Gangtey Trek - 9 Days

On the arrival at Paro International Airport, the representative from Bhutan Norwang Travel – For Your pleasant Bhutan Experience! Will warmly welcome & greet you all. Then, you will drive to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan through the sound of peaceful river flowing of Paa-chu and Thim-chu. The drive will take 1 hour and 30 minutes along a river valley, past small villages and traditional farmhouses. It`s a small & charming capital city located in the heart of the Himalayas. On reaching at Thimphu, we can have a lunch in one of the restaurant. After lunch, visit Memorial Chorten, built in 1974 in the memory of third late king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and the temple inside gives good examples of tantric Buddhist and its philosophy. Big Buddha Point is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue under construction in the mountains of Thimphu valley. The Buddha Dordenma is sited amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuk, the thirteenth Druk Desi. Upon completion, it will be one of the largest Buddha in the Bhutan, at a height of 169 feet (51.5 meters). Mothithang mini-zoo, to see the National Animal of Bhutan Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor). The Takin as a National Animal of Bhutan is attributed to a legend of the animal’s creation in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley. Zulikha Nunnery, the Thangtong Dewachen nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel and today it houses the sixty nuns engaged in Buddhist study and practices. Evening, stroll around Thimphu city, then visit Tashichho Dzong, seat of the National Government and the Central Monastic Body, including the summer residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot of Bhutan). Dinner & Overnight stay in Hotel, Thimphu.

After our breakfast, we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi via Dochula Pass (3150m). Here you will have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Eastern Himalayan Mountain ranges. The pass is adorned with 108 small Chorten and many kinds of prayer flags. The road climbs steeply through forests of blue pine, spruce and rhododendrons up to Dochula and then the road descends through lush forests to the fertile valley of Punakha & Wangdi Phodrang. The drive will take around 3 hours. Lunch will be serving on the way to Punaka/Wangi. On reaching at Lobesa, visit to Chhimi Lhakhang, which is located at a hilltop. The temple is known as ‘the temple of fertility’. This place was founded by divine madman Lama Drukpa Kunley in the 15th century. Later, this temple was built by his cousin Lama Ngawang Chogyel. At Punakha, visit the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan, Punakha Dzong. The winter resident for Central Monastic Body and head of the administrative purposes, even this is the best venue for the coronation of our kings in Bhutan.Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Punakha/Wangdi.

Today after having breakfast, drive to Phobjikha valley over Lawala Pass (3280m). Here you see a yaks grazing along the roadside. The road will ascend through semi-tropical vegetation and alpine environment, with rhododendron trees and dark green dwarf bamboo till you reaches at Lawala pass and then descends till we reach to Gantey. The drive will take 2 hours and 30 minutes. On reaching at Gantey, visit to Gangtey Goenpa/Monaestry, is an important monastery of Nyingmapa school of Buddhism, the main seat of the great treasure Pema Lingpa. Then, we will hike to Gangtey Natural Trail Hike, the most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails in Bhutan. We can see the valley so panoramically. The hike will take 1 hour and 30 to 50 minutes. Today`s lunch will be one of the restaurants in Phobjikha valley. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Phobjikha.

Distance 15 km, 6-7 hours, 610 m ascent, 410 m descent, camp altitude 3,130 m.

The Trek starts near the village of Tabiting. The trail winds through meadows and fields and the climb takes you through a mixed forest of juniper, bamboo, magnolia and rhododendron to Tsele La (3430m). From here you descend into the Juge Kangkha Chhu valley. Further on, the path leads to Gogona, well known for its “Gogona Cheese” production. The campsite is a bit further on besides a small stream in a yak pasture called Zasa.

Distance 16 km, 5-7 hours, 450 m ascent, 860 m descent, camp altitude 3,330 m.

A gentle climb leads to Shobe La pass (3,480m). The descent from the pass leads to a wide valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges. Below the route one can see Khothokha, a village with about 60 houses. You finally reach the campsite by climbing gently up till you see four chortens in a forest of blue pine.

Distance 12km, 4-5 hours, 120m ascent, 1,340m descent.

From the camp you climb till you reach a forest road. From here it’s an easy walk up to a little ridge at 2,800m. The walk down back into the valley leads you through Bhutan’s best bird watching areas. Once we reach at Tikke Zampa, we will do fare well with our crew members and will meet with our driver and then we will drive to Punakha/Wangdi Phodrang. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Punakha/Wangdi Phodrang.

After breakfast, we will drive back to Paro. The road ascends up to the Dochula Pass (3150m) and descends till reach to Semtokha. Today, drive will take almost 5 hours and lunch will be on the way to Paro. On reaching at Paro, visit to Paro Rimpung Dzong, the center of civil and religious authority in this region and drive to the village of Drukgyel and visit the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1649 to commemorate the victory over Tibetan invasion. Dinner and Overnight stay in Hotel, Paro.

Today after having breakfast, we will make a hike to Paro Taktshang Monastery, the most famous and sacred monastery in Bhutan. Taktshang means “Tiger`s Nest” named after Guru Rinpoche reportedly flew to this site riding on the back of a flying tigress in the 8th century. We have to walk about 2hours and 30minutes up steep from the road end. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Lunch will be served at Taktshang cafeteria. While coming back, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, it is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (the 33rd Tibetan king, who is also the manifestation of avoloketeshivara, commonly known to Bhutanese as Chenrize). Evening at leisure, dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel

After our breakfast, we will drive to Paro International Airport for your onward flight. Our guide and driver will bid you farewell here at the airport. We wish you a very safe and pleasant flight for your onward destinations.