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11 Days Central Bhutan Kurjey Tshechu Festival Tour
Paro – Thimphu (2N) – Trongsa (1N) – Bumthang (3N) – Gangtey (1N) - Punakha (1N) – Paro (2N)
This 10 nights 11 days tour brings you to a unique experience of the Kurjey tsechu Festival, which is a one day event held every year in July. This festival is held in the courtyard of Kurjey Monastery to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche. It is said that Guru Rinpoche first brought Buddhism to this country. People from nearby valleys will also gather around for the festival. Like other festivals in Bhutan, there are traditional mask dances performed by the monks during the event in traditional costumes. The festival is closed with unfurling of a huge Thangka painting, which is also highlights of this event.
Other than the festivals, the visit to local weaving center, other Dzongs, and tour of different cities also leads you to a deeper understanding of this land of happiness and its people.
- 28 Jun 2023
- Festival Experience, Cultural Sightseeing
- Private Tour for One and More
Itinerary
Day 1: Paro Arrival and Transfer to Thimphu
Welcome to Bhutan, the land of the “Thunder Dragon”.
Upon your arrival at Paro International Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport arrival hall. They will introduce themselves and greet you warmly. Your local representatives will then drive you to Thimphu (2320 m), the current capital city of Bhutan. Estimated driving time is around 1.5 hours.
We will first visit the Memorial Chhorten, which is a stupa with golden spires and bells, and is known as the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan.
Then visit the Buddha Dordenma statue when arrive at the entrance of Thimphu. This gigantic bronze statue gilded in gold has 125,000 smaller Buddhas hidden inside it. We will then hike from Kuensel Phodrang to Depsi, enjoying the peaceful view around the town.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Thimphu National Memorial Chorten
Accommondation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Thimphu Namseling Hotel
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Thimphu Druk Hotel
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Thimphu Six Senses Bhutan
Meals Included
- Lunch and Dinner
Please feel free to tell us any of your food requirement.
Day 2: Thimphu Day Tour
In the morning, after breakfast, your local representatives will take you to the local Post Office, where you can buy Bhutanese stamps or customize the stamps with your own style.
Your next stop is the Jungshi Paper Factory. The factory shows the whole process of paper making step by step. Very interesting experience and educational.
We will also take you to the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre in Thimphu to experience the local weaving industry. You will find it interesting to see how the local weavers work on traditional Bhutanese cloth. You can also buy some as souvenirs if you like.
After lunch, you can visit the Motithang mini zoo. You will have the chance to meet the lovely national animal of Bhutan – Takin there.
In the evening, the local representatives will lead you to Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the head of Bhutan's civil government. You can enjoy paintings decorated in the Bhutanese style from Buddha's life, philosophy and teachings.
Stay overnight in Thimphu.
Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Thimphu Namseling Hotel
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Thimphu Druk Hotel
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Thimphu Six Senses Bhutan
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Thimphu to Trongsa
We will head to Trongsa in the morning after breakfast in Thimphu. During the drive we will pass through Pelela pass (3400m) and visit Chendebji Chhorten, which is built to subdue demons.
We will then visit Trongsa Dzong on the way to Trongsa. As the largest Dzong in the country, the temple was constructed in the 16th Century. Located in the central area of Bhutan, Trongsa Dzong has an extensive and complex structure as it should have as a strong and powerful fortress.
After, the tower of Trongsa Museum. The tower is strategically located on the hill with a fantastic panoramic view of the environment around. You can watch a well-organized video on local culture and religious heritage in the museum.
Stay overnight in Trongsa.
Chendebji Chorten
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Trongsa to Bumthang
Today you will drive to Bumthang after early breakfast. You will across the Yotong La (3425m), then arrive at the Chumey Valley. There are in total four valleys in Bumthang.
Yathra Weaving Center is our next stop. You can see how local Woolen Textile is weaved.
In the evening, we stroll around the valley.
Stay overnight in Bumthang.
Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Bumthang Ugyenling
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Bumthang Jakar Village
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Amankora Bumthang
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Bumthang - Kurjey Tshechu Festival
Today we stay at Bumthang to enjoy the Kurjey Tshechu Festival.
Kurjey Tshechu Festival is held yearly for one day. During the event, traditional chams and mask dances will be performed by the monks. This event is held in courtyard of the Kurjey Monastery.
Stay overnight in Bumthang.
Kurjey Tshechu Festival
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Bumthang Ugyenling
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Bumthang Jakar Village
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Amankora Bumthang
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Bumthang Day Tour
In the morning, after breakfast, we will do some sightseeing in the Valley.
After lunch, you will visit Jambay Lhakhang, a temple in Bumthang that is said built by the Tibetan King. Legend says Jambay Lhakhang was constructed on the body parts of a supine demoness.
Your next stop is the Burning Lake (Mebertsho). The walking will take 15 minutes from the car park and is easy and peaceful. There is, as usual, a legend story about this lake.
You can always enjoy the Jakar Dzong Festival if you like during the day.
Stay overnight in Bumthang.
Jambay Lhakhang
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Bumthang Ugyenling
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Bumthang Jakar Village
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Amankora Bumthang
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Bumthang to Gangtey
Your local representatives will drive you to Gangtey after breakfast.
You will arrive at Phobjikha after lunch, then visit the Gangtey Goenpa Lhakhang sitting on the hilltop overlooking the Phobjikha Valley. This is also home to the endangered Black neck Crane.
