Festival tour · 10 days, 9 nights · 2 to 11 November 2027

Jakar Tshechu Tour 2027: 10 Days to Bumthang

Across the Black Mountains to Bumthang for the Jakar Tshechu on 6 to 9 November 2027, with Punakha, the Phobjikha valley and its cranes, Trongsa and the old temples of central Bhutan.

6 to 9 Nov

Jakar Tshechu 2027 (expected)

10 days

9 nights, west to central Bhutan

3,425 m

Yotong La, highest pass

Festival days on this trip

Trip overview

A festival in the heart of Bhutan

Bumthang is often called the spiritual heart of Bhutan. Its four valleys hold some of the oldest temples in the country, and the Jakar Tshechu, held at Jakar Dzong above the Chamkhar valley, is expected from 6 to 9 November 2027. It is much smaller than the Paro and Thimphu festivals, and you will share the courtyard mostly with local families, monks and farmers who have walked in from the villages.

The trip takes the road east across the country. You stop in Thimphu and Punakha, spend a night in the Phobjikha valley just as the black-necked cranes return for the winter, and visit Trongsa, the ancestral seat of the royal family. In Bumthang you have four festival days, with time between dances for Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and the Burning Lake. Late autumn usually brings clear skies and crisp weather.

Highlights

What you will see

Jakar Tshechu

Masked dances in the courtyard of Jakar Dzong, the castle of the white bird.

Black-necked cranes

Endangered cranes that winter in the Phobjikha valley from late October.

Trongsa Dzong

The largest dzong in Bhutan, seat of the first two kings.

Jambay Lhakhang

One of 108 temples said to have been built in the 7th century.

Mebar Tsho

The Burning Lake, where a treasure revealer recovered sacred texts.

High passes

Pele La and Yotong La, with yak herders and prayer flags.

Itinerary at a glance

Ten days, west to central Bhutan

The plan matches the expected 2027 dates. Drives are long on two days, so we break them with stops and walks.

Day 1: 2 Nov · Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, Memorial Chorten.

Day 2: 3 Nov · To Punakha

Buddha Dordenma, Dochula pass, Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

Day 3: 4 Nov · To Phobjikha

Drive to the Phobjikha valley, Gangtey Goenpa, crane walk.

Day 4: 5 Nov · Trongsa to Bumthang

Pele La, Chendebji Chorten, Trongsa Dzong, Yotong La to Bumthang.

Day 5: 6 Nov · Jakar Tshechu

The opening day of the Jakar Tshechu at the dzong.

Day 6: 7 Nov · Festival and temples

Festival morning, Jambay Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang.

Day 7: 8 Nov · Festival and Tang

Festival day, Tamshing Lhakhang and the Burning Lake.

Day 8: 9 Nov · Final day

The last day of dances, then a walk through Jakar town.

Day 9: 10 Nov · Back to Paro

Domestic flight to Paro when scheduled, Rinpung Dzong and Paro town.

Day 10: 11 Nov · Fly out

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu

Your guide meets you at Paro airport for the hour’s drive to Thimphu. After lunch, we visit the National Memorial Chorten and walk through the centre of the capital, where traffic is still directed by a policeman at the main crossing.

In the evening your guide runs through the plan for the trip and the festival programme, so you know what to expect in Bumthang.

Day 2

Over Dochula to Punakha

A morning stop at Buddha Dordenma, the giant bronze Buddha above Thimphu, then the road climbs to Dochula pass at about 3,100 metres, with its 108 chortens. On clear November mornings you may see the high Himalaya to the north.

In the warm Punakha valley we visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet, and walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman.

Day 3

The Phobjikha valley and its cranes

We drive up through forest to the Phobjikha valley, a wide glacial valley at about 3,000 metres. From late October, black-necked cranes fly in from Tibet to spend the winter on its marshes. Their arrival is a big event locally, and the Black-necked Crane Festival is held at Gangtey Goenpa on 11 November 2027.

We visit the Black-necked Crane Information Centre, then Gangtey Goenpa, the large monastery on the ridge. In the afternoon, the Gangtey nature trail is an easy walk across the valley. Phobjikha is cold at night in November, so expect a wood stove in your room.

Day 4

Trongsa and over the mountains to Bumthang

This is a long, beautiful day on the road. We cross Pele La, the traditional border between western and central Bhutan, and stop at Chendebji Chorten, built in the style of Boudhanath in Kathmandu. Trongsa Dzong comes into view long before you reach it, stretched along a ridge above a deep gorge. It is the largest dzong in Bhutan, and the first two kings ruled from here.

After lunch in Trongsa, the road climbs over Yotong La at about 3,425 metres and drops into the Chumey valley, known for its yathra wool weaving, before reaching Jakar in Bumthang.

Day 5

The Jakar Tshechu opens

Jakar Dzong, whose name means the castle of the white bird, stands on a ridge above the Chamkhar valley. On the first day of the festival, monks and laymen in masks and silk costumes perform in the courtyard, while families sit along the walls and in the galleries above.

Because Jakar is far from the airport, the crowd here is mostly local. You will often be invited to share food or butter tea. Your guide explains each dance and where to sit for the best view without blocking anyone.

Day 6

Festival morning, temples in the afternoon

After a morning at the festival, we visit two of the most important temples in Bhutan. Jambay Lhakhang is said to be one of 108 temples built in a single day in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Its own festival, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup, follows on 14 to 17 November.

Kurjey Lhakhang is a short drive away. Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in a cave here and left the imprint of his body in the rock. The three temples sit in a row, with a cypress tree said to have grown from his walking stick.

