Sample festival tours
If you would like to attend a festival have a look at the festival dates for 2023 and 2024. The main festivals visited by tourists are Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Ura and Bumthang Drup. There is no reason why you can’t go to one of the less commonly visited festivals, although you should be prepared to find yourself as much the centre of attention as the masked dancers in that case!
If the idea of a festival captures your imagination let us know and we can help you plan your trip around it. Or click here for sample itineraries for Thimphu festival, Paro festival and Ura festival, Punakha festival and Bumthang Drup (also known as Jamba Lhakhang festival)
While you will likely find a festival visit to be one of the highlights of your trip, you need to be aware that you will then be visiting at the height of peak season and therefore need to be prepared for some congestion and possible shortages of accommodation. We advise that if you want to visit one of the most popular festivals you should try to book at least 6 months ahead to get the best choice of flights and hotels.
You may also be interested in some of the newer themed community festivals which have been chosen to encourage tourists to visit in different seasons and more out of the way places. These include:
- Rhododendron festival – Lamperi Botanical Park – 14 to 16 April 2023
- Haa Summer festival – Haa valley – 8 and 9 July 2023
- Genekha Mushroom festival – Genekha – 15 and 16 August 2023
- Matsutake Mushroom festival – Ura – TBC
- Jomolhari Mountain festival – Jangothang (requires trekking) – 14 and 15 October 2023
- Royal Highland festival – Laya (off road) – TBC
- Black Necked Crane festival – Gangtey – 11 November 2023
- Druk Wangyel festival – Dochu La – 13 December 2023
Ask us for more information about any of these that interest you.
