choling Nunnery Monastery
– Tag Rimochen Temple
– Ogyen Choling Palace and Museum

Overnight at the hotel in Bumthang

Day 08 Bumthang - Mongar

Driving Duration: 192 Kms/7 hrs
Elevation: 1700m / 5580ft

Attractions:
- Ura valley
- Thrumshing-La Pass
- Sengor valley
- Namling Waterfall
- Mongar town
- Mongar Dzong

Overnight in Mongar

Day 09 Mongar - Lhuntse - Drive back to Mongar

Driving Duration: 76Km/ 2hrs
Elevation: 1815m/ 5955ft

Attractions:
– Lhuntse Dzong
– Khoma village (known for weaving brocade dress)
– Takila (Giant Guru statue)

After the sightseeing, drive to Mongar.

Overnight at the hotel in Mongar

Day 10 Mongar - Trashigang

Driving Duration: 150 km/ 4-5 hrs
Elevation: 1126m / 3694 ft

Drive on to Trashigang - In the far east of Bhutan, on the bank of Gamri Chhu river lies
Trashigang, the country's largest district.

As the journey continues, we will enroute though the Korila Pass located at an altitude of 2450
meters (8038ft)

As you get closer to Trashigang Dzongkhag, you will get a glimpse of Trashigang Dzong which
was built by Mingyur Tenpa in 1667, standing on a hill with three steep cliffs. We will then drive 11km from Trashigang town on to the Rangshikhar Goempa

Overnight at the hotel in Trashigang

Day 11 Trashigang - Attend the Trashigang Festival

Elevation: 1850m / 6070ft

Drive to the Trashigang Dzong/fortress to attend the Trashigang Festival

Attractions:
- Trashigang Dzong/fortress
- Colorful Trongdrel and Tangkha (silk appliqué)
- Discover the significance of the festival

Overnight at the hotel in Trashigang

Day 12 Trashigang – A Day excursion to Merak Villages

Driving Duration: 64km/2hrs
Elevation: 3500m/11482ft

A day excursion n Merak Villages

Attractions:
– Rangjung Woesel Chholing Monastery
– Radhi Village (Famous in Raw Silk Weaving)
– Brokpa people (Nomadic lifestyle)

Overnight in Trashigang

Day 13 Trashigang to Paro (Domestic Flight)

Flight Duration: 45 minutes
Elevation: 2250m / 7382ft

Domestic flight from Trashigang to Paro.

Note: Cancellations for domestic flights due to weather particularly during the summer season.

Attractions:
- Enjoy the views of green valleys and peaking mountains from the flight
- Paro Weekend Market (traditional products)
- Rinpung Dzong
- Ta Dzong (National Museum)

Overnight at the hotel in Paro

Day 14 Paro - Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Hiking Duration: 3-4hrs/ 6-7km
Elevation: 3120m/ 10236ft

Hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Sightseeing

Attractions:
– Tiger’s Nest (Paro Taktsang)
– Bhutanese Traditional Homestay (Optional)

Overnight at the hotel in Paro

Day 15 Paro- Departure

Breakfast at the hotel and then you will be escorted to the airport where your companion will help you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.

Like the look of this itinerary? Every departure is customisable.

Enquire about this tour

Where you'll go