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EBC Helicopter Tour – Daily Departures Guaranteed! Book Now
EBC Helicopter Tour – Daily Departures Guaranteed! Book Now
The Paro Tshechu Festival Tour is to discover Bhutan, a culturally affluent nation, with its distinct festivals, traditions, religion, and lifestyle. Bhutanese whose belief is fixated on Buddhist beliefs and teachings, celebrate festivals that showcase the vibrant culture, arts, and tradition that couldn’t be seen during other occasions. “Tshechu” translates to an annual religious celebration, that happens in every major city of Bhutan. Embarking on a festival tour is undeniably the best way to witness the cultural beauty and charm of Bhutan. Even among this annual religious celebration or festival Paro Tshechu is one of the grandest extravaganzas of culture, arts, and history.
During March, is when this auspicious festival takes place. Paro Tshechu is a 5-day annual religious celebration happening in Rinpung Dzong, where different fascinating and amazing dances and religious processions take place. One of the major religious processions is a display of the world’s largest Thangka, depicting Guru Thongdrel and his eight forms. It is believed that witnessing the Thangka and receiving the blessing from Guru Thongdrel is supposed to relieve a person of bad karma and provide them liberation. This revealing of the holy scroll takes place on the last day of the festivals.
Before the day of the scroll revealing, there are religious dances that are going to be performed. “Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds,” “Dance of the Terrifying Deities,” and “Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies” are performed by talented dancers wearing wooden masks and colorful cultural attire. All these dances hold deep religious philosophy that teaches us about life. Along with these dances, there are folk musical performances, renditions of cultural musical instruments, and many more. One of the more fascinating, humorous, and beautiful performances is of Atsaras, which is so wonderful that it’s hard to put it into words.
All in all, the Paro Tshechu Festival Tour is one of the most amazing fiestas celebrated in Bhutan. The Paro Tshechu Festival marks the arrival of Spring and rejuvenation of the nature. You will get to read chapters of Bhutanese cultures that remain stacked and dusted on the barely visited library shelves. Along with observation of the Paro Tshechu festival, the Paro Tshechu Festival Tour will take our visitors to the beautiful cities of Thimphu and Punakha, to relish the cultural and natural beauty as well. It’s a comprehensive Tour of Bhutan that ensures that there will be no compromise in your contentment of witnessing the unique culture and tradition of Bhutan.
We Breakfree Adventures have been serving our clients with Bhutan Tours for 15 years and have prolific experience. You can book this Paro Tshechu Festival Tour from anywhere in the world. As it is compulsory to book a tour with a registered travel and touring operator to obtain a travel visa to Bhutan, Breakfree Adventures is a registered and one of the best Bhutan tour operators, we will arrange and process your visa for Bhutan travel no matter what part of the world you are from. You can call us at 9851014557 or email at [email protected] to book or inquire about the tour or any other service we provide to our invaluable clients. You will be guaranteed the best service and exploration experience with Breakfree Adventures.
Rinpung Dzong and Paro Tshechu
As the name of the tour suggests, our tour revolves around the Paro Tshechu Festival. This 5-day long fiesta is the most elaborate and beautiful extravaganza of the arts, culture, tradition, and belief of the Bhutanese people. There are numerous religious processions, cultural dances, and musical performances spanning 5 days. On the last day of the festival, Paro Thangka, the world’s largest Thangka of Guru Thongdrel is unfurled for the public to witness and receive the blessing.
All this annual religious celebration takes place in Rinpung Dzong. The beautiful Dzong situated at Paro is one of the most beautiful dzongs found in the entire Bhutan. The intricate details, artistic carvings, and beautiful architecture never fail to arrest the hearts of visitors. Rinpung Dzong is a testimonial of the rich history, vibrant culture, and Bhutanese proficiency in arts and crafts.
