12 DAYS – JOMOLHARI TREK
- Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by a representative of BTS Tours and transported to your comfortable hotel in Paro.
- After checking in, explore the National Museum, Ta Dzong with artifacts dating back to 4000BC and get a glimpse of the traditional architecture at the Rinpung Dzong popular known as Fortress on a heap of Jewels.
- Leisure in Town.
- Dinner at Hotel.
- Overnight at Paro.
- Breakfast at hotel, then drive to Paro Tiger’s Nest Base/ Parking Lot.
- Hike to the Tiger’s Nest, also known Taktsang Monastery perched 900 meters above the Paro Valley. This is the most spiritual place in Bhutan and popular pilgrimage site.
- Lunch at Taktsang Cafeteria. Experience and enjoy playing Bhutanese Traditional Archery.
- Experience the unique Bhutanese local way of wellness which combines the minerals of a hot stone bath with the healing khempa herb. Dinner at Local Farm House.
- Drive back to hotel and overnight at Paro.
- Early breakfast in Hotel and drive towards Drugyel Dzong.
- Your trek starts from the historic Drugyel Dzong (2,580m). You will meet your trekking crew here.
- Start walking on a wide trail that tracks along the Pa Chhu (Paro river). The trail will slowly ascend where you will be walking through the countryside with views of rice paddies and fields of millet. As the valley widens you will find apple orchards, traditional Bhutanese farmhouses and a few small settlements of Mitshi Zampa and Sangatan.
- Following the route through blue pine forest you will be brought to the army post of Gunitsawa at 2,810 m where your trekking permits will be checked and stamped.
- You will then climb towards Sharna Zampa (2,870m) after crossing Pa Chhu on a wooden bridge.
- You will be camping at Sharna Zampa in the meadows among the trees for the night.
- We will be following the trail along the Pachhu (Paro river) ascending and descending through pine, oak and spruce forests. You will reach at Shingkharap, a stone house at 3,110m after 2 hours of hiking and crossing several streams.
- You will then cross the bridge towards the left side of the river where you will be served a hot lunch.
- A little walk ahead is the trail junction, the left road is an old trade route to Tibet and the right route leads to the wooden bridge.
- Taking the latter route climbing through rhododendron forests and finally crossing the bridge again, we reach our camp at 3,750m, which is amidst beautiful meadows.
- Experience the significant gain in altitude as your trail goes above tree line today. As you take the path that ascends from our camp you will be brought to an army camp.
- Then you will follow the river above the tree line as well as enjoying the spectacular view of the surrounding mountain peaks. After walking through a very muddy section and passing a mani wall you will enter yak country.
- Inside a yak herder’ camp you will be served a hot filling lunch. After lunch, we walk past yak herder settlements of Soe and Takethang across a plateau and up a stream bed.
- Passing Dangochang village to the beautiful campsite of Jangothang at an altitude of 4,040m.
- Capture the breathtaking views of Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake from the point.
- Today, you will do a four hours long acclimatization hike to the north of your camp. There isn’t really a trail but you will climb on an open and endless slope till you see the view of Mt Jichu Drakye (6989m).
- You can hike further up to 4895m to see the amazing view of Mount Jumolhari.
- Get a chance to spot rare blue sheep, Himalayan rhubarb, griffon vultures, golden eagles and the our national flower – the blue poppy.
- Today’s trail follows the stream for half an hour and crosses the bridge to the right side. You will then start to climb up to the first ridge where you will be greeted by a breathtaking view of Jumolhari (7314m), Jichu Drake (6989m) and Tshering Gang (6789m).
- You will then be walking on an almost flat track for sometime towards the valley and then you will have to climb to Ngye La pass at 4,700m.
- After the pass, it is a gradual descent to the camp and you will get to enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the peaks here and the Lingshi Dzong.
- You can take a detour to this tiny fortress that sits on a hilltop overlooking Lingzhi village. For centuries, Lingzhi Dzong was a station for weary Buddhist pilgrims and was a defense fort against Tibetan and Mongolian invaders.
- You will camp today at an altitude of 4010m.
- The Laya-Gasa route leaves the Jumolhari trek here. This trek route ascends towards a small white Chorten on a ridge above the camp, then turns south, up the deep Mo Chhu valley.
- The trail remains on the west side of the large treeless valley and you will be climbing steadily above Mo Chhu for a short distance. The trail then crosses the river, and climbs steeply for two hours to Yele La pass (4,820m).
- If it is a clear day you will be able to see Jumolhari, Gangchen Ta, Tshering Gang and Masang Gang Mountains from this pass.
- You will then descent alongside a stream to a shelter and further downstream you will reach the campsite at Shodu (4,100m), a meadow with a Chorten.
- Today’s trail winds up & down following the Thimphu Chhu river and crossing it six times.
- A final climb of about an hour will bring you to camp just below the ruins of a small Dzong at Barshong (3,710m).
- The trail descends gently down to meet the Thimphu Chhu river through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch, and conifer trees, and then across pasture land.
- Camp in a meadow at Dolam Kencho (3,320m)
- Today is an easy three hour descent to Dodena where your vehicle will meet you.
- It is a 30 minute drive to Thimphu.
- Hotel Check in and relax.
- Explore some sites of your choice or go Souvenir shopping in Thimphu in the afternoon.
- Overnight at Thimphu.
- Breakfast at Hotel.
- Drive to Paro International Airport.
Adventure
Culture
Want to Mix and Match? Write to us!
Talk to us
Got specific itinerary in mind? Let us help and create a curated package for you. Enquire now and our dedicated team will take care of the rest.