A butter lamp offering is one of the simplest and most moving rituals in Bhutan. Families light lamps to bring light, wisdom and good fortune to themselves and to all living beings.
With your guide, you can light lamps in a temple and then hang your own prayer flags on a windy pass, so the wind carries your wishes across the valleys.
In the temple, a caretaker helps you light a row of lamps while your guide explains the prayers. Many guests dedicate the lamps to a loved one.
Then you drive to a mountain pass, such as Dochula or Chele La, to hang a string of prayer flags. Your guide explains what each colour means: blue for sky, white for air, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth.
Like every part of your trip, this experience is private, with your own guide and driver. We plan it around your pace, the weather and local events, and your guide translates and explains the meaning behind everything you see, so you always feel welcome.
It fits beautifully into our 7-day Bhutan itinerary, with prayer flags on Dochula, or into our Bumthang tour. You can also pick it on our curate your own trip page, and we will fit it into the right day. For more ideas, see all our Bhutan cultural activities.
For temple etiquette, see Bhutan’s official tourism site.
Yes. Bhutanese people welcome visitors who join with respect.
Yes. Many guests dedicate their flags to family or friends.
Every activity can be added to any of our private tours. Tell us what you would like, and we fit it into the right day.
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