Paro City and Taktsang Monastery
Paro is the first city any tourist will encounter, who are flying in Bhutan. This city has the only international airport found in Bhutan. The Paro city has luxurious hotels equipped with all the modern amenities. There are also newly constructed tourist establishments that can be found in Paro. Along with this modern establishment, the architecture of Paro City carries its bucolic beauty. Resembling the Tibetan form of architecture, the buildings, houses, and monasteries are beautifully constructed and never fail to allure visitors.
Paro Taktsang, one of the most important monasteries for Vajrayana Buddhists holding high religious significance, is situated 10 kilometers or 6.2 miles away from the heart of the city. Kitchen, Drugyel, Paro Dzong, Sangchoekhor, Tachog Temple, Tenchen Choeling Nunnery, Gorana, Kila Goenpa, Tsheto Goenpa, Dzongdra kha, Bumdra, Dangkala, Tara monastery, Kuenga Choling Goenpa, Tachog Temple and many other religious sites can be found in Paro. The presence of these religious sites makes Paro City a major attraction site, which a tourist must visit during their Bhutan Visit.
Thimphu City
Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan is situated between Paro and Punakha city. It is also the administrative capital of Bhutan. Surrounded by hills on both sides Thimphu Chu River flows piercing the capital. You can observe people working in farms and fields in Thimphu and get glimpses of the lifestyle of Bhutanese people. Thimphu is characterized by the presence of Dzong and Monasteries established in and around the city. Tashichhoe Dzong, Simtokha Dzong, Tango Monastery, Dechen Phodrang Monastery, and Cheri Monastery are prominent ones amongst many others. Buddha Dordenma is a religious complex, where one can find 59 meter of 169 feet tall Buddha statue. This Buddha Statue is believed to have been constructed to fulfill the prophecy. All in all, Thimphu is a beautiful capital, where a tourist can immerse themselves in the exploration of the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of local people.
Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong is the administrative center of Punakha district. It is Bhutan’s second-largest and second-oldest Dzong. Punakha Dzong is the most significant majestic structure of Bhutan. The architecture is impeccable and intricately beautiful. It is the place where the Royal wedding took place. The Punakha Dzong is a popular tourist attraction, which has historical significance to the citizens and rulers of the nation.
Dochula Pass and Dochula Chhorten
You will come across Dochula Pass and Dochula Chhorten on your way to Punakha from Thimphu. It is situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters and 10,170 feet. From Dochula Pass you can see the mountain panorama on the northern side and the hilly landscape that spans throughout the nation. Upon reaching Dochula Pass, you can visit Dochula Chorten, which comprises 108 small stupas made in memory of 108 soldiers who lost their lives in a conflict with evil terrorists. Dochula Chhorten and Dochula Pass is a major stop point for every tourist traveling from Thimphu to Punakha. The extravaganza of natural beauty, and historical and cultural ties of the people of Bhutan are flawlessly displayed here.
Bhutan in an attempt to preserve its culture and nature had secluded itself from the outer world for the majority of the 20th century. It was only in 1974, that Bhutan was opened for tourists to visit. The attempt was successful. Bhutan hasn’t been spoiled by external influence either culturally or naturally. It is the only country in the world that is carbon-negative. The culture, religion, and tradition are also unblemished.
Bhutan emphasizes on “High Impact, Low Volume” tourism policy. Due to this, the visa-acquiring process is also a bit complicated and expensive. You have to book a tour with government government-registered tour company, to obtain your visit visa. You will be accompanied by a touring guide throughout the tour so that it will be well-regulated. Due to the rather complicated visa process and expensive pricing, tours to Bhutan are often overlooked which has resulted in it being less visited.
Well, another question that might appear on a tourist’s mind before traveling to a country with a monarchy is, “Is it safe?”. The simple answer to that question is, Yes. Bhutan is a democratic nation, with the King being the Head of the state and executive power exercised by a cabinet led by the Prime Minister. The nation is very safe to travel. As we have already mentioned the country intends to preserve its nature and culture, and tours are well-regulated. So, as long as you don’t break the rules, don’t offend the locals, hamper the natural resources, and follow your guide your tour to Bhutan will be the safest tour. We suggest our clients do research regarding Bhutan before booking a tour so that if there is some specific place you want to visit that might not have been included in the tour itinerary you can make a special request. We will check the feasibility of that activity and do our best to fulfill your requirements.
