Festival tour · 6 days, 5 nights · 17 to 22 March 2027

Paro Tshechu Tour 2027: 6 Days at Bhutan's Best-Known Festival

Three days of masked dances at Rinpung Dzong, the giant thongdrol at dawn on 22 March, a day in Thimphu and the Tiger’s Nest hike, timed for the 2027 festival dates.

18 to 22 Mar

Paro Tshechu 2027 (expected)

Festival days on this trip

3,120 m

Highest point, Tiger’s Nest

10 min

Dzong to Paro airport

Trip overview

Built around the Paro festival, with time for the rest of the valley

The Paro Tshechu is the festival most visitors plan their Bhutan trip around. It is held each spring at Rinpung Dzong, the 17th-century fortress above the Paro Chhu, and is expected to run from 18 to 22 March 2027. The first day takes place in the dzong courtyard; from the second day the dances move to Deyangkha, the open ground below, where families from across western Bhutan gather in their best clothes.

This trip gives you three festival sessions, including the final morning, when monks unroll a huge thongdrol of Guru Rinpoche before sunrise. Around them we fit a day in Thimphu, the capital, and the hike to the Tiger’s Nest. Paro is ten minutes from the airport, so there are no long drives at all. The dates below match the 2027 festival; for other years, we shift the plan to the new dates.

Highlights

What you will see

Masked dances

The Black Hat dance, the Dance of the Heroes and the judgement of the dead.

The thongdrol

A giant appliqué thangka of Guru Rinpoche, shown only at dawn on the last day.

Rinpung Dzong

The fortress on a heap of jewels, where the festival opens in the courtyard.

Atsaras

Masked clowns who tease the crowd and keep the day light.

Festival dress

Whole families in silk kira and gho, picnicking between dances.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang, on a day between dances.

Itinerary at a glance

Six days at the Paro Tshechu

The plan follows the 2027 festival programme. Your guide adjusts the timing each day to the dances you most want to see.

Day 1: 17 Mar · Arrive, to Thimphu

Land in Paro, drive to Thimphu, Memorial Chorten in the evening.

Day 2: 18 Mar · Thimphu, opening day

Thimphu sights in the morning, back to Paro for the first day in the dzong courtyard.

Day 3: 19 Mar · Festival day

A full day at Deyangkha, the festival ground below the dzong.

Day 4: 20 Mar · Tiger's Nest

Hike to Paro Taktsang while the valley is at the festival.

Day 5: 21 Mar · Festival and village

Festival in the morning, a farmhouse visit and hot stone bath later.

Day 6: 22 Mar · Thongdrol, fly out

See the thongdrol before sunrise, breakfast, then fly out.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu

Your guide meets you outside arrivals at Paro, and the drive to Thimphu takes about an hour along the river. Spending the first night in the capital keeps the Paro hotels free for the festival nights and gives you a gentle start at about 2,300 metres.

In the late afternoon we walk around the National Memorial Chorten, where older people circle and spin prayer wheels until dark. It is a good first look at how religion is part of everyday life here, and a useful introduction to what you will see at the festival.

Day 2

Thimphu in the morning, the festival opens in Paro

We start early at Buddha Dordenma, the giant bronze Buddha above the city, then visit the Royal Textile Academy and the Jungshi paper factory, where Deh-sho paper is still made by hand. After an early lunch we drive back to Paro.

On the first day of the Paro Tshechu, the dances are held inside Rinpung Dzong. The courtyard is smaller and the atmosphere more intimate than on later days, with monks performing among the galleries and the crowd sitting close to the dancers. Your guide explains each dance as it begins, so you know what is being shown.

Day 3

A full festival day at Deyangkha

From the second day, the festival moves to Deyangkha, the open dance ground below the dzong. We arrive early for a good place on the grass. Over the day you will see a sequence of dances that have been performed for centuries: the Black Hat dance that purifies the ground, the Dance of the Heroes, and dances in which deities in animal masks drive away harmful spirits.

Between dances, the atsaras, masked clowns with wooden props, tease the crowd and act out comic scenes. Families spread picnics, children run between the rows and stalls sell snacks around the edge. Take a break whenever you like; the hotel is a few minutes away.

Day 4

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

Many people in the valley are at the festival today, which can make the trail a little quieter. The path to Paro Taktsang climbs through pine forest to a café viewpoint in about 1.5 hours, then continues for another hour to the monastery itself, on a cliff at about 3,120 metres. Most guests take 4 to 6 hours for the round trip, and horses can take you up to the café if you prefer.

On the way back we stop at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. In the evening you can rest, or return to Deyangkha for the late-afternoon dances.

Day 5

Festival morning and a farmhouse evening

The fourth day of the festival brings more of the masked dances, including the dances that show the judgement of the dead, where a soul is weighed before the Lord of Death. Your guide will explain the story, which is one of the most dramatic of the festival.

In the afternoon we visit a farmhouse in the valley. You can try butter tea and ara, the local spirit, and a traditional hot stone bath can be arranged before dinner. We plan an early night because tomorrow starts well before dawn.

Day 6

The thongdrol at dawn, then home

We leave the hotel around 3.30 to 4 am to reach Deyangkha in the dark. Before the sun reaches the ground, monks unroll the thongdrol, a giant appliqué thangka of Guru Rinpoche, on the wall above the festival ground. Seeing it is believed to bring blessings, and thousands of people come to touch their heads to its edge. It is rolled up again early in the morning.

After breakfast your guide takes you to the airport, ten minutes away. If you would rather see the final dances after the thongdrol, add one night and fly out on 23 March.

Where you stay

Hotels in Paro fill months ahead for the festival, so we hold rooms as soon as you confirm.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel in town	Keeps the Paro rooms for the festival nights
2 to 5	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel close to the dzong, or a luxury lodge	Short drive to Deyangkha for the pre-dawn thongdrol

Prefer luxury? COMO Uma Paro, Amankora Paro and Six Senses Paro can all be used on this trip.

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

Festival weeks are the busiest of the year, and hotel rates in Paro change with demand, so we don’t publish one fixed price. Tell us how many are travelling, the hotel style you want 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

3-star, 4-star and luxury hotels in Paro are priced very differently in festival week. 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 Paro 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.

Add a village festival first

The Talo Tshechu and Gasa Tshechu are expected to end on 18 March 2027, so you can see a smaller village festival before Paro. Read more on our Paro Tshechu 2027 guide.

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.

Paro Tshechu tour: questions

When is the Paro Tshechu in 2027?

It is expected from 18 to 22 March 2027, with the thongdrol shown before sunrise on 22 March. We confirm the dates again before your trip.

How much does a Paro 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.

Do I need a ticket for the festival?

No. Entry is free. Foreign visitors travel with a licensed guide and should dress modestly.

Can I wear a gho or kira?

Yes, and many visitors do. Your guide can help you buy or borrow one in Thimphu or Paro.

How early do I need to get up for the thongdrol?

Usually around 3.30 to 4 am. It is shown before sunrise and rolled up early in the morning.

Can I take photos at the festival?

Yes, in the open dance areas. Don’t use flash, don’t step onto the dance ground, and ask before close-up portraits.

When should I book?

Four to six months ahead. Paro hotels and flights fill quickly for festival week.

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