Overview
This jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package reaches Bumthang for one of Bhutan’s oldest religious festivals, held each year at Jambay Lhakhang, one of the country’s most significant ancient temples. The route runs through Thimphu and Trongsa before reaching Bumthang on Day 4, where the festival itself anchors Day 5 with mask dances performed through the day and a sacred night ritual that draws particular attention from visitors. This jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package gives the festival proper context, since the dances carry specific religious meaning tied to the temple’s founding rather than existing as a performance staged for tourists.
Bon Voyagers manages the ground programme for this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package from arrival at Paro International Airport. A private vehicle covers every transfer through Thimphu, Trongsa, Bumthang and Wangdue Phodrang, with a guide for all seven days. Six nights of accommodation on double sharing basis include daily breakfast and dinner on MAP basis throughout, with hotels simpler past Trongsa than the deluxe property used in Paro. The per person cost of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package is ₹30,300.
Day-wise Itinerary
7-day travel plan — tap any day to view full details.
This jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package begins at Paro International Airport, where the Bon Voyagers guide meets the group on arrival. Paro sits at around 2,200 metres in a valley ringed by pine forest, and the afternoon stays light after the flight, with an optional walk through Paro town. Dinner at the hotel introduces the first meal of the trip, with the longer drives east starting the next morning. Overnight in Paro.
This jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package moves to Thimphu on Day 2, a drive of around 1 hour through the Paro valley and along the river. Thimphu is Bhutan's capital and the only capital city in the world without traffic lights, a fact that surprises most first-time visitors. The afternoon covers the Buddha Dordenma, a giant bronze statue overlooking the valley, and Tashichho Dzong, the fortress that houses the throne room and government offices. Overnight in Thimphu.
Day 3 of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package covers the drive from Thimphu to Trongsa, a long stretch of around 6 hours across Dochula Pass and through Punakha before climbing toward the centre of the country. Trongsa Dzong, perched dramatically above the gorge, is the largest dzong in Bhutan and the ancestral seat of the current royal dynasty. The afternoon allows time to walk through the dzong's courtyards before the final push to Bumthang tomorrow. Overnight in Trongsa.
Day 4 of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package covers the drive from Trongsa to Bumthang, around 2 to 3 hours through pine and oak forest over Yotong La pass. The afternoon reaches Jambay Lhakhang itself, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, believed to have been built in the seventh century alongside Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro, both said to pin down the legs of a demoness obstructing the spread of Buddhism. With the festival beginning that evening, the temple grounds are already filling with local families arriving for the days ahead. Overnight in Bumthang.
Day 5 of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package is the festival itself, with mask dances performed through the day in the temple courtyard, each retelling a story from Bhutanese Buddhist tradition. After dark, the festival's most well-known ritual takes place, a fire ceremony followed by a sacred dance performed by a masked dancer without clothing, a practice rooted in centuries-old belief that the act drives away evil spirits and blesses those gathered with fertility. This jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package treats the ritual with the same respect given to any other religious ceremony on this circuit, observed rather than treated as a curiosity. Overnight in Bumthang.
Day 6 of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package retraces the route from Bumthang back through Trongsa toward Wangdue Phodrang, a long drive of around 7 to 8 hours covering most of the day. The passes look different heading west, with the light hitting the valleys at a different angle than on the way out. There is no sightseeing built into this day, since reaching Wangdue Phodrang before dark is the only real goal. Overnight in Wangdue Phodrang.
The final day of this jambay lhakhang drup festival tour package covers the short remaining drive from Wangdue Phodrang to Paro, around 2.5 hours, with enough time built in for the departure flight afterward. Breakfast at the hotel is followed by the drive west through Dochula Pass one last time. The Bon Voyagers vehicle drops the group at Paro International Airport, where the trip that began seven days earlier comes to a close. The trip ends at the same airport it started from.
Map
Inclusions & Exclusions
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Pickup and drop at Paro International Airport on Day 1 and Day 7 respectively.
- All road transfers by private vehicle through Thimphu, Trongsa, Bumthang and Wangdue Phodrang and back, as per the itinerary.
- Guide charges for an English-speaking licensed guide throughout all seven days.
- Access to the full Jambay Lhakhang Drup festival programme on Day 5, including the temple grounds.
- Six nights of accommodation on double sharing basis - one night each in Paro, Thimphu, Trongsa and Wangdue Phodrang, and two nights in Bumthang.
- Daily breakfast and dinner at all hotels on MAP basis throughout all seven days.
- Entry permits and route permits required for travel within Bhutan.
- Meet and greet service at Paro International Airport on arrival.
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight tickets to and from Paro, not included and booked separately by the traveller.
- Lunch on any day throughout the trip.
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), payable directly to the Bhutan government, currently USD 100 per person per night for international travellers and INR 1,200 per person per night for Indian nationals, not included in the per person cost above.
- Personal expenses including laundry, tips, bottled water, soft drinks, telephone calls and shopping.
- Porter charges.
- Any additional sightseeing or extra vehicle use beyond what is listed in the itinerary.
- Room heater charges, optional tours and sightseeing entrance fees not mentioned under the inclusions above.
- Costs arising from natural events including landslides, road blockage or weather-related changes, to be borne by the traveller and paid directly on the spot.
- Any item not clearly listed under the inclusions above.
Best Time to Visit
Bhutan has four distinct seasons (Spring, Summer/Monsoon, Autumn, Winter) with climate varying significantly by altitude, from subtropical in the south (warm/humid) to cold/polar in the north, with heavy summer monsoons (June-Sept) and dry, cold winters (Dec-Feb) with potential snowfall at high elevations; expect sunny, crisp autumns and mild springs.
Important Price & Package Conditions
- Prices are subject to availability and may vary based on travel dates, hotel selection, and seasonal demand.
- The actual price is reconfirmed at the time of booking. Discounts or deals may apply depending on ongoing promotions.
- Prices displayed do not include optional add-ons such as cab upgrades, special activities, or extra room categories unless mentioned.
- For group bookings, custom itineraries, or peak season travel, final pricing may differ. Please connect with our travel expert.
- 50% advance payment confirms your booking.
- Remaining balance is due 45 days before travel.
- Natural disasters or political unrest will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Valid for Indian nationals only. International guests may require special permits.
- Carry original government ID for all hotels.
- Secure payments and flexible policies.
- 24x7 emergency support during travel.
- Bon Voyagers strives to provide transparent pricing. For clarity or a custom quote, please contact our support team.
Subha Travels reserves the right to update package pricing and availability. For clarity or a custom quote, please connect with our support team.