Ura Yakchoe is a beautiful summer festival conducted in the valley of Ura at Bumthang. Yakchoe literally means Yak offering.It is likely that the festival had animalistic origins before it was turned into a Buddhist ceremony.Even today , archaic rituals are performed during the festival by the priest dressed as the Bonpo to invoke the cattle god.
The Ura Yakchoe Festival is an interesting event to witness . It projects Bhutan’s effort to preserve Bhutan’s culture along with modernity. The festival begins with a long procession from Gaden (the seat of Ura’s local lama) to Ura. The procession passes through meadows , brooks which provide a magnificent backdrop to the event. Having arrived in the Ura valley , the festival begins with rituals of exorcism , followed by several dozens of sacred dances impregnated with deep spiritual wisdom, folk dances and the event continues for 5 days.
This tour takes you to central Bhutan. In this tour along with the Ura Yakchoe festival you will be able to enjoy stunning landscapes, cultural sightseeing sites and ancient temples.
Package Details :
Duration : 09 Nights / 10 Days
Destination Covered : Paro- Thimphu-Punakha-Wangdi (Gangtey) - Trongsa - Bumthng - Ura Valley..
Read Customer Reviews
5.0 / 3 Reviews
Terry Buss
United Kingdom
I was expecting the reviews for Bhutan Best Inbound Tours to be too good to be true. However, for customer service, organisation and general awesome tours of Bhutan, they far exceeded all the reviews.
Mr. Thinley was excellent from start to finish, ensuring from the first enquiring email to checking us in for our flight home, that we enjoyed every moment of our visit to Bhutan. Our hotels were beautiful, with some of the nicest rooms and greatest views I've ever had. All the activities fulfilled all of our desires for our visit and we got to see the Bhutan we'd always wanted to thanks to the help of Mr. Thinley and the team at Bhutan Best Inbound.
Even when due to unforseen circumstances my wife and I were unable to fly on the day we were supposed to come to Bhutan, the Bhutan Best Inbound team moved heaven and Earth to get us there 2 days later, and ensure we had our full time in Bhutan at no extra cost to ourselves.
Our guides for the week Pema and Phurba were also fantastic. They were both extremely sincere in their wish to ensure we had the best possible stay and knew everything we wanted to about Bhutan. They were great fun to spend the week with and always so helpful and understanding. We were both very sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the week.
I can not recommend Best Bhutan Inbound Tours enough. They are trustworthy and extremely helpful.
Tamsin Clark
New Zealand
We travelled to Bhutan in April and had a wonderful experience with great tour guide and driver. No need was too great, we were looked after the entire journey above and beyond. We enjoyed our homestay and especially our monastery stay. Bhutan is a very beautiful experience. Everything was at our place. The guide was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. Would highly recommend.
Nikhil Bal
Singapore
Our recent trip to Bhutan was amazing. We have been looking forward to the trip for the longest time.
But we never really expected to meet 2 amazing people during our trip and they are non other than Dorji our guide and Tenzin who was driving us around. They showed us what great service was taking extremely good care of us not just as guests in Bhutan but also as good friends. The 6 days that we spent with them went by like a breeze as we spent our time together during long drives and treks talking about so many varied topics. The were always punctual and never complained about the many stops we made for pics. In fact Tenzin took the best pics for us.
Both my hubby and I are vegetarians and sometimes we did not quite like the Indian food or limited vegetarian options they had in the hotels that we stayed. Tenzin knew the best Chinese and Bhutanese restaurants and made arrangements for delicious lunches and dinners for us. They also arranged for farmhouse meals on many occasions which allowed us to experience the local homes and living.
Tenzin made us feel safe on the long trips by road as he was extremely skillful at driving. Both Dorji and Tenzin never allowed us to open the car doors and always insisted that they do it for us. Both of them are very kind and courteous. They also made sure we drank enough water and had enough rest to acclimatize to the high altitude and thin air. Dorji always said his morning prayers for our safety and happiness on our journey.
I recently injured my knee and tore my meniscus and was very worried about out last trek to Tiger's Nest. Both of them continued to encourage me. On the day of the trek when we were at base, we were wondering if I needed a walking stick. Tenzin said confidently that it was not required and pointed to his arms and said.. " this is your waking stick". I was really touched. Through out the trek both of them continued to encourage me and held onto me to support me up the steep walking path. They carried our bags ad drinking water and jackets. They made sure I made it to Tiger's Nest and I will remain grateful to both of them without whom I may not have completed my divine journey to the monastery. They were truly GOD sent!
We have been on many travels over the years to far and near. We have met a few beautiful people who have touched our lives. Dorji and Tenzin will surely be on our minds and close to our hearts. We hope to meet them again. Since we have become friends and will certainly keep in touch to share our live journey and experiences.
GOD bless you both Dorji and Tenzin and thank you for being beautiful people who show loving kindness and compassion.
Highlights
Festival Date
Tour Highlights
Explore the western regions of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, and Phobjikha
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Hike to the spectacular Tiger's Nest Monastery
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Take an invigorating walk to Tachog Lhakhang on the way to Thimphu
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Stroll through the bustling little city of Thimphu
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Enjoy the view of the Himalayan ranges at Dochula pass
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Walk to the temple of fertility through the traditional village of Sopsokha
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Enjoy the intricate pattern of Punakha Dzong
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Have picnic lunch at Jigme Dorji National Park
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Explore the Gangtey Nature Trail Hike
Unveil the treasures of Central Bhutan in Trongsa and Bumthang:
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Capture the enchanting landscapes of Bumthang Valley, Bhutan's spiritual heartland.
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Immerse yourself in the pristine air, rejuvenating your lungs with every breath.
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Explore ancient Lhakhangs and uncover their mystical legends.
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Marvel at the majestic Trongsa Dzong, a symbol of Bhutanese grandeur.
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Experience the beauty and spirituality of Bumthang Valley, often called the "Switzerland of the East," and home to esteemed Buddhist teachers.
Cultural Experience
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Hoisting of prayer flags high in the mountains – as per your birth an astrologer will consult the Divination Charts and accordingly your guide will purchase the appropriate prayer flags that most benefit and protect you
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Explore the picturesque village of Talo and the famous phallus village
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Immerse in traditional farmhouse life
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Engage with friendly locals and learn about their culture
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Discover the myth of the divine madman
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Participate in a meaningful 108 Butter lamp offering
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Indulge in a rejuvenating traditional hot stone bath
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Try your hand at traditional archery games