The Royal Highlander Festival is held at Laya,Gasa District. It was first introduced on 16th Of October in 2016 to mark the celebration of the birth of HRH the Gyalsey; 400 years of Shabdrung Rimpoche and the Rabjung (60 years cycle) birth year of Guru Rimpoche. The Royal Highlander festival shares the beauty and the wonders of Gasa Dzongkhag through its nature, history and its age-old tradition and culture and the simplicity of the life of the Highlanders with our guests.
During the festival, visitors can witness the traditional offering of Buelwa (Gift offering) with Auley (traditional epic poem/song recitation tradition originated from Zhabdrung Rinpoche days) that begun during Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s reign in showing loyalty and respect by the community of Laya is being offered for dynamic and visionary leadership of our successive monarchs.
Variety of cultural programs will be performed by Layaps. The various competitions on highland animals including the Yaks, horses and Mastiffs will be held and also competition such as traditional songs and dances will be held.
The festival consists of series of stalls ranging from local based yak produce to highland technology, highland agriculture technology, medicinal herbs & plants and others.
Day 1. Arrive to Paro - Transfer to Thimphu
Upon arrive to Paro International Airport, you we will be greeted by our Guide and driver and then transfer to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. Lunch will be served at Thimphu. After lunch we will do some sightseeing in Thmphu, like visiting to Memorial Chhorten (It was built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is regarded as the father of modern Bhutan). Buddha Point (Kuensel Phodrang). This gigantic statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world). And in the evening, we will visit Trachichho Dzong (is an architectural delight and houses the throne room, and the office of His Majesty the king and the ministries of home affairs and finance). Dinner and overnight stay at Thiphu hotel.
Day 2. Thimphu Stay
After our breakfast at hotel, we will do sightseeing in the Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. We will visit to Post Office and make the personalized stamps. Visit Drupthop Dewachen Nunnery (The Thangtong Dewachen nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel, who is considered an emanation of Thangtong Gyalpo). Visit Takin Mini-zoo (To see the National Animal of Bhutan, Takin). Lunch will be served at Thimphu town, one of the restaurants. After lunch, we will continue with our tour and we will visit Paper Factory (to see traditional methods to produce the authentic Bhutanese paper known as Deh-sho). Craft Bazar (A spectacle of traditional bamboo huts, aligned neatly below Norzin Lam, opposite to Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre, showcase wide range of authentic Bhutan-made art and craft products). Evening we will explore Thimphu town by walking. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Thimphu.
Day 3. Thimphu - Punakha
After our breakfast at hotel, we will drive to Punakha over dochula pass (3150m). You will see the stunning view of eastern Himalayan Mounatin Ranges on the clear days. We will stop at the pass for photography and enjoying the fresh air. On reaching Lobesa, we will hike to Chhimi Lhakhang, the temple of fertility. After the hike, we will served the lunch. Then we will drive to Punakha. On reaching Punakha, we will visit to Punakha Dzong. This dzong is the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan and located majestically at the confluence of Pho Chhu (Male River) and Mo Chhu (Female River. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Punakha hotel.
Day 4. Punakha - Gasa - Koina
Early Morning leave your hotel for our approx. 5 hours drive to Gasa where the road ends, from there start our trek (4 hours) to Koina which, is your destination for tonight. Starting from end of the road, trek for approx. 4 and half hours, the trail first winds with a gradual descend till Koina and then winds up with a gradual climb till your campsite past the small bride (Thongchu zam).
Overnight Camp.
Day 5. Koina - Laya
After breakfast, start trekking to our destination, the beautiful highland village of Laya. The trail winds up gradually and at times with steep climbs till you reach Laya. Early arrival to your camp and enjoy the scenic beauty of the landscape and then you will come across a lot of locals in their typical Laya costumes. Overnight Camp
Day 6. Laya Stay
The Royal Highlander festival was first introduced in the year 2016 on 16th of October to mark the celebration of the birth of HRH the Gyalsey; 400 years of Zhabdrung Rinpoche and the Rabjung (60 years cycle) birth year of Guru Rimpoche. The Royal Highlander festival shares the beauty and the wonders of Gasa district through its nature, history and its age old tradition and culture, to share Gasa’s vision of “Good to Great Gasa” and to finally share all theses authenticity and the simplicity of the life of the Highlanders with our guests.
During the festival, visitors can witness the traditional offering of Buelwa (Gift offering) with Auley (traditional epic poem/song recitation tradition originated from Zhabdrung Rinpoche days) that begun during Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s reign in showing loyalty and respect by the community of Laya is being offered for dynamic and visionary leadership of our successive monarchs.
Variety of cultural programs will be performed by Layaps. Competition such as traditional songs and dances and other various competitions on highland animals including the Yaks, horses and Mastiffs will be held.
Day 7. Laya stay
Enjoy with the 2nd day of the Festival at Laya.
Day 8. Laya - Koina
After the breakfast, we will trek back to Koina with pack lunch. Today we will overnight stay at Koina camp.
Day 9. Koina - Gasa
After breakfast, we will drive to Gasa. Visit to Gasa Dzong – the administrivate and religious center of Gasa Dzong. Lunch will be served at Gasa Camp. After lunch, we will relax at the Gasa Hot Spring. Dinner and overnight stay at Gasa camp.
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Day 10. Gasa - Paro
After breakfast after saying good-bye to our trekking crewmembers, we will drive to Paro. Lunch will be served at Punakha or on the way. Continue the journey to Paro. Dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel.
