Festival tour · 7 days, 6 nights · 8 to 14 October 2027

Thimphu Tshechu Tour 2027: 7 Days at the Capital's Festival

Three days at the Thimphu Tshechu on 10 to 12 October 2027, including the thongdrol at dawn, with the Tiger’s Nest before the festival and Punakha after it.

10 to 12 Oct

Thimphu Tshechu 2027 (expected)

Festival days on this trip

3,120 m

Highest point, Tiger’s Nest

Oct

Clear autumn skies

Trip overview

The biggest festival of the year, in the clearest season

The Thimphu Tshechu is the largest festival in Bhutan. It is held at the Tendrelthang festival ground beside Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the government and the central monk body, and is expected from 10 to 12 October 2027. People come from every district, and the stands fill with families in their finest silk. It is preceded by the Thimphu Drubchen on 5 October.

October is also one of the best months to visit Bhutan, with clear skies after the monsoon and good mountain views. This trip starts in Paro with the Tiger’s Nest hike, so you are fit for long festival days. You then spend all three days at the festival, including the dawn thongdrol, and finish in the warm Punakha valley before driving back to Paro for your flight.

Highlights

What you will see

Masked dances

Dances performed by monks and laymen, some dating back to the 8th century.

The thongdrol

A huge thangka shown at dawn on the final day.

Tashichho Dzong

The seat of government, with the festival ground beside it.

Bhutan's biggest crowd

Families from across the country in their best kira and gho.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff-top monastery of Paro Taktsang.

Punakha Dzong

The 1637 fortress at the meeting of two rivers.

Itinerary at a glance

Seven days around the Thimphu festival

The plan follows the expected 2027 dates. Your guide picks the best hours at the festival each day.

Day 1: 8 Oct · Arrive in Paro

Land in Paro, National Museum, Rinpung Dzong and Nyamai Zam.

Day 2: 9 Oct · Tiger's Nest, to Thimphu

Hike to Paro Taktsang, then drive an hour to Thimphu.

Day 3: 10 Oct · Festival day one

The first day at Tendrelthang, then Memorial Chorten.

Day 4: 11 Oct · Festival day two

Festival morning, Buddha Dordenma and the textile academy.

Day 5: 12 Oct · Thongdrol, to Punakha

The thongdrol before sunrise, final dances, drive to Punakha.

Day 6: 13 Oct · Punakha, to Paro

Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang, then drive back to Paro.

Day 7: 14 Oct · Fly out

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro

Your guide meets you at Paro airport. After lunch we visit the National Museum in the Ta Dzong, the round watchtower above town, then walk down to Rinpung Dzong, built in the 1640s, and cross the river on Nyamai Zam, the covered wooden bridge.

The first afternoon is kept easy so you can adjust to the altitude of about 2,200 metres before tomorrow’s hike.

Day 2

The Tiger's Nest, then on to Thimphu

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.

In the late afternoon we drive an hour to Thimphu. The city is busy the evening before the festival, and you may see people buying new clothes and visiting family.

Day 3

The Thimphu Tshechu begins

We go to the festival ground early to find a good place in the stands. Over the morning you will see a series of masked dances: the Black Hat dance, the dances of the lords of the cremation grounds and the dances of the heroes. The atsaras, masked clowns, move through the crowd making jokes and keeping order.

In the afternoon you can stay for more dances or visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Centenary Farmers’ Market, which is busy in festival week.

Day 4

Festival morning, the city in the afternoon

The second day brings more dances, including the story of the judgement of the dead, one of the most dramatic performances of the festival. Your guide explains what is happening so the symbols make sense.

After lunch we drive up to Buddha Dordenma, the giant bronze Buddha above the city, and visit the Royal Textile Academy, where weavers work on the cloth worn at the festival. An early night is a good idea; tomorrow starts before dawn.

Day 5

The thongdrol at dawn, then over Dochula

We leave the hotel in the dark to reach the festival ground before sunrise. On the last morning a huge thongdrol, an appliqué thangka several storeys high, is unrolled on the side of the building and shown until early morning. Thousands of people come to receive its blessing.

After the final dances and lunch, we drive over Dochula pass, at about 3,100 metres, with its 108 chortens and views of the Himalaya on clear October days, down into the warm Punakha valley.

Day 6

Punakha Dzong and the drive back to Paro

In the morning we visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 where the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers meet. It was the capital of Bhutan until the 1950s and is still the winter home of the central monk body. A short walk through rice fields, which are golden at harvest time in October, takes you to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman.

After lunch we drive back to Paro, about four hours, for your last night.

Day 7

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.

With more time, the Royal Highland Festival in Laya on 23 and 24 October, or a few days in Bumthang, make good additions. Ask us for a longer plan.

Where you stay

Thimphu hotels fill quickly for festival week, so we book early.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Close to the Tiger's Nest trail
2 to 4	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel in the city, or a luxury lodge	Short drive to the festival ground before dawn
5	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel above the valley	Near the dzong
6	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Close to the airport

Luxury upgrades are possible in every valley, including COMO Uma, 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

Thimphu hotel rates rise for festival week and vary a lot by style, so we don’t publish one fixed price. Tell us how many are travelling, your hotel style 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 Thimphu 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 Thimphu 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 October

October is usually dry and clear, with days around 18 to 22 °C in Thimphu and cool mornings. The early-morning thongdrol is cold, so bring a warm layer. Read our Thimphu travel guide for more on the city.

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.

Thimphu Tshechu tour: questions

When is the Thimphu Tshechu in 2027?

It is expected from 10 to 12 October 2027 at Tendrelthang, beside Tashichho Dzong. We confirm the dates again before your trip.

How much does a Thimphu 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 the Thimphu Tshechu very crowded?

It is the biggest festival in Bhutan, so yes. We arrive early for good places, and your guide finds quieter spots.

When is the thongdrol shown?

Before sunrise on the final day, 12 October 2027. We leave the hotel in the dark to see it.

Can we see the Thimphu Drubchen too?

Yes. It is expected on 5 October 2027. We can start the trip a few days earlier.

What should I wear?

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

When should we book?

Four to six months ahead. October is the busiest month of the year in Bhutan.

Other festival tours in Bhutan

6 days

6 Day Paro Tshechu

The spring festival in Paro, March 2027.

See this trip →

11 days

Royal Highland Festival at Laya

Trek to Laya for the October highland festival.

See this trip →

10 days

Jakar Tshechu, 10 days

Bumthang’s November festival and the cranes of Phobjikha.

See this trip →

Price on request

Ask for your best price

Tell us how many are travelling, your hotel style and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for the 2027 Thimphu 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.