Masked dances, ancient blessings and whole communities gathered in celebration. Each package is a starting point: we can time it around any festival and adjust it to suit your pace and interests.
8 days | 7 nights
Join local families in the courtyard of Rinpung Dzong for two days of masked cham dances, and rise before dawn to see the giant Thongdrel unveiled. Sightseeing in Thimphu and Punakha completes the journey.
Spring · Paro · Thimphu · Punakha
Held in March or April each year
10 days | 9 nights
Travel east to our home village in Bumthang for the festival of Tamshing Lhakhang, the temple our company is named after. Spend three days of masked dances with our family and neighbours, with Thimphu, Punakha and the Phobjikha valley on the way.
Autumn · Thimphu · Punakha · Gangtey · Bumthang
Held in September or October each year
Upcoming festival departures
Suggested dates for private tours timed around the 2027 festivals. Every departure can be adjusted to suit your plans.
8 days | 7 nights
Festival: 18–22 March 2027, Rinpung Dzong, Paro
Includes the dawn unveiling of the Thongdrel on the final morning.
Based on our Paro Tshechu Festival Tour itinerary
10 days | 9 nights
Festival: 10–12 October 2027, Tamshing Lhakhang, Bumthang
Our hometown festival, celebrated with our family and neighbours.
Based on our Tamshing Phala Choepa Festival Tour itinerary
8 days | 7 nights
Festival: 10–12 October 2027, Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu
The capital's great autumn festival, combined with Paro and Punakha.
Based on our Paro Tshechu Festival Tour itinerary
Festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar and are tentative until officially confirmed. We will always check the final dates with you before you book.
Festival calendar
Tentative dates from the Department of Tourism. Festivals follow the lunar calendar and can move, so we confirm the final dates before you book.
| Festival | Where | 2027 dates | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punakha Dromchoe & Tshechu | Punakha Dzong | 13–18 February | A re-enactment of a historic battle, followed by masked dances and the unveiling of a giant thangka. |
| Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 18–22 March | One of the largest festivals, ending with the dawn unveiling of the Guru Thongdrel. |
| Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 18–22 April | A village festival in the high Ura valley, with masked dances and blessings. |
| Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu | 22–23 April | A celebration of spring, when the forests above Dochula bloom with rhododendrons. |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Bumthang | 14 June | Masked dances at the temple where Guru Rinpoche left his body print in the rock. |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang Dzong | 8–10 October | Masked dances at the dzong overlooking the meeting of two rivers. |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu | 10–12 October | Three days of cham dances in the capital, with crowds in their finest gho and kira. |
| Tamshing Phala Choepa Our hometown | Tamshing Lhakhang, Bumthang | 10–12 October | The festival of the temple our company is named after. Join our family and neighbours for masked dances in the courtyard of Tamshing Lhakhang. |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha | 13–15 October | Masked dances at the monastery above the Phobjikha valley, with a thongdrel unveiled on the last day. |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14–15 October | A highland festival celebrating yak-herding life and the wildlife of the mountains. |
| Thangbi Mewang | Thangbi Lhakhang, Bumthang | 15–16 October | A fire blessing and masked dances in the Chhoekhor valley. |
| Haa Tshechu | Lhakhang Karpo, Haa | 6–8 November | Masked dances in the quiet Haa valley, at the White Temple. |
| Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Bumthang | 6–9 November | Bumthang’s main dzong festival, above the town of Jakar. |
| Black-Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha | 11 November | A village celebration of the endangered cranes returning to their winter valley. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang | 14–17 November | An ancient temple festival known for its sacred fire blessing at night. |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Dochula Pass | 13 December | Held in the open air at Dochula, with views of the Himalaya on a clear day. |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong | 5–9 January 2028 | Masked dances at the great dzong of Trongsa, ending with a thongdrel. |
Source: Department of Tourism, tentative festival dates for 2027 (PDF, opens in a new tab), which lists 44 festivals across Bhutan. Ask us about any festival not shown here.
Make it your own
Tell us which festival you would like to see, and we will build a tour around its dates.
