Festivals in Bhutan
Travel to Bhutan with us for a cultural treat that can be provided with our specialized Festivals in Bhutan. For the best experience of Bhutan’s Festivals, we can customize a Tour package for you during the festive season to offer you an option to experience a destination in the eyes of a local.
Tshechu, the mask dance festival, is spread through different times in various regions of which ThimphuTshechu is the grandest of all. People congregate from far and near to witness interesting folklores, vibrant mask and cultural dances.
Please check the Bhutan Festival dates below to book Festival Tours with us.
Some of our best Bhutan festival itineraries are below:
Punakha Festival Tour (Festival dates: 22nd – 24th Feb. 2021)
The Punakha festival tour is very unique and different from other festivals and is for three days. Besides the Mask dances performed by the monks of Punakha Dzong, they also enact scenes of the Shabdrung era (17th century). This Punakha festival trip is a combination of Cultural tour with day hikes and the festival in Punakha. You will also get opportunities to photograph the “Layaps” with their unique dress who come to witness the festival.
Paro Festival Tour (Festival dates: 24th – 28th March 2021)
The Paro festival is the most spectacular and popular festival in Western Bhutan. This annual Paro festival lasts for 5 days and is held in the Spring. The various mask dances are performed by the monks of Paro Dzong. The high light of the festival is “Throngdroel ceremony” on the last day of the festival. Early in the morning, a 400 year old huge Thanka or Tapestry is unfurled and hung from a tall building. The Local people come in thousands and get blessed…
Rhododendron Festival (Festival dates: 16th – 18th April 2021)
The Rhododendron Festival is a three day event held at Lam Pelri Botanical park on the way to Punakha. This Rhododendron festival marks the blooming of Rhododendrons and numerous other flowers in the wild. There are forty six species of Rhododendrons in Bhutan and twenty nine of them are found in this park. The event features walk through the park, arts and crafts, local culture and cuisine and traditional games etc. Besides Mask dances, the local people…
Ura Festival (Festival dates: 24th – 28th April 2021)
Ura festival is one of the most spectacular festivals in Bhutan and is held in Ura Temple, Bumthang. This Ura festival is for three days and is held in Spring. The Local people and the monks of Ura Temple perform various mask dances. The festival also features folk songs and traditional dances performed by the local people. A small statue, a private relic is displayed during the festival. Besides the festival, you can also visit ancient temples and monasteries in Bumthang like Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey and others.
Nimalung Festival Tour (Festival dates: 18th – 20th June 2021)
Nimalung festival is held in the courtyard of Nimalung Temple and is one of the best local festivals in Bhutan. This festival is for three days. On the last day, the monks perform Guru Tshengye cham and Drametse Nga Cham (Mask dances). This tour combines sightseeing in western and central Bhutan with this festival in Bumthang. Bumthang is the spiritual hub of Bhutan and the Terton Pema Lingpa was born here. The high lights of the trip include hikes to the Tiger’s nest…
Haa Summer Festival (Festival dates: 10 & 11th July 2021)
This trip is a combination of Cultural Tour in Western Bhutan with the Haa Summer festival. This Haa Summer festival is one of the popular festivals in western Bhutan. You can get a glimpse of the unique lifestyle of nomadic people of the Himalayas. You can also enjoy various Bhutanese dishes during this festival. The highlights of the trip are hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, the Dochu La Pass Punakha Dzong and many more.
Thimphu Festival Tour (Festival dates: 16th – 18th September 2021)
This is one of the most famous festivals of western Bhutan and is held in Thimphu. The Thimphu festival is for three days and is very popular among the Tourists and local people alike. This Thimphu festival normally falls between late September and mid October. The main event of the festival is the “Throngdroel ceremony”, which is held on the third day of the festival. The Mask dances are performed by the monks in honor of Guru Rimpoche.
Jakar Festival Tour (Festival dates: 12 – 16th Oct. 2021)
This Jakar Festival trip is a combination of Cultural Tour in Western and Central Bhutan. The Jakar festival is performed in the courtyard of the Dzong for five days and various mask dances are performed here. Bumthang is the spiritual hub of Bhutan and the birth place of the Patron saint, Pema Lingpa. The highlights of this trip are witnessing the festival, visit to Ogen Choling Palace Museum, Tiger’s Nest and many more.
Jambay Lhakhang Festival (Festival dates: 12 – 16th Oct. 2021)
Jambay Lhakhang Festival is one of the most famous festivals of Bhutan and is for held five days. Jambay Lhakhang is the oldest temples in Bhutan built by the Tibetan King, Srongtsen Gampo in 659 AD. The highlight of this Jambay Lhakhang festival is the Sacred Naked dance or the “Ter Cham” performed by the monks in the evening. Guru Rimpoche introduced the Tantric form of Buddhism in Bhutan and visited Bumthang on the invitation of ailing Sindhu Raja.
