Festival tour · 8 days, 7 nights

8 Day Gangtey Tshechu Festival Tour 2027: Phobjikha Valley, 13 to 15 October, plus the Thimphu Tshechu

Two festivals in one week: the Thimphu Tshechu on 10 October, then Gangtey Tshechu from 13 to 15 October 2027 at the monastery above the Phobjikha valley, with Punakha and the Tiger’s Nest.

13 to 15 Oct

Gangtey Tshechu 2027

10 Oct

Thimphu Tshechu opening

3,000 m

Phobjikha valley, about

Private

Guide and car

Trip overview

A festival above the Phobjikha valley

Gangtey Goenpa stands on a small hill above the Phobjikha valley, a wide glacial valley at about 3,000 metres in central Bhutan. It is the most important Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan, linked to the 15th century treasure revealer Pema Lingpa, and its festival, Gangtey Tshechu, is held in the monastery courtyard each autumn. In 2027 the tentative dates are 13 to 15 October.

The festival is smaller and more local than the big tshechus in Thimphu and Paro. Villagers from across the valley come in their best clothes, the masked dances fill the stone courtyard, and the views over the valley from the monastery walls are wonderful in clear October light. It is also the season when the first black-necked cranes may start to arrive, though most come later in the month.

This trip pairs it with the opening day of the Thimphu Tshechu on 10 October, one of the largest festivals in Bhutan, so you can compare a great capital festival with a small valley one. You also visit Punakha and hike to the Tiger’s Nest.

Highlights

What you will see

Gangtey Tshechu

Masked dances in the monastery courtyard.

Thimphu Tshechu

One of Bhutan's largest festivals.

Gangtey Goenpa

The Nyingma monastery above the valley.

Gangtey nature trail

An easy walk across the valley floor.

Punakha Dzong

Bhutan's most beautiful dzong.

Tiger's Nest

The cliff monastery above Paro.

Itinerary at a glance

Eight days, two festivals

Dates follow the 2027 tentative festival list.

Day 1: Arrive in Paro

Land in Paro, Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro town.

Day 2: Tiger's Nest

Hike to Paro Taktsang.

Day 3: Thimphu Tshechu

Drive to Thimphu, opening day of the Thimphu Tshechu.

Day 4: To Punakha

Dochula, Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang.

Day 5: To Phobjikha

Drive up to the Phobjikha valley, Crane Information Centre.

Day 6: Gangtey Tshechu

First day of the festival at Gangtey Goenpa.

Day 7: Gangtey Tshechu, to Thimphu

Second festival day, then drive to Thimphu.

Day 8: Depart

Drive to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive on 8 October

Your guide meets you at Paro airport. In the afternoon you visit Kyichu Lhakhang and walk through Paro town. October skies are usually clear, so watch for the mountains on the flight in.

Day 2

Hike to the Tiger's Nest

The hike to the Tiger’s Nest takes five to six hours return through pine forest. October is one of the best months for it, with cool air and clear views.

Day 3

The Thimphu Tshechu

You drive an hour to Thimphu for the first day of the Thimphu Tshechu on 10 October. Thousands of people gather at the festival ground next to Tashichho Dzong in their finest kira and gho. Your guide explains the dances, which tell stories of Guru Rinpoche and the triumph of good over evil.

Day 4

Over Dochula to Punakha

You cross Dochula, at about 3,100 metres, and drop into the Punakha valley, where the rice is golden and ready for harvest in October. You visit Punakha Dzong and walk to Chimi Lhakhang.

Day 5

Into the Phobjikha valley

You drive up to the Phobjikha valley, about three hours. In the afternoon you visit the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre and walk the Gangtey nature trail across the valley floor.

Day 6

Gangtey Tshechu begins

You spend the day at Gangtey Goenpa for the opening of Gangtey Tshechu on 13 October. The courtyard is small, so you are close to the dancers, and the crowd is almost entirely local. Between dances, walk around the monastery walls for views over the valley.

