Foreign Office travel advice
Before travelling, consult the latest UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bhutan. Bhutan is one of Asia's safest destinations. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance.

A 13-day small-group journey for up to 12 travellers, timed to coincide with Bhutan's living monastery festivals — from Punakha Dzong and the sacred temples of Bumthang to the Phobjikha Valley celebrations, the Tang Valley's Burning Lake, and the Tiger's Nest pilgrimage above Paro.
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Our tour to this beautiful nation allows a glimpse of some of its most spectacular sights, from the amazing Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery in its dramatic cliff face location to the imposing Punakha Dzong, an incredible fortress with a turbulent past.
We travel through spectacular Himalayan scenery and have the opportunity to visit traditional Buddhist temples.
The highlight of this trip is the chance to celebrate at one of the many festivals held throughout the year in Bhutan. Each festival offers a different window into Bhutan’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
The tours in February/March include the Punakha Festival (Tsechu). The tours in April/May include the small and local Ura Festival in the Bumthang region. Choosing when to travel shapes the entire experience — our season-by-season Bhutan travel guide explains exactly what each festival period offers.


Bhutan Festival Tour
Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Bhutan's capital and its airport gateway together hold the tour's opening and closing chapters. Thimphu unfolds across two days — taking in the Buddha Dordenma statue via Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park, Changangkha Temple through a blue pine and rhododendron forest walk, the Memorial Chorten, the National Textile Museum, the Craft Bazaar, and an optional visit to the Takin Reserve. Paro is reached for the tour's final three days and delivers the National Museum in Ta Dzong, a forested hillside walk to Zuri Dzong via Gonsaka Lhakhang, Rinpung Dzong, the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang, and the optional Dumtse Lhakhang, before the six-hour pilgrimage hike to Taktsang Monastery brings the journey to a close 900 metres above the valley floor.
The Dochu La Pass at 3,050 metres descends from Thimphu into the warmer, lower Punakha valley, where two days concentrate on sacred architecture and village trails. Punakha Dzong — built in 1637 at the confluence of the Pho and Mo Chhu rivers and crossed by suspension footbridge — stands as one of Bhutan's most impressive fortresses, whilst the Chimi Lhakhang sits across the paddy fields on a wooded hilltop. The 17th-century Chorten Ningpo with its Maitreya statue and the hike to the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten above Yebisa village add further depth to one of Bhutan's most rewarding valley destinations.
The journey east passes through Trongsa, where the commanding Trongsa Dzong — the royal family's ancestral home — overlooks a deep river gorge at 2,180 metres and the Ta Dzong watchtower museum holds collections on the Wangchuck dynasty. Bumthang, reached after a further 2.5 hours, is Bhutan's most ancient and spiritually significant region: Jamba Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, and Jakar Dzong are explored across the Chokhor valley, whilst the optional Red Panda brewery and Swiss cheese factory add an unexpected dimension to this remote highland setting. The Tang Valley excursion — visiting the Membar Tsho Burning Lake, Drangchel as the birthplace of Pema Lingpa, and the Ugyenchholing Palace museum — reaches the most remote corner of the Bumthang region.
The drive from Bumthang passes through Zungney village — where women weave traditional yathra textiles — before the wide glacial bowl of Phobjikha Valley opens at 2,900 metres, framing the ancient Gangtey Gompa and the winter habitat of the endangered black-necked cranes that arrive from Tibet each November. The festival in the Gangtey monastery courtyard — with flag-raising, folk dances by schoolchildren, food stalls, and close-up crane observation at the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre — is one of Bhutan's most distinctive seasonal events. The recently renovated Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, visited on the return drive to Paro, marks the end of the central Bhutan chapter.
Key moments for Bhutan Festival Tour
Full itinerary · 13 days
Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.
| Departs | Returns | Status | Price pp | Single supp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Sept 2026 | 2 Oct 2026 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£400 | Contact for availability |
| 3 Nov 2026 | 15 Nov 2026 | Sold out | £3,595 | +£400 | Closed |
| 15 Feb 2027 | 27 Feb 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£400 | Book now |
| 13 Apr 2027 | 25 Apr 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£400 | Book now |
| 9 Oct 2027 | 21 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£400 | Book now |
| 3 Nov 2027 | 15 Nov 2027 | Guaranteed | £3,595 | +£400 | Book now |
Every one of our Bhutan journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before travelling, consult the latest UK FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bhutan. Bhutan is one of Asia's safest destinations. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance.
Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Bhutan Festival Tour. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.
Make Bhutan Festival Tour your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Bhutan specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
Common questions
Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.
Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.
Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.
The next available departures are 20 September 2026; 15 February 2027; 13 April 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.
Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
This tour visits Bhutan. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.
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