Chhomolhari Trek
This trek starts at the Drukgyel Dzong in Paro and passes through scattered hamlets and farmland into deep and richly forested valleys. It then ascends to a high alpine pasture land where yak herders graze their animals. This trek offers a variety of Bhutanese landscape, beauty, and tranquility.
Duration: 12 Days in Length
Difficulty: Moderate
Day One:
Guests will be met at the Paro airport and transferred to the hotel. The evening will be spent visiting the market and town of Paro. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Paro.
Day Two:
Breakfast will be provided at the Paro hotel followed by a morning visit to the National Museum of Bhutan. The museum is housed in the Ta Dzong which was built in the 17th Century as a watchtower to the Paro Dzong and then converted into a museum in 1967. This fascinating museum is home to antique Thangkha paintings, textiles, artifacts, weapons, and Bhutan’s renowned postage stamps from many different centuries.
Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant and in the afternoon we will visit the Paro Kychu Temple – built in the 7th Century. This is one of the oldest temples and one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the kingdom of Bhutan. We will also visit the Drukgyel Dzong ruins. This Dzong was built in the 17th Century but was partially destroyed by a fire. These ruins were featured in National Geographic Magazine in the 1970s.
Dinner will be at our hotel.
Day Three:
After breakfast at our hotel, we will return to the end of the valley near the Drukgyel Dzong where we will begin our trek. The trek will start by going up stream of the Paro River through several Bhutanese villages and will gradually ascend to 2,580 meters at the Camp Shana. The estimated walking time is 5-6 hours and there will be a packed lunch provided on the trail.
Our first night on the trail will be spent at the Shana campground. A hot dinner will be provided in camp.
Day Four:
After breakfast at our campsite, we will start out on our trek along the Paro River. We will ascend and descend through oak and spruce forests. Lunch will be served on the trail. We will end our day at the Soi Thang Thangkha Campground at an altitude of 3,750 meters. Estimated walking time is 9-10 hours. Dinner will be served in the campground.
Day Five:
After breakfast at the campground we will continue on our trek to the Army Camp which is located above the tree line. The stunning views of the surrounding peaks are unbeatable! Hot lunch will be served at a local village. After lunch, we will take a short walk into the valley to the campground of Jangothang at an altitude of 4,040 meters. From here, the view of both Mount Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake is superb. Estimated walking time is 5-6 hours. Dinner will be served in the campground.
Day Six:
After breakfast at the campsite our guests can either spend the day at their leisure around the base of Mount Chhomolhari, or participate in a day hike for another view of the higher peaks of the Himalayas. Lunch and dinner will be provided for all guests regardless of their choice in activities. We will spend a second night at the Jangothang Campsite.
Day Seven:
After breakfast we will start our return trek to Paro back the same way we came. This will allow for additional photo opportunities and sites that may have been missed on the trek in. On this day we will walk to the Shingkharab Campsite. Estimated walking time is 8-9 hours. Lunch will be served on the trail and dinner will be at our campsite.
Day Eight:
After breakfast in the Shingkharab Campsite, we will complete our return trek to Paro. Estimated walking time is 8-9 hours. Lunch will be provided on the trail and dinner will be at our hotel back in Paro.
Day Nine:
After breakfast we will drive approximately 4-5 hours to the Punakha Valley. Here we will visit both the magnificent Punakha Dzong - which was recently renovated in 2003 – and the Chhimi Lhagkhang (The Devine Madman’s Temple). Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Punakha. Dinner and overnight will be at a hotel in Punakha.
Day Ten:
After breakfast at our hotel, we will drive approximately 3 hours to the Bhutan Capital of Thimphu. Here we will spend the entire day visiting the National Library, Painting School, Indigenous Hospital, Handicraft Emporium, and Takin Habitat. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Thimphu. We will return to our hotel in Paro for dinner and a leisure evening.
