Bhutan Festivals - Paro and Gasa Tshechu tour

The flight into Paro is stunning, with brilliant views of the Himalayas in clear weather. After meeting our guide and driver, we'll transfer to Thimphu, Bhutan's tiny capitol. If you wish to exchange money, visit an ATM or buy a local SIM card, please speak to your guide. 

Driving time: 1½ hours.

Overnight in Thimphu. Altitude: 2,320 metres.

Today we head east to the beautiful valley of Punakha. A short ½-hour drive from Thimphu will bring us to the Dochu La, one of Bhutan's scenic high passes. If the weather is clear, there are incredible views of the mountains to be seen. The Dochu La is unique in that it has 108 chortens built in a circular fashion at its centre. There is also a cafe and gift shop here.

As we get closer to Punakha, we will take a short, easy-grade hike on the Trans Bhutan Trail.

Hiking time: 2 hours.

Driving time: 2 hours.

Overnight in Punakha. Altitude: 1,250 metres.

Today we'll look around the lovely Punakha Valley, starting with the magnificent dzong, considered the most beautiful in Bhutan. It is a huge whitewashed structure with wonderfully ornate decorations - intricate, carved woodwork, painted Buddhist symbolism and gilded doorframes. It is sited on the confluence of two large rivers, making for a picturesque location. Look out for the enormous beehives under the eaves.

We'll also take a look at Chimi Lhakhang, the temple built in honour of the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kunley, a revered monk who used unorthodox methods to teach Buddhism. The souvenir shops that abound here are filled with phallic paraphernalia to a degree that Westerners might find funny. To the Bhutanese, the phallus is an important and lucky symbol of fertility.

Overnight in Punakha. Altitude: 1,250 metres.

Today we head north. It's a beautiful drive through picturesque farmland and pristine forest to reach the tiny town of Gasa. The population will have temporarily grown because of the tshechu, the vibrant and colourful Buddhist festival. We'll settle in to our homestay where we can have lunch before heading to the festival.

Driving time: 2½ hours.

Overnight in Gasa. Altitude: 2,770 metres.  

Today we will spend a bit more time at the tshechu. The festival is attended by the people of Laya, a village further up in the mountains that can only be reached on foot. The Layaps, as they are known, have a unique style of dress, usually made from black yaks wool. The women wear a conical bamboo hat that is held on to the head by heavy, beautifully coloured beads.

After this we will make our way back to Punakha, stopping on the way to take the short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten, a lovey modern temple built on a hill with superb views over the valley.

Hiking time: 1½ hours.

Driving time: 2½ hours.

Overnight in Punakha. Altitude: 1,250 metres.

Today we head back to Thimphu, where there is a huge range of cultural sights and activities. Your guide will discuss the options with your group:

• The National Memorial Chorten - dedicated to the third king and a great place to meet the locals.
• Buddha Dordenma - the 51.5-metre high statue that has a temple containing over 120,000 small statues of the Buddha enclosed within.
• The Centenary Farmers Market - shop with the locals for organic produce.
• The Post Office - Bhutan's is famous for its beautiful stamps.
• National Institute for Zorig Chusum - better known as the Painting School, where students learn the thirteen traditional arts of Bhutan.
• Archery - Thimphu's main archery range always has a match going on.
• The Tarkin Preserve - an enclosure for Bhutan's national animal has been set aside on the outskirts of the city.
• Cheri or Tango monasteries - it's about a 1-hour hike uphill to either of these small monasteries.
• Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre - you can watch the women at work creating Bhutan's beautiful textiles. There's a shop upstairs as well.
• Walking trails - Thimphu is surrounded by mountains so finding a trail is easily done. The tracks range from easy to difficult.

Driving time: 3 hours.

Overnight in Thimphu. Altitude: 2,320 metres.

Once again, your guide will discuss today's options with your group:

• The National Memorial Chorten - dedicated to the third king and a great place to meet the locals.
• Buddha Dordenma - the 51.5-metre high statue that has a temple containing over 120,000 small statues of the Buddha enclosed within.
• The Centenary Farmers Market - shop with the locals for organic produce.
• The Post Office - Bhutan's is famous for its beautiful stamps.
• National Institute for Zorig Chusum - better known as the Painting School, where students learn the thirteen traditional arts of Bhutan.
• Archery - Thimphu's main archery range always has a match going on.
• The Tarkin Preserve - an enclosure for Bhutan's national animal has been set aside on the outskirts of the city.
• Cheri or Tango monasteries - it's about a 1-hour hike uphill to either of these small monasteries.
• Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre - you can watch the women at work creating Bhutan's beautiful textiles. There's a shop upstairs as well.
• Walking trails - Thimphu is surrounded by mountains so finding a trail is easily done. The tracks range from easy to difficult.

Driving time: 3 hours.

Overnight in Thimphu. Altitude: 2,320 metres.

Today we head to Paro, where the large tshechu will be taking place. People come from all over Bhutan, and all over the world, to attend this festival. There will be many performances - by monks wearing extraordinary wooden masks, as well as locals, dressed in their finest kiras for women and ghos for the men, the national costume. There is a happy atmosphere in Paro when the festival is one. There will be market stalls and interesting side events taking place.

Driving time: 1½ hours.

Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.

Today we plan to do an easy-grade hike around the Paro Valley, another section of the Trans Bhutan Trail. After this we have some options: we can choose to spend more time at the tshechu, or visit some of the other interesting sites around Paro. There are a number of important temples here, including one of two that date back to the 7th century, Kyichu Lhakhang. Please speak to your guide.

Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.

This morning we're taking the trail to Taksang, the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery. It's a steep hike up but we will stop for a cup of tea after an hour at the lovely cafe. The views from here are stunning. If you're feeling more energetic we'll keep going for another hour or so to reach the monastery itself. The Tiger's Nest is made up of several small temple rooms, with the monks quarters further up the hill. 

Once back in Paro, we can catch the last of the tshechu before a celebratory dinner to mark the end of a wonderful trip. Please speak to your guide if you'd like to have either a traditional hot stone bath or a massage after today's big hike.

Hiking time: 2-6 hours.

Driving time: 1 hour.

Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.

The Tiger’s Nest is one of the most beautiful temples in the world because of its incredible location. It is spectacularly perched on the side of a sheer cliff and it’s a solid uphill hike to get there but the views are worth every step. A cafeteria halfway up has excellent, if more distant views of the temple and makes a good turnaround point for those who can’t face the big climb.

The beautiful dzong at Punakha sits at the confluence of two great rivers and is reached by a wooden cantilevered bridge. This elegant building displays the very best of Bhutanese architecture, embellished with intricately carved, painted, and gilded woodwork. The dzong is the site for the coronation of Bhutan's kings and it is the winter residence of the central monk body.