- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Booking
- FAQ
No details found.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrive at Paro
Flying in to the country’s only airport, in the beautiful Paro valley, the clear mountain air, forested ridges, imposing monasteries and welcoming Bhutanese people in their striking national dress, provides a breath-taking first impression.
Your guide will meet you at the airport. A fifteen-minute drive follows the narrow winding road to our hotel, which are traditional Bhutanese buildings with attractive gardens and an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Ta-Dzong, which was built in 1651 as a watchtower for the Rinpung Dzong. Since 1967, the watchtower has served as the home of the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, ancient relics and religious artifacts. Next in line, we will visit Rinpung Dzong built by Shabdrung in 1646, the Dzong houses, the monastic body of Paro and its district administration. If there is time, we will walk along the small main street of Paro in the evening with its typical Bhutanese shops and small lodges.
Altitude at Paro: 2300m
Overnight: Hotel in Paro
Day 2
Hike to Tiger’s Nest
Hike to the world famous cliff-hermitage called Taktsang, the “Tiger’s Nest.” This monastic retreat is built into a sheer cliff face high above the Paro valley. Legend has it that the Tibetan Buddhist saint Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and landed here, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.
Altitude at Paro: 2300m
Overnight: Hotel in Paro
Day 3
Gunitsawa –Thangthangka
Drive up to Gunitsawa (2850m) where the road ends and the trek begin. The trail follows Pachu with lots of small ups and downs through the thick conifer forest of the Jigme Dorji National Park. The valley finally narrows gradually to a mere path, which ascends to a meadow where a camp will be set up. From here, if weather permits, you will have the first great view of Mount Jhomolhari.
Camp: Thangthangka (3610m)
Day 4
Thangthangka – Jangothang
If you did not see Mount Jomolhari last evening, you will have a great chance to get a great view this early morning. This morning, the trek continues up the Pachu valley that widens into patches of alpine meadow and meager growths of forest. Cross an army outpost along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. Yaks and the herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Passing the villages Soe, Takethang and Dangochang is another asset on this day. Reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, you will again have a spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari.
Camp: Base Camp (4080m)
Day 5
Halt at Jangothang
The day in Jangothang provides plenty of possibilities for day hikes with great views on lakes and snow capped mountains such as Jomolhari and Jichu Drake. There are good chances to spot some blue sheep on the upper slopes of the valley. Base Camp is a perfect environment for your acclimatization. There are good short hiking trails in three directions. Jomolhari and its subsidiary mountain chains lay directly west, Jichu Drake to the north and a number of unclimbed peaks to the east or trek up to Tsophu (Twin lakes).
Camp: Base Camp (4080m)
Day 6
Jangothang - Lingshi
After about 15 minutes from the camp the trail climbs rapidly for about half an hour and then becomes a gradual ascend to the Nyilila pass at 4,870m. While on the climb enjoy the surrounding. You might see herds of blue sheep grazing on the slopes of the mountains. From the pass you will have spectacular views of Mt. Jhomolhari, Jichu Drake and Tsherimgang, all of them rising above 7,000m. On the way down to the camp you will pass by some of the yak herder’s tent, made from yak wool, where the herders take shelter while on the move to various pastures for their yaks. As you come down into the Lingshi basin, you get a wonderful view of Lingshi Dzong on a clear day. Tserimgang and its glaciers rise up at the north end of the valley. The campsite is next to a stone hut you reach just before Lingshi Dzong.
Camp: Lingshi (4010m)
Day 7
Lingshi – Shodu
Today, we will be following one of the tributaries of Mo Chu River of Punakha for the most of the day till we reach Yale La pass (4500m).
From the pass, on a clear day we can have a stunning view of the snow capped mountains and the lakes below. The trek from the pass to the campsite at Shodu is downhill following one of the tributaries of Thimphu River.
Camp: Shodu (4080m)
Day 8
Shodu - Shomthang
So far, we’re on normal and regular Jomolhari Trekking Route but from here, we will be on our own as we leave the main route and set off on to the path less traveled.
The trail initially traverses through fir and hemlock forests till we come out of it to the alpine meadow and tackle the long and gradual ascent to Lhede La pass at 4800m. The view from here is no less striking. Our campsite at Shomthang is not so far from here.
Camp: Shomthang (4300m)
Day 9
Shomthang – Nabtsho
We start the day with an easy downhill walk following the trail that is well used by the yaks and its herders into the beautiful Takeethang Valley. We cross the stream and climb up a bit through firs and rhododendrons to go down to another stream. The trail then traverses through the conifer forest for a while and leads up above the tree line with a long steep climb. Once out of the woods, the climb is less strenuous and pretty much gradual till our camp.
Camp: Nabtsho (4300m)
Day 10
Nabtsho – Dungtsho
We traverse to Yusa La (4280 m) following the yak’s path whereas our horses will have to go down to the lake below our camp following the previous day’s path and then come up to Yusa La because that stretch of path we are following is rough and difficult for the horses. From Yusa La, we make a steep descent of about 200m to the base of Rangtha Ja (name of the cliff) where there is a fork. Keep left and ascend gradually to Dungtsho La (4270m). Our campsite is just about half an hour’s trek from here through the narrow and rocky path.
Camp: Dungtsho (4100m)
Day 11
Dungtsho – Thimphu
The day begins with a short gradual climb along the rocky trail till it gets level for a while and then there is a short descent before you climb up to Phume La (4210m). From here, it’s just under an hours walk to the edge of the ridge, which is marked by the Chorten, and a grove of fluttering prayer flags. On a clear day, one can have the views of long chain of snow covered mountains, and Thimphu valley underneath. From here, we have a long downhill walk to Thimphu passing Thujidrag temple, a retreat center that hangs on the side of a precipitous rock face and some temples at Phajoding (3870m).
Altitude at Thimphu: 2400m
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
Day 12
Thimphu
Thimphu is perhaps the most unusual capital city in the world, is the seat of government, home to Bhutan’s royal family, the civil service, and foreign missions with representation in Bhutan. It is also the headquarters for a number of internationally funded development projects.
The sightseeing in Thimphu includes visit to the following places;
National Memorial Chorten
Completed in 1974 after our 3rd Kings’s untimely death, it is both a memorial to the Late King (“the father of modern Bhutan”), and a monument to peace.
Buddha Dordenma Statue
This massive statue of Shakyamuni measures in at a height of 51.5 meters, making it one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold. The throne that the Buddha Dordenma sits upon is a large meditation hall.
Motithang Takin Preserve
Our National animal Golden Takin is preserved
Tashichhodzong
The “fortress of the glorious religion” was initially erected in 1641 and rebuilt by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk in the 1960s. Tashichhodzong houses the main secretariat building, throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan.
Altitude at Thimphu: 2400m
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu
Day 13
Departure
After breakfast in the hotel, drive to the airport in time to catch up your onward flight.
- Porter
- Meals
- Camping tents & amenities
- Clothing
- Helicopter rescue
No Details Found
There are no reviews yet.