Festival tour · 6 days, 5 nights · 15 to 20 February 2027

Punakha Tshechu Tour 2027: 6 Days in February

Three days of masked dances at Punakha Dzong on 16 to 18 February 2027, including the thongdrol on the last morning, with Thimphu, Dochula and the Tiger’s Nest.

16 to 18 Feb

Punakha Tshechu 2027 (expected)

Festival days on this trip

1,200 m

Punakha, the warm valley

6 days

5 nights

Trip overview

A festival in Bhutan's most beautiful dzong

Punakha Dzong, at the meeting of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers, is often called the most beautiful building in Bhutan. In February it hosts the Punakha Tshechu, expected from 16 to 18 February 2027, straight after the Punakha Drubchen. The dances take place in the dzong’s courtyard, framed by whitewashed walls, carved wooden galleries and the great prayer hall.

This short trip gives you all three days of the Tshechu, including the thongdrol shown early on the final morning. It is a good choice if you have less than a week. Punakha is mild in February, often warmer than anywhere else in western Bhutan, and the jacaranda and peach blossom start soon after. You finish in Paro with the Tiger’s Nest hike before flying home.

Highlights

What you will see

Masked dances

Monks and laymen perform in the dzong courtyard.

The thongdrol

A huge thangka shown on the morning of the final day.

Punakha Dzong

The 1637 fortress at the meeting of two rivers.

Chimi Lhakhang

The 15th-century temple of the Divine Madman.

Dochula pass

108 chortens and winter views of the Himalaya.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang.

Itinerary at a glance

Six days for the Punakha Tshechu

The plan follows the expected 2027 dates. Your guide adjusts timings to the festival programme.

Day 1: 15 Feb · Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, Buddha Dordenma at sunset.

Day 2: 16 Feb · To Punakha, festival opens

Over Dochula early, the first day of the Tshechu.

Day 3: 17 Feb · Festival and Chimi

Festival morning, Chimi Lhakhang in the afternoon.

Day 4: 18 Feb · Thongdrol, to Paro

The thongdrol in the early morning, final dances, drive to Paro.

Day 5: 19 Feb · Tiger's Nest

The hike to Paro Taktsang, then Kyichu Lhakhang.

Day 6: 20 Feb · 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, then drive up to Buddha Dordenma, the giant bronze Buddha above the city, for the late-afternoon light.

Spending the first night in Thimphu breaks the journey to Punakha and lets you adjust to the altitude.

Day 2

Over Dochula to the opening of the festival

We leave early to cross Dochula pass, at about 3,100 metres, where the 108 chortens stand in the clear winter light. The road drops into the warm Punakha valley, and we go straight to the dzong for the opening of the Tshechu.

The first day starts with the Black Hat dance, which purifies the ground for the dances that follow. Your guide explains each dance and helps you find a place in the courtyard.

Day 3

A festival day and the temple of the Divine Madman

The morning is at the dzong for the second day of dances. The atsaras, masked clowns, make the crowd laugh between the performances and pass among the families sitting on the courtyard floor.

In the afternoon we walk through rice terraces to Chimi Lhakhang, the 15th-century temple of Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, known for his unusual teaching methods. Couples come here to be blessed for children. The walk takes about 30 minutes each way.

Day 4

The thongdrol, then back to Paro

On the final morning a thongdrol, a huge appliqué thangka, is unrolled at the dzong and shown in the early hours. People come before dawn to receive its blessing. We leave the hotel early to be there in time.

After the final dances and lunch, we drive back to Paro, about four hours, with a stop at Dochula. In the evening you can walk through Paro town.

Day 5

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

We start early for Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, on a cliff at about 3,120 metres. The trail climbs through pine forest to a café viewpoint in about 1.5 hours and reaches the monastery after another hour. Most guests take 4 to 6 hours for the round trip, and horses can carry you to the café.

On the way back we stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. A hot stone bath in a farmhouse is a good way to end the day.

Day 6

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 Punakha Drubchen too, start three days earlier with our 9 day tour, which includes the pazap battle and the cranes of Phobjikha.

Where you stay

Punakha hotels fill for festival week, so we book early.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Breaks the drive to Punakha
2 to 3	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel, or a luxury lodge	Close to the dzong for the early thongdrol
4 to 5	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Close to the Tiger's Nest trail and the airport

Luxury upgrades are possible, including COMO Uma Punakha, Six Senses and Amankora.

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

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 dates, 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 for the 2027 Punakha Tshechu.

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

Punakha has a good range from 3-star hotels to luxury lodges. We suggest the best value for your budget.

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 Punakha 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.

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.

Book early for festival weeks

Festival weeks are the busiest of the year. Hotels near the dzong fill first, and flights into Paro can sell out. We suggest booking four to six months ahead for spring and autumn festivals. Once your dates are set, we hold rooms and seats while you decide.

Weather in February

Punakha, at about 1,200 metres, is mild in February, while Thimphu and Paro are cold in the mornings and evenings. Bring layers and a warm jacket. Read our Punakha travel guide and our Paro vs Thimphu vs Punakha comparison.

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.

Punakha Tshechu tour: questions

When is the Punakha Tshechu in 2027?

It is expected from 16 to 18 February 2027 at Punakha Dzong, straight after the Punakha Drubchen. We confirm the dates before your trip.

How much does the Punakha 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.

Is there a thongdrol at the Punakha Tshechu?

Yes, on the morning of the final day. We leave the hotel early to see it.

Can we see the Drubchen as well?

Yes. It is expected on 13 to 15 February 2027. Our 9 day Punakha tour includes both.

Is the Punakha Tshechu crowded?

It is busy, but smaller than the Paro and Thimphu festivals.

What should I wear?

Modest clothing with long sleeves and trousers or a long skirt. Many visitors wear a gho or kira.

When should we book?

Three to five months ahead. Punakha hotels fill for festival week.