Fertility Festival-Chimi Lhakhang

Trip Highlights

Experience the Fertility Festival at the sacred Chimi Lhakhang.
Hike to the iconic Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), dramatically perched 900 metres above the Paro Valley.
Explore Bhutan’s most important cultural landmarks, including Memorial Chorten, Tashichho Dzong, and Punakha Dzong.
Visit the Motithang Takin Preserve to see the national animal of Bhutan.
Experience the serene beauty of Phobjikha Valley and spot the endangered black-necked cranes.
Discover one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, Kyichu Lhakhang, dating back to the 7th century.

Trip overview

This 7-day Bhutan journey is centred around the Fertility Festival at Chimi Lhakhang, the renowned “Fertility Temple,” of Bhutan, a sacred site blessed centuries ago by Drukpa Kunley, the “Divine Madman.” The festival is held annually on May 23–24, and we recommend you book your Bhutan trip during these dates to attend, with the first day being especially worth experiencing. The journey begins in Paro and Thimphu, introducing Bhutan’s rich heritage through ancient monasteries, majestic dzongs, and authentic village life, before arriving in Punakha to experience the festival itself. From there, the trip continues to the pristine glacial Phobjikha Valley, home to the rare black-necked crane, and concludes with the legendary hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

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Itinerary

01:

Arrival in Paro – Transfer to Thimphu

Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative guide. After completing arrival formalities, begin your scenic drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The drive follows the beautiful Paro Chu river valley, passing through traditional Bhutanese villages, terraced rice fields, and lush mountain landscapes. After arriving in Thimphu, visit the Memorial Chorten, one of the most important religious landmarks in Bhutan, built in memory of His Majesty the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is regarded as the Father of Modern Bhutan. Continue to the Buddha Dordenma, a colossal gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha seated atop Kuenselphodrang hill, offering panoramic views of the Thimphu Valley. Later, explore Tashichho Dzong, an impressive fortress that serves as the office administrative and the central monastic body.The beautifully illuminated dzong in the evening provides an excellent introduction to Bhutanese architecture and culture.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

02:

Thimphu – Punakha

After breakfast, visit the Simply Bhutan Museum, an interactive living museum where you can experience traditional Bhutanese culture, architecture, local customs, and rural lifestyle. Continue to the Motithang Takin Preserve, a mini wildlife sanctuary set up to protect the takin, the national animal of Bhutan. After lunch, begin your drive towards Punakha via the spectacular Dochula Pass (3,100m), famous for its 108 chortens and panoramic Himalayan views during clear weather. Descend into the warmer Punakha Valley, filled with rice terraces and subtropical vegetation. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most beautiful fortresses, strategically located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. And afterwards, conclude the day with a visit to the Suspension Bridge, one of the longest in the country.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

03:

Punakha – Fertility Festival at Chimi Lhakhang

After breakfast, get ready for the much-awaited Fertility Festival and make your way to Chimi Lhakhang to experience the celebration firsthand. The drive takes you to the parking area below the monastery, followed by a pleasant 10–15 minute walk through the countryside to the temple. At the festival grounds, witness the Fertility Kora, where women circumambulate the temple three times while carrying a sacred phallus, accompanied by district officials, local residents, and pilgrims. Experience the lively Fertility Race, in which women compete while carrying the symbolic phallus, and enjoy vibrant cultural performances presented by local communities and school students. Take time to explore the festival stalls offering traditional Bhutanese cuisine, local delicacies, and handcrafted souvenirs. The festive atmosphere provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with locals and gain insight into Bhutan’s unique traditions surrounding fertility, blessings, and community life. In the evening, you may relax at your hotel or enjoy stargazing under Punakha’s clear night skies at your leisure. If your visit coincides with the second day of the festival, you may also have the opportunity to witness or participate in the Fertility Trail Run, a scenic race of over 10 kilometres through the beautiful Punakha countryside.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

04:

Punakha – Phobjikha Valley

After an early breakfast, depart Punakha and drive toward the glacial Phobjikha Valley, steadily through dense forests of oak and rhododendron. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Gangtey Monastery, dramatically perched on a ridge overlooking the full expanse of the valley. Continue to the Black-Necked Crane Information Centre to learn about the valley’s remarkable ecology and the cranes’ annual migration from the Tibetan Plateau. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure in the valley below, taking in the open landscape and capturing photographs and strolling around the area in the evening.
Overnight: Hotel in Phobjikha Valley

05:

Phobjikha – Paro

After an early breakfast, begin the longest drive of the journey, approximately 5 to 6 hours back toward Paro. On the stop at Punakha for lunch and then continue with your journey.Stop at Dochula Pass to take in the panoramic Himalayan views along the way. Upon arrival in Paro, visit Rinpung Dzong, a magnificent fortress-monastery known for its intricate Bhutanese architecture. Check into your hotel and rest well ahead of the hike the next day.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro

06:

Hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery – Kyichu Lhakhang

Today’s highlight is the unforgettable hike to Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), Bhutan’s most iconic and sacred monastery, dramatically perched on a cliff approximately 900 metres above the Paro Valley. The hike takes approximately 4–5 hours round trip through pine forests and prayer flag-lined trails. After descending, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred temples in Bhutan, believed to have been built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro

07:

Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Bid farewell to the Kingdom of Bhutan with unforgettable memories of its culture, landscapes, monasteries, and the warm hospitality of its people.

