Bhutan Thimphu Tsechu and Thangbi Mani Festival Tour
9 Days
Per Person
Overview
In Bhutan, the festival is mostly celebrated in different Dzongs and each festival has different myth behind. Attending these festivals, you get the full details about the myth of the festival from the locals.
This tour is perfect for those who want to experience the spiritual and unique mystical festival. This is a 9-day festival tour which not only bids you with exploring the festivals but also visits several Dzongs, monasteries, and hike to the Taktsang monastery (also called as Tiger Nest monastery constructed at the high edge of the cliff).
During these festivals, people from the different village come together to attend the festivals. So, it’s a great chance to explore the typical lifestyles of Bhutanese people. On this tour, you will be attending two different and main festivals which are somewhat similar but have a different legend.
This festival tour began with an airstrip observing the spectacular view of sacred peak Mount Chomolhari and Jichu Drake to Paro. The next day, we head early to attend the Thimphu Tsechu festival which is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Bhutan from 13th October where lots of people attend. There is a saying that attending such festivals will get you free from sins. What you get to observe is the mask dance where monks and laymen put on demon and animal wooden mask and perform a spiritual dance. Besides observing this traditional dance, we get blessings from the head Lama.
Next day, we drive to Punakha, where on the trails, we pass through rhododendron, fir and hemlock forest. At Punakha, we will be visiting the Punakha Dzong. From the main point, we get the splendid views of the Himalayan peaks. The next day, we drive crossing through the Pele La pass where on the trails, you might also get to spot yak to reach Bhumthang. On the way, we stop to visit the Trongsa Dzong.
Next day in the early morning, we will be attending another festival known as Thangbimani festival. It is also a popular festival like Tsechu festival which is held in ChhoekhorGewog. The main highlight of this festival is that people will be jumping or crossing over the fire flames in an open ground. The Mewang people tend to believe that crossing over the flame will bring good fortune and also purify themselves. Also, the laymen and the monks perform some spiritual dance. It is assumed that this festival will bring goodwill, wealth and maintain enhanced harvest for the whole community.
Next day, we drive to Wangdue crossing two high passes, and on the way - we visit Chorten. The next day we drive to Paro and visit the Chimilhangkhang. We will be sightseeing Paro for some days and lastly, hike to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger Nest monastery) located at the edge of the cliff with beautiful colorful prayer flags hanging all over the area.
This tour has a specific date which is listed in detail on our itinerary as according to the festival date in Bhutan. If you want to inquire more about the tour, please feel free to contact or email us.
Here we list tour detailed itinerary for Festival Tour:
Detail Itinerary
Day 1: (12 Oct, Wednesday): Arrival in Paro then transfer to Thimphu (2,320m/7,610ft): 54 km, 1 hour
During your flight to Bhutan you can enjoy your scenic flight where you will get the panoramic view of the Himalayas including with the sacred peaks of Bhutan Jomolhari and the Jichu Drake and reach the airport our team of Accent Himalaya will welcome you and take us to the respective hotel in the Thimpu and you can either take rest or wander around the town. We will be spending our night at Thimpu.
- Meal: Welcome Dinner
Day 2: (13 Oct, Thursday): ThimphuTsechu festival
Early morning we will have our breakfast and attend the Thimphu Tsechu festival which is celebrated on the courtyard of Tashi Dzongs. Bhutan celebrates the festival in a grand way as most of the festivals are celebrated in same way but has the different myth and at this festival your will get to enjoy the mask dance performed by monks and laymen, traditional dance of Bhutan and even get the blessing of the head of the lama as well you will also get to interact with the local people. It is said that attending this festival and observing the mask dance is that one will get rid of their sins so, lots of people come to attend this festival. We will be spending our night at Thimpu.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: (14 Oct, Friday): Thimphu to Punakha (1,250m/4,100ft): 76 km, 2 - 3 hours
After the breakfast our driver will drive us to the Punakha and then we will stop at the Dochu La Pass which is at 3100 meters where we will be enjoying the striking view of the Himalayas. After that we will drive downhill to the dense hemlock, rhododendron and fir forests. Then reaching the Punakha we will be visiting the Punakha Dzong which is situated at the Pho- male and Mho- Female River. We will be spending our night at Punakha
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: (15 Oct, Saturday): Punakha to Bumthang (2,850m/9,350ft): 214 km, 7 hours
After the breakfast our driver will drive us to the cultural heartland of Bhutan- Bumthang. The trail is through the windy trail as we will be crossing the Pela La Pass which is at 3300 meters. On the way you might also get to spot yaks. For a lunch we will be stopping at Trongsa then after that we will be visiting the Trongsa dzong then we will continue our scenic drive to Bumthang through the verdant valley and forests. On the way we will stop at the Yatra – a textile weaving factory and here we will spend some time here at observing the weavers designing different pattern textile. We will be spending our night at Bhumthang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: (16 Oct, Sunday): Thangbi Mani festival and Sightseeing in Bumthang
Early morning after the breakfast we will be attending the Thangbi Mani festival which is the another popular festival and the festival is held at the Chhoekhor Gewog as the main reason behind to celebrate this festival is that it will bring prosperity, peace and better harvest to the country. As on this festival you will also get to observe the mask dance and attending the festival for a moment we will then sightseeing the Bhumthang we will be visiting the landmarks of the Bumthang and then we will be visiting the ancient monasteries Jambey Lhakhang and then we will be visiting the sacred site known- Kurje Lhangkhang where the spiritual Guru Rimpoche has to meditate in the cave and left some mark on this cave. Then we will be visiting the Tamshing Lhangkhang- which is the place where the beautiful Buddhist paintings can be found and after that we will be wandering the local stalls. We will be spending our night at Bhumthang.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: (17 Oct, Monday): Bumthang to Wangdue (1,240m/4,068ft): 197 km, 5 - 6 hours
Today we will begin our touring by firstly wandering the Bumthang market and our driver will drive us to Wangdue. We will stop for a lunch at Chendebji Chorten – it was built in the 18th century by the well-known lama Shida it is constructed in the style of Nepali architecture. We will be spending our night at Wangdue.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: (18 Oct, Tuesday): Wangdue to Paro: 124 km, 4 - 5 hours
We take a scenic drive to Paro and on the way we will be stopping at the Metshina village and then we will be walking through the rice fields and then we will reach at Chimi Lhangkhang one of the fertility temple devoted to the Devine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenly. Then we will reach Dochu La Pass and then we will be visiting Druk Wangyal monastery. We will be stopping for our lunch at Thimpu and then we will wander around the market of Thimpu where the local people sell the locally made products like cheese, chili, and ripe mangoes and even they sell their handmade local products. We will be spending our night at Paro.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: (19 Oct, Wednesday): Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery
Today we will be hiking to the famous monastery of Bhutan known as Taktsang monastery also called as Tiger nest monasteries which are situated on the high cliff at 3180 meters. It is said that the spiritual Guru Rimpoche has flown on the back of the tiger back and meditate in this cave which now stands has Taktsang monastery. We will be spending some time at the Taktsang monastery and then we will be having our lunch at the café which is situated midway up to the mountain. We will then retrace back to the valley. We will be spending our night at Paro.
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: (20 Oct, Thursday): Final departure
Today the Thimpu Tsechu and the Thangbi mani festival tour finally comes to an end and our team will be dropping you at the airport three hours earlier than your flight schedule.
- Meal: Breakfast
