Public Holidays in Bhutan
Statutory public holidays in Bhutan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bhutan at a glance
Bhutan’s public holidays follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, so most dates fall differently each Gregorian year. Tshechus, the masked dance festivals held at district monasteries, are the centrepiece of the calendar.
National Day on 17 December and the winter solstice are the main fixed dates, while the Paro and Thimphu tshechus draw the largest crowds.
Bhutan public holidays 2025
Bhutan has 16 public holidays in 2025 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Day of Offering | Jan 30Thu | National |
| Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King | Feb 21Fri | National |
| Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King | Feb 22Sat | National |
| Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King | Feb 23Sun | National |
| Losar | Feb 28Fri | National |
| Losar | Mar 1Sat | National |
| Birth Anniversary of the 3rd Druk Gyalpo | May 2Fri | National |
| Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung | May 7Wed | National |
| Lord Buddha's Parinirvana | Jun 11Wed | National |
| Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche | Jul 5Sat | National |
| First Sermon of Lord Buddha | Jul 28Mon | National |
| Blessed Rainy Day | Sep 23Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2025.
Major cities in Bhutan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bhutan.
Thimphu
The world's only capital without traffic lights, where dzongs sit beside weekend markets and archery grounds.
Paro
A fertile valley holding the international airport and the country's most famous monastery.
Punakha
The old capital at the confluence of two rivers, warmer than Thimphu and ringed by rice terraces.
Phuentsholing
The southern gateway town on the Indian border, with a busy trading street.
Bumthang
A cluster of high valleys holding some of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries.
Top attractions in Bhutan
The places that draw most visitors to Bhutan.
Paro Taktsang
The Tiger's Nest monastery clinging to a 900-metre cliff face above the Paro valley.
Punakha Dzong
A whitewashed dzong between two rivers, among the most photographed in the country.
Dochula Pass
A 3,100-metre pass with 108 chortens and views across the eastern Himalaya.
Buddha Dordenma
A colossal gilded bronze Buddha on a ridge above Thimphu.
Gangtey Monastery
A Nyingma monastery in the Phobjikha valley, winter home of the black-necked crane.
Chimi Lhakhang
A fertility temple built by the Divine Madman, reached on foot across rice fields.
Festivals, food and getting around Bhutan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
Winter Solstice (Nyilo)
Falls on Jan 2
-
🎉
Traditional Day of Offerings
Falls on Jan 30
-
🎉
King's Birthday
Falls on Feb 21
-
🎉
King's Birthday Holiday
Falls on Feb 22
-
🎉
King's Birthday Holiday
Falls on Feb 23
-
🎉
Losar (New Year)
Falls on Feb 28
Food & drink
Getting around
A single east-west highway carries all road traffic through the mountains, so journeys take far longer than the distances suggest.
Travelling around Bhutan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bhutan tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Bhutan's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Bhutan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bhutan have?
Bhutan has 16 public holidays in 2025, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2025 list?
The complete 2025 calendar for Bhutan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bhutan's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Bhutan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bhutan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bhutan?
Calendars are published for 2025.
School holidays in Bhutan
School term dates in Bhutan
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.