Festival
Chhukha Tshechu
A district festival on the road to the south
- 19–21 October 2026
- Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha
The festival
What happens
Chhukha is the district the highway runs through between Thimphu and the border town of Phuentsholing: steep forested hills, and the first great hydropower dams the country built. Its dzong, Ngoedrup Tse, stands at Tsimasham, above the road. It is one of the newest in Bhutan. Building began in 2002, was stopped when the ground was found to be unstable, began again in 2006, and the dzong was consecrated on 9 March 2012.
The tshechu is older than the dzong: it was started in 1988. It is held for three days in the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar, in October or November.
What you see
Monks and laymen perform the masked dances of the tshechu, among them the dance in which masked figures with sticks chase away the spirits that harm people, and villagers sing and dance between them. Accounts of the festival say a thongdrel of Guru Rinpoche is unrolled from the central tower on the last morning.
Few visitors from abroad come, and that is its attraction. It is a district festival, held for the district.
Practical notes
- Chhukha Dzong is reached from Thimphu or Paro on the highway south. The dzong stands at Tsimasham, about 60 km from Thimphu: allow two hours.
- Haa Tshechu falls on the same days. A trip can see one or the other.
- Dress as you would for any dzong: long sleeves, long trousers or a long skirt, and no hat inside.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Chhukha Tshechu
A private trip, with your own guide and driver, timed so that you are there for the festival. Every day of it can be changed.
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$1,260 per person Enquire about this trip
-
Day 1
Arrive in Paro and drive to Thimphu
Your guide meets you at the airport and we drive to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the National Memorial Chorten and the Buddha Dordenma.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
-
Day 2
Chhukha Tshechu
We drive south on the highway to Chhukha Dzong for a day at the festival, and return to Thimphu in the evening.
- Travel
- About 60 km each way, about 2 hours each way
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 3
Over Dochu La to Punakha
We cross Dochu La, where 108 chortens stand on the pass and the Himalaya shows on a clear morning, and come down to Punakha. In the afternoon we walk through the fields to Chimi Lhakhang and visit Punakha Dzong.
- Travel
- 76 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Punakha, 1,242 m
- Overnight
- Punakha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Punakha to Paro
We drive back over Dochu La and on to Paro. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong.
- Travel
- About 130 km, 4 hours
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Hike to Tiger's Nest
We walk up to Taktsang in the morning, with a rest at the teahouse on the way, and visit Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon.
- Travel
- About 7 km on foot, 4 to 5 hours
- Altitude
- Tiger's Nest, 3,120 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Depart from Paro
Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Prices
What the trip costs
| Group size | Price in US dollars |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller | US$1,770 |
| 2 travellers | US$1,285 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$1,260 per person |
Prices are per person in US dollars and include the Sustainable Development Fee and the visa fee.
This trip runs privately, on the dates of the festival. Festival dates are tentative until the year itself, so confirm them with us before you book flights.
Included
- Sustainable Development Fee (US$100 per person per night)
- Bhutan visa fee (US$40) and visa processing
- 3-star hotels, in a twin or double room
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Licensed English-speaking guide throughout
- Private vehicle and driver, including airport transfers
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Entry fees for monuments and museums, about US$90 per person
- Flights to and from Paro
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Drinks, laundry and personal spending
- Single room supplement, US$35 per room per night
See it for yourself
Other trips that fit this festival
Any of these can be timed to the festival dates. Tell us which days you want to be there.
Cultural tour
Bhutan Signature Journey
Thimphu, Punakha, Paro
Six days with a night in each of the three western valleys: two in Thimphu, one in Punakha and two in Paro.
Cultural tour
Complete Western Bhutan
Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and 1 more
A week through four valleys: Thimphu, Punakha, the high crane valley of Phobjikha, and Paro with Tiger's Nest.
Questions
Asked about this festival
Are festival dates fixed?
Most are not. Bhutan’s festivals follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different dates each year. The Department of Tourism and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators publish a list for each year and label it tentative, because dates can still move.
Our festival calendar shows the official dates and the day we last checked them. Confirm with us before you book flights. The Black-Necked Crane Festival is the exception: it is held on 11 November every year. If you are deciding between festivals, read how to choose a Bhutan festival.
Can I take photographs at a festival?
Yes, in the courtyard or festival ground, from where you are sitting. Do not step into the dance area or block other people’s view, and ask before photographing anyone at close range. Photography is never allowed inside temples and shrines.
A few rituals may not be photographed at all, among them the midnight Tercham at Jambay Lhakhang. Your guide will tell you. Drones are not permitted.
What should I wear to a festival?
A festival is a religious occasion and Bhutanese come in their best clothes. Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers or a long skirt, and take off your hat inside a dzong. You will be sitting on stone for hours, often in strong sun, so bring a cushion, a sun hat for outside the dzong, water and a warm layer for the early morning.
Enquire
Plan a trip around Chhukha Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.