Festivals or tshechu (Tenth Day) are held each year in many Bhutanese temples, monasteries and dzongs. It is mainly a religious event celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Lunar Calendar corresponding to the birthday of Guru Rinpoche, an 8th century Buddhist teacher. These festivals are series of sacred events choreographed to promote happiness yet with the intent to ultimately cultivate an enlightened mind in all people who come to witness the mask dances.
Trongsa Festival is one the oldest festivals in Bhutan. It is believed the festivals in Bhutan were spread from Trongsa. Most of the Champoen, the mask dance teacher, learned in Trongsa. On the last day of the Trongsa Festival, they unfurl the Thongdrel (liberation and blessings at the sight) every time, which is the highlight of the Trongsa Festival. It takes place always in winter.
The highlights of Trongsa Festival Tour.
- Explore Capital City of Kingdom of Bhutan, Thimphu Bhutan.
- Visit to the oldest monastery in Bhutan – Kyichu Lhakhang.
- Visit to the most important and sacred pilgrimage spot in the Buddhist world – Taktshang Monastery.
- Visit to the largest, oldest and most spectacular Dzongs (fortress), Lhakhang (temples), Museum, Villages and so on.
- Visit the ancestor home of our Royal Family – Trongsa Valley.
- Get blessings and be a part of the religious festival-Trongsa Festival.
Day 01. Arrive to Paro - Thimphu.
The flight into Paro on our national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks like GangkarPuensum, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese escort from Authentic Bhutan Tours- For Your Bhutan Experience!will warmly welcome & greet you on arrival, and then drive you to the Paro RimpungDzong, the center of civil and religious authority in this region. After this we will have lunch in the Paro town. Then we will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes along a river valley, past small villages and traditional farmhouses, through peaceful countryside. It’s a small & charming capital city located in the heart of the Himalayas. On reaching Thimphu, we will do a short hike, (Sangaygang Cross Country) Wangditse Hike. The hike starts from BBS tower till Dechenphodrang, through pine forest. From this hike we can see the Thimphu town (Capital City) beautifully. The hike will take about 1hour 30minutes. Evening visit TashiChhoDzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan) and stroll around Thimphu town. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel, Thimphu
Day 02. Thimhu Halt
Sightseeing in Thimphu, visit to Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in the memory of third king late Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, and the temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy. Mothithangminizooto see the National Animal of Bhutan (Takin), Zulikha Nunnery,theThangtongDewachen nunnery was founded in 1976 by RikeyJadrel and today it houses the sixty nuns engaged in Buddhist study and practices. Folk Heritage Museum, this Folk Heritage Museum is a showcase, the 19-century farmhouse and the living style of the Bhutanese family. National Library, the National Library was established in 1967 to preserve many ancient Dzongkha and Tibetan texts. Lunch in Thimphu town. After lunch, visit Paper Factory, were Bhutanese Traditional Papers & paper products are made. Weaving Center produces hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. This is one of the few places where you can watch weavers at work, andthen Authentic Bhutanese handicrafts. Evening we will visit Bhutanese Farm House for dinner and Traditional Hot Stone bath. Over night stay at Thimphu Hotel or we can organize even in Bhutanese Farm House.
Day 03. Thimphu – Phobjikha
After our early breakfast, we will drive to Phobjikha. The road climbs steeply through forests of pine, hemlock spruce and rhododendrons. At Dochula Pass (3150m) you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges. The pass is adorned with 108 small stupas and many kinds of prayer flags. Then the road descends through lush forests to the fertile valley of Punakha&WangdiPghodrang. Again the road will slowly ascend until Lawala pass. You may spot a yaks grazing along the roadside by Lawala Pass. The road descends through semi-tropical vegetation and alpine environment, with rhododendron trees and dark green dwarf bamboo. On reaching Gangtey, we will have our lunch. Then visit GangteyGoenpaMonaestry, is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the PemaLingpa tradition. Then we will do Gangtey Natural Trail Hike, the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails in Bhutan. We can see the valley so panoramically. Visit Black Neck Crane Information Center. Evening stroll around the Phobjikha Valley. Dinner and over night stay at Phobjikha Valley hotel.
