Bhutan Druk Path Trek

10 Days / 9 Nights

Day 1Arrive Paro

Upon arrival at Paro Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon, visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo.

Later do a short hike up to Drukgyal Dzong, a defense fortress built in 1647 and now in ruins. If the weather is good, you can catch a glimpse of the snow-covered Mt. Chomolhari, a 23,000ft. peak.

Overnight at Paro

Day 2Chelela Pass (13,120 ft) and Kila Gompa

Today you will drive about an hour to Chele La Pass (13,120 ft), one of the highest motorable pass in Bhutan. If the weather is good, you can have a good view of the snow-covered Mt. Chomolhari. From the pass, you’ll do a short hike of about an hour through the forests and along steep slopes to the nunnery of Kila Gompa. There are seven small temples and several retreat huts built into a dizzying cliffside, where some 30 to 70 nuns live in self-imposed isolation. If opportunity permits, you’ll have tea with some nuns at the nunnery and learn about their daily life. On way back to Paro, it’s possible to walk around a local village if you’re not too exhausted or visit the small Paro town.

Overnight at Paro

Day 3Tiger’s Nest Monastery (10,240 ft)

Enjoy another acclimatizing hike for about 4 hours to the famous Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) Monastery, an incredible monastery built on the side of a 3,000 foot cliff. The trail goes through blue pines and switchbacks uphill to the ridge. First built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup, a cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for 3 months in the 8th century.

After the hike, enjoy a traditional hot stone bath and learn about the traditional herbs used in your bath.

Overnight at Paro

Day 4Druk Path Trek Day 1: Paro (8,036 ft) to Jele (11,270 ft)

At Paro Museum, meet your trekking crew, the horsemen and pack animals. Today’s trek climbs non-stop for over 3,500 ft before dropping down 260 ft to camp.

The trail winds its way up steeply through blue pine forest and around several farm house and fenced apple orchards. After an hour of steady climbing, enjoy nice views over the Paro valley. Visibly above is Jele Dzong, located on the top of the ridge. At 9,825 ft, after 2 hours of trekking, the route passes a long Mani wall in a big flat grassy land called Damche Gom. This is where most of the trekkers stop for a packed lunch.

The trail continues through the forest of blue pine, fir and bamboo. At around 10,600 ft a gigantic hemlock tree over 600 years old overshadows the trail. Just before reaching a small pass (11,540 ft) below the Dzong, the route opens up, and there may be some yaks with their herders and dogs.

Tonight’s campsite (11,270 ft) is a little way down from the pass. You may be able to hear the monks playing instruments in the Lhakhang during one of their prayer sessions.

Time: 5-6 Hours
Distance: 5 miles
Altitude Gain: 3,503 ft
Altitude Loss: 269 ft

Overnight at Tented Camp

Day 5Druk Path Trek Day 2: Jele (11,270 ft) to Jangchulakha (12,995 ft)

From camp, climb back to the ridge and the small pass leading to Jele Dzong (11,790 ft), a very impressive fort surrounded by many prayer flags. Enjoy great views here looking towards Paro Valley far below, while in the distance stand snowy peaks on the border with Tibet, including Mt. Chomolhari (23,995 ft) in the center.

Leaving the Dzong walk north for about 10min on the ridge with a stunning views before disappearing into forest. Go up and around a small peak, a steep 330 ft ascent to an altitude of 12,300 ft. Looking back you see a part of Paro valley and the large Doo Chu side valley. To the south, Dagala Range is visible. After about 3 hours, arrive at a campsite at Tshokam (12,995 ft), just after a small saddle.

Time: 5-6 Hours
Distance: 5.5 Miles
Altitude Gain: 1,726 ft
Altitude Loss: 0 ft

Overnight at Tented Camp

Day 6Druk Path Trek Day 3: Jangchulakha (12,995 ft) to Jimilang Lake (12,726 ft)

Today continue to proceed north for most of the day. Climb gently for several hours to reach a small pass at about 13,350 ft. Continue along the ridge to the next pass with the view north to Mt. Chomolhari and down below several monasteries are visible at the far end of the valley. On the opposite side there is a view of Jimilang Tsho, a beautiful large lake stocked with trout and a large Chorten (religious obelisk) built at one end.

At 13,695 ft you reach a small stone shelter next to a small lake (a nice possible campsite). At the east of the lake is another good campsite (12,726ft.) It may be possible to catch some fish for the dinner if you bring along your own fishing gear.

Time: 6-7 Hours
Distance: 6 miles
Altitude Gain: 700 ft
Altitude Loss: 965 ft

Overnight at Tented Camp

Day 7Druk Path Trek Day 4: Jimilang Lake (12,726 ft) to Phojoding (12,103 ft)

Walk this morning around the lake to its far western end with a short steep climb through bushes to emerge to an open area. An exposed cliff trail leads to a small saddle (13,450 ft), from here you can see the next lake below, Jana Tsho (12,975 ft; 1.5 to 2hr hike) and a nice campsite which may be occupied by Yak herders. From the lake a white stone path between rhododendron bushes traverses a valley with a small lake below. There are several lakes just above, Dungtsho & Dungtsho Sama, regarded as male and female. The local people believe that the second (female) lake has powerful spirit, who gets easily provoked if anything dirty gets near the lake.

Climb up a ridge and look for a cairn. After an hour of hiking, a viewing point at 13,610 ft is reached, with another lake below, Simkotra Tsho (13,415 ft) where you can see some stone ruins nearby. There are several minor climbs to small passes before you finally look down to Phojoding monastery and Thimphu. Monks frequently pass here on their way to meditate at the sacred lake Jimilang Tsho. If the weather is clear, Gankar Punsum (24,770 ft), the highest mountain in Bhutan and other Himalayas can be visible.

Time: 5-6 Hours
Distance: 7 miles
Altitude Gain: 700 ft
Altitude Loss: several small ups & downs

Overnight at Tented Camp

Day 8Druk Path Trek Final Day: Phojoding (12,103 ft) to Thimphu (8,395 ft)

From Phojoding monastery, walk straight down past to the queen’s compound, continuing on to Motithang. If you’re interested, you can visit the Takin Preserve where you can see Bhutan’s national animal and a rare member of the goat family that can only be found in Bhutan.

Your driver will meet you at the road head and transfer you to your hotel located in the city center. Enjoy a well-deserved shower and rest of the day is free for you to stroll around the center on your own. Your hotel is located right in the city center surrounded local shops and small eateries.

Time: 2 Hours
Distance: 2.5 miles
Altitude Gain: 0
Altitude Loss: 3,705 ft

Overnight at Thimphu

Day 9Thimphu City Highlights

Today visit the city highlights including the National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and the Folk Heritage Museum.

Drive up to Buddha Point and offer your prayers to the largest Buddha statue in the country while enjoying great views of Thimphu valley below. Continue to Changangkha Monastery, a 12th century temple perched like a fortress on a ridge above central Thimphu. This temple has a special place in Thimphu life as parents come here to get auspicious names for their children.

Stop by the craft bazaar in the city center where artisans and craftsmen come across the country to sell their products. Later this evening, meet a local expert over a casual dinner to learn about fascinating facts on Bhutan’s “Gross National Happiness Index”. Enacted on 18 July 2008, this index is instituted in the Constitution of Bhutan.

Overnight in Thimphu

Day 10Depart from Paro

Transfer about an hour’s drive to Paro Airport for departing flight.