+975 16100009
shalomadventuretours@gmail.com
Upper Babesa,Thimphu Bhutan
11001
Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sat - Sun: 10:00 AM - 4:00
PM
Bhutan is one of the last places on earth where the ancient arts of the Himalayas are not merely preserved in museums, but are living traditions practised daily by skilled artisans across the country. The government officially recognises 13 traditional arts and crafts — known collectively as Zorig Chusum — which encompass everything from the intricate embroidery of tshem du to the bold geometric patterns of thagzo (weaving) and the meditative precision of lhadri (thangka painting).
This 7-day tour immerses you in Bhutan's artisanal world. You will visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu, where students spend six years mastering their craft under monastic guidance. You will sit with master weavers in the villages of Bumthang, watch bronze-casters at work in Paro, and try your hand at traditional paper-making at Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory using the bark of the Daphne plant — the same paper used for official documents and sacred texts in Bhutan.
A deeply personal and culturally enriching experience, this tour is ideal for those with a passion for art, craft, history, and the living traditions of the Himalayan world.
Arrive in Paro and visit Rinpung Dzong — a masterpiece of Bhutanese architecture featuring elaborate woodwork, murals, and stonework. Visit the National Museum of Bhutan (Ta Dzong) to understand the depth and breadth of Bhutanese art history. Evening welcome dinner at a traditional farmhouse restaurant. Overnight in Paro.
Morning visit to local woodcarving workshops where craftsmen carve intricate religious motifs — dragons, lotus flowers, and Buddhist symbols — into doors, furniture, and ritual objects. Afternoon at a Paro bronze casting studio where sacred statues of deities are cast using the ancient lost-wax method. Overnight in Paro.
Drive to Thimphu and visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum — the premier school for traditional arts. Watch students practise lhadri (thangka painting), tshem du (embroidery), dozo (stonework), and shagzo (woodturning). Each student commits six years to mastering their discipline. Afternoon visit to Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory — try making traditional Daphne bark paper. Overnight in Thimphu.
Morning visit to the National Textile Museum — home to an extraordinary collection of Bhutanese fabrics, royal ceremonial clothing, and rare antique textiles. Afternoon drive to a weaving village near Thimphu where women weave elaborate Kishuthara (silk) and Yathra (wool) on traditional backstrap looms — techniques passed from mother to daughter for centuries. Overnight in Thimphu.
Scenic drive over the Black Mountains to Bumthang. En route, stop at Chhume valley — famous throughout Bhutan for its Yathra (woolly striped cloth) weavers. Visit a family workshop and see how wool is hand-spun, naturally dyed, and woven. Evening visit to the Swiss Farm at Bumthang — the only cheese factory in Bhutan, making varieties including the famous Bhutanese hard curd (chhurpi). Overnight in Bumthang.
Visit Tamshing Monastery, famous for its 16th-century wall murals — among the finest examples of traditional Bhutanese religious painting. Meet the resident monk-artist who maintains these ancient traditions. Afternoon visit to a mask-making atelier where craftsmen carve and paint the elaborate wooden and papier-mâché masks used in the Cham dances of Bhutanese festivals. Farewell dinner in Bumthang. Overnight in Bumthang.
Morning drive from Bumthang back to Paro. Stop at the Handicrafts Emporium in Thimphu for last-minute shopping — thangkas, woven textiles, hand-carved bowls, and incense. Transfer to Paro airport for your international departure, taking with you a rich understanding of one of Asia's most vibrant living craft traditions.
