Talo Tshechu Festival 2024

Meet and greet at the Paro International airport and drive to Thimphu.

A short stop on the way to view Tamchog monastery. This monastery was built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo. He built 108 bridges across Tibet and Bhutan, out of which 8 were built in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, visit to: – national memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of the Third King, late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

– Then visit craft bazaar where you can buy Bhutanese handicrafts and art works.

In the evening, visit to Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, visit to the tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.

– Then visit Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu built in the 12th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.

– Visit Takin preserve center (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan). This weird looking animal believed to be a mix of goat and a cow.

– Finally visit Sangay gang view point and Dupthop lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.

Lunch at Simply Bhutan where you can enjoy typical Bhutanese dishes, Ara, witness folk dances and many more.

In the afternoon, visit to:

– National postal museum where you can print your photos on the official Bhutanese stamps.

– Then visit the painting school (13 arts and crafts).

In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the Morning,

drive to the beautiful Punakha valley. Punakha is the ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of second King of Bhutan. 

On the way, visit to Dochu La pass (3140 m) with its 108 stupas and view the beautiful Himalayan mountain ranges in the north. The annual Druk Wangyel festival is held here on the 13th December.

Then visit Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 by lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”. The temple is also called “the temple of fertility”. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet using songs and humor to dramatize his teachings of salvation through sex. Many childless couples visit this temple to pray and seek the blessings. This monument is also the main highlight of our honeymoon tour in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, visit Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The  third King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck convened the first national assembly here in 1952.

In the evening, hike to Khamsum Yulley monastery. This monastery was built by Her Majesty the Queen Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Talo monastery and witness the spectacular Talo tshechu festival 2024.

In the evening, walk across the longest suspension bridge across Pho chu river.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Talo monastery and witness the Talo tshechu festival 2024.

In the evening, drive to Wangdue Phodrang and view the dzong. The dzong was destroyed by fire in 2012 and the renovation has been complete now.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning,

drive to Paro. After lunch, visit Ta dzong built in 1649, an ancient watch tower which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.

Then visit Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

In the evening, free to stroll in the town.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

In the morning, we drive to Satsam chorten and 2 hour hike till the Tiger’s nest monastery (Paro Taktsang).

– The primary monastery was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. Legend has it that Guru Padma Sambhava; the tantric mystic flew here on the back of a flying tigress. The hiking trail is also a part of the beautiful Bumdra trek in Paro valley.

In the afternoon, visit to Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It served as a defense post against the Tibetan forces in the ancient times.

Then visit Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo. He built 108 temples in a single day to pin the ogress to the earth forever.

Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of Talo tshechu festival 2024 tour).