Druk Path Trek - 10 Days

On the arrival at Paro International Airport, the representative of Bhutan Norwang Travel –For your pleasant Bhutan Experience! Will warmly welcome & greet you. After the welcoming, we will visit the Ta-Dzong, built in the year 1649 by Lha Ngenpa Tenzin Drugdra the first governor of Paro and it was converted to National Museum in the year 1968. Then visit to Paro Rimpung Dzong, the center of civil and religious authority in this region, built in a year 1646 by the great unifier of Bhutan, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Lunch will be one of the restaurants in Paro town. After having lunch, visit to 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, stroll around the Paro town. Dinner & Overnight stay at 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 “TigerNest” 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. Today is the best hike to get your body acclimatization. Evening at leisure in Paro town, dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel

Distance 7 km, 4-5 hours, 1,090 m ascent, camp altitude 3,480 m.

The first day can be quite arduous as you have to climb more than 1,000m elevation. You start from the Ta Dzong (National Museum) in Paro. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. Once you reach the ridge below Jili Dzong you descend about 100m to the campsite below the Dzong.

Distance 10 km, 4-5 hours, 310 m ascent, 50 m descent, camp altitude 3,770 m.

You begin with a steep climb for about an hour and a half, then the slope evens a bit and the ascent is more gradual. The trail takes you through thick alpine forests and dwarf rhododendron tress. You may see herders and their yaks around your campsite.

Distance 11 km, 4 hours, 230 m descent, 330 m ascent, and camp altitude 3,870 m.

The trail follows a ridge and on a clear day the view of the mountains and valley are simply stunning. The campsite is close to the Jimgelang Tsho Lake. This lake is known for its giant sized trout.

Distance 11 km, 4 hours, 820 m ascent, 400 m descent, camp altitude 4,110 m.

The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and past Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.

Distance 10 km, 3-4 hours, 130 m ascent, 680 m descent, camp altitude 3,750 m.

The day begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and several other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill towards Phajodhing where you will halt for the night. The camp is located just above Phadjoding Monastery.

Distance 4-5 km, 3 hours, 1,130 m descent.

After passing Phadjoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu (Mothitang) is downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours. Once we reach at Thimphu, we will take a rest. 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 & Over night stay at Hotel, Thimphu.

After breakfast at Hotel, we will visit to 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. We will have a lunch, one of the restaurants in Thimphu and evening we will drive to Paro. Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel, Paro.

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.