10 Days Bumthang Ura Yakchoe Festival Tour

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport then escorted to Paro town for lunch.

After that, you will be transferred to Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours, and you can stop on the way to see the Tamchhog Lhakhang, a hereditary place of worship for the Bhutan’s iron bridge builders.

Upon arrival in the capital city of Bhutan, you will pay a visit to Tashichho Dzong (Thimphu Dzong), the most beautiful Bhutan dzong as well as the headquarters of Bhutan government. You will also explore the National Library and Folk Heritage Museum, a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum.

Stay overnight in Thimphu

Tashichho Dzong

Today, it will be a full-day sightseeing tour in Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

In the morning, we will depart to Punakha/Wangdue from Thimphu. The drive will take about 2 hours, following the steep road through lush forests. On the way, you can stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas. Here also sits the 108 chortens, built by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (The Queen mother of Bhutan) for the safety and wellbeing of His Majesty (The king of Bhutan).

In the afternoon, we will drive on to Punakha, where you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. Then, you will also visit the Chhimi Lhakhang, also known as Devine Madman’s Monastery. Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Dochu La Pass

Today, we will drive to Trongsa via Wangdue Phodrang. It is a long drive of nearly 4 hours, but you will expect to pass scenic landscape along the way. Firstly, travelling through the oak and pine trees, before you go deep into the dense forest and pass Nobding Village. Then at Pele La Pass (3300m), you will get a stunning panoramic view.

Along the route, you will get amazed by the beautiful rural scenery of Bhutan. Just prepare to photograph the impressive distant view of local settlements scattering far from the road. Also, you can stop at the Chendebji Chorten (Stupa) to take in the open green meadows with yaks and rhododendron ridden valley.

Upon your arrival at Trongsa, we will go on to visit the Trongsa National Museum after a short break. Situated in the Ta Dzong, the museum houses fine arts and objects presenting the culture and history of the Bhutanese. Next, we will also visit Trongsa Dzong. Built on a ridge overlooking the gorge of the Mangde River, it is the largest dzong fortress in Bhutan and contains more than 30 temples to form a beautiful structure.

Stay overnight in Trongsa.

Chendebji Chorten

After breakfast, we will depart to Bumthang from Trongsa. Deep in the central regions of the country, Bumthang valley is broad and presents a different landscape you may not see in west Bhutan. You will pass through Yotong La Pass (3400m), and witness locals waving Yathra at the Yathra Waving Center at Zugney village. Yathra is a name of colorful and woolen cloth with geometric design in Bhutanese.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a sightseeing in Bumthang. You will first visit Tamshing Lhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then crossing the suspension bridge to the Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit Jakar Dzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang

After breakfast, we will travel to Ura Valley, which is one of the four valleys in Bumthang district. The village of Ura features ancient traditional houses and cobbled walkways. And people there are mostly yak and sheep herders.

You will attend the first day of Ura Yakchoe (Ura Festival). It is said that the Ura Yakchoe festival was celebrated to appease and make offerings to the god of yak. It is now held each year in Ura in the seventh month of the Bhutanese calendar. During the festival, locals will come together to celebrate in mask and folk dances. Also, scared relic is put on display to let people receive blessings.

After the festival, drive back to Bumthang.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Ura Yakchoe festival

After a tasty breakfast, we will drive to Wangdue/Punakha by passing through the Phobjikha valley. On the way, we will stop at Gangtey Monastery for a short visit there. Then we will drive towards the beautiful Phobjikha valley which is one part of the beautiful Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park.

In winter season of every year, the endangered black-necked cranes will fly there to escape from the cold weather. In the afternoon, you can freely explore the Phobjikha valley and visit the Black Necked Crane Center. Then we will continue to drive to Wangdue Phodrang. 

Stay overnight in Wangdue Phodrang.

Gangtey Monastery

After a tasty breakfast in the morning, we will drive back to Paro from Wangdi. The drive will take about 3 hours in total. On the way, you will see the great view of the amazing Himalayan ranges. You can also stop at Dochula Pass to take impressive photos.

While in Paro, you will visit Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong

Today, we will enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

Tour service end.