10 Days Nalakhar Festival Tour

(NOTE: We can also organize a private trip for this festival tour).

15 Days Nalakhar Mask Dance Festival Tour

The festival is held at the Ngaa Lhakhang in Nalakhar village in Bumthang. The three-day festival is one of the popular festivals in the Choekhar valley and attracts people from all over Bumthang, dressed in their finest clothes. This festival is celebrated to bring happiness and prosperity to the village and the country as a whole. It is also a symbolic prayer for good harvest and for the well-being of everyone.

Venue: Ngaa Lhakhang, Bumthang.

Festival dates: 30^th Nov – 2^nd Dec 2020.

Tour starting date: 29^th Nov 2020.

Tour ending date: 8^th Dec 2020.

Group size for this Tour: Minimum 3 pax & Maximum 14 pax.

Hotels used: All Hotels used in this itinerary will be 3 star category approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Flight Options: You have the option of entering (Paro) Bhutan from Bangkok, Singapore, Kolkotta (India), Delhi, Kathmandu, Dhaka and Bagdogra (India).

Flight fares for the various sectors are below and are Round trip fares:

Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu: USD 443 per person.

Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok: USD 985 per person.

Kolkotta – Paro – Kolkotta: USD 437 per person.

Delhi – Paro – Delhi: USD 632 per person.

Singapore – Paro – Singapore: USD 1007 per person.

Dhaka – Paro – Dhaka: USD 442 per person.

Price: USD 2208 per person on Twin sharing basis. Paro to Bumthang fare included (Domestic flight fare USD 193 per person).

International Flight fares not included in the price.

Single room Supplement: USD 40 per room per night.

Sketch Itinerary

The 10 days Nalakhar Mask dance festival tour covers Paro, Bumthang, Trongsa, Gangtey, Wangduephodrang, Punakha and Thimphu.

Sketch Itinerary:

29 Nov. Arrive Paro. Meet & Greet.

30 Nov. Paro – Bumthang.

1 Dec. Bumthang (Festival).

2 Dec. Bumthang: Nalakhar Festival (half day).

3 Dec. Bumthang – Trongsa – Gangtey:(143 kms – 5 hours).

4 Dec. Gangtey – Punakha: (74.7 kms – 3 hours).

5 Dec. Punakha – Thimphu: (76 kms – 3 hours).

6 Dec. Thimphu Sightseeing.

7 Dec. Thimphu – Paro: (Hike to the Tiger’s Nest)(56 kms – 1 hour).

8 Dec. Departure.

View Road travel map of 10 days Nalakhar festival tour in Google Map.

Detail Itinerary

Detail Itinerary for 10 Days Nalakhar Festival Tour

29 Nov. Arrive Paro. Meet & Greet.

The National Museum-Ta-Dzong-at-Paro

After lunch, visit to the Ta Dzong, the National Museum.
Paro Rimpung Dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the administrative center of Paro district.
Evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

30 Nov. Paro – Bumthang:

After breakfast, DRIVE TO THE PARO AIRPORT FOR FLIGHT TO BUMTHANG. Meet & Greet at the Badbalathang Airport.

After lunch, visit to:

Jakar-Dzong

Jakar Dzong built in 1667.
Jambay Lhakhang built by King Srongsen Gampo of Tibet in the year 659 on the same day as Kichu Lhakhang in Paro.
Tamshing Lhakhang (Temple of the good message), established in 1501 by Pema Lingpa.
Kurjey Lhakhang, where you can see the body Print of Guru Rimpoche.
Kencho Sum Lhakhang.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

1 Dec. Bumthang:

After early breakfast,

Drive to the Nalakhar Monastery and witness the festival (Full day).
Membarstho or “The Burning Lake” where Pema Lingpa discovered the treasures hidden by Guru Rimpoche in the 14^th
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

2 Dec. Bumthang: Nalakhar Festival (half day).

After lunch, excursion to Ura valley (51 kms – 2 hours).
Visit to the Ura Temple and village.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

3 Dec. Bumthang – Trongsa – Gangtey: (143 kms – 5 hours).

After breakfast visit to:

Trongsa Dzong

Trongsa dzong built in 1648; it was the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan. Both the first and second King ruled the country from these ancient seats.
Ta Dzong museum.
After lunch visit to:
Gangtey Gompa Monastery. Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa founded the Temple in 1613, and Tenzin Legpai Dhendup, the second re-incarnation, built the temple. The present Abbot, Kunzang Pema Namgyal is the ninth re-incarnation.
Explore Phobjikha valley, the most beautiful glacial valley in the Himalayas and the roosting ground of the Rare Black- necked Cranes.
Dinner and overnight in Guest house.

