Mask dances and colorful rituals

The festivals of Bhutan

Festival calendar

There is always a reason to celebrate

In Bhutan, Hindu and Buddhist festivals are celebrated, which are traditionally timed according to the lunar cycle and other astrological observations. These “Tsechus” in honour of the great gurus, especially Guru Rinpoche Padmasmbhava, take place throughout the year, usually in the form of multi-day masked dances in the monasteries (dzongs), and their colorful rituals are an enriching experience on any tour of Bhutan. We will be happy to advise you on the specific festivals taking place in your travel time frame!

The great Hindu Dashahra festival (Dussera) is also the highlight of a ten-day festival that is definitely worth a visit. It is very important to us that you choose the right holidays for your tour according to your interests, as the rituals of the festivals sometimes differ significantly from region to region. For those who are particularly interested in culture, it is also important to visit a festival in a monastery that is not too heavily frequented by tourists.

Festival Name	Festival Location	Festival Date
Lhamoi Dromche	Trongsa	Feb 15-17
Punakha Drupchen	Punakha	Feb 16-18
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha	Feb 19-21
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Chumi, Bumthang	Feb 24
Tangsibi Mani	Ura, Bumthang	Feb 24-26
Bhutan International Marathon	annual organized event	Mar 5
Gomphukora	Trashigang	Mar 17-19
Talo Tshechu	Talo, Punakha	Mar 17-19
Gasa Tshechu	Gasa	Mar 17-19
Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang	Mar 17-19
Paro Tshechu	Paro	Mar 21-25
Chhorten Kora	Trashiyangtse	Mar 25 & April 8
Rhododendron Festival	Lampelri Botanical Garden, Dochula	April 19-21
Domkhar Tshechu	Chumi, Bumthang	April 18-20
Ura Yakchoe	Ura, Bumthang	April 20-24
Nimalung Tshechu	Chumi, Bumthang	June 14-16
Kurjey Tshechu	Choekor, Bumthang	June 16
Haa Summer Festival	Haa	July 14-15
Mushroom Festival	Genekha, Thimphu	Aug 15-16
Masutaki Mushroom Festival	Ura, Bumthang	Aug 23-24
Tour of the Dragon-Bicycle Race	Bumthang-Thimphu	Sept 5
Thimphu Drupchen	Thimphu	Sept 8
Paro Dromche	Paro	Sept 10
Wangdue Tshechu	Wangduephodrang	Sept 11-13
Thimphu Tshechu	Thimphu	Sept 12-14
Tamshing Phala Choepa	Tamshing, Bumthang	Sept 13-15
Gangtey Tshechu	Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley	Sept 16-18
Thangbi Mani	Choekor, Bumthang	Sept 17-19
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Dangochang (Jhomolhari Base Camp)	Oct 14-15
Royal Highland Festival	–	Oct 23-24
Chukha Tshechu	Chukha	Oct 10-12
Jakar Tshechu	Choekor, Bumthang	Oct 10-12
Jambhay Lhakhang Drup	Choekor, Bumthang	Oct 17-21
Prakhar Duchhoed	Chumi, Bumthang	Oct 18-20
Dechenphu Tshechu	Thimphu	Nov 3
Black Neckedl Crane Festival	Phobjikha Valley	Nov 11
Goenpi Dromche	Trongsa	Nov 6-8
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar	Nov 9-11
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang	Nov 9-11
Jambhay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Bumthang	Nov 15
Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pema Gatshel	Nov 9-11
Nalakhar Tshechu	Bumthang	Nov 15-17
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Dochula	Dec 13
Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa	Dec 8-10
Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse	Dec 8-10