Festival of Ura Yakchoe 11N 12D
Duration
Tour Type
Explore Tours
Ura Yakchoe – URA is a beautiful village set amidst a pristine highland meadow across the Thumsingla Pass. The village has retained its traditional character and holds its own festival that offers an insight into lives of the rural Bhutanese.
The Festival of Ura is about an old woman; sitting outside her house, she had a mysterious visitor, a lama who asked her for a glass of water. While she got inside home and came back with a glass of water, the lama had vanished leaving a sack. Curiously, she opened the sack to find a Statue (relic). Eversince, this relic has been passed on from generation to generation, which is now owned by the descendants of the woman. This festival is organized annually and the relic is displayed to the public. You will see locals dressed in their finest clothes who have walked from miles around to attend the festivities. They come and watch masked dances, pray, and feast. While the underlying purpose of the festival is spiritual, dances are more often like plays, stories where good triumphs over evil and historical events especially encompassing the life Guru Rimpoche.
Included/Exclude
- SDF (Sustainable Development Fees) & Taxes for above said duration of stay in Bhutan.
- Visa process and E-permits arrangement as per the itinerary mentioned here.
- All accommodations on twin/double sharing basis or as per the group size.
- Breakfast & your choice of lunch and dinner.
- Full-time English-Speaking License Guide from Medieval Bhutan Tours.
- Transfers and sightseeing as per your itinerary by comfortable imported vehicles.
- Applicable entrance fees to those sightseeing indicated in the itinerary only.
- Farmhouse experiences for those interested guests.
- Cultural experiences and activities for those interested.
- Complimentary bottled water throughout the journey.
- Flight Fares (domestic & internationals).
- Additional/Extra room supplement and room upgrade charges.
- Bank charges for payment transfers. Card payment charges are higher than wire transfer.
- Any alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages taken from the hotels/restaurants
- Personal expenses or shopping, phone calls, use business center in the hotels etc.
- Travel Insurance covering COVID expenses & refund for unforeseen trip cancelation.
- Gratuities to guides and drivers.
- Activities like (Cycling, River Rafting, Motor Biking, Horse Riding, Cultural Program etc.).
- Anything which is not mentioned under inclusion are not included in the cost.
Tour Plan
The flight to Paro on Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of the country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Your Bhutanese escort from Medieval Bhutan Tours will greet you on arrival, and then drive you to the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this region. After this we will have lunch in the Paro town. Then we will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel, Thimphu.
The day begins with a visit to the National Memorial Chorten built in honor of our late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. We then drive to the view point of Trashichhodzong, seat of the national government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). And Folk Heritage museum.
Lunch will be served in the town. After lunch we will be visiting the Painting School where traditional art is still kept alive and finally visit the Handicrafts Emporium and shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu.
Evening at leisure.
Diner and overnight stay at hotel, Thimphu.
After our breakfast we will drive to Trongsa, through the Dochla Pass (3150m). It is very popular pass for viewing the eastern Himalayan mountain ranges on the clear days. The view is so great and spectacular. Then the road will descend to 1300m above sea level, Wangduephodrang valley. The vegetation is made up of rhododendron, magnolia bloom in early spring and through the subtropical and broadleaf forest. The drive will take about 6 – 7 hours.
Lunch will be served at the Chendebji Restaurant or Pack lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Trongsa.
After breakfast walk by Trongsa Dzong, built by Shabdrung in 1647 and visit to the epic Ta Dzong (watch tower), dedicated to the epic hero, King Geser of Ling. Then drive to Bumthang, which is about 3 hours, through the Yutong La pass (alt.3, 400m 29 km from Trongsa).Further 13 km ahead, the road enters into a wide, open cultivated valley known as Chumey.
On arrival in Bumthang, check into the lodge. After lunch visit to Kurjey Lhakhang (where the saint body imprint on a rock), Jambay Lhakhang (7th century), Tamshing Monastery (containing one of the oldest painting in Bhutan), the Jakar Dzong (administrative center of the region). If time permits, visit the Membartsho Lake, where Terton Pemalingpa, the reincarnation of guru Padmasambava, is supposed to have discovered religious treasures in the 12th century. This lake is very sacred and is visited by many Bhutanese during auspicious days to offer butter lamps. Overnight at lodge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Bumthang.
Today is our first day of URA Yakchoe in Bumthang. Load the camera! Ura is considered one of the holiest valleys in Bhutan. Today Bhutanese from many different areas will gather to pay respect and to be blessed at this social gathering. Bhutanese dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry attends this celebration of purification and religious blessings. Here we can truly appreciate the essence of Bhutanese people and a preserved steadfast culture. Arrays of colorful brocades whirl through the air as the dancers spin and dance the “thunderbolt step”. Masks of glorious demonic demons and animals arouse your senses as you watch the purification take place. The intensity goes on. Overnight Hotel Shingkher in Shingkher village of Ura.
Returning to URA Festival Meet with Ura Head Lama. Watch for the Atsara (clown) this dancer, unique in his own style, mimics dancers and entertains onlookers. Festival deities are invoked through benediction and luck is increased and misfortunate gone.
Overnight at a Lodge.
Visit the Ugyenchholing Palace; a Family Museum, located on a hill top in beautiful and remote Tang Valley. Enjoy a scenic hike through a beautiful meadow dotted with Bhutanese farmhouse and water turned flour grist mills. Here you will experience time that will transport you back into medieval Bhutan. You will view permanent exhibits recreated to capture the ambience of the lifestyle of the Trongsa Penelop (Governor) Tshokey Dorji and his household. Bhutan's history unfolds. This is a most interesting and unique museum and the location of the museum and architecture at this site are most intriguing. We will visit a local farmhouse for tea and conversation while in Tang Valley. Return to Jakar Valley for overnight at River Lodge.
After the breakfast, we will drive to Gangtay, Phobjikha. The drive will take about 4hours.
Lunch will be at Phobjikha hotel. After lunch we will walk around the Phobjikha valley, it is a glacial valley and is the winter home of the black necked cranes. This valley is a designated conservation area and borders Black Mountain National Park.
Dinner and over night stay at hotel, Phobjikha.
After the breakfast, we will drive to Punakha. The drive will take about 3hours. At Wangduephodrang we will visitWangduephodrang Dzong, was founded by the Lama Zhamdrung in 1638.
Lunch will be served at Punakha. After lunch we will visit Punakha Dzong, it was the winter capital of Bhutan until 1955 when the capital was permanently shifted to Thimphu. It still served as the winter resident for the monk body. Then we will drive to the viewpoint of Khamsum Yule Namgyel chorten.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Punakha.
After our early breakfast, we will drive to Paro via Dochula pass. At Lobesa we will visit Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. We have to walk about 25minutes from the road point. This temple is also known as temple of fertility. After visiting this we will continue our journey to Paro. The drive will take about 5hours.
Lunch will be served at Dochula Cafeteria.
Dinner and overnight stay at hotel, Paro.
After early breakfast, hike to the view point of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest) monastery. We have to walk about 1hours & 30minutes up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. After enjoying the view & photographs, and refreshment at the viewpoint (Taktshang Cafeteria) we will walk back.
Lunch will be served in the town.
After lunch we will visit National Museum of Bhutan and Kyichu Lhakhang.
Evening stroll around the Paro town.
Dinner will be served in the farm house.
Over night stay in the hotel, Paro.
Today we will drive to Paro international Airport to catch the flight to your next destination. Our representative will see you off from the airport.
