For those who don’t just want to observe, but want to experience, create, and truly understand the patience and skill required to make traditional Bhutanese art and craft—this experience offers something deeply meaningful.
Curated by Breathe Bhutan, this hands-on cultural experience in Thimphu takes you into the heart of Bhutan’s living traditions at the Choki Traditional Art School. Here, you move beyond sightseeing and step into the role of a creator, learning directly from students and artisans who are preserving the traditions.
Where Culture Becomes Personal
At Choki Traditional Art School, guests sit side by side with young Bhutanese students, learning techniques that have been passed down through generations. Every moment is immersive—every creation is your own.
This is not about watching from a distance.
This is about engaging, learning, and doing.
The Menu: What You Can Do (Workshops, Duration & Price)
Guests can choose from a range of hands-on workshops depending on their interests and time:
1. Tsa-Tsa Making & Painting
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: USD 25 per person
Discover the sacred art of creating clay votives used in Buddhist traditions. Shape and paint your own piece while learning the deeper spiritual meaning behind it. A calm and meditative experience.
2. Atsara Mask Making & Painting
Duration: 120 minutes
Price: USD 30 per person
Create your own Atsara mask—the playful and symbolic figure seen in Bhutanese festivals. This experience is lively, expressive, and filled with storytelling.
3. Prayer Flag Printing (Dar-Pa)
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: USD 25 per person
Print your own prayer flags using traditional woodblock techniques. Learn the meaning of colors and elements, and take home a blessed, meaningful souvenir.
4. Bamboo Crafting
Duration: 120 minutes
Price: USD 30 per person
Work with sustainably sourced bamboo to create functional items like coasters or keychains. A perfect blend of tradition and sustainability.
5. Natural Dye & Canvas Experience
Duration: 120 minutes
Price: USD 35 per person
Explore plant-based dyes and create your own canvas artwork. This experience connects creativity with nature and traditional knowledge.
6. Bhutanese Traditional Painting (Lhazo)
Duration: 120 minutes
Price: USD 35 per person
Learn traditional painting techniques and create artwork featuring auspicious Bhutanese symbols. A refined and deeply cultural artistic experience.
More Than an Experience — A Meaningful Contribution
Choki Traditional Art School is a not-for-profit organization, and all revenue from these experiences goes directly toward:
- Providing free schooling and materials to students
- Providing free boarding and meals
- Preserving Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts
By participating, you are not just learning—you are contributing to sustaining Bhutan’s cultural heritage and supporting the next generation of artisans.
Why This Experience Matters
In Bhutan, tradition is not something preserved behind glass—it is lived, practiced, and shared.
This experience allows you to slow down, connect deeply, and appreciate the dedication, patience, and skill behind every piece of Bhutanese art.
If you are seeking something authentic, immersive, and meaningful in Bhutan, this is an experience that stays with you long after you leave.
Not just something to see.
Something to do.
Something to understand.
Only with Breathe Bhutan.
