If you’ve done some research about Bhutan already, you’ve probably already learned about the delightful local religious festivals held in the major cities and towns of Bhutan-Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Bumthang. If you really want to get off the beaten path and experience the authentic Bhutanese culture, you have to take the trips that coincide with the festivals which are joyous and vibrant. The festivals are held various times of the year, Bhutanese people of towns and villages congregate to witness the mask dance festivals known as tsechus. These colorful events draw thousands of locals, some of whom walk for days in order to attend. While the underlying purpose is spiritual, dances are more often like plays where good triumphs over evil or depict significant historical events, especially surrounding the life of Bhutan's patron saint, Padmasambhava (also known as guru Rinpoche). There is inevitably a great deal of socializing. It is an opportunity for people to relax and forget the daily routine, to dress in their finest clothes and jewelry but, more importantly, it is an occasion for prayer and blessings.

Tsechus mainly comprise of mask dances in addition to some folk dance entertainment in between. Festivals are not pageants or entertainment events and definitely not held as tourists’ attraction. They are genuine manifestations of religious traditions thousands of years old, which outsiders are given the privilege to attend.

The dances, each aspect of which has a symbolic meaning, are performed by trained monks and laymen wearing ornate costumes, and, in some cases, impressive masks. At Paro, Wangdu, Mongar and Tashigang, among other places, a large 'thanka' scroll known as a Tongdrol is exhihited for a few hours, at day break of the final day of the festival, enabling the people to obtain its blessing, since such scrolls 'confer liberation by the mere sight of it' (tongdrolin Bhutanese).

Of these festivals the Paro Tsechu, in the spring, and the Wangue and Thimpu Tsechus, in the fall, are the most impressive. These festivals are very popular with western tourists. The festivals in Bumthang and East Bhutan attract fewer tourists and those who want to get a more authentic flavor of Bhutan's cultural and religious extravaganza will be well rewarded.

These festivals attract many western tourist and hotels and flights are sold out months in advance to organized tourist group. Anyone who wishes to visit Bhutan during these festivals should plan and make their tour arrangements well in advance.

Bhutan, a landlocked country, comprising of mountains and forests offer all the beauties of the Himalayas and is the ideal destination for the trekkers to see the virgin nature and unspoilt culture. The trekking routes are the traditional trails used by Bhutanese people to travel the country before the construction of the roads and many of the trails are still in use. Trekking in Bhutan is different from other regions in Asia for a numerous reasons like you are trekking in a country where Buddhism has a strong grip in traditions, culture and daily life of the people, there are fewer human settlement in the high mountains of Bhutan than there are in places such as Nepal and Tibet, daily altitude gain in Bhutan Himalaya is more than in any other Himalayan countries and so forth.

Trekking in Bhutan does not require any special technical skills or previous experience. Every trek is led by a qualified local guide. There will be a team of kitchen crews who cook two hot meals a day for you. Lunch is prepared at breakfast time and carried in thermos flasks and pots. All gears and supplies are transported by pack animals.

The most popular period for trekking in Bhutan is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Bhutan Walking Tours are cultural explorations with some hiking opportunities for active people. We visit the regular highlights of the cities and also explore the country. The walking tours include good amount of walking and day hikes with base in towns or cities or you can also spend the night in comfortable country inns and small guesthouses or tented camping. Hiking and walking is the only way to go away from the beaten path and to see the real places.

The walking tours are flexible, adventurous and highly oriented toward learning, exploring and interacting with the people of Bhutan. On your request, we can add rafting, birding or mountain biking also.

With Highland Asia’s Classic Circuits of Bhutan, we explore the cultural aspects of Bhutan with local guide in leisurely pace. Classic Circuits are basically vehicle based tour and requires very minimum walking but we offer optional walks and hikes for the enthusiasts. We visit the popular sites as well as hidden corners of the country, studying the ancient culture of the area which has in some mysterious way proven to be such a strongly relevant source of inspiration to so many people. We follow a leisurely itinerary and stop along the way to immerse in the atmosphere of each locale. We visit villages, farm houses and temples, sacred and legendary sites, and the unspoiled places where Bhutan's stunning natural beauty and rich wildlife heritage are still incredibly preserved.