Gomkora Tsechu Festival Tour - 13 Days

When arriving at the Paro International Airport, you will be welcomed by our company representatives who will offer you a polite welcome, and thereafter, you will check in at the hotel of your choice. Even a short, relaxing stroll in the quaint historic town of Paro will give you time to orient yourself to the local altitude, and nowhere is so peaceful as the mountain air. Here you will find several humble handicraft shops and local markets, giving you a first taste of what Bhutan has to offer in the way of food. The valley unveils itself with green fields of rice and welcoming households, which makes the voyage in the evening calm and delightful. Towards the end of the day, you will have your introductory lunch of Bhutanese cuisine, which can consist of red rice, ema datshi, and freshly blended vegetables, among others. Your stay in the country will be well-rested and ready to face the cultural and scenic aspects ahead as you spend the days in the country.

You will start the day with an exploration of Paro Dzong, the most famous fortress that is characterized by carefully made timber construction and striking views of the valley. Subsequently, we visit the National Museum located in a former watch tower, where one would find centuries of Bhutanese history, art, and artefacts on display graciously. In the afternoon, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of the oldest temples of Bhutan-built in the 7th century. The temple is surrounded by rotating prayer wheels and colorful prayer flags, which provide an atmosphere of calmness and spirituality. The rest of the afternoon can be spent in a relaxing walk in the narrowest streets of Paro or a relaxing moment at your hotel.

Begin with an untimely affair with the Taktsang Monastery, or better known as the Tiger Nest. Nestled dangerously between some cliff faces, this monastery is one of the most treasured monuments of Bhutan, and the person who scales up the height is richly rewarded with marvelous panoramas after slowly going up. Walk and go to its sanctified stairs, where butter lamps will be wavering to give it a meditative environment. Pick up your tracks back to the lower ground, savoring extensive views of the valley the whole way. After a lunch in Paro, follow the scenic piece of road spiraling its way to Thimphu, the national capital of Bhutan. Arrival in the city allows the visitors to go out for an evening stroll along the main avenue, the Norzin Lameline, which is famed for having many local retail stores, cozy coffee shops, and architectural elements that remind one of the cultural background of the Bhutanese people. The pilgrimage, therefore, puts together intense activity, divine experience, and the relaxed pace that is Bhutanese urbanity.

You will have a day enjoying Thimphu, the beautiful capital of Bhutan. Start with the impressive Tashichho Dzong, a powerful structure together with other major governmental blocks, buildings. Now you will visit the National Memorial Chorten, a religious shrine in which pilgrims spin prayer wheels. The Folk Heritage Museum provides an understanding of the folklife of the Bhutanese, whereas the National Institute of Zorig Chusum exhibits the 13 arts and crafts that are traditional to the kingdom. After lunch, you can head to the afternoon visit to the imposing Buddha Dordenma Statue, which overlooks the valley and has peaceful panoramic views. In the evening, you can stroll down the Norzin Lam Street, where people will find handicraft items, eateries of locals, and textiles displaying the culture of Bhutan. Relax in Thimphu, which is full of the calm yet exciting nature of the capital.

After breakfast, drive out of the Thimphu valley on a one-day panoramic tour to Punakha. Winding your way up, past Dochula Pass, 3,100 metres, a pass that features 108 memorial chortens as well as great views of the Central Himalayas on fine weather days. Beyond the pass, you will stop at a noted photo permit point entering the Punakha valley, which is warmer. Upon arrival, pay an initial visit to Punakha Dzong (the Palace of Great Happiness), an architectural gem situated between two rivers and regarded as one of Bhutan’s most scenic and historically significant landmarks. After lunch, embark on a short hike on vast rice fields and swing suspension bridges to reach the fertility temple of Chimi Lhakhang that belongs to the Drukpa lineage known as the “Mad Monk.” The day blends mountains, such monuments, and the serene loveliness of the valley.

The sixth day starts with a beautiful scenic drive to Thimphu. Winding across steep paths and green valleys, the travel gives constant vistas of continuous green land and highly terraced green mountain slopes, and widespread settlements. You can have breaks to stretch and take in the fantastic views. You will observe Trongsa town in the afternoon, which is known for its ancient echoes. The Trongsa Dzong is the largest fortress and the major tourist attraction in the country, and is located in Bhutan. Visitors can visit its large courtyards, well-kept watchtowers, and several temples, which altogether cast light on the development of the royal family as well as the way things were run in the royal governance. Moreover, there is the Trongsa Museum within the ancient watchtower that gives the visitor a detailed history about the kingdom, its monarch, and cultural heritage. A night stay in Trongsa can be an excellent experience of offering a panoramic view of the mountains.