Day 11. Paro Stay
After the breakfast we will drive till the Ramthangka, where the hike to one of the Bhutan’s most dramatic monuments, the Tiger’s Nest (Taktshang Monaster). We will use pony till the Taktshang cafeteria. From cafeteria, we have to hike up to monastery about 1hr 30minutes. Even from the cafeteria, we can see the spectacular views of this most scared monastery in the Buddhism world. Some of you, if you cannot hike from cafeteria, we can sit and enjoy the view of the monastery, which is perched on the rocks, 900m above the valley floor. Our lunch will be served here at cafeteria. On our way back to hotel, we will visit to Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening stroll around the Paro vally, the valley of surpassing Beauty.
Dinner and over night stay at Paro hotel. Le Meridian
Day 12. Paro – Paro Airport (Departure)
After our breakfast, we will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Our guide and driver will bid you farewell here at the airport. We wish you a very safe and pleasant flight for your onward destinations.
This is a sample itinerary, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, tour conditions, group options and the physical condition of participants, may dictate itinerary changes either before departure or while on tour. We reserve the right to change this schedule in the interest of our guests, safety, comfort and general well being.
Laya is at an altitude of 3800m and the festival venue at 4000m. It can be fairly cold in October, with daytime temperatures ranging between 1-12 C, and nighttime temperatures dipping below 0 C. Light drizzles and snowfall may be also expected. Afternoons are windy, with an average relative humidity of 48%. The walk to Laya from Gasa can be challenging especially if the weather is wet. Extra war, wind/rain proof clothes and good walking shoes are advised.
Start planning your tailor-made Dream Holiday to Bhutan – The Land of happiness!
In order to experience the best and rewarding fulfillment clients must plan in advance the different logistics that you have in your minds before actually venturing into the world of trips. You might have wishes and hopes for which you need to plan.
The following information will help you to plan your dream trip to Bhutan.
1. When and how to visit Bhutan?
Choose your traveling date like Arrival/Departure date. You also need to choose entry/depart Bhutan via AIR or LAND.
By Air: Druk Air, the national carriers is the only service operator in the kingdom and operates several flights per week from Bangkok (Thailand), Delhi & Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). The Paro International Airport is located about an hour and a half drive from Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
Paro airport is daylight restricted, and the flights are totally dependent on the weather. As a result, sometimes flights are delayed. It is therefore a good idea to keep at least 24 hours of transit time for connecting flights out of Paro. You might also want to consider traveling on a non-restricted ticket so that if you miss a connecting flight, you can be rerouted or seated on the first available carrier.
Sometimes flights into Paro are disrupted because of unfavorable weather conditions. If this occurs, the flight will stop for the night at the transit airport. To be prepared, you may want to carry your essential personal items in your carry-on luggage.
By Land: Phuentsholing, a Bhutanese town in the southwest has road access to India. It is located about 170 km from the Indian domestic airport at Bagdogra, West Bengal. Phuentsholing is about 172 km from Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan and is about 6hours drive distance. And S/
2. What are your itineraries?
All the tours can be customized and extended as per our valued client’s requirements. There are sample itineraries for your kind reference and it will give you some general idea of the likely trip scheduled.
Complete the tour request form and submit it to us. Send us correct name list. We will send you the flight reservation status via email.
After confirming your reservation, we need the scanned copy of member’s passport.
Please remit us full payments and send us the copy of remittance paper via email. Visa will not be accepted without full payment.
We will send you the flight ticket copy and Visa Clearance Copy prior to your departure to Bhutan via email. You need to print out and carry along with you.
Start packing and looking forward to have a memorable trip in the LandThunder Dragon, DrukYul.
Hot stone bath (Dhotsho) is a traditional bath of Bhutan, where a tradition of heating up stones and then soaking in the water that is in turn heated by the stones. This is also a curative method and is used throughout the country We Bhutanese belief that this bath has so much of medicinal benefits. Some diseases are curable-like joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor diseases. Especially for the old age, where we have lots of body pains, joints pains helps a lot by this Hot Stone Bath (Dhotsho).
I think, the minerals in the rocks have certain chemicals, which can cure certain disease of our body. Hot stone bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. We can organize the hot stone bath during your stay in Bhutan.
The Bhutanese textiles are rich, vibrant, and colorful and are a complex art form as well as an integral part of the Bhutanese culture. This Bhutan weaving experiences will give you an insight about the rich textiles in Bhutan. You can sit one of the handlooms of Bhutan and weave your self practically. We promise that you will really enjoy this with great satisfaction in your life.
We will also see or learn the natural coloring and dyeing. You can bring your own materials like handkerchief to dye and color. So visit Bhutan and experience it practically by yourself.
Folk Performing Arts & Music in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
We have Cultural Program Performing groups, which they will perform like Traditional folk songs, dances and keeps original tunes and dances alive. Moreover, new choreography for some traditional and regional songs is sometimes developed.
The troupe also performs mask dances that have historical and spiritual significance.
Tiger’s Nest is most visited spot in Bhutan and it is much awaited by every tourist who visits Bhutan to climb to Tiger’s Nest.
It takes about 2 hrs 30mins up steep climb through the forest of pine, oak and Rhododendron. However you can ride the horse and climb till the Taktshang cafeteria.
The above activities can be incorporated easily into your travel itinerary. However some activities need to pay some additional fees. So let us know which activities you would like to experiences so that we will include in your invoice.
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Email: info@authenticbhutantours.com
Cell: 00975-17343434
Get inspired by the trip ideas on our website and in our brochures. Then speak to us for first-hand expert advice and if you’re ready, start planning your trip in detail.