Day Eleven:
After breakfast at our hotel, we will drive approximately 20 minutes to begin our hike to the famous Taktshang or Tiger’s Nest. We will spend the better part of the day on a leisure trek up to this breathtaking and spiritual temple. Probably the most photographed temple in all of Bhutan. Lunch will be provided at the Taktshang Restaurant on the trail. Time will be provided at the end of the day for any last minute shopping in Paro. Dinner will be at a local restaurant in Paro.
Day Twelve:
Breakfast will be served at the hotel in Paro and transportation to the Paro Airport for the Druk Air flight will be provided.
Laya Trek:
This trek offers a great variety of scenery from picturesque farmland and forests to alpine pastureland and high passes. Evenings will be spent at spectacular campsites under some of Bhutan’s most impressive peaks. There will also be plenty of cultural opportunities to visit local Dzongs and scattered settlements along the way.
Duration: 18 Days in Length
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Day One:
Guests will be met at the Paro airport and transferred to their hotel. The evening will be spent visiting the market and town of Paro. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Paro.
Day Two:
Breakfast will be provided at the Paro hotel followed by a morning visit to the National Museum of Bhutan. The museum is housed in the Ta Dzong which was built in the 17th Century as a watchtower to the Paro Dzong and then converted into a museum in 1967. This fascinating museum is home to antique Thangkha paintings, textiles, artifacts, weapons, and Bhutan’s renowned postage stamps from many different centuries.
Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant and in the afternoon we will visit the Paro Kychu Temple – built in the 7th Century. This is one of the oldest temples and one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the kingdom of Bhutan. We will also visit the Drukgyel Dzong ruins. This Dzong was built in the 17th Century but was partially destroyed by a fire. These ruins were featured in National Geographic Magazine in the 1970s.
* If time permits and the group agrees, we can also visit the famous Taktshang Temple or Tiger’s Nest.
Dinner will be at our hotel.
Day Three:
After breakfast at our hotel, we will return to the end of the valley near the Drukgyel Dzong where we will begin our trek. We will begin our trek by going up stream of the Paro River through several Bhutanese villages and will gradually ascend to 2,580 meters at the Camp Shana. The estimated walking time is 5-6 hours and there will be a packed lunch provided on the trail.
Our first night on the trail will be spent at the Shana campground. A hot dinner will be provided in camp.
Day Four:
After breakfast at our campsite, we will start out on our trek along the Paro River. We will ascend and descend through oak and spruce forests. A hot lunch will be served on the trail. We will end our day at the Soi Thang Thangkha Campground at an altitude of 3,750 meters. Estimated walking time is 9-10 hours. Dinner will be served in the campground.
Day Five:
After breakfast at the campground we will continue on our trek to the Army Camp which is located above the tree line. The stunning views of the surrounding peaks are unbeatable! Hot lunch will be served at a local village. After lunch, a short walk into the valley will take you to the campground of Jangothang at an altitude of 4,040 meters. From here, the view of both Mount Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake is superb. Estimated walking time is 5-6 hours. Dinner will be served in the campground.
Day Six:
After breakfast at the campsite our guests can either spend the day at their leisure around the base of Mount Chhomolhari, or participate in a day hike for another view of the higher peaks of the Himalayas. Lunch and dinner will be provided for all guests regardless of their choice in activities. We will spend a second night at the Jangothang Campsite.
Day Seven:
Breakfast will be served in camp before starting our climb up the ridge for a breathtaking view of a few of Bhutan’s beautiful mountain peaks - Chomolhari, Jichudrake and Tshirim Khang. Part of the trek for this day will be over flat ground until we begin our climb up to 4,700 meters at Nyele-La Pass. We will then gradually descend to the Lingshi Camp (4,000 meters) where we will spend the night. Lunch will be provided on the trail and dinner will be at our campsite. Estimated walking time is 7-8 hours.
Day Eight:
After breakfast at Lingshi Camp, we will have an easy day of walking through villages and yak herder camps and will also take time to visit the Lingshi Dzong. Lunch will be served on the trail. After lunch we will trek for a short distance to the Chebisa Village where we will camp for the night. Estimated walking time is 5-6 hours. Dinner will be served in the Chebisa Village Camp.
