Jambay Lhakhang Festival
A mystical festival in Bumthang with fire ceremonies and sacred dances.
Journey Facts
Duration
9 Days / 8 Nights
Best season
October–November
Difficulty
Easy
Region
Central Bhutan
Group size
2–10 guests
Journey Overview
Curated for immersive Bhutan travel
Travel to central Bhutan for unique rituals and valley experiences.
Signature Moments
Highlights tailored to this journey
Bumthang valleys
Fire ceremony
Ancient temples
Day by Day
Immersive itinerary flow
9 days of curated experiences
Hover a day to explore
Arrival in Paro
Day 1Paro · 2,250 mLand amid Paro's willow-lined river flats and settle in with an easy acclimatising stroll through town — prayer wheels, painted facades, and your first taste of butter tea.
West to Punakha
Day 2Punakha · 1,250 mCross Dochula Pass beneath fluttering prayer flags and 108 chortens, then descend into Punakha's banana-and-cactus warmth. Visit the great dzong at the river confluence and walk the fields to the Divine Madman's temple at Chimi Lhakhang.
Over the Black Mountains to Trongsa
Day 3Trongsa · 2,180 mJourney east over Pele La, gateway to central Bhutan, past yak pastures and dwarf bamboo. Arrive at Trongsa Dzong — the largest fortress in the kingdom, coiled along its ridge above the Mangde river gorge, ancestral seat of Bhutan's monarchy.
Into the Sacred Heartland
Day 4Bumthang · 2,600 mClimb Yotong La and drop into the Chumey valley, famous for yathra — the vivid wool weaving of central Bhutan — before reaching Bumthang's wide, barley-gold valleys. Evening walk through Jakar town beneath its hilltop dzong, the 'Castle of the White Bird'.
Festival Eve & the Fire Blessing
Day 5Jambay Lhakhang, BumthangExplore 7th-century Jambay Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's two oldest temples, as pilgrims gather for the Drup. After dark, join the crowd streaming beneath a blazing gate of straw for the mewang fire blessing — an unforgettable, ember-lit night.
Festival Day & Guru's Rock
Day 6Bumthang · 2,600 mMorning cham dances at the temple courtyard, ancient masks flashing against whitewashed walls. In the afternoon, visit Kurjey Lhakhang, where Guru Rinpoche left his body-print in solid rock, and Tamshing's 500-year-old murals across the river.
The Burning Lake & Valley Life
Day 7Tang Valley, BumthangStand at Membartsho, the Burning Lake, where treasure-revealer Pema Lingpa dove in with a lit lamp and emerged with sacred relics — the lamp still burning. Round out the day with a farmhouse visit, Bumthang honey and cheese tasting, and time among the barley fields.
Return to Paro
Day 8Paro · 2,250 mFly or drive back west through the passes, watching the landscape shift from alpine heartland to Paro's terraced valley. Farewell dinner with a final round of ara and stories from the road.
Departure
Day 9Paro International AirportYour guide sees you off at Paro airport with a khadar scarf. The festival's fire, masks, and mountain valleys travel home with you.
What’s included
Inclusions
- Guide services
- Transport
Not included
- International flights
Know before you go
FAQs
How do we reach Bumthang?
Domestic flight or scenic drive.
Visual story
Gallery
Plan this journey
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