- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Festival tour · 11 days, 10 nights
11 Day Prakhar Duchhoed Festival Tour 2027: Bumthang's Autumn Festival Week
The Prakhar Duchhoed in the Chhume valley from 15 to 17 November 2027, with the Black-Necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha and the fire blessing of Jambay Lhakhang Drup on the same trip.
- 11 days, 10 nights
- Prakhar Duchhoed: 15 to 17 November 2027
- Three festivals in one week
15 to 17
November 2027, Prakhar Duchhoed
11 Nov
Black-Necked Crane Festival
14 Nov
Jambay Lhakhang Drup opens
2,700 m
Chhume valley, about
Trip overview
A temple festival in the Chhume valley
Prakhar Lhakhang is a three-storey temple in the Chhume valley, the westernmost of Bumthang’s four valleys, surrounded by buckwheat fields and old farmhouses. Every autumn it holds the Prakhar Duchhoed, three days of masked dances and rituals performed by monks and villagers. The tentative 2027 dates are 15 to 17 November, just after the harvest, when the fields are golden and the skies are usually clear.
Like most Bumthang festivals, the Prakhar Duchhoed is a community event. The dance ground is the temple courtyard, the audience is mostly local families, and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. You are close to the dancers and can stay as long as you like, with the guide explaining each dance and the stories behind it.
Mid-November is also one of the best festival weeks of the year. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is held at Gangtey Goenpa in Phobjikha on 11 November, and the Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang runs from 14 to 17 November, opening at night with the Mewang fire blessing. This trip catches all three, travelling east from Paro and flying back from Bumthang. Autumn is high season, so book early to get the hotels and the domestic flight.
- Two days at the Prakhar Duchhoed
- The Black-Necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha
- The Mewang fire blessing at Jambay Lhakhang
Highlights
Highlights of the trip
Prakhar Duchhoed
A temple festival among the fields of Chhume.
Crane Festival
Children's dances for the black-necked cranes.
Mewang fire blessing
Running under a burning gate at Jambay Lhakhang.
Yathra weaving
Wool weavers at Zungney village.
Bumthang temples
Kurjey, Tamshing and Jakar Dzong.
Punakha Dzong
The fortress where two rivers meet.
Itinerary at a glance
Eleven days at a glance
Dates are for the 2027 festivals. We confirm them before you fly.
Day 1: Arrive in Paro
Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu.
Day 2: Thimphu
A full day in the capital.
Day 3: To Phobjikha
Over Dochula, Punakha Dzong, on to Phobjikha.
Day 4: Black-Necked Crane Festival
The festival at Gangtey Goenpa.
Day 5: To Bumthang
Over Pele La and Yotong La.
Day 6: Bumthang temples
Kurjey, Tamshing and Jakar Dzong.
Day 7: Jambay Lhakhang Drup
Opening day and the night fire blessing.
Day 8: Prakhar Duchhoed, day one
Drive to Chhume for the festival.
Day 9: Prakhar Duchhoed, day two
A full day at the festival.
Day 10: Fly to Paro
Domestic flight from Bumthang.
Day 11: Depart
Transfer to Paro airport.
Day 1
Arrive and drive to Thimphu
Your guide meets you at Paro airport and drives you to Thimphu, about an hour and a half. In the afternoon you visit the Memorial Chorten and walk through the town.
- Date: 8 November 2027
- Overnight: Thimphu
- Drive: about 1.5 hours
Day 2
A day in Thimphu
You see the Buddha Dordenma, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, the Folk Heritage Museum, the paper factory and Tashichho Dzong. November days in Thimphu are crisp and sunny.
- Date: 9 November 2027
- Overnight: Thimphu
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3
Dochula, Punakha and Phobjikha
You cross Dochula, with views of the Himalaya on a clear autumn morning, and visit Punakha Dzong on the way. In the afternoon you drive up to the Phobjikha valley, at about 3,000 metres, where the first cranes of the winter have arrived from Tibet.