Numerous touring agencies are operating the Paro Tshechu Festival Tour. It is plausible to ask, why choose Breakfree Adventures, what do we offer that other operators don’t? These questions need to be answered so that we make it clear to our clients how we stand out in this competitive market.
Apart from exploration of natural wonders, and cultural enigma, touring with Breakfree Adventures will allow you to have stress free trekking experience. Breakfree Adventures will be dealing with the visa process, documents and permit arrangements, hotel bookings, and other possible issues that might occur during the tour. Our diligent team of experts will make sure that you will have the best Bhutan touring experience with us. Our experienced guides, cognizant of the cultures, religions, monuments, geography, and all its adversities will resolve any of your queries throughout the tour.
We at Breakfree Adventures are always on our marks to resolve your questions regarding the service we provide. Our responsive communication team will reach out to you as soon as possible with answers if not immediately. Breakfree Adventures has been successfully able to established as a name to be reckoned with in this industry. With over 15 years of experience in satisfying clients with travel and tour services, we are more eager than ever to serve more clients. We at Breakfree are break-free providing brake-free service to our invaluable clients. You can find us at Trip Advisor and see for yourself reviews left by the invaluable clients we have served here and decide by yourself.
Breakfree Adventures also operates other highly rated tours and trekking in Bhutan such as the Bhutan Highlights Tour, Jumolhari Circuit Trek, Dagala Thousand Lake Trek, Punakha Tshechu Festival Tour, Enter The Dragon Tour, etc.
Bhutan doesn’t issue tourist visas to an individual. To acquire a travel visa to Bhutan, a person has to book a tour with a registered touring operator. Breakfree Adventures is a registered touring operator, that can acquire Bhutan travel visas for tourists. Upon booking the Paro Tshechu Festival tour with us, you will be asked for documents’ scan and photocopies, and we will fill up forms and dispatch necessary letters to the tourism department of Bhutan, within 10-14 days you will get your travel visa to Bhutan. Yes, it’s that easy when you book the Paro Tshechu Festival Tour with us. Click here to learn more about the processing done to acquire a travel visa.
You might be wondering how to book this tour, as we are based in Kathmandu Nepal. Don’t worry you can book this tour no matter where you are in the world. After booking this tour you will be asked for documents and necessary details to advance your visa processing. You will also get information about flight booking to Bhutan, as flights to Bhutan only operate from select airports in South East Asia.
Arrive Paro by Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, and it’s a scenic flight as the plane touch down the lush green Paro Valley flying past the world’s highest mountains. Steeping down from the plane, cool, clean and fresh air welcomes the visitor, the first gift of Bhutan. After clearing the customs and visa formalities met by the representatives and transfer to Paro for lunch. Afterwards drive to Thimphu (1 & half hrs) following Pa Chhu downstream. In Thimphu, drive on to the Buddha Terrance for a stunning view of the valley and take a drive to visit Takin Preserve to see Takin, Bhutan’s national animal – a strange looking beast which some say resembles a beestung moose!
Take a view of the majestic Tashichoe Dzong, the seat of the government before circumventing the Memorial Chorten – a monument erected in memory of Bhutan’s third king H.M. Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.
Visit Centenary Farmers Market, the new authentic craft bazaar, National Institute of Traditional Medicine that still dispenses traditional herbal medicines to the locals, the Folk Heritage Museum – a 300-year-old traditional house converted into a museum.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
After breakfast, drive for about 3 hours to Punakha. Climb up the mountain road to Dochula La at 3,140m/10,301ft. On clear weather, the pass commands a wonderful panorama of the Eastern Himalayas. From the pass, descend through varied forest and finally emerging into the highly cultivated valley of Punakha. Take a short hike through beautiful rice fields to Chimmi Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to Drukpa Kuenley, who as a favorite saint of the Bhutanese people is known affectionately as “the Divine Madman”. The temple is on a hillside in the middle of rice fields and has become a pilgrimage site for childless couples. Enjoy some tea and snacks at the end of hike while overlooking the fields.
