- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan festivals · 2027 guide
Trashigang Tshechu 2027: the great festival of the east
Three days of masked dances at Trashigang Dzong, attended by communities from across eastern Bhutan, including Brokpa herders from Merak and Sakteng. Expected on 7 to 9 December 2027.
- 7 to 9 December 2027
- Trashigang Dzong
- Brokpa visitors
7 to 9 Dec
Expected dates in 2027
1659
Year Trashigang Dzong was built
1,100 m
Approximate altitude of Trashigang
Yonphula
Nearest domestic airport
About the festival
A fortress above the river
Trashigang Dzong stands on a spur high above the Drangme Chhu in the far east of Bhutan. It was built in 1659 and for centuries controlled the east of the country. Trashigang is the largest district in the east and its town is a busy crossroads, with roads to Trashi Yangtse, Samdrup Jongkhar and the highlands of Merak and Sakteng.
The Trashigang Tshechu is the biggest festival in eastern Bhutan. For three days the dzong courtyard is packed with families, and Brokpa herders come down from Merak and Sakteng in their red and black woollen clothes and felt hats. The masked dances are the same as in the west, but the crowd, the languages and the clothes make it feel completely different.
- The biggest festival in the east
- Brokpa herders in traditional dress
- A 17th-century dzong above the river
Festival facts
Trashigang Tshechu 2027 at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates in 2027 | 7 to 9 December 2027 |
| Venue | Trashigang Dzong |
| District | Trashigang (eastern Bhutan) |
| Altitude | About 1,100 m |
| Getting there | Fly to Yonphula and drive about 30 to 45 minutes, or drive from Mongar in about 3 hours |
| Weather | Mild December days at this low altitude |
| Nearby | Gom Kora, Rangjung monastery, Chorten Kora and the road to Merak |
| Entry | Free and open to visitors with a licensed guide; the SDF and visa rules apply as on any day |
Dates follow the Department of Tourism’s tentative festival list for 2027 and the lunar calendar. They can shift by a day or two, so we confirm them before you book flights.
What you will see
Highlights of Trashigang Tshechu
Masked dances
Cham in the courtyard of Trashigang Dzong.
Brokpa visitors
Herders from Merak and Sakteng in festival dress.
Trashigang Dzong
A fortress built in 1659 above the river.
Atsaras
Masked jesters entertaining the crowd.
Town market
A lively market town in festival week.
Eastern hills
Steep valleys and terraced farms.
History and meaning
About Trashigang
Trashigang Dzong
The dzong was built in 1659 and has been extended and restored many times. It houses the district administration and the monk body, and its position above the confluence of rivers made it the key fortress of eastern Bhutan.
The Brokpa
The Brokpa of Merak and Sakteng are semi-nomadic yak herders with their own language and customs. Many come to Trashigang for the festival and for trade, and seeing them in town is one of the highlights. In spring, Rhododendron Week is held in Merak itself.
Planning
How to plan your visit
Planning an eastern trip
Fly to Yonphula, spend a few days in Trashigang for the festival and nearby sights, and add the Mongar Tshechu on 6 to 8 December. Hotels in Trashigang are simple; book early for festival week.
Etiquette
How to behave at a Bhutanese festival
Festivals are religious events first, so dress as you would for a temple: long sleeves and long trousers or a long skirt, and no hats inside the dzong or temple. Never walk across the dance ground, even when it looks empty between dances. Photography is usually allowed from the edges without flash, but some rituals and inner temples are off limits; your guide will tell you when to put the camera away. Ask before taking close-up portraits.
Arrive early for a good spot, bring water, a hat and a cushion or mat, and expect to be teased by the atsaras, the masked clowns who keep the crowd in order. If someone offers you food or a cup of tea, it is polite to accept. Our guide to Bhutanese festivals explains the dances in more detail.
Trips
Build a trip around Trashigang Tshechu
Every trip is private, so we can time it to the festival dates and add the places nearby.
Before you go
Travel rules for 2027
Every visitor except Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is arranged by your tour operator. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027; children under 6 pay nothing and children aged 6 to 12 pay half. Indian visitors pay INR 1,200 per night. Tourists travel with a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint and stay in certified hotels or homestays.
The SDF does not change during festival weeks, but hotel rooms near popular festivals fill early. See our visa and SDF guide and Bhutan travel rules.
Trashigang Tshechu: questions
Expected on 7 to 9 December 2027 at Trashigang Dzong.
Fly to Yonphula, about 30 to 45 minutes away, or drive east through Mongar.
Very likely. Many Brokpa from Merak and Sakteng attend.
No. Bhutanese festivals are free. You attend with your licensed guide, who also explains the dances.
The Department of Tourism lists 7 to 9 December 2027 as the tentative 2027 dates. Lunar dates are occasionally adjusted, so we reconfirm before you book flights.
See Trashigang Tshechu in 2027
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check the festival date, hold hotels nearby and send a day-by-day plan with one price that includes the SDF, visa, guide and car.
Photo credits, via Wikimedia Commons: Trashigang Dzong above the river (Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 3.0); Monks at Trashigang Dzong watching festival rehearsals (Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium, CC BY 2.0); A chorten in Mongar town (Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 3.0); Trongsa Dzong on its ridge above the Mangde Chhu (Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0).