Bhutan Festival Dates 2021.
Below are the festival dates for 2021. The festival dates may change without prior notice. Please confirm with us the final date should there be any changes.
| SL # | FESTIVAL | PLACE | Date |
| 1 | Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 19th -21st February |
| Trashiyangtse Tshechu | Trashiyangtse Dzong,
Trashigyangse |
20th – 22nd February | |
| 2 | Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 22nd -24th February |
| 3 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang,
Chumi, Bumthang |
27th February |
| 4 | Zhuri Duechoe | Zhuri Lhakhang, Chumig Bumthang | 9th -10th March |
| 5 | Gadhen Choedpa | Ura Lhakhang, Ura Bumthang | 12th -13th March |
| 6 | Kharchu Drubchen | Kharchu Lhakhang,
Thromdey Bumthang |
13th March |
| 7 | Gomphukora | Gom Kora Lhakhang,
Trashigang |
21st -23rd March |
| 8 | Talo Tshechu | Talo Gonpa, Punakha | 21st -23rd March |
| 9 | Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | 21st -23rd March |
| 10 | Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang | 21st -23rd March |
| 11 | Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 24th -28th March
(ThongdrEl on last day) |
| 12 | Chhorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe | 27th February & 13th March |
| 13 | Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botanical Garden,
Dochula, Thimphu |
16th – 18th April |
| 14 | Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chumig,
Bumthang. |
22nd -24th April |
| 15 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 24th – 28th April |
| 16 | Pedtsheling Kuchoe | Pedtsheling Lhakhang,Chokhor Bumthang | 30th May-1st June |
| 17 | Nimalung Tendra | Nimalung Dratshang,
Chumig, Bumthang |
18th – 20th June |
| 18 | Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang,
Choekhor, Bumthang |
20th June |
| 19 | Haa Summer Festival | Haa | 10th & 11th July |
| 20 | Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Thimphu. | 15th & 16th August |
| 21 | Masutaki Mushroom Festival | Ura, Bumthang | 23rd & 24th August |
| 22 | Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle
Race) |
Bumthang to Thimphu | 7th September |
| 23 | Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 12th September |
| 24 | Wangdue Tshechu | Tencholing Army Ground,
Wangduephodrang. |
14th – 16th September |
| 25 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing lhakhang, Chokhor, Bumthang | 16th – 18th September |
| 26 | Thimphu Tshechu | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 16th – 18th September |
| 27 | Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey Gonpa,
Phobjikha,Wangduephodrang. |
18th – 20th September
(Thongdrel on last day) |
| 28 | Thangbi Mewang | Tangbi Lhakhang, Chokhor,
Bumthang |
19th – 21st September |
| 29 | Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochong, Thimphu | 14th & 15th October |
| 30 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha | 13th – 15th October |
| 31 | Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Thromdey, Bumthang. | 12th – 16th October |
| 32 | Ugyencholing Kangsoel | Ugyencholing Lhakhang,
Tang, Bumthang |
13th – 15th October |
| 33 | Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechenphu Lhakhang,
Thimphu |
15th October |
| 34 | Takar Duechoe | Chumig, Bumthang | 20th -23rd October |
| 35 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang,
Chokhor, Bumthang |
21st -23th October |
| 36 | Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Lhakhang, Chumni, Bumthang | 21st –23rd October |
| 37 | Royal Highland Festival | Laya, Gasa | 23th – 24th October |
| 38 | Sumthrang Kangsoel | Ura, Bumthang | 2nd – 3rd November |
| 39 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha,
Wangduephodrang. |
11th November |
| 40 | Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 12th – 14th November |
| 41 | Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong,
Trashigang. |
12th -14th November |
| 42 | Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong,
Pemagatshel. |
12th – 14th November
(Thongdral on last day) |
| 43 | Tang Namkhar Rabney | Tang, Bumthang | 14th -17th November |
| 44 | Chojang Rabney | Tang, Bumthang | 18th -22nd November |
| 45 | Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang,
Chokhor, Bumthang |
19th November |
| 46 | Nga Lhakhang Zhey | Ngaa Lhakhang, Chokhor,
Bumthang |
19th –21st November |
| 47 | Pangkhar Choedpa | Ura Lakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 2nd –5th December |
| 48 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Douchula ,
Thimphu |
13th December |
| 49 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 12th – 14th December (Thongdrel on last day) |
| 50 | Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu | Samdrupjongkhar | 16th -18th December |
| 51 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse Dzong,
Lhuentse |
12th – 14th December
(Thongdrel on last day) |
| 52 | Shingyer Meto Choedpa | Ura Lhakhag, Ura, Bumthang | 19th -23rd December |
| 53 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 19th –21st December
(Mewang on 22nd December) |