Overnight at Hotel in Punakha.
Drive to visit a stunning hill-top nunnery – Sangchen Dorji Lhundrup Chholing. Have a chat with the nuns and enjoy the charm of the surrounds! The main temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion (Avaloketeshvara) and next to the temple is a beautiful Stupa and there are slate carvings of religious figures. Re-crossing Dochula and stopping at Thimphu for lunch. Arrive Paro in the afternoon and check hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
After breakfast, visit the Paro Ringpung Dzong where the festival is held to witness the celebration, and enjoy the dances and other religious rituals. Locals in their best dresses come to see the festival. Afternoon: Visit Kyichu Lhakhang one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, the first Tibetan King to spread Buddhism across the Himalayas.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
After breakfast, again move towards the Paro Dzong to witness the festival enjoying the ceremonies and celebrations. Afternoon: At leisure/Free for shopping.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
View unfolding of the gigantic sacred “Throngdrul” Thangka painting and watch as people from all over the country come to seek its divine blessing. The ceremony begins before dawn and it is folded before sunrise. Afterwards, drive towards the base camp of Taktsang for the hike up to the Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’. It’s about two hours hike up the cafeteria. From this point, enjoy the spectacular view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. Afterwards, hike back to the road point and drive towards Drukgyal Dzong, the ruined fort. This fort once defeated this valley from the Tibetan invasions during the 17th century. Also visit the local farm house at Drukgyal to witness daily life of the Bhutanese people PM: Stroll around the main shopping district in Paro.
Overnight at Hotel in Paro.
Your final day in Bhutan, will be on Paro. Getting an opportunity to visit and observe the hidden beauty of Bhutan is on itself a once in a lifetime opportunity. Many people regret not having booked a longer stay, but we Breakfree Adventures will do our best to extract all the juices from your beautiful 4 day in Bhutan.
Depending upon your flight time you will be dropped off at the International Airport three hours prior your departure for check in formalities. Our representative will be there assisting you, bidding you farewell and wishing you a safe flight back home as you head back towards your homeland with unforgettable experience and tons of memories you made while exploring the untouched Himalayan gem.
At Breakfree Adventures we are always seeking ways to improve travel and trekking experiences of our clients. We want to provide best service in an unbeatable price.
All our hands are on deck to make your travel and trekking in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan an experience to last lifetime. You are a call/email away from booking a The Best Holiday with us.
The itinerary mentioned and explained above is a standard itinerary. Depending upon your requirements and need we can tweak things here and there to either shorten or lengthen the duration of your Paro Tshechu Festival Tour. Please inquire us at: [email protected] or call at +977-9851014557 for more information regarding Paro Tshechu Festival Tour.
We also operated private trips.
The citizen of Bangladesh, Maldives and India do not require VISA to enter Bhutan. People from other countries except from Bangladesh, Maldives and India need a VISA permit while traveling to Bhutan. The VISA processing for Bhutan requires a readable color copy of passport via email that has at least six month of validity from the date of exit from Bhutan. The file Scan Copy should be forwarded to via email in JPEG or PDF format. The passport number and picture of the applicant should be visible in the e-document.
The application should be processed at least 10 days prior to the date of entry to Bhutan. The tourism council of Bhutan then issues a VISA clearance letter and fax or email it to the local travel agent. Please note that the VISA service is not offered in Bhutan, travelers have to buy full-service package from the local tour operator. Travelers traveling by air are required to produce a printed VISA clearance copy at the time of check-in for Druk Air flight. People traveling by land to enter Bhutan via Phuentshoking or Samdrup Jonkhar are required to produce a VISA clearance letter at the immigration center. The actual VISA is stamped in your passport on your arrival in Bhutan.
There are several cities that have direct flights to Bhutan. There are two airlines Druk air and Bhutan airlines running the flights to Bhutan. Druk air is the national carrier of Bhutan. With its fleet of Airbuses A319-115 and ATR 42 the airlines fly from different Asian countries to the Paro international airport, Paro (PBH); which is only the international airport in Bhutan. There are daily direct flights from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Paro International Airport.
