Bhutan · Bumthang · Tour
Bumthang Valleys & Festival Tour
Central Bhutan's sacred valleys with a tshechu
- Duration
- 10 days
- Group size
- 4–12
- Difficulty
- Gentle · 2/5
- Highest point
- 3,425 m
Is this your kind of journey?
The published itinerary covers 5 of the 10 days in detail, typically 1–2 hours of walking a day, with bumthang hotel, twin-share accommodation. Read the day-by-day route and preparation information below to judge whether this journey suits you.
Explore fitness and preparation ↗The journey
More than a destination.
A journey through Bumthang.
The Bumthang festival group tour travels the length of western and central Bhutan to the spiritual heartland at Bumthang, where four valleys hold the kingdom's oldest temples. Each departure is timed to a tshechu (Jambay Lhakhang Drup, Jakar or Ura Yakchoe), where the group spends a full day among the masked dances and village crowds.
On the way: Punakha dzong, the Pele La and the black-necked crane valley of Phobjikha, and Trongsa's watchtower dzong. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed when each departure opens.
- ✓Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee
- ✓Paro airport transfers
- ✓Nine nights in 3-star hotels and farmhouses, twin-share
- ✓All meals
- See all inclusions and exclusions ↗
Highlights
- •A full day at a Bumthang tshechu
- •Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang, 7th- and 8th-century temples
- •Burning Lake (Membar Tsho)
- •Phobjikha valley and Gangtey monastery
- •Trongsa dzong and the Ta Dzong museum
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Paro, to Thimphu
Meet at Paro airport and drive to the capital. Evening walk in the old town.
Meals: Lunch, dinner. Overnight: 3-star hotel, twin-share.
Day 2Thimphu to Punakha
Over the Dochu La with its 108 chortens, down through the rice terraces to Punakha dzong.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Valley hotel, twin-share.
Day 3Punakha to Phobjikha
Climb to the Pele La and drop into the glacial bowl of Phobjikha; Gangtey monastery and the crane centre in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Farmhouse-style lodge, twin-share.
Day 4Phobjikha to Bumthang
The long day: Trongsa dzong and its watchtower museum at midday, then over the Yotong La (3,425 m) into the Chumey and Choekhor valleys.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Bumthang hotel, twin-share.
Day 5Festival day
A full day at the tshechu grounds from the first dances at 8 am. Lunch is brought to the group; the guide explains each dance.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Bumthang hotel, twin-share.
Full day-by-day detail for all 10 days is in the itinerary PDF we send with every inquiry.
Route map
Route map is sent with the itinerary PDF.
Dates & prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 2026 – 18 Nov 2026 | 12 seats | $3,190 | Book |
| 12 Apr 2027 – 21 Apr 2027 | 12 seats | $3,190 | Book |
| 15 May 2027 – 24 May 2027 | 12 seats | $3,190 | Book |
| 6 Oct 2027 – 15 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | $3,190 | Book |
Prices per person, twin-share. Single room supplement $420. 25% deposit at booking; balance due 60 days before departure.
What's included
- ✓Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee
- ✓Paro airport transfers
- ✓Nine nights in 3-star hotels and farmhouses, twin-share
- ✓All meals
- ✓Licensed guide and driver
- ✓Private vehicle
- ✓Festival and entrance fees
- ✓Bumthang–Paro domestic flight (weather permitting) on the return
Not included
- –Flights to Paro
- –Travel insurance
- –Drinks and tips
- –Personal expenses
Travel information
Best time to visit
Departures are set by the festival calendar: Jambay Lhakhang Drup in October or November, Ura Yakchoe in April or May, Jakar tshechu in October. Autumn is clearest; spring is greener.
Difficulty & fitness
Grade 2. Long driving days (Punakha to Bumthang is 7 hours over two passes) and a festival day spent standing and walking. Short temple walks; Burning Lake is a 15-minute path.
Accessibility & dietary needs
Vegetarian is standard in Bhutan; vegan and gluten-free with notice. Hotels have ground-floor rooms; festival grounds are uneven. Motion-sickness medication recommended for the passes.
Health & safety
Maximum 3,425 m on the Yotong La; altitude is rarely an issue. Roads are mountain roads with long journeys; we break them with stops. Bottled and boiled water is provided.
Local etiquette
At the tshechu, do not walk across the dance ground, keep cameras behind the front row and dress modestly. Temples: covered shoulders, no photography inside, clockwise circuits.
Travel documents & permits
Passport valid six months. Visa applied for by us from your passport scan 30 days before departure.
Packing list
Everything we recommend bringing for this trip.
- Layers; Bumthang mornings are cold
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket
- Comfortable shoes for standing at the festival
- Long trousers and covered shoulders for temples
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Folding cushion or mat for festival seating
- Daypack
- Water bottle
- Passport with six months validity
Questions about this trip
Which festival does the Bumthang Valleys & Festival Tour attend?
It depends on the departure: October and November dates are timed to Jambay Lhakhang Drup or Jakar tshechu, spring dates to Ura Yakchoe. The festival name and dates are shown on each departure once the lunar calendar is published.
How long is the drive to Bumthang on this Bhutan tour?
Punakha to Bumthang is about seven hours including the stop at Trongsa. We return to Paro by the 35-minute domestic flight from Bumthang, weather permitting, with the drive as backup.
Can I photograph the masked dances at a Bhutan tshechu?
Yes, from behind the front rows and without flash. Your guide will show you where to stand. Photography of the sacred thongdrel unveiling is sometimes restricted.
What are farmhouse stays like on the Bumthang festival tour?
Traditional wooden farmhouses with private rooms, shared or private bathrooms and home-cooked food, used for one or two nights where hotels are scarce. The rest are 3-star hotels.
Is the Bumthang festival tour suitable for children?
Yes for children over ten who can manage long drives; the festival itself is a highlight for families. Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee is halved for ages 6–12 and waived under 6, reflected in the price.
Why is the Bumthang festival tour more expensive than the cultural highlights tour?
Two extra nights of Sustainable Development Fee, the domestic flight back to Paro and the longer distances covered. Everything is still included except international flights, insurance and tips.
Reviews
★★★★★
The festival was extraordinary
Jambay Lhakhang Drup at night with the fire dance and the whole village there. Bumthang felt like the real Bhutan. Long drives, but the guide filled them with stories.
★★★★★
Phobjikha cranes and Bumthang temples
We saw the black-necked cranes arrive. Kurjey Lhakhang was quiet and beautiful. Good hotels throughout.
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