Day 7

The Burning Lake and Tamshing

We spend the morning at the dzong for the third day of dances. In the afternoon we cross the river to Tamshing Lhakhang, founded in 1501 by Pema Lingpa, the most famous of Bhutan’s treasure revealers, whose old wall paintings are some of the oldest in the country.

We then drive into the Tang valley to Mebar Tsho, the Burning Lake, a deep pool in a gorge where Pema Lingpa is said to have dived in holding a lit butter lamp and come out with sacred texts, the lamp still burning. Locals leave butter lamps on the rocks.

Day 8

The final day of the Jakar Tshechu

The last day of the festival brings the final dances and blessings for the crowd. We stay for as much of the morning as you like, then have lunch in Jakar.

In the afternoon you can walk up to Jakar Dzong outside festival hours, visit the Swiss farm and its cheese and beer, or simply rest. It is a good evening to try buckwheat pancakes, called khuli, a Bumthang speciality.

Day 9

Back west to Paro

Drukair runs domestic flights between Bumthang and Paro on some days, taking about 30 minutes instead of two days by road. When there is a flight on your date, we book it; if not, we drive back with an overnight stop and add a night to the trip, and we tell you this when we confirm your plan.

In Paro we visit Rinpung Dzong, cross the covered bridge below it and walk through town. If the flight is early and you feel strong, the Tiger’s Nest hike is possible in the afternoon; otherwise we visit Kyichu Lhakhang.

Day 10

Farewell to Bhutan

Your guide and driver take you to Paro airport, timed to your flight. Morning flights are the most reliable, and we leave a buffer for your onward connection.

If you would like to see the Black-necked Crane Festival on 11 November, or the Jambay Lhakhang Drup a few days later, we can extend the trip. Ask us for a revised plan and price.

Where you stay

Bumthang has fewer hotels than Paro, so we book early for festival week.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Central, close to the evening walk
2	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel above the valley	Close to the dzong
3	Phobjikha	Farmhouse-style lodge or 4-star hotel	On the edge of the crane valley
4 to 8	Bumthang	3-star or 4-star hotel in Jakar, or Amankora Bumthang	A few minutes from Jakar Dzong
9	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Close to the airport for your flight

Luxury upgrades are possible in every valley, including Amankora and Six Senses lodges.

What the price covers

Included and not included

Included

Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
A licensed English-speaking guide who knows the festival programme
Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
Bottled water in the car
Domestic flight from Bumthang to Paro when scheduled

Not included

International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Drinks, laundry and other personal costs
Tips for your guide and driver
Anything not listed under included

Price on request

Tell us your budget and we will send our best price

The price depends on your hotels, group size and whether the domestic flight runs on your date, so we don’t publish one fixed figure. Tell us how many are travelling and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price.

How we price

What decides the cost of this trip

Government fees

The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.

Hotels you choose

Bumthang has a small number of hotels, and festival week fills them. Booking early gives you more choice at each price.

Season and dates

Festival weeks are the busiest of the year. Booking early holds better rooms and seats.

Group size

Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.

We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.

Good to know

Planning notes for the Jakar Tshechu

Festival dates and changes

Festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, and the dates given here are the expected 2027 dates. They are occasionally adjusted, so we check them again with the dzong and the Department of Tourism before your trip and confirm with you in writing. See every date in our 2027 festival calendar.

Long drives in central Bhutan

The road from Phobjikha to Bumthang takes most of a day, with mountain passes and slow, winding stretches. We break it with stops at Chendebji Chorten and Trongsa, and the scenery is part of the trip. Read our Bumthang travel guide and Phobjikha valley guide for more.

Weather in November

November is usually dry and clear in central Bhutan. Days are pleasant, around 12 to 16 °C in Bumthang, but nights drop close to freezing, and Phobjikha can be colder. Bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves for early mornings at the festival.

Festival etiquette

A tshechu is a religious event first, so dress as you would for a temple: long sleeves and trousers or a long skirt. Many visitors wear a gho or kira, and your guide can help you buy or borrow one. Don’t walk across the dance ground, keep your voice low during the dances, and never use flash. Ask before photographing people up close. Our guide to Bhutan’s festivals explains the dances and the atsara clowns.

Visa, SDF and guide rules

Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.

Flying into Paro

Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.

Jakar Tshechu tour: questions

When is the Jakar Tshechu in 2027?

It is expected from 6 to 9 November 2027 at Jakar Dzong in Bumthang. We confirm the dates again before your trip.

How much does the Jakar Tshechu tour cost?

It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.

Will we see black-necked cranes?

Very likely. The cranes usually arrive in Phobjikha from late October, and the trip spends a night there on 4 November.

Is there a flight back from Bumthang?

Drukair flies between Bumthang and Paro on some days. If there is no flight on your date, we drive back and add a night.

Is the Jakar Tshechu crowded?

It is much smaller than the Paro and Thimphu festivals, with a mostly local crowd.

Can we add the Crane Festival or Jambay Lhakhang Drup?

Yes. The Crane Festival is on 11 November and the Jambay Lhakhang Drup on 14 to 17 November 2027. Ask us for an extended plan.

When should we book?

Four to six months ahead. Bumthang hotels are limited in festival week.

Other festival tours in Bhutan

6 days

6 Day Paro Tshechu

The spring festival in Paro, 18 to 22 March 2027.

See this trip →

7 days

7 Day Thimphu Tshechu

The capital’s autumn festival in October.

See this trip →

11 days

Royal Highland Festival at Laya

Trek to Laya for the October highland festival.

See this trip →

Price on request

Ask for your best price

Tell us how many are travelling and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for the 2027 Jakar Tshechu.

Free trip planning enquiry

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.