The success of the Centenary Celebrations is dependent upon the commitment and involvement of the tours operators, our outside promoters, and friends of Bhutan.

Comments, Feedback, Suggestions, Ideas and Assistance from our Partners abroad are most WELCOME. Besides the below mentioned programs which will be organized by the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators, there will be many other programs arranged by different organizations and celebrations will go on throughout the year in different parts of the Kingdom.

1. Royal Heritage Tour & Trek : The history of the royal family and its heritage are of great significance and can be utilized as a tourist attraction. Heritage tours and trails are popular tourism products amongst cultural travelers. Currently, the majority of tourists visit Bhutan for its unique culture. To commemorate the past 100 years of the Monarchy's royal heritage and historic travel routes within the Kingdom of Bhutan, two tourism products have been identified, Royal Heritage Tour and Royal Heritage Trek. Developing these tourism products will attract national and international tourists.

A. Royal Heritage Tour - The tour will utilize the historic route the royal family used to travel from East to West. Palaces, Dzongs, and other places along the old route in relation to the history of the monarchy will be improved and opened. Districts included: Mongar, Lhuentse, Bumthang, Trongsa & Punakha.

B. Royal Heritage Trek - A trek that traces the historical route the royal family used when moving from the summer residence, Domkhar Tashichholing in Bumthang, to the winter residence, Kuenga Rabten Palace in Trongsa. If feasible, re-enactment of the route with traditional clothes worn and other components that are authentic to take place i.e., music, transportation, foods, etc. Districts included: Bumthang and Trongsa.

2. Bhutan Cultural Festivals : The Bhutan Cultural Festivals (BCF) will showcase the clothing, textiles, handicrafts, living quarters, and food of a variety of cultures throughout Bhutan throughout a 3-5 day period. The good is to celebrate the diverse and unique cultures that have remained intact for centuries. The 100th year is the ideal point in time to invite the Bhutanese to express their cultural heritage and vitality. Two - four festivals will be organized within different districts and each festival will act as the "center" for tourists to explore villages and cultural attractions in the outlying areas. Each district will be invited to participate and display their cultural groups. BCF is proposed to be held on shoulder season months and possible site locations include Trashi Yangtse (North-East Bhutan), Paro, Bumthang and Thimphu.

3. Traditional Sports Festivals : A 3-day annual event that displays and involves tourists in the traditional sports of Khuru (Dart) and Degor, Archery, Kanjur, Lingkor, as well as competition of rice and butter measurement and grinding. The event will feature traditional meals and traditions that accompany Bhutanese sporting competitions. Proposed to be held in January or February and proposed site location in Punakha with assistance from Wangdue.

4. Community Based Tourism (CBT) – Low Altitude Trek (LAT) : CBT-LAT distributes the benefit of tourism to rural areas, highlights the natural and cultural attractions in areas not currently visited, and creates new tourism products. Current product ideas include, 1) 1-3 day trek in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (North-East Bhutan), 2) Trek in Merak-Sakten (Yak Herder’s Villages In North-East Bhutan) which is strictly closed to tourist at present, 3) Day hikes in Dungkhar & Khoma in Lhuentse, where the most beautiful and most expensive traditional dresses are woven, 4) Day walk in weaving villages, Khaling, East Bhutan, 5) Day walk in weaving villages of Radhi-Tshangkhar, Pakilling and Dekilling in Trashigang district, 6) Trek from Lingmethang – Zhemgang, 7) Trek from Lhuntse – Yangtse, 8) Trek from Drametse – Mongar.

5. Great Himalaya Trail : A 45-day trekking trail from the West (Doka La) to the East (Trashi Yangtse). The trail will connect the existing high altitude main trekking routes to new trails and trails which need improvement added exit and entry points, e.g. Haa – Paro Trek/Snowmen Trek/Rodungla Trek/Tangmachu – Yangtse Trek. The idea is to run the entire trek on at least 1 – 2 established dates. Tourists can join the groups for shorter or longer parts of the whole trekking trail. In the villages enroute, the trekkers will enjoy an authentic welcoming by the small local village visited – i.e., local drink, food, handicraft, celebrations, dances, blessings and so on.