- Date: 10 November 2027
- Overnight: Phobjikha
- Drive: about 5 hours with stops
Day 4
The Black-Necked Crane Festival
The Black-Necked Crane Festival is held in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa on 11 November 2027. Schoolchildren perform the crane dance in costume, and there are folk songs, masked dances and conservation plays, all to celebrate the return of the cranes. In the afternoon you walk the Gangtey nature trail across the valley floor.
- Date: 11 November 2027
- Overnight: Phobjikha
- Walk: about 1.5 hours
Day 5
Across the passes to Bumthang
You drive over Pele La to Trongsa, stopping at Chendebji Chorten and the viewpoint for Trongsa Dzong, then cross Yotong La into Bumthang. On the way down you pass through Chhume, where the Prakhar festival will be held in a few days.
- Date: 12 November 2027
- Overnight: Bumthang
- Drive: about 6 hours
Day 6
A day in the Choekhor valley
You visit Kurjey Lhakhang, with Guru Rinpoche’s body print, Tamshing Lhakhang, founded by Pema Lingpa in 1501, and Jakar Dzong. In the afternoon you can walk to the Swiss farm or try local cheese and apple juice in Chamkhar.
- Date: 13 November 2027
- Overnight: Bumthang
- Walk: about 2 hours
Day 7
The Mewang fire blessing
The Jambay Lhakhang Drup opens on 14 November 2027. During the day you can see the first dances at the temple, one of the oldest in Bhutan. After dark comes the Mewang: a gate of dry grass is set alight, and people run under the burning arch to clear away bad luck. Most visitors watch from the side; your guide will tell you whether it is safe to run through.
- Date: 14 November 2027
- Overnight: Bumthang
- Evening: Mewang fire blessing
Day 8
The first day at Prakhar
You drive back to the Chhume valley, about 40 minutes, for the opening day of the Prakhar Duchhoed. The temple courtyard is small, so you stand right beside the masked dancers. Your guide explains the dances and introduces you to local families. On the way back you stop at Zungney to see yathra being woven.
- Date: 15 November 2027 (festival day 1)
- Overnight: Bumthang
- Drive: about 40 minutes each way
Day 9
The second day at Prakhar
You spend another day at Prakhar. The second day usually has the most important dances, and the crowd is at its largest. If you want variety, you can split the day between Prakhar and the Jambay Lhakhang Drup, which is still running in the Choekhor valley.
- Date: 16 November 2027 (festival day 2)
- Overnight: Bumthang
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10
Fly back to Paro
You fly from Bumthang to Paro, about 30 minutes. In the afternoon you visit Rinpung Dzong and Kyichu Lhakhang.
- Date: 17 November 2027
- Overnight: Paro
- Flight: about 30 minutes, on set days
Day 11
Fly home
After breakfast your guide drives you to the airport. With one more day you can add the Tiger’s Nest hike, which we strongly recommend.
- Date: 18 November 2027
- Transfer: about 15 minutes
- Optional: extra day for the Tiger's Nest
Where you stay
Where you stay
Comfortable 3-star hotels as standard, with upgrades on request.
| Nights | Place | Where you stay | Why we chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Thimphu | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Central |
| 3 and 4 | Phobjikha | Lodge or farmhouse | Book early for the crane festival |
| 5 to 9 | Bumthang | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Chamkhar valley |
| 10 | Paro | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Upgrades available |
Mid-November is very busy in Phobjikha and Bumthang. We hold rooms as soon as you confirm.
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 for the whole trip
- Domestic flight from Bumthang to Paro
- Private car or SUV with a Bhutanese driver, and all transfers
- Entry fees to dzongs, temples and museums
- Bottled water in the car
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
We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Prakhar Duchhoed festival tour.
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
Hotel style, group size and the domestic flight change the total most. November is high season.
