Traditional Mask Dance & Cultural Show

All Bhutanese art, dance, drama and music has its roots in the Buddhist religion. The music of Bhutan is an integral part of its culture and plays a leading role in transmitting social values. Traditional Bhutanese music includes a spectrum of subgenres, ranging from folk to religious song and music.  Dances are performed wearing ornate costumes and masks and each aspect of dance has a symbolic meaning.

There will be approximately 10-12 people performing this show which are sequenced as follows:

• Welcome song
• Pacham ni gi dance (dance performed ramming earth)
• Mask dance (performed by professional artist wearing traditional ornate costume)
• Thrungthrung dance (black neck crane dance, religious welcome to black necked a rare endangered species of birds)
• Layap dance (dance permanence based on folk lores performed by girls on their traditional attires)
• Merak sangtemg (dance permanence based on folk lores performed by boys on their traditional attires)
• Tashi ley bay dance (farewell dance/even the guest can join the troupe)

Blessing Ceremony (Butter Lamp Offering Ceremony)

Puja aiming at peace, prosperity and happiness can be organised at a monastery in Paro, Thimphu, Bumthang. This is a special prayer ceremony held at monastery by a team of monks for the peace, prosperity and good health, guests are required to lit butter lamp at monastery later.

Archery – The National Sport

Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and every village has its own archery range. High spirited competitions, usually accompanied by a banquet, are a part of all festive occasions.  During traditional archery tournaments and matches, using bamboo bows (although modern compound bows are now common in cities) team of archers shoot at targets only 30 centimeters in diameter from a distance of 120 meters. Each team has a noisy crowd of supporters who, as well as encouraging their own side, try to put off the opposition. Archery competition are among the most picturesque and colorful events in the country and are the integral part of all festivities. Inter-village rivalry is common throughout the Kingdom and this rivalry is no more fiercely expressed than during annual archery tournaments. They are generally held at Losar (Bhutanese New Year) but smaller competitions are held throughout the year and even on weekends.

Bhutanese Dress Wearing Session

The National dress of Bhutan is one of the most distinctive and visible aspects of Dragon Kingdom’s unique character. Men wear Gho, a long robe similar to Tibetan Chhuba, that is raised till knee, folded backwards and then tied around the waist by Kera (belt). While women wear, ankle length robe called Kira. The Bhutanese textile is made from fine, hand-woven or milled fabric, with the colorful distinctive patterns.

Prayer Flag Hoisting

Prayer flags are an integral part of Bhutanese landscape and also the cultural and religious heritage of the country especially the textile and weaving craft. They are ubiquitous in Bhutan; in and around monasteries, chortens or stupas, dzongs, lhakhangs, homes, on the railing of bridges and mountain roads, and invariably on or near the summit of the mighty peaks that preside over the country. Red, blue, green, yellow and white, they add a splash of rainbow colours to the rugged landscape.

Deeply religious, the people of Bhutan believe that with each flutter, a flag releases the prayer printed on it into the air which in turn carries it to the heavens. The more the flag flaps, the greater is its divine value. It is for this reason that prayer flags are positioned that catch the wind – high up on the forested slopes of mountains, across bridges, nearby rivers and streams that tumble down the valleys and anywhere where there is wind and tunnel effect.

Village Tour & Butter Tea Making

While in Punakha visit Richengang village, this is one of the oldest villages in Bhutan with traditional architecture and delightful local people in a remote corner of sleepy Punakha valley where an ancient way of life has remained unchanged for generations and most of villagers still work at as stonemasons and original craftsmen of dzongs (fort cum monastery) and lhakhangs (temples). Walk into a local farmer or stonemason house at Richengang village, peep into the daily life and lifestyle of the villagers. Bhutanese farmhouses are very colorful, decorative and traditionally built without the use of nail. The majority of the population of Bhutan continues to live as it has for centuries – in small isolated farms and hamlets, surrounded by terraced fields of rice, maize and buckwheat.

You will also have an opportunity to try making Suja (traditionally prepared salted butter tea) while at farmer’s home. Buttered tea is usually made by boiling tea leaves, mixed with salted butter and churned using a traditionally made churner.

Traditional Bhutanese Hot Stone Bath

The traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath, known as Dotsho in local language has been practiced in Bhutan for centuries as a medicinal soak. Many Bhutanese believe that the bath helps in curing joint pains, helps in relaxing and other medical problems. River stones are heated and then put in water to heat the water; sometime medicinal herbs are added to the water before it is ready for the soak.

This can be done at At most of the hotels in each destination throughout Bhutan or at a designated place in the cities.

Try Special Cooking Session

This is a special cooking session held at local restaurant where a team of chef instruct/demonstrate how local Bhutanese delicacies are prepared – guests can also try their culinary skill. Bhutanese food is heavily seasoned with red chilies and can be quite hot. Tasty and fiery ‘Emma Datshi’ made with chilies and local Bhutanese cheese is the national dish of Bhutan. Guests can have fun participating in the preparation of local Bhutanese delicacies.

Learn Thanka Painting Class At Designated Studio Thimphu

Visit local Art and craft school where we learn the art of Thangkha painting (sacred scroll) under the supervision of an expert master.

The art of Thangkha painting is as old as the people themselves and it has been passed down from generation to generation, from a master painter to a novice student. Mostly natural pigmented