The flights from Indian cities to Paro International Airport with the airport name and their codes are listed below:
Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB)
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (BOM)
Likewise, there flights from other countries with the codes are as follows:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand (BKK)
Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh (DAC)
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore (SIN)
Note: The flight schedule and timings are subject to change. If you want to know more about the flight schedules and tour to Bhutan please feel free to contact us. We can also help to find you the cheapest fares available.
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan lies in south Asia between China and India. Climate and weather vary according to the altitude, season and place of visit. Bhutan is open all year around for the visitors but it is better to make the travel arrangements as per your preference and nature of visit.
The ideal time to visit Bhutan is spring (March-May) and Autumn/fall (September-November). These are considered to be the best time to visit Bhutan to get the maximum adventure and trouble free experience. Summer and winter also have their own specialties that could draw the attention of tourists during these seasons. During the spring the weather mostly remains clear and climate is fantastic. It is also the best time to visit for the nature lovers to experience the mystifying beauty of nature. Varieties of flowers and plants bloom in this season that makes your adventure an exotic one. The route opens for Jomolhari and Druk Path treks from mid-April to May.
Summer (June-August) in the other hand could get tricky at times due to the early arrival of monsoon. The month of June would be great for traveling if the monsoon is pushed further. Usually monsoon is in full swing by early July. Travelers who would strive to get some trekking experience on muddy trail while witnessing swollen rivers, green forests and flourishing paddy field could choose late summer to plan their adventure. The view of open clear blue sky after the rain is something that strikes you with its mystifying beauty.
Fall (September-November) is another favorable and crowded season after spring. The weather gets mild despite cold mornings and evenings. Tourists from all around the world thong to Bhutan during this season to witness Black-Necked-Crane festival. The month of October has its own significance and the valley turn into a shade of gold as the farmers prepare to harvest their rice crops during this month.
Winter season (December to February) is not that crowded with tourists in comparison to other seasons. Planning your adventure during the winter could be a better idea if you want to avoid the hustle-bustle of the peak season. During the winter Bhutan may see some snow fall. The temperature level goes down (even below freezing point) during some winter days.
Bhutan lies in South Asia between China and India in the Himalayas, weather in Bhutan depends upon the altitude. In the northern parts of the country where mountains rise up to 7,000m/22,965ft, weather conditions are similar to arctic. Southwards, closer to India, the weather is hot and humid in the summer and cool in winter. The monsoon rains are usually heavy. Winters can be a good time to visit the lower parts, but then the highest areas are freezing.
The best times to visit Bhutan are spring (March-May) and autumn (late September – November) when the weather is warm, dry and sunny but always throw in a couple of warm clothes into your travelling gear when you travel to Bhutan regardless of the season.
Layering Clothing
Bring your clothes according to the season and region of your travel. Based on your activity and the weather, you can make quick adjustments, by putting on more clothing if it is cold or taking off layers as it warms up. In the summer time, days can be quite warm, especially in the lowlands of Punakha and Phuentsholing, light cotton clothing is recommended for day time. But in most of the tourist and trekking areas, light woolen clothes for evenings and heavy woollens / down jackets for winter are necessary. A waterproof windbreaker is important for trekking and outdoor activities.
Comfortable and Sturdy shoes.
You have a lot of opportunity to walk around in Bhutan, you will be glad you wore sturdy shoes that keep your feet comfortable. Good shoes will let you explore the rural and allow you to have a long day walk. Bring sandals or slip ons to take off easily when entering temples.
Long pants / skirts
Wear particularly conservative clothing in the towns, women should wear long pants or long skirts, men should wear long pants and shorts are not appropriate for anyone. In the dzongs and temples, the legs and arms must be covered, and even threequarter-length capri pants are not acceptable for women.
Rain gear
Be prepared for occasional shower. A folding umbrella is a good idea to bring with.
