Druk Wangyel Festival Tour - 7 days

Bhutan, the Land of Druk, is known for its distinctively beautiful Himalayan landscape, which can be seen even as you enter the Paro international airport. The airport is situated between high hills on the sides, so the landing is extremely interesting and adventurous. It is the only international airport in Bhutan. After arriving at the airport, you will be welcomed by our Bhutanse guide and taken for lunch. After having authentic Bhutanese lunch, you will be driven to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu.

The road to Thimphu takes you across many twists and turns through the Paro-Thimphu highway. After reaching Thimphu, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night’s stay. You will also be briefed about the Druk Wangyel Festival tour itinerary. You can opt to enjoy the evening by strolling around the evening street.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu.

A tour in Thimphu is unlike any tour in the capital cities of other countries. Despite being an urban area, Thimphu has the most visible religious and spiritual landmarks. You will be visiting some of the most important tourist attractions in Thimphu.

Your first visit will be to ‘the most visible religious landmarks in Bhutan,’ King’s Memorial Chorten. It was built in 1974 to honor the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. Unlike other stupas, National Memorial Chorten does not contain any human remains.

The economy and administration of Bhutan can be observed through the brief stops at the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and the School of Arts and Crafts.

Buddha Point or Buddha Dordenma, your next stop, is a tall 54m/177ft bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue. It is situated in Kuenselphodrang, overlooking the Thimphu city on the horizon. The statue was built recently on the 60th anniversary of the fourth king of Bhutan. It is dedicated to bringing peace and prosperity to the world.

Motithang Takin Preserve, situated in Thimphu, was a mini zoo that was turned into a wildlife reserve for the national animal of Bhutan, Takin. You will find many Takins in the preserve.

Tashi Chhoedzong, situated on the bank of Wang Chhu in the northern end of Thimphu, is a huge fortress also known as the ‘Fortress of Glorious Religion. You can visit parts of the thirty temples, chapels, and shrines in the vicinity.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Thimphu.

On this day, you will drive to the Dochula Pass situated at an elevation of 3,140m/10,301ft to celebrate the Druk Wangyel Festival. The drive to Dochula pass crosses lush green forests via the Thimphu-Punakha Highway. Upon reaching Dochula pass, you will first be mesmerized by the 108 memorial chortens. The Druk Wangyel Festival is celebrated in the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang in the past. The construction of the temple began in 2004 by Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. The temple was constructed in commemoration of the fourth king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

Unlike other festivals in Bhutan, the Druk Wangyel Festival is performed by the Royal Bhutan Army. The Festival has been celebrated since 2011 and sees many pilgrims, locals, and tourists in the courtyards of the temple every December annually.

The festival has a specified schedule starting first with a folk dance traditionally called Ashe Lham. Following the dance, you will get the opportunity to witness the famous mask Dance of Gadpo Ganmo. You will then observe other masks and folk dances like the Druk Puna Dechen, Lha Ugyen Pema, Phodrang  Dangpa Michag, Ngonjon Gyalwagongma, to name a few. You cannot miss the farewell dance of Tashi Labey. Most of all, you will be amazed by the wigs, masks, and vibrant colored traditional dresses worn by the performers. You can intermingle with the locals to further amplify your understanding of their culture and traditions. After enjoying the celebrations, you will take a drive towards Punakha for the night.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha.

On this day, after having breakfast, you will head towards the nearby Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong was the seat of the Government of Bhutan and the office of the King during the time that Punakha was the capital city of Bhutan. It is a beautiful fortress situated between the rivers of Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu.

Next up in the day tour, you will head to Lobesa in Metsina village, around 13 km away from Punakha. From there on, you will begin your hike to the Chimi Lhakhang by crossing green rice fields. The Chimi Lhakhang, also called The Fertility Temple, was built by the Divine Madman, Drukpa Kunley. His sublime life was devoted to Buddhism, but he had a unique way of spreading it in Bhutan. As per his beliefs, the temple is constructed with phallus objects and paintings signifying fertility. After enjoying your tour, you will head on for Lunch.

The third phase of today’s tour will take you on a hike to the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten. You will be passing through rice fields, farms, and pine forests to visit the Chorten. The Queen Mother built it in 2004 in Yepaisa village. The pagoda-styled stupa is four-storied with statues and mandalas of relics. After enjoying the landmark, you will head downhill and drive off to your hotel.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Punakha.

On this day, you will be bidding farewell to the old capital of Bhutan, Punakha, and head to the valley town of Paro, where your tour first began. On the way, you will be crossing the Dochula pass and make a stop at Thimphu for Lunch. After passing some green forests of Pine, you will reach your hotel at Paro.

After some refreshment at your hotel, you will be taking a short sightseeing activity in nearby areas. You can take a short walk past the wooden bridge to visit Rinpung Dzong. Also called the ‘Fortress of the heaps of jewels,’ Rinpung’s construction dates back to the 17th century. At present, it houses the administrative body of the Paro district. From here on, you will head to Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest built temples. One of the temples within its vicinity, the Jowo temple, was built in the 7th century. The age-old heritage reeks from the architectural masterpiece. The orange tree in the garden is believed to bear fruits around the year.

After enjoying your brief visits, you will take a stroll in the streets of Paro, flocking with women and men wearing traditional dresses and engaging in their day-to-day activities. You can also visit some local shops to buy souvenirs to take back home.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro.

Today, you will be visiting the most famous landmarks of Bhutan, The Paro Taktsang/Tigers Nest Monastery. It is situated 900m above the Paro valley floor on the edge of a cliff. You will pass by some Pine and rhododendron-clad forest on the way. You will even cross a sacred pool before finally reaching the top of the cliff. Views of the amazing buildings interconnected by stone ways will keep you amazed. How the perfect structure might have been built on such a height will most certainly baffle you.

As per the myth surrounding the construction and name of this monastery, the spiritual leader, Guru Rimpoche, is known to have visited this site for his meditation expeditions in the 7th century. Guru Rimpoche is a mythical legend known to have spread Buddhism in Bhutan. He is believed to have flown on his tiger’s back and landed in the Thulo Phuk cave, after which he meditated in the Pel Phuk cave for months at an end. The connections with Buddhism and Guru Rimpoche are why the monastery sees tourists and pilgrims flocking the place all year round. You can stroll around the different buildings and the courtyards. While the vicinity is mostly silent, you will occasionally hear the Buddhist monks chanting prayers. The cliff also stands as an amazing viewpoint for the vistas of the rolling hills and valley beneath. After enjoying the visit, you will head downhill through the same path and get back to your hotel.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro.

On this day, you will be driven to the Paro International Airport for your flight back home. We will bid you farewell as you board your flight. You will remember all the amazing monasteries and Temples you have visited on this tour. Most importantly, the memories of the folk and mask dances observed at the Druk Wangyel Tsechu will be imprinted in your mind.

For more similar festival tours in the future, you can contact us anytime.