10 Days Bhutan Druk Path Trek (Moderate)

Note:

• Please note that booking for this itinerary has to adhere to the departure day in the week as advised below due to Druk Air flight schedule.
• For this itinerary, you have to depart on a THURSDAY and return on a SATURDAY.
• There is a 45 minutes in-flight transit in Kolkotta both ways.

Sunday | Singapore – Paro   KB 501 | 0630/0945

Thursday | Singapore – Paro   KB 501 | 0630/0945

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Wednesday | Paro – Singapore   KB 500 | 0720/1515

Saturday | Paro – Singapore   KB 500 | 0720/1515

All info are act as a guide and are correct as of time of publication.
Please check directly on airline website for latest flight schedules.

Region: Paro – Thimpu
Trek Type: Camping
Trek Grade: Moderate – Challenging
Trek Days: 5.5
Max Altitude: 4210m
Best Season: Oct-Mid Dec & Mid Mar-May

Check in at airport Druk Air counter with your air ticket, passport and Bhutan visa. On this flight, you can see breathtaking views of the Great Himalaya as you start approaching Bhutan. Arrive at Paro International Airport. You will be required to show your Bhutan visa again as part of the immigration process. After which your guide will meet and welcome you and transfer to hotel. Check in and Lunch.

Paro Rinchen Pong Dzong
This massive fortress is located in the Paro valley and is approached by a gently sloping flagstone road and a beautiful covered wooden bridge and guard houses. Today, the Dzong is the Administrative seat of the district of Paro and it also contains a state monastic community of about 200 monks. The central tower (Utse) of the Dzong, is one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with its superb woodwork. The Dzong was built in 1645 A.D.

Paro Market
Paro market is a well-preserved traditional outdoor market located in the center of Paro town. Sellers sit on the ground displaying all their goods while buyers squat to choose what they want and make bargains. It is also a collection of Bhutan’s unique local products such as dried yak cheese, exotic-looking ferns, powdered juniper incense, squares of dried jellied cow skin and slabs of datse, the cheese used in almost every Bhutanese dish.

Paro Town
The charming small town of Paro lies on the banks of the Paro Chhu, just a short distance northwest of the imposing Paro Dzong. The main street is lined with colourfully painted wooden shop fronts and restaurants. It is nice to explore this quaint Bhutanese town leisurely at the end of a day of sightseeing.

Evening back to Resort and dinner.

After breakfast drive (2 hrs) to the hiking start point of Taktsang.

Taktsang Monastery (4 hours round hike)
The name Taktsang means “Tiger’s Nest”. The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800m. and overlooks the Paro Valley and river. It is believed during the second half of the 8th century Guru Padma Sambhava known as the second Buddha in Bhutan, meditated at the spot where the monastery is situated having alighted there on the back of a flying tigress. A round trip hike takes about 4 hrs. You have the option of hiring a horse or do a partial hike if you feel not up to a full hike.

After that back to Resort and rest and relax. Evening dinner.

Start at Dopshare (2300m) and camp at Jele Dzong (3450m). The trek trail is rather gradual climb till the camp and if the weather is clear the Paro valley can be seen with the Mt. Jumolhari (7314m) and snowcapped mountains behind the valley.

Starting at Jele Dzong (3450m) and camp at Jangulakha (3780m). The trail takes you through thick alpine forest and rhododendrons trees and most of the walking is up and down on a ridge. Mt. Jumolhari would also be visible on this day. We will likely encounter yak herders camped in their usual black woven yak hair tents.

Starting at Jangchulakha (3780m) and camp at Jimilangtsho (3880m). The trail follows the ridge and on clear day the views of the mountains and valley are beautiful, in particular the Jichu Drake (6989m). Camp is close to lake of Jimilangtso. These lakes are known for their giant sized trout.

Starting at Jimilangtsho (3880m) and camp at Simikot (4040m). The trail takes you through dwarf Rhododendrons trees and then you pass by the lake of Janye Tsho. Camp is close to Simkot lake.

Starting at Simkot (4040m) and camp at Phajoding (3870m). You begin with a gradual climb up to Phume La (4210m) the highest elevation for this trek. If the weather permits you will have beautiful views of Mt. Gangkhar Punsum (7541m) the highest mountain in Bhutan and other Himalayan peaks. Below, you can see the entire Thimphu valley.

Start at Phajoding (3870m) and end of trek at Thimphu (2300m). The trek to Thimphu is all the way downhill through a forested area of mostly Blue pine. By taking leisurely pace you can reach Thimphu in about 3 hours. End of the trek and lunch. After lunch pick up and transfer to hotel in Thimphu. Check in and relax.

Thimphu Dzong (only after 4pm)
The main Secretariat Building. This massive structure houses part of the Ministries, the office of the King and the Throne Room. It also houses the State Monastic Body and the living quarters of the Chief Abbot.

Thimphu Town
Explore Thimphu town at leisure. You can purchase world’s most beautiful postage stamps, collector’s items and postcards at face value from general post office which is right next to Bhutan National Bank.

Evening back to hotel for dinner and rest.

The full day program include visiting the following places:

Memorial Chorten
A huge stupa built in memory of the third King of Bhutan who reigned the Kingdom from 1952-1972.

The National Library of Bhutan
The National Archives is responsible for collecting and preserving important past, present and future documents on Bhutan for future generations.

Pangri Zampa Monastery
The Monastery is situated just beyond Dechencholing (5kms from Thimphu). This Lhakhang was the residence of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel when he arrived in Bhutan in 1616 A.D. The Monastery was built during the first quarter of the 16th century by Ngawang Chogyel, the great-great- grandfather of the Shabdrung and the 14th hierarchy of the Drukpas.

After that you will have lunch and check out of hotel. The drive to Paro is about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival check in resort. Evening dinner.

After breakfast transfer to Paro Airport for departure.