Festival
Trongsa Tshechu
A midwinter festival in the dzong the kings came from
- 17–21 December 2026
- Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa
The festival
What happens
Trongsa Dzong is built along a narrow ridge high above the Mangde Chhu, at the point where the old road from west to east had to pass through the fortress itself. A temple was founded here in 1543, and the dzong followed in the following century. Whoever held it held the middle of the country, and the family that became Bhutan’s royal house rose from the post of Trongsa Penlop, its governor. The crown prince still takes that title before he becomes king.
The tshechu is the great occasion of the year for the villages of the district. It is held over five days in December or January, in the northern courtyard of the dzong, when the fields are bare and people have time.
What you see
For four days monks and laymen perform the masked dances of the tshechu, with folk dances and the clowning of the atsaras between them. On the fifth morning a thongdrel, a very large appliqué thangka, is unrolled down the wall of the dzong before sunrise and taken down again before the sun reaches it. To see one is believed to cleanse a person of wrongdoing, and people queue in the dark to touch their foreheads to its hem.
Trongsa is often said to be where the dances of the tshechus were first taught and from where dance masters went out to the other dzongs. Whether or not that is so, the standard here is high and the audience knows every step.
Practical notes
- It is cold. Trongsa lies at 2,200 m and the courtyard is in shadow for much of the day, so bring a down jacket, hat and gloves.
- The unrolling of the thongdrel is before dawn.
- Winter skies are clear, and the passes on either side give wide views of the Himalaya. After heavy snow Pele La or Yotong La can close for a day.
- There are few hotels in Trongsa, and they fill for the festival.
See it for yourself
A trip planned around Trongsa 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.
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Starts and ends in Paro
From US$2,375 per person Enquire about this trip
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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
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Day 2
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 3
Punakha to the Phobjikha valley
We drive up through Wangdue Phodrang to the Phobjikha valley and visit Gangtey Goenpa. In winter the black-necked cranes are here from Tibet, and towards dusk we walk to the edge of the marsh to watch them fly in to roost.
- Travel
- 75 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Altitude
- Phobjikha, 3,000 m
- Overnight
- Phobjikha
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 4
Phobjikha to Trongsa
We cross Pele La and follow the road round the gorge to Trongsa, arriving in time for the afternoon's dances in the dzong.
- Travel
- About 3 hours of driving, plus stops
- Altitude
- Trongsa, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Trongsa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 5
Trongsa Tshechu
A full day at the festival. If this is its last day we leave before dawn to see the thongdrel unrolled, and return for breakfast before the dances begin. In the afternoon we climb to the Ta Dzong, the watchtower above the town, now a museum of the royal family.
- Altitude
- Trongsa, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Trongsa
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 6
Trongsa to Bumthang
A short drive over Yotong La and down through the Chumey valley, where yathra, the patterned woollen cloth of Bumthang, is woven. In the afternoon we visit Jakar Dzong.
- Travel
- About 2 hours of driving
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 7
The temples of Bumthang
We visit Jambay Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country, walk on to Kurjey Lhakhang and cross the river to Tamshing Lhakhang.
- Altitude
- Bumthang, 2,600 m
- Overnight
- Bumthang
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 8
Fly to Paro
The flight to Paro takes about 25 minutes. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Rinpung Dzong.
- Travel
- Flight of about 25 minutes
- Altitude
- Paro, 2,200 m
- Overnight
- Paro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
-
Day 9
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 10
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$3,155 |
| 2 travellers | US$2,555 per person |
| 3 or more travellers | US$2,375 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
- Domestic flight from Bumthang to 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
Heart of the Himalayas
Punakha, Phobjikha, Trongsa and 1 more
Nine days from Paro to Bumthang by road, through Punakha, Phobjikha and Trongsa, with a short flight back.
Cultural tour
Bhutan Grand Cultural Tour
Bumthang, Trongsa, Phobjikha and 1 more
Ten days from Paro to Bumthang, with three nights in central Bhutan and a day in the Tang valley.
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 Trongsa Tshechu
Hotels near festival grounds fill early. Tell us your dates and we will check what is still available.