- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Festival tour · 9 days, 8 nights
9 Day Trongsa Tshechu Festival Tour: Mask Dances at Bhutan's Biggest Dzong
Three days of masked dances inside Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral seat of Bhutan’s kings, with the Tiger’s Nest, Thimphu and Punakha on the way. Next dates: 17 to 21 December 2026 and 5 to 9 January 2028.
- 9 days, 8 nights
- 3 festival days in Trongsa
- Winter festival, clear skies
1647
Trongsa Dzong built, about
5 days
Length of the tshechu
2,200 m
Altitude of Trongsa, about
2
Kings who ruled from Trongsa
Trip overview
A winter festival in the heart of Bhutan
Trongsa sits almost exactly in the middle of Bhutan, on a ridge high above the Mangde Chhu gorge. For centuries anyone travelling between east and west had to pass through its dzong, and whoever held Trongsa held the country. The first and second kings of Bhutan governed from here, and the crown prince still traditionally takes the title of Trongsa Penlop before he becomes king.
The first temple on the site was founded in 1543 by Ngagi Wangchuk, the great-grandfather of the Zhabdrung. The dzong you see today was built in the 1640s and extended many times, and it is often called the largest dzong in Bhutan. Its courtyards drop down the ridge in steps, linked by passages and staircases, which makes the tshechu feel more like a village gathering than a stadium show.
The Trongsa Tshechu falls in mid-winter. The tentative calendar lists 17 to 21 December 2026 and then 5 to 9 January 2028, with the great thongdrel shown at dawn on the final day. There is no Trongsa Tshechu inside calendar year 2027, so if you want this festival you choose one of those two windows. Winter in Trongsa is cold in the mornings but usually sunny, with clear views down the gorge. On this trip you hike to the Tiger’s Nest first, see Thimphu and Punakha, then spend three full days in Trongsa for the dances and the dawn thongdrel before driving back west.
- Three days at the Trongsa Tshechu, including the dawn thongdrel
- Tiger's Nest, Thimphu and Punakha Dzong
- Ta Dzong royal heritage museum in Trongsa
Highlights
Highlights of the trip
Trongsa Tshechu
Masked cham dances in the courtyards of Bhutan's largest dzong.
Dawn thongdrel
A giant embroidered thangka shown at sunrise on the last day.
Ta Dzong museum
The old watchtower, now a museum of the Wangchuck dynasty.
Tiger's Nest
The cliff monastery above Paro, hiked early in the trip.
Punakha Dzong
The 1637 fortress where two rivers meet.
Pele La
The pass between west and central Bhutan, with yak pastures.
Itinerary at a glance
Nine days at a glance
Dates shown are for the January 2028 festival. For December 2026, the same plan starts on 15 December.
Day 1: Arrive in Paro
Land in Paro, short walk in town.
Day 2: Tiger's Nest
Hike to Paro Taktsang.
Day 3: To Thimphu
Drive to the capital, sightseeing.
Day 4: To Punakha
Over Dochula to Punakha Dzong.
Day 5: To Trongsa
Over Pele La to Trongsa, first view of the festival.
Day 6: Trongsa Tshechu
A full day of dances at the dzong.
Day 7: Dawn thongdrel, back west
The thongdrel at sunrise, then drive to Punakha.
Day 8: To Paro
Drive back to Paro via Dochula.
Day 9: Depart
Transfer to Paro airport.
Day 1
Arrive in Paro
Your guide meets you at Paro airport and drives you to your hotel. After lunch you visit Rinpung Dzong and walk across the old cantilever bridge below it, then stroll through Paro’s main street. The first day is kept light so your body can get used to the altitude of about 2,200 metres.
- Date: 3 January 2028
- Overnight: Paro
- Meals: lunch and dinner
Day 2
Hike to the Tiger's Nest
The hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest, takes five to six hours return. The path climbs through blue pine to a cafeteria with a clear view of the monastery, then on to the cliff itself at about 3,120 metres. Winter is a good time for it: the air is dry and the trail is quiet. Doing it early also helps you acclimatise for the rest of the trip.
- Date: 4 January 2028
- Overnight: Paro
- Hike: 5 to 6 hours return
Day 3
A day in Thimphu
The drive to Thimphu takes about an hour and a half. You visit the Memorial Chorten, where older people walk circuits all day, the giant Buddha Dordenma on the hill above the city, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students learn the thirteen traditional arts, and Tashichho Dzong in the evening light.
- Date: 5 January 2028
- Overnight: Thimphu
- Drive: about 1.5 hours
Day 4
Dochula and Punakha
You cross Dochula, at about 3,100 metres, where 108 chortens stand on the pass and, on a clear winter morning, the high Himalaya lines the northern horizon. Then you drop into the warm Punakha valley to visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 at the meeting of two rivers, and walk through rice terraces to Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman.