Take an early drive to Trongsa and, seeing its mighty fortress on the way, start to Bumthang, which is also called the spiritual heartland of Bhutan. The path will meander through the calm valleys, the lush scenery of pine woods, as well as the harmless slopes, and make the experience a relaxing retreat. When you arrive in Jakar, you can visit the Jakar Dzong or the Castle of the White Bird dominating the local landscape. Then you will see Jambay Lhakhang, established in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, and Kurjey Lhakhang, which is known to have the sacred footprint of Guru Rinpoche. Step off the road to Chamkhar town, talk to the local merchants and spend some time in the real rural atmosphere. Located in Bumthang, the area is considered by most people to be an extremely picturesque place in Bhutan because it is a centre of religious importance and natural beauty.

On the first day of the tour, you'll enjoy Bumthang, which is known as the spiritual center of Bhutan. Start with Tamshing Lhakhang, which is a sacred monastery in honor of the great saint Pema Lingpa. In this case, sacred artefacts and ancient murals explain the religious culture of the Bhutanese citizens. On to the Farm, a small enterprise which is renowned for its cheese, honey, and Apple brandy, gives the valley its characteristic flavour in its way of life. In the local market, you can find a chance to meet local people and see handmade textiles and natural fruit and vegetables, and crafts. Enjoy the afternoon amongst the fields and tiny villages where you can find prayer flags and temples. It is the place to rest and reflect in peace without interruption, with the quiet spiritual environs and rustic setting in the rural pace of Bumthang.

On the travel day today, the travellers are guided to a scenic route of Bhutan; the route between Bumthang to Mongar. The trek goes through Thrumshing La Pass, 3750 m, with panoramic views of the Himalaya, precarious valleys and stark forests which leave a captivating mark. Some waterfalls fall, followed by windswept roads that portray the rugged terrain of Bhutan. A visit to Mongar, when one arrives in this small town, which is one of the main entrances in Eastern Bhutan, Mongar Dzong, which was constructed traditionally in the twentieth century, shows a perfect example that the country has maintained its architecture and culture. Evening walk through the town gives a chance to interrelate with the friendly people living there and also to enjoy the no-frills style typical of Eastern Bhutan.

Start early after breakfast on a picturesque drive to Trashigang (Mongar-Trashigang), then through lush forests and steep mountain roads and serene villages. The route gives spectacular vistas of terraces, the local houses and everyday life in rural Bhutan. As the cultural and economic central point of the eastern region of Bhutan, Trashigang or The Jewel of the East, is due to its proximity to the villages that surround the region. On arrival, one normally proceeds to the Trashigang Dzong, which is located on a Ridge with a view of the Gamri River, and it is a historical landmark. Things have changed over many centuries, and it is in this place that serves as an administrative and spiritual center of this area. Then go to the town market, which is very busy as the town's citizens go there to trade things. Stay overnight in Trashigang, the people and the sublimity of the Bhutanese eastern highlands.

The setting of Trashigang and Trashiyangtse is a quiet valley filled with a deep cultural background, with a history of spiritual essence of the past. The drive through the region is done to see quaint hamlets, lush valleys, forested and vista points that give tremendous views of the country, giving travelers a chance to admire Bhutan also has topography and landscape that have not been mainly exposed to modernization. Soon after arrival, you can make a tour of Chorten Kora, a massive stupa modeled after the globally renowned Boudhanath of Nepal and long considered one of the main shrines of the annual pilgrimage. Later, there was also a traditional woodcarving workshop and craft tour, which is a building where locals create bowls and other typical items. Genteel hospitality, the same throughout all time, dwells in the valley that is still very traditional. Stay over in Trashiyangtse and have the best of the Gomkora Tsechu Festival the next day.

On the 12th day, you will spend time focusing on the special Gomkora Tsechu Festival, one of the most sacred festivals in eastern Bhutan. Citizens dressed in the shining national colours come to watch ritual dances, to receive holy blessings and to confirm spiritual faith. At the sacred precincts, there are chants, traditional music, and the cool scent of incense, all of which work in synchronism to produce an environment of fiery devotion coupled with joyful reverence. During the procedures, ancient traditions are followed, and every set of actions is full of symbols and semantics. Conversations with local participants impart further cultural resonance. The Tsechu festival gives everyone a spiritual awakening of sorts, and therefore becomes the crowning moment of your trip to Bhutan.

As your trip comes to an end, you will fly using domestic airplanes with a last prospect of celebrating the valleys and high snow-capped mountains of the country at the flight level when you travel from Bumthang to Paro. One can pray to God to make a trip to Paro, a sophisticated town in Bhutan, which has local people who sell Bhutanese handicrafts and textile products as well as a variety of souvenirs. The peaceful, magical lands of this area, with their ancient dzongs, picturesque valleys, and the holy Gomkora Tsechu festival, are an experience that can be said to exemplify a larger portion of culture, spiritual values, and the immense beauty of nature. One leaves Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon, with a happy heart and a new spirit, and leaves behind another jewel in the world.