Bhutan🇧🇹 | best festivalsThe Must-See 7 festivals in Bhutan

How many festivals: Two, or three at the most. Each festival takes a full day or more to appreciate, and the roads between festival towns eat the days between them. Seeing more than three turns the trip into a transport schedule. Experienced travelers pick one large festival and one smaller one, so that the second is watched in a very different setting.Which kind to prioritize: First-timers and photographers do well at a large dzong festival in the west, which has the full range of dances, a large crowd in national dress and good infrastructure. Travelers who prefer space and low numbers should look at smaller village and valley festivals in Bumthang or the east, where tourists are a handful and the pace is local. Hikers can time a festival to the start or end of a trek. The reason to choose … read more 👉

How many festivals: Two, or three at the most. Each festival takes a full day or more to appreciate, and the roads between festival towns eat the days between them. Seeing more than three turns the trip into a transport schedule. Experienced travelers pick one large festival and one smaller one, so that the second is watched in a very different setting.Which kind to prioritize: First-timers and photographers do well at a large dzong festival in the west, which has the full range of dances, a large crowd in national dress and good infrastructure. Travelers who prefer space and low numbers should look at smaller village and valley festivals in Bumthang or the east, where tourists are a handful and the pace is local. Hikers can time a festival to the start or end of a trek. The reason to choose a smaller one is simple: with fewer foreign visitors there is less pressure on seating, and the atmosphere is closer to a community gathering. The trade-off is a longer drive and fewer hotels.What it costs: The Sustainable Development Fee is US$100 per adult per night. Ground costs through a licensed operator (guide, car and driver, hotel with meals) typically run US$100 to 200 a day for mid-range travel, so a realistic total is about US$200 to 300 a day. Budget operators are cheaper but festival periods carry higher hotel rates. Festival entry is free. Plan on Nu 500 to 2,000 (about US$6 to 24) for small purchases, offerings and snacks. Dzong and temple entry for foreigners is typically about Nu 500 to 1,000 (US$6 to 12) outside festival days. Flights into Paro cost roughly US$300 to 700 from Delhi, Kathmandu or Bangkok depending on season, and sell out before the major dates, so book the flight and the operator together, six months ahead for Paro and Thimphu.Cultural conduct: Dress modestly: long sleeves, long trousers or skirts, closed shoes, and remove hats and sunglasses inside the grounds. Never walk into the dance area or between the dancers and the crowd. Sit where the guide places you, as the front rows are often kept for locals and officials. Do not point feet at altars, and walk clockwise around temples and prayer wheels. Ask your guide before photographing monks up close, and expect photography to be banned inside temples.Safety and health: The practical risks are altitude, cold and long sitting. Mornings can be near freezing even in spring, and festivals run six hours or more, so bring layers, sun protection and a seat pad. Drink water between rituals, and carry any prescription medicine. Roads are narrow, so avoid night driving and accept that your driver will stop when conditions demand it.