- Date: 6 January 2028
- Overnight: Punakha
- Drive: about 3 hours
Day 5
Over Pele La to Trongsa
Today is the long drive into central Bhutan. The road climbs over Pele La, at about 3,400 metres, past yak pastures and dwarf bamboo, then down to Chendebji Chorten, an 18th-century stupa built in the Nepali style. You first see Trongsa Dzong from across the gorge, a long white building that seems to grow out of the ridge. The festival is already under way, and in the late afternoon you can walk into the dzong for your first look.
- Date: 7 January 2028 (festival day 3)
- Overnight: Trongsa
- Drive: about 5 to 6 hours
Day 6
A full day at the Trongsa Tshechu
You spend the day in the dzong courtyard. Monks and lay dancers perform the cham, masked dances that tell Buddhist stories and drive away harmful forces: the Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Ground, the Black Hat dance, and the Shawa Shachi, which shows a hunter converted by the poet saint Milarepa. Families from all over the district sit along the walls with picnic baskets. In a break you visit the Ta Dzong, the old watchtower above the dzong, which is now a museum of the royal family.
- Date: 8 January 2028 (festival day 4)
- Overnight: Trongsa
- Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7
The thongdrel and the drive back
Before sunrise you walk to the dzong to see the thongdrel, a huge appliqué thangka of Guru Rinpoche, unrolled on the wall of the dzong at first light. Seeing it is believed to bring merit and to free you from the cycle of rebirth, and the courtyard fills with people in the cold. It is rolled up again before the sun can touch it. After breakfast and the morning dances you drive back over Pele La to Punakha or Wangdue.
- Date: 9 January 2028 (final day)
- Overnight: Punakha
- Drive: about 5 to 6 hours
Day 8
Back to Paro
You drive back over Dochula to Paro, with a stop in Thimphu for lunch or last shopping. In the afternoon you can visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, or book a hot stone bath, which feels very good after cold festival mornings.
- Date: 10 January 2028
- Overnight: Paro
- Drive: about 4.5 hours
Day 9
Fly home
After breakfast your guide drives you to Paro airport for your flight home.
- Date: 11 January 2028
- Transfer: about 15 minutes
- Meals: breakfast
Where you stay
Where you stay
Comfortable 3-star hotels as standard, with upgrades in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha.
| Nights | Place | Where you stay | Why we chose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 2 and 8 | Paro | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Upgrades to luxury available |
| 3 | Thimphu | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Central |
| 4 and 7 | Punakha | 3-star or 4-star hotel | Valley views |
| 5 and 6 | Trongsa | 3-star hotel | Book early for the festival |
Trongsa has only a few hotels and they fill quickly for the tshechu, so 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
- 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 Trongsa 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
Hotel style, group size and which festival window you choose change the total most.
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 Trongsa Tshechu trip
Which dates should I choose?
The tentative festival calendar lists the Trongsa Tshechu from 17 to 21 December 2026, and next from 5 to 9 January 2028. Because the festival follows the lunar calendar, it skips calendar year 2027. December 2026 is only weeks away, so for that window you need to decide quickly; visas are fast, but Trongsa hotels and flights into Paro are limited. January 2028 gives you plenty of time to plan and is a quiet month everywhere else in Bhutan.
About Trongsa Dzong
Trongsa Dzong controlled the only route between eastern and western Bhutan, and its governors, the Trongsa Penlops, became the most powerful men in the country. In 1907 the Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck was chosen as the first King of Bhutan. Today the dzong houses the district administration and a large monk body. Above it, the Ta Dzong watchtower holds the Royal Heritage Museum, with rooms on the history of the monarchy and old religious objects. Allow an hour and a half for the museum.
Other festivals nearby
Trongsa also holds smaller events in its dzong: Lhamoi Dromchhen from 11 to 13 February 2027 and Goenpai Drupchen from 3 to 5 December 2027. Further south, the Nabji Lhakhang Drup takes place from 12 to 14 January 2028, a few days after the 2028 tshechu, so you could combine it with our Nabji Korphu community trek.
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.
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.
Travelling in winter
December to February is cold, dry and clear. Days are often sunny and pleasant in the valleys, but mornings and evenings drop close to freezing, and colder still in Bumthang and the high passes. Hotels have heaters and many have electric blankets. Pack thermal layers, a down jacket, gloves and a warm hat. In return you get blue skies, sharp mountain views, few other visitors and, in Phobjikha, the black-necked cranes.
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.
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.
Trongsa Tshechu 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 17 to 21 December 2026 and 5 to 9 January 2028. There is no edition inside calendar year 2027.
Inside Trongsa Dzong in central Bhutan, in the courtyards that step down the ridge.
At dawn on the last day of the festival. It is rolled away before the sun reaches it.
Mornings are near freezing, but sunny days often reach the mid-teens Celsius. Bring warm layers.
Yes. Bumthang is about 2.5 hours east of Trongsa. We can add two nights there and fly back to Paro.
It is busy with local families but has far fewer foreign visitors than Paro or Thimphu.
For December 2026, right away. For January 2028, four to eight months ahead is ideal.
Price on request
Ask for your best price
Tell us which festival window you want, who is travelling and your budget. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Trongsa Tshechu 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.