Day 04. Phobjikha – Trongsa
After our breakfast in the hotel, we will drive to Trongsa, the ancestral home of Royal Family. The road ascends till Pelela Pass and then descends through semi-tropical vegetation and alpine environment, with rhododendron trees and dark green dwarf bamboo. You will stop by at ChendebjiChhorten, the chorten is patterned after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu and was built in 19th century to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was killed at this spot. As you enter Trongsa valley, the huge fortress of TrongsaDzong, the most impressive dzong in Bhutan appears on the far side of a deep valley and visit this Dzon on arrival. Then we will visit Tower of Trongsa-Religion and Power in Bhutan. The Tower of Trongsa is a museum in which aspects of Bhutanese culture and history are explained by beautifully objects, while for others it is as scared place of encounter with the gods. Lunch will served at the Tower of Trongsa’scafé . Then we will drive to KuengaRabten Palace. It was the winter palace of our second King JigmeWangchuck. The palace is an impressive building with superb woodwork and decorations. Dinner and overnight stay at Trongsa, Hotel.
Day 05. Trongsa Stay
Enjoy with the Trongsa Festival.
Day 06: Trongsa – Punakha
Early in the morning witness the unfluring of TrongsaThongdrel Ceremony. Then havebreakfastand drive to Punakha. The drive will take about 3hours. At Wangduephodrang we will visit the Lama Zhamdrung founded WangduephodrangDzong (Outside), in 1638, which is under reconstruction. On reaching Lobesa, we will hike to ChhimiLhkhang, the temple of fertility. Luch will be served at ChhimiLhakhangCafteria. After lunch we will visit PunakhaDzong, the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. it was the winter capital of Bhutan until 1955 when the capital was permanently shifted to Thimphu. It still served as the winter resident for the central monastic body. Then we will drive to the viewpoint of Khamsum Yule Namgyelchorten. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Punakha.
Day 07. Punakha – Paro
After the early breakfast we will drive to Paro. The road ascends up to the great DochulaPass . O n the way back to Paro offers another chance to view the amazing Himalayan ranges. Stop along the way to take photos wherever you find the best spot for the photography. Then we will hike to Paro TaktshanfMonastery ,the most famous and scared monastery in Buddhism world. Taksang means “TigerNest” named after Guru Rinpoche reportedly flew to this site riding on the back of a flying tigress late in the 9th century. We have to walk about 2hours up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Lunch will be served at Taktshang cafeteria. On our way back, drive to the village of Drukgyel and visit the ruins of DrukgyelDzong, built in 1649 to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invasion and Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king SongtsenGampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening stroll around the Paro vally town, the valley of surpassing Beauty.Dinner and over night stay at Paro hotel.
Day 08. Paro – Paro Airport
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.
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.
Trip Length: 07 Nights /08days stay in Bhutan
Costs
1pax = USD 1915
2 Pax = USD 1835 per person
3 Pax & above = USD 1620 per person.
The above price is inclusive of the followings:
- Government Royalty USD 65/person/night
- All government Taxes.
- Lodging (3* hotel – Twin Sharing)
- Meals (Three Meals a day)
- Comfortable Land Transportation within Bhutan.
- Service of guides (English Speaking)
- Camping Equipment & Haulage of trekking tours.
- Visa Fee of USD 40/person
- Mineral Water
- Tea/coffee with snacks ever evening at hotel
- Trying and wearing of our Traditional Costumes and photo shoot.
The above price shall be exclusive of the following:
- Travel Insurance Coverage
- Medical Expenses
- Laundry
- Drinks
- Sleeping bags on treks.
- Tips to guide and driver, others
- Personal bills and others
- Airfare.
Speak to a specialist
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.