Field guide
Bhutan: festivals, monasteries and the Tiger's Nest
Taktsang Palphug, the Tiger's Nest above the Paro valley, stands at about 3,120 metres. It is the image everyone knows, and the least of what Bhutan offers to those who stay longer.
The festival calendar
A tsechu is a festival of masked dances held at a dzong or monastery. The Paro Tsechu is held in spring, usually in March or April, and there are festivals in autumn too. Dates follow the lunar calendar and move each year, so journeys are planned around them.
Walking and altitude
The walk to the Tiger's Nest is a long climb at altitude, and it rewards a slow pace and a day of acclimatisation beforehand. The quiet valleys and ridge walks elsewhere reward the same unhurried approach.
Staying well
Bhutan's lodges are small and personal, and journeys are led by trained local guides. KURA introduces lodges and guides who suit a private, unhurried journey, with the pace set by you.
How long to stay
A week is the practical minimum for Bhutan, allowing time to acclimatise, to walk to the Tiger's Nest and to visit more than one valley. Ten days or more let the journey breathe, with time at a festival if the dates align.
Who it suits
Bhutan suits thoughtful travellers who are happy to move slowly and to be guided. It asks for some physical effort and a respect for local custom, and it repays both with a rare sense of calm.
Beginning the conversation
Tell us when you hope to travel and whether a festival matters to you. Dates move each year and lodges are small, so early conversations give the best choice of both.