4 Dec. Gangtey – Punakha: (74.7 kms – 3 hours).

After breakfast, visit to:

The-View-of-Wangdiphodrang-Dzong-and-the-valley

Wangdiphodrang Dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (razed by fire in 2012), & under
Chimi Lhakhang also called the “Temple of Fertility” built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley also popularly known as “Devine Mad man” in 15^th Lama Drukpa Kuenley (1455 – 1529) was one of the Bhutan’s Favourite Saints who was born in Tibet, trained at Ralung Monastery and was a contemporary and a disciple of Pema Lingpa. He Travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as a “Neljorpa” (Yogi) using songs, humour and outrageous behavior to dramatise his teachings of Salvation through sex.

After lunch, visit to:

Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je-Khenpo and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the First National Assembly here in 1952.
Beautiful Khamsung Yulley Namgyal Choling Monastery (short hike 45 minutes.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

5 Dec. Punakha – Thimphu: (76 kms – 3 hours).

After early breakfast, visit to:

Dochula-Pass-at-Thimphu-Bhutan-Travel

Longest suspension bridge in Bhutan across the Pho Chu River.
Royal Botanical Garden at Lamperi.
108 stupas at Dochula pass and view Higher Himalayas.

After lunch at Dochula, visit to:

The weekend vegetable market.
Witness archery match at Changlimithang stadium.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

6 Dec. Thimphu Sightseeing.

After breakfast, visit to:

Buddha-Point-in-Thimphu

National Postal Museum.
The National Memorial Chorten (1974) built in honour of our 3^rd King, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (The Father of Modern Bhutan).
Tallest Statue of Buddha, Changangkha Lhakhang, Takin Preserve center, Sangaygang view point, and the Dupthop Lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

After lunch, visit to:

Folk Heritage Museum.
Painting School.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

7 Dec. Thimphu – Paro: (Hike to the Tiger’s Nest) (56 kms – 1 hour).

After early breakfast, visit to:

Places-to-visit-in-Bhutan-Taktshang-Monastery

Taktshang Monastery/Tiger’s Nest.

Tamchog Monastery built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Popularly known as Lama Chazampa, which literally means, the Iron Bridge builder) in the 15^th Thang Thong Gyalpo (1385 – 1464) was a wonder working saint from Tibet who came to Bhutan in 1433 looking for Iron Ore. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan. His only surviving bridge is in Duksum (Tashi Yangtse in Eastern Bhutan).
Hike to the Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang Monastery).

After lunch, visit to:

Drukgyal Dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongsen Gampo built 108 Temples in a single day to pin the Ogress to the earth forever.
Free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

8 Dec. Paro: Departure.

Value Added Services

Tour Cost Includes / Excludes

Tour Cost Includes:

a. All Meals [Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner]
b. Accommodation in 3 star Hotels (Twin / double sharing]
c. All transportation within the country including airport transfers. Toyota Hiace Bus for 3 – 7 pax) & Toyota Coaster Bus for 8 – 14 pax.
d. Royalty & Govt. Taxes.
e. Entrance fees for Museums and Monuments.
f. Visa Fee.
g. English speaking Local guide.
h. Sightseeing.
i. Bottled Water.
j. Paro – Bumthang Drukair Fare (Domestic Fare)

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

* Druk Air fares (International).
* Insurance Premiums.
* Payments for service provided on a personal basis
* Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”
* Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
* Personal expense in items such as laundry, soft drinks, Camera Charges. Incidentals, Portage, Bellboy charges tips or any other services.