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 your Prakhar Duchhoed trip
About Prakhar Lhakhang
Prakhar Lhakhang stands in the Chhume valley, a short drive off the main road between Trongsa and Jakar. It is a three-storey temple, unusual in Bumthang, and its courtyard becomes the dance ground during the festival. Duchhoed is a term for a commemorative ritual festival, and like other Bumthang events it is run by the temple and the local community.
Three festivals in one week
The tentative 2027 calendar puts the Black-Necked Crane Festival on 11 November, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup from 14 to 17 November and the Prakhar Duchhoed from 15 to 17 November. Jakar Tshechu runs earlier, from 6 to 9 November, so if you have more time you can start the trip a few days earlier and add it. See our Jambay Lhakhang Drup tour for a plan built around that festival.
November weather
November is one of the best months in Bhutan. Skies are usually clear, days are pleasant at 12 to 18 degrees Celsius in Bumthang, and nights drop to around freezing. Phobjikha is colder, especially at dawn when the cranes fly out. Bring warm layers, a down jacket, gloves and a hat.
Getting to Bumthang
Bumthang is about 270 km from Thimphu, but the road crosses three passes and the drive takes most of two days. We break it with a night in Punakha or Trongsa. Drukair also flies between Paro and Bumthang on set days of the week, in about 30 minutes, and on most of our central Bhutan trips we fly back to save a day on the road. The schedule changes by season, so we confirm the flight when you book.
About the 2027 dates
Festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, so they move every year. The dates on this page come from the tentative 2027 festival list released through Bhutan’s Department of Tourism. Tentative means what it says: a monastery or dzongkhag can still shift a day. We check again when you book and a few weeks before you fly, and if a date moves we move the trip with it. Our 2027 festival calendar lists every event in one place.
Festival etiquette
A tshechu is a religious event first and a show second. Dress neatly, with shoulders and knees covered; a collared shirt or jacket is a good idea. Stay at the edge of the dance ground, never walk across it, and switch off your camera flash. Don’t climb on walls or temple roofs for a better angle. The atsara clowns may tease you or ask for a small note; laugh along, it is part of the blessing. Our guide to Bhutan’s festivals explains the dances in more detail.
Village festivals and big tshechus
The big tshechus in Paro and Thimphu draw thousands of people, including many visitors. Village and temple festivals are different. The courtyard is smaller, the crowd is mostly local farmers in their best clothes, and the dancers are often villagers or monks from the nearest lhakhang. You stand closer, you see more of the ritual, and you will probably be offered butter tea or a cup of ara. The trade-off is fewer facilities: there may be no seats, no shade and only basic toilets nearby, so bring a cushion, a hat and patience.
Taking photos at the festival
Photography is allowed in the courtyard at most festivals, but not inside the shrine rooms. A zoom lens of 70 to 200 mm lets you stay back from the dancers and still fill the frame. The best light is in the first two hours of the morning. Ask before you photograph families or monks close up, and put the camera down during the most sacred moments, such as the unrolling of the thongdrel. If you want to make photos the focus of your trip, look at our festival photography tour.
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.
Prakhar Duchhoed tour: questions
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.
The tentative dates are 15 to 17 November 2027, at Prakhar Lhakhang in Chhume, Bumthang. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and we confirm them again before you travel.
In the Chhume valley of Bumthang, about 40 minutes by road from Jakar.
The Black-Necked Crane Festival on 11 November and the Jambay Lhakhang Drup from 14 to 17 November 2027.
The night fire blessing at Jambay Lhakhang, where people pass under a burning gate to clear away bad luck.
Yes. Add one day at the end in Paro.
Prakhar is a local festival with few visitors. Jambay Lhakhang and the crane festival are busier.
Five to eight months ahead, as mid-November is peak season.
Price on request
Ask for your best price
Tell us who is travelling and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Prakhar Duchhoed festival tour.
- Share your budget, we shape the trip around it
- 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.