7 Days Grand Annual Festival Thimphu & Cultural Tour of Bhutan (Sept 2020)

Discover the hidden Kingdom of Bhutan, a country that earned its nickname Kingdom of Happiness through living in complete harmony with nature and everyday life of its people nurtured by the mindful Buddhist way of life. Witness one of the largest festivals in Bhutan, Thimphu Tsechu as it showcases Kingdoms rich cultural values and unique ancient traditions that still remains untouched and vibrant. Go farther beyond the capital city through rugged mountain pass clad in dense forests and beautiful fertile valleys, visit ancient monasteries and Dzongs (fortresses), explore rural Bhutan while you get to dine exotic local cuisine to your hearts content.

One of the highlights of this trip will be Thimphu Tsechu, the biggest festival in the country which usually takes place during September/October. Dressed in their finest and colourful outfits, thousands of people not only from Thimphu but also from neighboring Dzongkhags (districts) come to witness, to celebrate, to socialize, receive blessings and pray for health and happiness. The monks perform skillful sacred mask dances interspersed with lively traditional folk songs and dances by men and women during the festival. Adding glamour to the festival, the clowns known as Atsara are the integral part of this festival cheering and jestering the spectators. They often display obscene behavior holding phallus as a scepter to prevent evil forces from causing harm during the festival.

On the 6th day of this 7 Days 6 Nights trip, you will hike up to the famous Paro Taktsang or Tigers Nest precariously perched on the face of the 800m rock cliff and enjoy the peaceful moment induced by the sacredness of the monastery.

Trip Highlights

• Travel to 4 western districts of Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang and immerse yourself into the mindful Buddhist way of life, away from the materialistic world, and discover why Bhutan has earned its nickname the Kingdom of Happiness.
• Spend a day witnessing the biggest festival in the Kingdom, Thimphu Tsechu to understand the social and religious life of the people of a country known for founding Gross National Happiness (GNH), a development philosophy that measures well-being not only of its citizens but of all its inhabitants.
• Visit ancient temples and magnificent Dzongs (fortresses) and marvel at the fine wall paintings, exquisite architecture and craftsmanship that still continues to influence the Bhutanese architecture today.
• Hike to the 8th century sacred site where Bhutans iconic landmark, 17th century Paro Taktsang or Tigers Nest is built on the face of a precarious 800m rock cliff.
• Spend a night at a family farmhouse and get insights into the life of a Bhutanese farmer (optional).

What is INCLUDED in the package:

• One-time Visa Fee
• Sustainable Development Fee (Government Tax)
• All meals Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 3-Star & equivalent restaurants.
• Accommodations on twin sharing basis at 3-Star hotels certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan
• Round trip airport transfers
• Private Luxury SUV dedicated land transport for the entire duration of your stay in Bhutan
• Licensed and experienced English-speaking private guide.
• Entry fees to parks, museums and other national monuments
• All national taxes

What is NOT INCLUDED in your package:

• Flights to/from Bhutan
• Travel insurance. It is not mandatory to have insurance for this type of culture & nature tour. It is entirely up to the travellers. Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel do not provide travel insurance services.
• Emergency evacuation.
• Alcoholic beverages, bar bills.
• Laundry services, telephone call charges
• Cultural shows that require advance arrangement.
• Tips to guides and drivers (optional).
• Any other expense of personal nature.