Cost Details

Cost includes

Accomodation
Full Board Meals
English speaking Guide
Transportation
Entrance fee
Visa fee
Unlimited bottles of mineral water
Applicable government taxes(5%GST)
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
Trying out of Traditional Bhutan Attire

Cost exclusion

Medical & personal insurance
Personal expenses
Emergency evacuation charges
Tips for guide and driver
Airfare
Pony Ride to Taktshang (Tiger Nest)
Hot stone bath
Raffting

Trip Facts

Trip Duration 7 Days & 6 Nights

Trip Price USD 1800

Single Supplement USD 252

Districts Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Phobjikha

Entry Paro International Airport

Exits Paro International Airport

Ideal Seasons Spring

Festival Date May 23 & 24

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

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Hotels/Accommodations

Hotels where you’ll be staying during this trip

Our Bhutan tour packages are specifically curated with the travellers in mind. As a reputable Bhutan travel agency, for the past 23 years, our tour guides and travel specialists have dedicatedly served travellers from all over the world. We want to show you what Bhutan has to offer, and we’re committed to making your trip to Bhutan a special and memorable one. We have a deep love for the Kingdom, and we hope that you’ll come to love it too.

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Transportation

Choice of vehicles for this trip

Private SUVs for Couples 2 Seater

Toyota Innova (2 Units) 5 Seater

Coaster Buses (4 Units) 25 Seater

Mini Bus (8-Seater) 8 pax. Seater

Restaurants

Food and Drink

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 89 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Carolann M 
 
 
 
 Verified An unforgettable week in Bhutan!
An unforgettable week in Bhutan with Happiness Kingdom In July 2025, I joined a 7-day group tour of Bhutan with Happiness Kingdom, and it was truly an unforgettable experience from start to finish. I had a fantastic time and enjoyed every single moment of the trip. From the very beginning, I felt incredibly well looked after and completely safe, which allowed me to fully relax and immerse myself in the experience. The organisation was excellent, and I was especially impressed by how much we managed to see and do in just one week without ever feeling rushed. Our tour guide, Karma, was absolutely outstanding. His knowledge, professionalism, and warm personality made the journey even more special. He went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable, informed, and enjoying themselves, and his passion for Bhutan really shone through. Thanks to Happiness Kingdom and Karma, this trip created memories I will cherish forever. I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a visit to Bhutan — you won’t be disappointed.
  
 
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   Rachel L 
 
 
 
 Verified A fantastic Bhutan trip!
We had a wonderful experience exploring Bhutan’s rich culture with Jigme Thinley and Tenzin Wangchuk. Jigme is incredibly knowledgeable and provided engaging explanations about Bhutan’s history and traditions. We thoroughly enjoyed learning from him. Every story, explanation, and insight added depth and meaning to the places we visited. At one point, Jigme even prepared a simple makeshift heat pack to ensure we stayed comfortable in the cool mountain weather. That thoughtful gesture made all the difference and showed just how dedicated he is to his guests’ comfort. Shoutout to Tenzin as well, a wonderful and skilled driver. We felt safe and comfortable throughout our journey. Both of them were exceptionally helpful and attentive. Each day was well-scheduled and relaxed, letting us take in the experience without rush.
  
 
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   Becky S 
 
 
 
 Verified Best value to see Bhutan in a cultural tour
We selected this tour company both because of reviews and cost. Flights to and from Bhutan cost more than our 10-days in Bhutan with Happiness Kingdom. Our guide, Tschering Namgay, and driver, Tashi, were great! Both were so polite and helpful. Tashi was a safe driver. Namgay was a very knowledgeable cultural guide. He explained all the temples and fortresses, the stories and history of Bhutan, and the nuances and meanings of Buddhist sculptures and paintings. He had a good sense of humor and worked hard to ensure we got to see and do all that we wanted to do. Communication with the tour company was delayed, because of the time difference, but always responsive. They were happy to rearrange the plans to accommodate what we wanted to do instead of the standard, without leaving out the important things we didn't even know we wanted to see. Our hotels were comfortable, restaurants with good and sufficient food, and although our schedule was full, we were not rushed (just tired) every day. We got to see the black-necked cranes and several other birds. We enjoyed the Takin Preserve to see some of the more difficult species of animals. Word of caution though - if you are unfit, need a cane, walker, or wheelchair, Bhutan is NOT for you. There are stairs and hilly climbs everywhere. It is not ADA-compliant. But, if you want to take a tour of Bhutan, we recommend Happiness Kingdom as your tour company & #tscheringnamgay, #tashi as your guide and driver.
  
 
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   Sam B 
 
 
 
 Verified Great 6-day trip in Bhutan
Really enjoyed our 6 day tour of Bhutan with our guide Bhim and driver Tshering. They were both very attentive to our every need, and took us to some great places. We loved the hike to Tiger's Nest and the visit of Punakha Zhong. Bhim was very knowledgeable and gave us all the context and history we needed while visiting all the religious sites. Thanks again for everything!
  
