Rhododendron Festival: Into the Land of the Brokpas

Trip Highlights

An authentic immersion into the Brokpa community, their traditions, attire, and highland way of life
Participation in the Rhododendron Festival (Etho Metho), a vibrant celebration unique to Eastern Bhutan
Gentle nature walks along blooming rhododendron trails in the highlands of Merak
Opportunity to try the distinctive yak-hair attire and horned hats of the Brokpa people
A seamless cultural contrast between Western Bhutan’s heritage sites and Eastern Bhutan’s living traditions

Trip overview

This 10-day journey offers a rare passage across Western to Eastern Bhutan, culminating in the highlands of Merak and Sakteng. With the Rhododendron Festival (Etho Metho) as its centerpiece, the itinerary blends cultural depth, scenic landscapes, and authentic community experiences. From the structured charm of western valleys to the raw, pastoral life of the Brokpas in the east, this journey reveals Bhutan in its most diverse and intimate form.

Why Book Your Trip Now?

Visa Approved Within 24 Hours – Get your Bhutan visa fast, once your booking is confirmed.
Guaranteed Departures – No cancellations. Your adventure is locked in and ready to go!
Group Discounts Available – Traveling with friends or family? Enjoy special rates when you book as a group.

View

Itinerary

01:

Arrival – Thimphu

Arrive in Bhutan’s serene capital, where tradition and modern life coexist in quiet harmony. Visit the sacred National Memorial Chorten and continue to Buddha Dordenma, overlooking the valley. A gentle introduction to Bhutan.

02:

Thimphu – Punakha – Thimphu

Cross the scenic Dochula Pass, marked by 108 chortens and Himalayan views. Explore the stunning Punakha Dzong, walk across the suspension bridge, and visit Chimi Lhakhang before returning to Thimphu.

03:

Thimphu Sightseeing – Paro

Visit the Motithang Takin Preserve, explore traditional crafts at the paper factory, and experience Bhutanese life at Simply Bhutan Museum. Drive to Paro for the night.

04:

Paro – Sacred Hike

Hike to the iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery, dramatically perched on a cliff. Later, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples.

05:

Flight to Eastern Bhutan – Trashigang

Fly east into a quieter, lesser-seen Bhutan. Explore Trashigang town and view Trashigang Dzong (timing permitting). This marks your entry into Brokpa territory.

06:

Into Merak – Rhododendron Festival (Etho Metho)

Travel to the highland village of Merak, home to the semi-nomadic Brokpa people. The Brokpas, despite their simple existence, have their own distinct language, dress, culture and tradition. They speak a dialect known as Brokpake, distinct from other local and regional dialects in the country. Made of natural animal products, their dress is also unique in design.
Women wear short poncho-like dresses with a top that resembles a jacket while men wear tunics and leggings made of wool with a vest made of leather. Both man and women complete the ensemble with a hat made of yak felt that has long twisted tufts hanging down the four edges.
The Brokpas continue to practice polyandry – a practical arrangement that has served the family’s purpose of farming and cattle herding well. Experience the Rhododendron Festival, where hillsides burst into bloom. Engage in traditional dances, music, and local games; try on Brokpa attire; and enjoy a calm nature walk through rhododendron forests—where culture and landscape meet.

07:

Merak – Sakteng (Brokpa Immersion)

Sakteng is about 68 km from Trashigang Town and is in the north of Merak. The Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses a total area of 740.60 square kilometer covering almost three fourth of Merak and Sakteng geogs under Trashigang Dzongkhag and part of Lauri
geog under Samdrupjonkhar Dzongkhag. To retain floral and faunal diversity, the Sanctuary is well connected by Biological Corridor to the southern part of the country which is a part of the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex (B2C2). The Sanctuary is situated in the remotest part of the country where only limited developmental programmes have been implemented in the two gewogs so far. Highlanders living in the park area are semi-nomadic and use large areas as grazing land for their cattle. Livestock rearing is the main socio-economy of Merak and Sakteng where 83% of the household income is generated from livestock husbandry. Very few people living in the lower areas depend on subsistence farming.
The floral diversity of SWS comprises a wide range of ecosystem comprising of different forest types within an altitude ranging from 1700-4100 masl. It represents diversity of eastern Himalayan terrestrial eco-system-alpine meadows, temperate forest and warm broadleaf forest.
Out of the total 46 species of Rhododendrons in the country, the Sanctuary has 41 species of Rhododendrons growing in the wild and is popularly known as the “Paradise of Rhododendrons” in the country which is very much similar to the Garden of Eden in the west. The forest contains 203 tree species including herbs, shrubs, and small trees. The Sanctuary is also famous for faunal diversity harbouring globally threatened and endangered species like the Red panda, Himalayan serow, Wild dog, Goral, Common leopard, Capped langur, Himalayan black bear, Musk deer and Jungle cat to name a few. There are 20 species of mammal species and 147 species of bird species.
Journey into Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, a unique highland ecosystem. Spend the day immersed in Brokpa life—yak herding traditions, local cuisine, storytelling, and a pace of life shaped by the mountains.

08:

Sakteng – Trashigang

Return to Trashigang, carrying with you the spirit of Eastern Bhutan—untouched landscapes, strong communities, and a culture deeply rooted in nature.

09-10:

Optional Exit Routes 1

Option 1:

Day 09: Domestic Return

Fly from Trashigang to Paro

Day 10: Departure from Paro

09-10:

Optional Exit Routes 2

Option 2:

Day 09: Overland Exit via India

Travel to Samdrup Jongkhar

Day 10: Exit via Guwahati

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)
SDF
Trying out of traditional Bhutan attire
Domestic flight
Brokpa attire

Cost exclusion

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

Trip Facts

Trip Duration 10 Days & 9 Nights

Trek Distance Paro, Thimphu, Punakha & Trashigang

Trip Price $3001

Single Supplement $378

Max. Altitude 3500 to 4000m above sea level

Entry Paro, Bhutan

Exits Optional Guwahati (India) or Paro, Bhutan

Festival Date 3rd to 9th April Annually

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Ugyen Choden Media & Marketing

Ask our
travel expert to start
planning your
tailor-made holiday

Connect With Our Experts or Arrange a Video Appointment For Ideas & Advice.

Ask our Travel Expert

Trip gallery

Some snapshots during past trips

View

View

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.

Explore other Hotels in Bhutan

5 Star Hotels

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 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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. .
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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! 🙏🙏
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   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