Day 7

A second festival day

A morning at the festival on 14 October, then you drive back to Thimphu, about four and a half hours, for your last night.

Day 8

Fly home on 15 October

After breakfast you drive about an hour and a half to Paro airport for your flight.

Where you stay

Phobjikha has few rooms, so book early.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1 and 2	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Near the trailhead
3	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Near the festival ground
4	Punakha	3-star or 4-star hotel	Valley views
5 and 6	Phobjikha	Lodge or farmhouse hotel	In the valley
7	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Central

Luxury lodges such as Gangtey Lodge, Six Senses Gangtey and Amankora Gangtey are available on request.

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
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 Gangtey Tshechu 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

October is peak season. The earlier you send your dates and budget, the better the rooms we can hold.

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 Gangtey Tshechu trip

About Gangtey Goenpa

Gangtey Goenpa was founded in the 17th century by Gyalse Pema Thinley, a grandson of Pema Lingpa, and it is the main seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition in western Bhutan. The monastery was carefully restored in the early 2000s. Monks study here, and the village around it is home to many lay practitioners.

Phobjikha and the cranes

The Phobjikha valley is the main winter home of the black-necked crane in Bhutan. Most cranes arrive in late October and November, so you may see the first ones during this trip, but it is not guaranteed. If cranes are your priority, see our Crane Festival tour in November.

Festival etiquette

Festivals are religious events first. Dress neatly, with shoulders and knees covered, and wear a jacket with a collar if you can. Stay at the edge of the dance ground, never walk across it, and keep your camera flash off. Don’t climb on walls or temple roofs for a better view. The atsara clowns may tease you; laugh along, it is part of the blessing. Read our guide to Bhutan’s festivals.

About the 2027 dates

Festival dates follow the lunar calendar. The dates on this page come from the tentative 2027 festival list published by Bhutan’s tourism authorities. We confirm them again when you book and a few weeks before you travel, and if a date moves we shift the trip with it. See our full 2027 festival calendar.

October weather

October is one of the best months in Bhutan, with clear skies, mild days and the rice harvest in Punakha. Phobjikha is cool, especially at night, so bring a warm jacket. It is also peak season, so flights and hotels book up early.

What to pack

Layers, a warm jacket for mornings and evenings, good walking shoes, sunscreen and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for dzongs and temples. See our Bhutan packing list.

Walking the Gangtey Nature Trail

The Gangtey Nature Trail is the easiest way to see Phobjikha properly. It starts on the small ridge below Gangtey Goenpa, drops through pine forest and blue pine meadow, and ends near the Khewang Lhakhang at the valley floor. The walk takes about an hour and a half at an easy pace, and there are no steep climbs.

We usually plan it for the afternoon after the festival, when the courtyard empties and the light turns gold over the marsh. In late October you can often hear cranes before you see them. Your guide will keep you on the marked path, because the wetland is protected and the birds are easily disturbed.

If you would rather rest, the Black-Necked Crane Visitor Centre near the valley floor is a good alternative. It has a short film, a viewing deck with spotting scopes and a small shop run by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature.

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.

Gangtey Tshechu tour: questions

How much does the Gangtey 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.

When is Gangtey Tshechu in 2027?

The tentative dates are 13 to 15 October 2027.

Where is it held?

In the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa above the Phobjikha valley.

Will I see black-necked cranes?

Maybe the first arrivals. Most cranes come later in October and in November.

Can I see the Thimphu Tshechu too?

Yes. This trip includes its opening day on 10 October.

Is it crowded?

Much less than the Thimphu Tshechu. The crowd is mostly local.

Can I stay at a luxury lodge in Phobjikha?

Yes. Several are available on request.

Is the Gangtey Nature Trail hard?

No. It is a gentle walk of about one and a half hours, mostly downhill through forest and meadow. Most people of normal fitness manage it easily, and the car meets you at the end.

When should I book?

Five to six months ahead for October.