 
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   ik298 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful trip
7days Bhutan Trip 19.th – 25th. of October 2025 I had booked the 7days trip to Bhutan via Asia Odyssee travel agency. This trip was really a great adventure and everything was wonderful. Well Bhutan I is a very special and amazing country with such a beautiful landscape, very cultivated architecture and overall deep religious life. Well let me give you some details of my tour: The first 3 days I spent with 5 other persons from all over the world. On the second day we made the hike to Tiger nest. I am not so used to climb steep mountains (Steps!!!), so my knees were already quite hurting from my former trek in Nepal. Our driver, Phub Gyeltshen, carried all the way up my backpack and motivated me all the way up to carry on. All the three days he was always there when somebody needed anything, everybody found on his place freshwater bottles. His drive was safe and very relaxed. The last days I travelled alone with the same guide and the driver Gembo. There we had quite long drives – over Dochu La. Also his way to drive was save and forward-looking. I really could enjoy to be on routes. But the main contribution of this wonderful trip layed in the responsibility of the guide (all 7 days!) Sonam Phuntsho. He is such a mindfulness person and always tries to make that everybody feels well. His explanations at the different sites where really detailed and showed that he has a great knowledge, specially religious belongings. Two of the other travellers were Tibetans and he could give always profound answers even from them, who had a great knowledge of the Bhuddist religion. In the day when I was travelling alone, we talked a lot about the social life, education, regime (your King), environmental protection and much more. So I got a deep insight of the life in Bhutan. So I really want to thank you for this wonderful days. Before this trip Bhutan seemed to be an unreachable country and somehow unreal, but now it is a part of my dreams, a country were I really could feel the meaning of happiness and mindfulness. .
  
 
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   Paul W 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing place. Wonderful people.
I did a 7-day trip through West Bhutan and loved the tour overall. It was very well organised and Bhim (Narayan) and Dorji (Wangchuk) were a pleasure to spend time with. Friendly, helpful and a credit to the hospitality of their country. My personal highlights were the dzong at Punakha, getting to enjoy two tsechus (festivals) at Wangdue and Thimphu, and the hike to Tiger's Nest. The addition of a homestay was also a nice way to see a different side to Bhutan. I can thoroughly recommend both visiting Bhutan and this trip.
  
 
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   thierry w 
 
 
 
 Verified Great travel in Bhutan
Very well organise 10 days tour group in Bhutan. the guide Tashi and Phuba the driver were fantastic. Adapting the time for us to discover places without rushing us. 'the hotels were we stayed were nice and the food very good. I would highly recommand happiness kingdom travel to anyone who decide to travel to bhutan
  
 
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   Chris K 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic tour, well organised, great Guide and Driver. Excellent in all aspects
Did a small group tour of Bhutan over 10 days with Tashi and driver Phuba. The tour took our group from Paro to Thimbu, Punakha, Phobjikha Valley and Bumthang Valley. A lot of logistics to get that to go off smoothly; stayed in good hotels, always with extremely enthusiastic staff, saw lots. But what really set this off was Tashi; extremely knowledgeable and equally extremely patient with guiding the group through from zero to at least a vague understanding of Bhutan Buddhist culture and history. Tashi, your sense of humor and tolerance really made this trip work. And Phuba always there and ready to assist.
  
 
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   MK L 
 
 
 
 Verified A memorable journey!
It was our first visit to Bhutan, and it turned out to be an incredibly unforgettable journey -- stunning views, awesome culture, and super friendly locals! We arranged this exclusive 6-day trip via a travel agency in Hong Kong. We landed at Paro Airport on 7 Sept and proceeded to Thimphu, then Punakha, before returning to Paro for the Tiger's Nest. Huge thanks to our amazing guide Jigme for his expertise, organization, and dedication in making the journey truly memorable. He possesses great knowledge and has revealed to us the charm of Bhutan. Jigme attentively looked after us in every way, including informing all the restaurants of my dietary preference, and ensured we were comfortable to fully enjoy each moment throughout the trip. We are grateful for our friendly driver Tashi and his outstanding abilities. The ride was so comfortable and smooth! We couldn't have requested a better team! 👍👍 I was also impressed that Jigme not only spoke fluent English but also knew French! A heartfelt thank you to Jigme and Tashi, and I wish you both the very best! 🙏🙏
  
 
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   Madam Wong 
 
 
 
 Verified The Guide Who Turned Our Bhutan Trip Into a Masterpiece .
TE25070007AT Bhutan is a country rich in culture and steeped in deep historical traditions. Our tour guide, Mr. Trashi Dhendup Namgyel, demonstrated exceptional professionalism throughout our journey. He was highly knowledgeable and consistently able to answer all of our questions with clarity and insight. Mr. Namgyel also went out of his way to accommodate our requests whenever possible, ensuring that our experience was both comfortable and memorable. We are truly grateful to have had him as our guide on this meaningful trip. — Madam Wong