Festival
Haa Tshechu
A valley festival at the White Temple
- 19–21 October 2026
- Lhakhang Karpo, Haa
The festival
What happens
Haa is the valley west of Paro, over the Chele La pass: a narrow strip of fields and farmhouses at 2,700 m, closed to visitors until 2002 and still little visited. Lhakhang Karpo, the White Temple, stands at the foot of three hills at the edge of its small town. By tradition it was founded in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, who is said to have released a white pigeon and built where it came down. It is the seat of the monk body of Haa, and the tshechu is held in its courtyard.
The festival runs for three days, from the 8th to the 10th day of the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar, which falls in October or November.
What you see
Monks and laymen perform the masked dances of the tshechu, which act out stories from the life of Guru Rinpoche and are believed to bless those who watch and to drive off harm. Between them come the songs and dances of the valley and the atsaras with their jokes. On the last morning a thongdrel of the Guru is unrolled at first light and taken in before the sun can touch it.
What sets it apart is its size. Haa has only a few thousand people, and nearly everyone in the courtyard knows everyone else. A visitor is noticed and made welcome.
Practical notes
- Haa lies at 2,700 m. In late October and November days are clear and cold, and there is frost at night.
- Chele La can close for a day or two after heavy snow. A second road follows the river out of the valley.
- There are only a few hotels and farmhouse stays in Haa. Book early for the festival.
- Dress as you would for a temple, and ask before photographing people at close range.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Haa 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.
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$1,595 per person Enquire about this trip
-
Day 1
Arrive in Paro
Your guide meets you at the airport. After lunch we visit the National Museum, in the old watchtower above the valley, and Rinpung Dzong below it.
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
-
Day 2
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 3
Over Chele La to Haa
We climb through forest to Chele La, the highest road pass in the country, where prayer flags cover the ridge and Jomolhari shows to the north on a clear day. Then down into the Haa valley, where we visit Lhakhang Karpo and Lhakhang Nagpo, the White Temple and the Black Temple.
- Travel
- 60 km, about 2 hours
- Altitude
- Chele La, 3,988 m
- Overnight
- Haa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Haa Tshechu
A day at the festival, a few minutes from where you are staying. Your guide explains each dance as it begins. In the afternoon, when you have seen enough, we walk through the fields to one of the villages above the river and have tea in a farmhouse.
- Altitude
- Haa, 2,700 m
- Overnight
- Haa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Haa to Thimphu
We follow the Haa Chhu down its gorge to the main highway and turn north to Thimphu. In the afternoon we visit the Buddha Dordenma and the National Memorial Chorten.
- Travel
- About 112 km, about 4 hours
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Thimphu
We visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where the thirteen traditional arts are taught, then the Textile Museum and Changangkha Lhakhang. Tashichho Dzong opens once the offices close.
- Altitude
- Thimphu, 2,334 m
- Overnight
- Thimphu
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 7
Depart from Paro
Your guide and driver take you to the airport at Paro, an hour from Thimphu, after breakfast.
- Travel
- 54 km, about 1 hour
- Meals
- Breakfast
Prices
What the trip costs
| Group size | Price in US dollars |
|---|---|
| Solo traveller | US$2,125 |
| 2 travellers | US$1,715 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$1,595 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
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.
Cultural tour
Bhutan Highlands Explorer
Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha and 2 more
Eight days through western Bhutan at an easier pace, with Phobjikha, a third night in Thimphu and the drive up to Chele La at 3,988 m.
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 Haa Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.