Archery
Bhutan's national sport: long-distance matches with bamboo and modern bows, full of songs, dances and good-natured teasing.
Overview
Archery, or datse, was declared the national sport of Bhutan in 1971, the year the country joined the United Nations. On almost any weekend you will find a match somewhere: in a town field, a village clearing or at the grounds in Thimphu.
The targets stand roughly 140 metres apart, far beyond the distance used in Olympic archery. When an archer hits the target, teammates break into a short dance and song, while the other side shouts to put the next archer off. Tournaments often go on for days and are as much a social occasion as a contest.
What to expect
Your guide will find out where matches are being held while you travel. Watch from a safe spot beside the range. With the help of a local archer you can also try shooting at a closer target.
Where in Bhutan
When to go
Matches take place all year, with the biggest tournaments often timed around Losar, the Bhutanese new year, and local festivals.
Good to know
- Always stand where your guide shows you: arrows travel fast over a long range
- Ask before photographing archers up close
- You may also see khuru, a game of heavy darts thrown at a smaller target
More experiences
Hot Stone Bath
Bhutan's traditional farmhouse bath: river stones heated in a fire and lowered into a wooden tub of water and wild herbs.
Homestays
A night with a Bhutanese family in a village farmhouse, sharing their meals, their fire and their daily routine.
Bhutanese Food
Chillies as a vegetable, cheese in almost everything, red rice and butter tea: a guide to what you will eat in Bhutan and what to try.
Buddhist Heritage
Monasteries, temples and fortress-monasteries shaped by more than twelve centuries of Buddhism, and still at the heart of daily life.
Build a journey around what you love
Tell us which experiences matter most to you. We will plan the route, the timing and the local hosts.