Expedition to BHUTAN. Festival. "Gasa-Tsechu"
11 DAYS
24 PEOPLE
3390 EURO
.jpg)
Bhutan ranks number one on our list of fabulous countries. All buildings are built in the national style, the entire population is dressed in national clothes, strange and unique, its own standard of living is gross national happiness, a strange national animal is the takin, which has no relatives and stunning, almost untouched nature.
A strange national sport - archers who shoot at targets 140 m away, and at the same time stand next to the target when the enemy shoots!
Mountaineering is prohibited in Bhutan (opened for a year in 1981, but “the spirits of the mountains were unhappy”), but the trekking is very well organized - the “snowman trek” for 27 days is considered the best trek in the world. Television appeared only in 1999. The king, armed in hand, participates in military operations with the rank of junior officer. Moreover, there are so many such amazing facts - a carriage and a small cart. The trekking season is usually from late February to June and from September to December.
In Bhutan we will visit the main attractions of the country, the business card of Bhutan - the Tiger's Nest.
A monastery of stunning beauty clinging to a rock, where Guru Rimpoche flew on a magical Tigress and meditated for three months. Stunning Dzongs, the fortress monasteries of Paro, Thimpu, Gasa, Gangteya and Punakha are full of monks and spiritual treasures of the great masters of the past. On the way, we will see the snowy peaks of 19 seven-thousanders, which were inherited from the Creator by this small country. We will visit one of the most remote and authentic festivals of Bhutan - Gasa Tsechu.
Like many other festivals in Bhutan, it is dedicated to glorifying Guru Rinpoche. This honorary title (“Precious Teacher”) is used here to refer to the legendary Padmasambhava, a mystic monk of the early Middle Ages who once brought Buddhism to the country.
Many miracles are associated with his name, with which, according to legend, he proved the superiority of his religion over local beliefs. According to legend, he communicated with celestials and pacified demons.
.jpg)
.jpg)
ROUTE
•Accompanying the Paganels with expedition leaders;
Nepalese part:
• All transfers according to the program;
• Hotel accommodation in double rooms with breakfast;
• Excursion part;
Bhutanese part:
• Bhutan visa;
• All transfers according to the program;
• Accompaniment by a Bhutanese excursion guide;
• Accommodation according to the program in double rooms, 1 night at a campsite in tents;
• Three meals a day;
• Excursion part of the program with all entrance tickets;
• Permission to visit the territories of national parks.
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
30.03.2025
Arriving in Kathmandu, the colorful capital of Himalayan tourism and mountaineering. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation. A walk through Thamel, the tourist center of a vibrant, cosmopolitan, Indian-hustle and charmingly grungy city.
Overnight in a cozy hotel in the Thamel area. (Meals on your own)
Day 2
31.03.2025
Day in Kathmandu. Today’s excursions are a gentlemen’s package for every “Nepalese”, without which not a single program can do.
We will climb the 365 steps of the oldest stupa in Nepal, Soimbu (Swayambu) - the monkey temple - the birthplace of Kathmandu, the home of dozens of small monasteries.
We will visit one of the holiest for all Hindus, the main ritual crematorium of Nepal, the Pashupati temple, where according to legend the head of Shiva is located.
We will talk with local sadhus - extremely colorful and unusual characters, with whom we will definitely take a photo.
We will visit the “small Tibet" area of the largest and most revered Buddhist stupa Buddhanath.
In the evening, we will spend a meeting evening in a cozy restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast included)
Day 3
01.04.2025
Wake up. Put our bags down. We have breakfast. We load into the bus and rush to Kathmandu International Airport. Border control. Checkin and departure to the Kingdom of Bhutan. Arrival in Paro (2280 meters). Paro is one of the four airports in the Kingdom of Bhutan, but the only one with a tarmac runway. This is why international flights land here. The arrival of airplanes in Paro itself is a very colorful and interesting sight.
Meeting at the airport with local guides, necessary formalities and transfer to the hotel.
After lunch, we are welcomed by "unique" Bhutanese pictures (you have never seen this before), painted "toy" houses, pagodas and bright Tibetan ornaments. The sunset in Paro Valley is especially beautiful.
Dzongs - fortress monasteries - Rimpung and Ta give the landscape a unique charm. Even in the dark, the illumination of the buildings makes them incredibly beautiful. First Bhutanese dinner. Bhutanese food is delicious but is famous for its spiciness. Until recently, it was practically inedible for the average European, and only the development of tourism in the closed kingdom over the past decade has greatly adapted local pickles. Now we are confident that you will not only be able to swallow it, but that you will love it. Overnight at the hotel. (Meals: breakfast, dinner)
Day 4
02.04.2025
Earlier in the morning we will start with a hike to Taktsang Lhakhang. Tiger's Nest Monastery, as it is translated from Tibetan, you have probably seen in all the advertising brochures about Bhutan. This is truly the calling card of the country, a masterpiece of ancient architecture and one of the most magical places in the already magical kingdom.
To get to the monastery clinging to a huge rock, you need to drive up to the Satsam chorten. Further, along the path through the forest and rocks we will rise a full 800 m above the valley to the steps leading inside the shrine. Taktsang was built (1684) around the meditation cave of Guru Rimpoche, who reached it on the back of the flying tigress Dorjo Drolo.
After lunch, visit Paro Rimpung Dzong, Tha Dzong, which houses the National Museum. Maybe we will be lucky and we will see the Drukgyal Dzong restored from ruins - a monument to the Bhutanese victory over Tibet in 1648.
