Druk Path Trek

Upon arrival in Paro, you will be received by our guides and driven to visit the National Museum of Bhutan with excellent displays of all facets of the country’s rich cultural history. The winding road that leads up to the museum offers a good view of the Paro valley below. Also visit Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress on the heap of jewels) dating back to 17th century. The Dzongs’ structure is vast and full of colors. In the past, Dzongs acted as strongholds, protecting the valley’s inhabitants in times of war against Tibetans and internal rebellions. Today, it serves as the center for administrative and monastic life and they also house the offices of the local government and the resident monk body. Hike to the cantilevered bridge and drive to the hotel after lunch in a local restaurant in Paro town.

Today, we will hike to the most sacred site in Bhutan: Taktsang or the Tiger’s Nest Temple at more than 3000 meter / 10,000 feet. Visible from afar, this stunning monastery clings to a vertical granite cliff 2,500ft / 700m above the valley floor and it is the most popular destination for the travelers around the world. Even to this day, revered monks and saints come up here to offer their prayers and get blessings from Guru Rimpochey who in the 8th century is believed to have ridden on a back of a tigress and landed here, meditated here for six months, and introduced Buddhism in the valley.

Distance: 5miles / 9kms
Time: 4 – 5 hours
Elevation gain: 700m / 2,300ft
Elevation loss: 700m / 2,300ft

Drive up to the village of Damchena from your hotel for about 1 ½ Hours. And then start your trek from here bpassing by a lone Mani wall, gradually climbing up for about 2 ½ hours through a forest of blue pine and silver birch. Just above the tree line we reach an alpine glade and the Jili La (3580m / 11750ft) with excellent views back down towards the Paro Valley. We will visit the Jili Dzong, an impressive fort & monastery with panoramic views. In the vicinity of the Dzong there are many prayer flags hung from commemorative poles that reflect the ancient Buddhist beliefs that extend across the ridge tops of Bhutan.

Afternoon, we continue walking along the wooded crest high above the Paro Valley through conifer and rhododendron forest while numerous orchids, ferns and wildflowers line the trail. To the north we will sight the snowcapped peak of Chomolhari in the distance. On this route we will also pass through a number of yak herders settlements who, like their counterparts in Southern Tibet, live in woven yak wool tents throughout the summer months. Our camp at Jangchulakha which is also used as the grazing grounds by yak herders is in a fine location overlooking the intermediary valley between the Paro and Thimphu valleys.

Distance: 10.5miles / 17kms
Time: 8hours
Elevation gain: 1,350m / 4,450ft
Elevation loss: 70m / 230ft  

This morning we will embark on a strenuous climb up for about 2 hours until we reach the top and continue north along alpine ridge. En route we cross a series of small passes in the vicinity of (4050m / 13,285ft) with each pass marked by a stone memorial and with abundance of prayer flags. From the passes there are also great views of many of the peaks that form the border with Tibet. We keep walking along the ridge rest of the afternoon until Jimi langtsho lake comes into view. To reach the lake we undertake a long and gradual descent taking an hour or so, at first across alpine meadows and then through rhododendron and conifer forest to this wonderful campsite by the side of the lake below. The lake is famous for the brown trouts.

Distance: 6.8miles / 11kms                                                     
Time: 5 – 6 hours
Elevation gain: 330m / 1,090ft                                                 
Elevation loss:230m / 760ft

The trail today ascends through juniper and dwarf rhododendron forest before traversing through a series of Yak grazing meadows. It takes around three hours to reach the secluded encampment of Janye Tsho (3950m / 12,956 ft) and a fine place for a break. After that the trail continues with short ascents and descents until we make it to another beautiful Simkotra Tsho lake from where you can view the Jili Dzong and the ridge line you trekked along a few days earlier. As you trek along you will enjoy and marvel at the pristine environment around. Further we continue on ascending and descending until we reach to Labana, another yak herder’s campsite. There are few lakes around and we will see the trail that goes up to Pumola, the highest point on our trek.

Distance: 9.5miles / 15kms                                            
Time: 7 hours
Elevation gain: 820m / 2,700ft                                       
Elevation loss: 400m / 1,320ft

In the morning we will climb up to Pumola (4,200m / 13,530ft) pass leading towards the Thimphu Valley. En route we pass a number of yak herders settlements and alpine lakes before reaching the Pumo La (4200m), the highest point on our trek from where we appreciate the vast sprawl of the Thimphu capital city. We continue our descent to a campsite near Phajoding Goemba (3650m / 12,000 ft). This is a beautiful 12th century Buddhist monastery and an important pilgrimage site for the Bhutanese people. From Phajoding the trail descends steeply down passing through mixed forest for a about 2 hours to reach the valley floor in Motithang, the land of pearls where Yangphel trek reception awaits. Our car will pick us up from here and take us to the hotel nearby.

Distance: 6.2miles / 16kms
Time: 7 – 8 hours
Elevation gain: 150m / 495ft
Elevation loss: 1,200m / 3,960ft

We spend this morning exploring the the capital city of Thimphu. Visit the Textile Museum, where Bhutan’s finest weavings and brocades of Royals are on display. Also there’s a Memorial Stupa nestled in the heart of the city designed in a Tibetan style. You will observe Bhutanese people from all walks of life circumambulating the stupa and offering their prayers. Today every religious event in the city is organized at the Chorten here.

After lunch, we journey towards the warmer valleys of Punakha which until 1960’s was the capital of Bhutan. Enroute we stop at Dochula pass (3,000m / 10,000 ft) marked by 108 mini-stupas and many prayer flags with a most impressive panoramic views of the eastern Himalayas in the backdrop. Visit Chimi Lhakhang, referred to as the Temple of fertility attributed to the popular Divine Mad monk, the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners. Settle into our hotel and enjoy dinner together at the hotel with great views of the Dzong.

This morning we will embark on an invigorating short hike to our Kings temple – the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Stupa situated spectacularly on a hill. Once on the top you will be rewarded for your efforts with incredible views of the fertile valley and the Mochhu River meandering below. Afternoon you will be treated with a picnic lunch by the banks of the Mochhu River. Late afternoon visit to Punakha Dzong, an impressive fortress guarding the southern end of the valley at the confluence of the Pho (male) and Mo (female) rivers. As you move around you will admire the impressive, colorful and detailed artistry of the surroundings, including huge statues of Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and the Zhabdrung, as well as paintings of one-thousand Buddhas in one of the shrine you will visit. Time permitting, we will visit the longest suspension bridge before we end up back at the hotel.

Retrace our journey by travelling back to Thimphu via the Dochula pass again. We will visit the the world’s biggest statue of Buddha built to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world. National Institute for Zorig Chusum (Painting School) is a photographers’ dream and it’s hard not to be impressed with the skill and discipline of the young students undergoing rigorous training for six years. 

After a sumptuous lunch in Thimphu, we will drive for an hour or a bit longer to Paro town for some last minute shopping for souvenirs. Today is your farewell dinner at teh hotel where you will be joined by guides & drivers. Also it is an opportunity to treat yourself to spa getting ready to leave on the long journey home.

In the morning our guides & driver will take you to Paro airport. Your guide and driver will bid their farewells from the entry gates. We hope you had a wonderful time in Bhutan with us. Hope to keep intouch and seeing you again in near future.

Tashi Delek!