Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous, joyous affairs. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu & Paro and those seeking a more intimate Bhutan experience should consider avoiding these major festivals as they mark the busiest time of the year for the tourism industry. Air seats and hotel rooms are frequently difficult to come by and all major sites see larger numbers of visitors on a given day.

The Dzongs come to life with colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and towns folk dress in their finest clothes and join together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and other rituals are performed in the Dzong courtyard and temples. Tourists are allowed into the Dzongs to watch the spectacle, but not the inner sanctuaries.
30SEP-02OCT17 Thimphu Tshechu Trashichho Dzong

04-06OCT17 Thangbi Mani Choekhor, Bumthang

14-15OCT17 Jumolhari Mountain Festival

23-24OCT17 2nd Royal Highland Festival Laya

29-31OCT17 Jakar Tshechu Choekhor, Bumthang

03-06NOV17 Jambay Lhakhang Drup Choekhor, Bumthang

05-06NOV17 Prakhar Duchhoed Chummi, Bumthang

11NOV17 Black Necked Crane Festival Gangtey Goenpa

26-28NOV17 Mongar Tshechu Mongar Dzong

27-29NOV17 Trashigang Tshechu Trashigang Dzong

03DEC17 Jambay Lhakang Singye Cham Choekhor, Bumthang

13DEC17 Druk Wangyel Tshechu Dochu La, Thimphu

26-28DEC17 Trongsa Tshechu Trongsa Dzong

02-04JAN18 Nabji Lhakhang Drup Nabji Trongsa