Next, go hike through Gangtey Natural Trail, enjoy the beautiful view in the valley.
Stay overnight in Gangtey.
Gangtey Monastery
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Gangtey Dewachen
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Gangtey RKPO Green Resort
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Amankora Gangtey
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gangtey to Punakha
Your local representatives will drive you to Punakha after breakfast.
You can hike to the temple of fertility (Chimi Lhakhang) on the way to Lobesa. This temple is built on a round hillock with a golden spire.
In Punakha, you will visit the most majestic dzongs in Bhutan – the Punakha Dzong. The construction has 6 stories with a tower at the center and is well maintained after all these years. You can enjoy interesting architecture, beautiful paintings during the tour. The Dzong is located on the confluence of two rivers, the Pho Chhu (Male) and Mo Chhu (Female), which converge in the valley.
Stay overnight in Punakha.
Chimi Lhakhang
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Punakha Meri Phuntsum
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Punakha Zhingkham Resort
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Punakha COMO Uma
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Punakha – Paro
After enjoying your breakfast, we will drive to Paro (2200m). You can visit Tachogang Lhakhang on the way to Paro. This temple along with an iron suspension bridge was built in the fifteenth century by Tangtong Gyelpo, known as the "Iron Chain Maker".
After lunch, we will visit the Paro National Museum and the Paro Dzong. The museum is in a round building in the shape like a conch shell. A good collection of thangkas and festival masks are exhibited in the museum.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Paro National Museum
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Paro Olathang Hotel
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Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
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Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Paro – Paro Day Tour
After enjoying your breakfast, we will drive to Paro (2200m). You can hike to Taktshang Lhakhang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), which stands at the cliffside of the upper Paro valley. During March and April, Tsechu will be held in the valley sometimes, you can enjoy the dance of the Black Hat monks if lucky. On our way down the hill, you can take a tour at the Jowo Temple of Kyichu built by the Tibetan Emperor in the 7th century, which is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.
Stay overnight in Paro.
Trek to Taktshang Monastery
Accommodation
The following local hotels are for your referrence. Please feel free to tell us your preferred hotel standard while enquring for your trip to Bhutan.
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Paro Olathang Hotel
-
Paro Tashi Namgay Resort
-
Paro Le Meridien Hotel
Meals Included
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tour Price
Add-on Activities
The general travel itineraries in Bhutan are usually leisure and relaxing. To make the most your time in Bhutan, you can choose to have more activities as you like, such as light hiking around the town or a featured culture experience.
Here we offer you the most popular travel ideas that most of our travelers choose to experience as an add-on activity during their trips in Bhutan. For more available activities or anything you want to add on to your trip in Bhutan, just feel free to contact us.
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Bhutan Hot Stone Bath
The popular Hot Stone Bath, a traditional healing process in Bhutan, is a great experience for you to relax and refresh yourself after one-day hiking or trekking. Different from hot spring, it is a kind of hot water bath offered in a traditional way with a wooden tub and herbs in the water. You can experience it in a local farmhouse or in a resort.
Please notice that you need to pay additional fees for the hot stone bath (usually within 30 minutes).
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Sightseeing Hiking
Even you don't take the trekking tour in Bhutan, you can also experience pleasant hiking on your travel days. Especially during your trips in western and central Bhutan, like in Gangtey, Bumthang, and Trongsa, there are some easy hiking and trekking trails around the town. You can take light hiking for 1 to 2 hours after general daily sightseeing. Just feel free to tell your guide if you are interested in an extra hiking experience.
Generally, you don't need to pay extra money for the hours' hiking.
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Cultural Exploration
Bhutan is a place that rich in culture and handicraft. If you want to experience more local culture and the real life of the locals, you can ask for more activities, such as a visit to a local weekend market, a class of traditional Bhutan archery or traditional weaving in Bhutan. Just feel free to let us know want you are looking for and want to experience during your Bhutan tour, we will help you find the best options to do.
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Farmhouse Homestay
All of our tour packages cover the accommodation from 3-star hotels to 5-star hotels and resorts. But if you want to get closer to the local Bhutanese' life, it is suggested to take one night stay in a farmhouse. It will be an unforgettable experience to eat ordinary food and dishes and live in the typical Bhutanese house just like a Bhutanese does.
Since the accommodation is required to be arranged in advance, if you are keen on a homestay in Bhutan, please tell us as early as possible.
Food and Drinks
All of our Bhutan tour packages include three meals a day. The local restaurants often provide Bhutanese food. In some hotels, you can also have western Buffet at breakfast and dinner. There are also local markets selling fresh fruits, such as apples, pineapples and so on. If you have any requirements on food, such as vegetarian, please feel free to tell your travel consultant or your local guide.
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Bhutanese Food
Most of your meals are in local restaurants, which offers typicla bhutanese food. The most popular food among local people is the Chili Cheese.
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Western Buffet
Besides the traditional Bhutan dishes, you can also have western buffet in some hotels in Bhutan. There are more choices for you.
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Western Breakfast
The breakfast offered in Bhutan hotels often include the egg, the toast with butter, honey and jams. You can choose to have a cup of tea or coffee.
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Water and Drinks
For every day trip, we offer one bottle of water for each tourists. There are also kinds of soft drinks you can buy in the restaurant, hotel or shops in the town in Bhutan. Also, you can taste the local beers if you want.
Bhutan Tour Planning FAQs
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