- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan festival tours 2027
Bhutan festival tours for 2027
Masked dances, crowds in their finest clothes, and a giant thangka unrolled at dawn. We plan your trip around the Tshechu you want to see.
- Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Bumthang
- Dates checked each year
- Private guide at the festival
What a Tshechu is
A festival people travel days to attend
A Tshechu is a religious festival held in honour of Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Each district holds one, usually in the courtyard of its dzong, over three to five days. Monks and lay dancers perform cham, masked dances that tell stories of good and evil, and families come from distant villages with picnics and their best clothes.
At several festivals, including Paro and Thimphu, a huge thangka called a thongdrel is unrolled before sunrise on the last morning. Seeing it is believed to bring merit. It is taken down before the sun touches it.
- We get you to the courtyard early for a good spot
- Your guide explains each dance as it happens
- Hotels booked months ahead, which matters in festival weeks
Bhutan festival calendar 2027
Festival dates for 2027
Festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, so they move every year. These are the expected 2027 dates. We confirm them against the Department of Tourism calendar before you book flights.
| Festival | Expected 2027 dates | Where | Our tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punakha Drubchen | 13 to 15 February | Punakha Dzong | 9 Day Punakha Dromche |
| Punakha Tshechu | 16 to 18 February | Punakha Dzong | 6 Day Punakha Tshechu |
| Paro Tshechu | 18 to 22 March | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 6 Days Paro Tshechu |
| Rhododendron Festival | 22 to 23 April | Lamperi, near Dochula | On request |
| Thimphu Tshechu | 10 to 12 October | Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu | 7 Day Thimphu Tshechu |
| Royal Highland Festival | 23 to 24 October | Laya, Gasa | 11 Day Royal Highlander |
| Jakar Tshechu | 6 to 9 November | Jakar Dzong, Bumthang | 10 Days with Jakar Tshechu |
| Haa Tshechu | 6 to 8 November | Haa valley | On request |
| Black-necked Crane Festival | 11 November | Gangtey Goemba, Phobjikha | On request |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | 14 to 17 November | Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang | On request |
Dates are tentative until the government publishes its official calendar. Source: Bhutan lunar calendar listings, checked October 2026.
Itineraries
Our festival tour itineraries
6 Days Paro Tshechu
Spring festival in Paro, the Tiger’s Nest hike, Punakha and Thimphu.
7 Day Thimphu Tshechu
The capital’s autumn festival, then Punakha, Gangtey and Paro.
6 Day Punakha Tshechu
Winter festival at Punakha Dzong with Thimphu and Paro.
9 Day Punakha Dromche
The Drubchen re-enactment of a 17th-century battle, plus Bumthang and Gangtey.
10 Days with Jakar Tshechu
Bumthang in autumn for the Jakar festival, with Trongsa and Phobjikha.
11 Day Royal Highlander
Trek from Gasa to the highland village of Laya for two days of yak herder culture.
Festival tips
Before you go to a Tshechu
Dress up a little
Locals wear their best gho and kira. Long sleeves and long trousers or a skirt are expected. We can help you rent or buy traditional dress.
Photograph with care
Photos in the courtyard are usually fine. No flash, and never step into the dancing ground for a shot.
Go early
The thongdrel is shown before dawn on the final day. For the other days, arrive mid-morning with water and a hat.
Book ahead
Paro and Thimphu hotels fill months before the festivals. Three to six months ahead is safest.
Watch the atsaras
The masked clowns who tease the crowd are part of the ritual. Laugh along, and expect to be teased.
Allow a spare day
Lunar dates are confirmed late. We build in a buffer day so you never miss the main days.
Bhutan travel rules for 2027
What you pay the government, and what we arrange
These rules apply to every tour in Bhutan, whoever you book with. We checked them against Department of Tourism notices in October 2026.
SDF: USD 100 a night
The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027. Children aged 6 to 11 pay USD 50 and under-6s pay nothing. The government has not yet said what the rate will be after that date.
Visa: USD 40, once
Most nationalities need an e-visa before they fly. It costs USD 40 per person and is usually issued within 5 working days. Indian visitors need only an entry permit. Bangladeshi and Maldivian visitors follow separate regional rules.
Indian visitors
Indian nationals pay an SDF of INR 1,200 per night and enter with a passport or voter ID. No visa is needed.
Licensed guide required
A Department of Tourism notice issued on 8 April 2026 confirms that guests must travel with a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint, including on the drive from Paro airport. Treks need a licensed trekking guide.
Insurance is optional
Travel insurance has not been compulsory since 23 April 2024. We still recommend a policy that covers medical evacuation, especially for treks.
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date from Bhutan.
Rates can change. We confirm the current SDF and visa fee in writing before you pay anything.
What guests say after travelling with us
“We did 7 nights 8 days tour with Deya Bhutan and had a wonderful experience. Om Naath was in regular touch with us before during and after the trip. He was always available on WhatsApp.”
ketan_fans
7 nights, 8 days
“It was a well organized trip with a personal and warm touch of the owner Mrs. Hema. The guide cum driver, Mr Dutta was a knowledgeable and friendly person.”
Satya Mitra Garg
2 to 9 October 2019
“I visited Bhutan this October with my parents who are elderly and I was concerned about their well-being, but Mr. Omnath from Deya Tours and Travels made sure that they were well taken care of.”
Yadenla
Family trip with elderly parents
Bhutan festival questions
Paro Tshechu is expected from 18 to 22 March 2027, with the thongdrel shown on the morning of the last day. The government confirms the dates closer to the time and we check them before you book flights.
Thimphu Tshechu is expected from 10 to 12 October 2027 at Tashichho Dzong, with the Thimphu Drubchen a few days before.
Paro in spring and Thimphu in autumn are the biggest and easiest to combine with the classic sights. For smaller crowds, look at Jakar or Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang, or the Black-necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha.
The SDF and guide costs are the same. Hotel rates in Paro and Thimphu rise during festival weeks and rooms are limited, so booking early keeps the price down.
All international visitors need a licensed guide, so you will attend with your guide in any case. We arrange the festival as part of your private itinerary.
Free trip planning
Plan your 2027 festival trip
Tell us which festival you want to see, or ask us which one fits your dates. We will send a plan built around it.
- Free personalised consultation
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Let's plan your Bhutan journey
Tell us a little about your trip. Our team in Thimphu will reply with ideas, a day-by-day plan and a full price.
We’ll reply within 24 hours. No booking fees, and no obligation to book.