Hat, Sunglass, Sunscreen & lip protection.
The sun can be scorching in Bhutan. Be sure to apply sunscreen in the morning and throughout your day.
DIFFERENT CURRENCY ACCEPTED BY BHUTAN BANK:
Credit cards are accepted only in major international hotels and high-end shops in Bhutan.
Bhutan travel requirements
Below are some points which you need to consider before your travel to Bhutan.
Traveling to Bhutan takes you to beautiful Buddhist monasteries and huge dzong fortresses, and see the vibrant and rich cultural heritage and the mystic mountains. Here are 10 things you know before traveling to Bhutan.
Flights to Bhutan massively depend on the weather conditions. Flights aren’t operated in poor weather conditions or at night, so there can be delays or flight cancellations. Paro airport is especially dangerous due to its location in a deep valley, which is surrounded by mountain peaks as high as 18,000 ft. Keep basic necessities with you through any possible delays or unexpected stop-overs.
Accidents might happen due to the poor road condition of Bhutan. Always wear your seat belt and driving by night isn’t suggested since roads are poorly lit and have many blind corners. If you have booked your trip with a travel agent, you will already have a car with a driver, so you don’t have to drive. Don’t leave your valuables inside the car when parking near tourist sites or villages.
B-Mobile SIM and Tashi Cell are the two mobile network provider companies in Bhutan. Your guide can help you get a SIM Card on arrival. 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity are available and WiFi is available in most hotels in major cities but connectivity might be touch-and-go.
A dzong or monastery is a sacred site for Bhutanese so you need to dress appropriately. Don’t wear jeans, wrap your jacket around your waist, or notice if your jacket is unbuttoned or unzipped. No hats, shorts, short skirts, flip-flops, or t-shirts are allowed inside. Make sure your clothing covers your arms and legs.
Only the major towns have ATMs. Bank of Bhutan, Bhutan National Bank and Druk Punjab National Bank are the three banks that accept foreign credit cards. You can withdraw cash from ATM (Visa or MasterCard) but beware of the fees. You can exchange foreign currency for Nu, Bhutanese currency. $100 USD has a higher exchange rate compared to lower denominations bills.
Tiger’s Nest is closer to Paro town and is the most popular visited site in Bhutan among foreigners. It’s the most sacred Buddhist site located at 10,000 ft above sea level and was built in 1692. It can be reached upon 20 minutes’ drive from Paro to its base then hike above for about 4-5 hours. Using hiking boots and a walking pole will help the walk. Drink lots of water during the hike. Alternatively, you can also take a pony ride but until halfway, as it is also too steep to walk for ponies too.
You can travel to Bhutan through only the registered travel agency which shall provide you with a guide throughout your tour. Bhutan is in a remote location so having a guide to accompany you and also connect with the locals is a good idea and also important to enjoy your Bhutan journey.
Bhutanese food is spicy but delicious too. Bhutan’s most popular food is Ema Datshi which is rice and spicy chilies topped off with a delicious cheese sauce. Kewa datshi is made up of sliced potatoes and cheese and usually with chilies, too. You can try shakam paa, dried beef cooked with chilies and radish. Dumplings or momos are everywhere in Bhutan if you love them. If none of these sounds appetizing, you can try fried fern stalks or a tasty yak curry.
Ara is the traditional beverage in Bhutan which is a hot, highly alcoholic drink. It is also the national drink of Bhutan. The drink is made with yak butter, and eggs over rice whisky which is heated and then served. Ara is normally creamy, clear, or white in color.
The popular route tourist follows for the Bhutan tour is to visit Paro, Thimphu and Punakha and fly back. If you want to discover more then traveling to the southeast from Paro to Samdrup Jongkhar town is the ideal choice. From Samdrup, you can also cross the border to India via the Assam plains.
The eastern side of Bhutan is rarely visited by tourists which has so much to offer with secluded valleys and nature reserves, home to the very rare black-necked cranes. Localities like Trashigang and Mongar have local festivals which are far different from the touristy festivals that occur in and around Paro.