The decision to restore it was made by the government of the kingdom in honor of the birth of the heir to the throne, the 6th king in February 2016. Visit to Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan (VIII century).
After this eventful program, we will board a transport and move towards the capital of Druk (as the Bhutanese call their country) Thimpu. Overnight at the hotel. (50 km, 1 hour). (Meals: full board)
Day 5
03.04.2025
A day in the capital of the Thunder Dragon Kingdom. Today we will explore the charming city of Thimpu. By Bhutanese standards, this is a “megacity” - as many as 100,000 people live here, while in all of Bhutan there are barely 1 million people.
If the whole country is a colorful gallery of historical paintings, then Thimpu is a real masterpiece. And we use the whole day without reserve to enjoy this beauty.
We will visit the world's largest Buddha statue, the Sangay viewpoint. Then the National Memorial Chorten dedicated to the third king of Bhutan,
We will visit the same "Ministry of Happiness", which is a nondescript place, but it is a landmark and we need to make a mark there.
And, finally, in the evening after the end of the working day of the king and the government, we will visit the main Dzong of the country, Tashicho, which was built in 1641 and reconstructed in 1961
Overnight at the hotel. (Meals: full board)
Day 6
04.04.2025
After breakfast in the capital, winding Bhutanese roads and stunning scenery await us. Today we will go to the picturesque Pobrzyk Valley.
A couple of hours later along the serpentines after leaving Timpu we will stop for tea at the Dochula pass.
There are 108 memorial chortens here, and in good weather, a dozen Himalayan ice giants can be seen. In good weather, almost all of the 19 seven-thousanders inherited from the Creator in this tiny country are visible from here.
Almost just before Punakha, we will visit Chimi Lakhang, the Temple of Fertility built by the Divine Madman Lama Drukpa Kyunli who defeated demons with his “Magical Thunder Scepter”.
Legend has it that a wish is made here for the birth of a child, and the long-awaited heir to the Bhutanese throne - the future 6th King of Bhutan - was also invited into this world at this marvelous place.
We will overnight in Lobesa village, a suburb of Punakha. Overnight at the hotel. (Meals: full board)
Day 7
05.04.2025
In the morning, we will head to the ancient, historically first, capital of the kingdom. Here we will visit Punakha Dzong, it was built in 1637, it is located between the Po Chu (men's river) and Mo Chu (women's river), and the full name of this magnificent fortress is the Palace of Great Happiness. In our opinion, this is the most beautiful building in the most beautiful country.
After lunch in the open air with a beautiful view of the Palace of Happiness, we will move to the mountainous region of Gasa to meet the main event of our trip.
Gasa is a very remote area with no hotels. Therefore, we will spend the night in a tent camp specially built for the festival near the Gasa Dzongkhag, where the celebration will take place.
On the way, we will enjoy beautiful mountain scenery. Dinner. Accommodation and overnight stay at the campsite in tents. (Or farmhouse) (Meals: full board)
Day 8
06.04.2025
On this day we will join a colorful event - the Gasa-Tsechu festival. This is a unique opportunity to witness the living culture of Bhutan. Tsechu is a religious holiday, and by attending it, according to Buddhist beliefs, everyone receives merit and accumulates positive karma.
There is only one period of the year when tourists are allowed to visit the dzongs' courtyard, and this is marked as the busiest period of the year.
The dzongs open up to life with color, music and dance, at which time residents of villages and towns put on their best clothes, gather together, and Cham costume dances are held - monks in colorful masks dance scenes from the history of the Druk war with Tibet.
Each dance has its own meaning and may be performed by monks or village elders in colorful costumes.
Usually at this time, all sorts of miracles happen here! Tourists rarely visit the festival, but the colorful Liap aborigines come down from the mountains.
We will witness colorful dances and mystical ceremonies. After lunch in the afternoon, the final drive to Punakha.Late dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Meals: full board)
Day 9
07.04.2025
Today we begin our journey home. We will climb the Dochu La pass again and try our luck to see the Bhutan seven-thousanders. By late lunch, we will reach Paro and spend the rest of the day on its main shopping street.
If there is a place in Bhutan where you can buy everything from inexpensive souvenirs for all your friends to works of art, it is here. There are also a couple of rare cafes in Bhutan with excellent coffee.
For dinner, we check into a hotel overlooking the beautiful Paro Valley, Dzongi and the unique airport. This picture will remain in our memory forever. (Meals: full board)
Day 10
08.04.2025
Wake up early in the morning. Breakfast. Throw our things into the bus, transfer to the airport. Border formalities, check in. Say goodbye to the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Flight to Kathmandu. Visa. Customs. Things to the bus. Transfer to hotel in the center of Thamel. Go for a walk around the interesting city of Kathmandu.
Relaxation, shopping, delicious food, the movement of a cosmopolitan living city. Overnight in a cozy hotel in the Thamel area.
Day 11
09.04.2025
Wake up slowly. Breakfast. Farewell to each other and the team of guides. Tears of parting. Farewell to the fabulous Himalayan kingdoms. The Paganel expedition is over.
Transfer to the airport.
Flight home...
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for organizing a trip – air tickets and travel documents for other modes of transportation, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. – are made by us in advance, long before the trip, the prepayment or payment for the trip is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
Please note that this itinerary is tentative. The weather always has the last word. The itinerary is designed to allow sufficient time at the end of the Expedition in case of any weather-related delays. If necessary, the captain can change the expedition route depending on external conditions!
.png)