Day Nine:
After breakfast in the Chebisa Village Camp we will adventure out on a very steep climb to the ridge of Gubula Pass. (4,500 meters) Estimated walking time is 3-4 hours. Lunch will be served after the pass on the trail. After lunch we will descend through a grove of dwarf rhododendron bushes. The trail will continue in an up and down manner until we cross a beautiful clear stream to our camp for the evening. Estimated walking time is 3-4 hours. We will spend the night at the Shoumuthang Camp where dinner will be served. (4,250 meters)
Day Ten:
After breakfast in the Shoumuthang Camp, we will start our ascent to Jarila Pass (4,600 meters). This part of the trek will offer possible encounters with Blue Sheep, Partridges, as well as many diverse high-altitude flowers. Estimated walking time is 3-4 hours. Lunch will be served on the trail after the pass. After lunch we will descend down the trail to the Tasharijathang Valley. This is the summer residence for the rare Himalayan Takins (national animal of Bhutan). From the Tasharijathang Valley, we will cross a small but deep stream and then begin our ascent to the camp at the Robuthang (4,400 meters). Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. Dinner will be in the Robuthang Camp.
Day Eleven:
After our breakfast in the Robuthang Camp, we will begin another long climb to Shinjela Pass (4,900 meters). This will be the highest point of our trek and the view from this point will be breathtaking as you can see almost the entire eastern section of the Himalayans. Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. Lunch will be served on the trail after the pass and then we will begin our long descent on a very rocky trail to Limithang Camp. Estimated walking time is 3-4 hours. Dinner will be served in the Limithang Camp.
Day Twelve:
In the morning breakfast will be served while we look out at our wonderful view of Gangche Ta (Tiger Mountain). After breakfast we will have a leisure walk to the village of Laya. At 4,300 meters, this is the second highest village in all of Bhutan. Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. Lunch will be served in Laya and we will have a leisure afternoon to explore Laya and meet some of the local people. We will spend the night in Laya where dinner will be served.
Day Thirteen:
After our breakfast in Laya, we will descend down to the army camp and then join the Mochhu River. We will follow this river all the way to the bridge. This will mark the beginning of an afternoon of ascending and descending along the trail where the forest will change from alpine to forests of fur, juniper, and bamboo. This part of the trek will offer the opportunity to see a rich variety of birds. Lunch will be served on the trail. Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. After lunch we will continue our trek until we reach the Chamsa Camp. (3,600 meters) Estimated walking time is 3-4 hours. We will have dinner and spend the night in Chamsa Camp.
Day Fourteen:
After our breakfast in the Chamsa Camp, we will trek for a gradual climb to the Balela Pass (3,800 meters). After this pass, the rest of our trek will be down hill to the Gasa Valley. Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. If time permits, we will visit the Gasa Dzong. Lunch will be served in Gasa. After lunch we will continue our descent to the hot springs for some therapeutic relaxation and soaking. Estimated walking time is 2 hours. We will have dinner and camp at the hot springs.
Day Fifteen:
We will spend a leisure day at the hot springs for some relaxation, sun bathing, bird watching, and just soaking in the natural hot springs. All meals will be served at the hot springs and we will again camp here for the night.
Day Sixteen:
After breakfast at the hot springs, we will trek up a gradual ascent through several villages until we reach the village of Damji. Estimated walking time is 4-5 hours. We will have lunch in Damji and then descend down to the motor road where the bus will pick us up for transport to our hotel in Punakha. This bus ride will take approximately one hour. We will have dinner and overnight at our hotel in Punakha.
Day Seventeen:
Breakfast will be served at the Punakha hotel and then we will begin our bus ride back to Paro. Along the way we will stop for lunch in Thimphu. We will have dinner and spend the night at a hotel in Paro before our morning departure from Bhutan.
Day Eighteen:
Breakfast will be served at the hotel in Paro and we will provide transport to the Paro airport for your departure.