10 Days Days Bhutan Chelela – Nigula – Tsagala Trek (Easy)

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.

DrukAir

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: Easy – Moderate
Trek Days: 2.5
Max Altitude: 3940m
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 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.

After breakfast start trekking above Naksel Resort along forested path that passes villages and temple near passing above the Olathang and reach to main trail of Gorena. From here the trail is Mostly a gradual climb through Bhutanese farm houses. The view of Paro valley from the trail is excellent. Visit the Gorena temple & farm house. Overnight camp near Gorena Village.

After breakfast start trek uphill for about 5 hours taking it slowly and allowing for plenty of stops. En-route visit the Kila Gompa Nunnery located at rocky side meet with nuns . The trail takes you through a forest filled with many species of Primula and Rhododendrons, from the pass and the trail leads along the beautiful ridge of Chelila Pass where you can get the great view of western & northern Himalayan range of Bhutan.

Today is a day to be up early. The early morning views of Mt Jumolhari – “Divine mountain of Goddess”, Tserim Kang – Glacier of long life and Jichu Drake are stunning. After breakfast start trek. The trail follows the ridge and besides the view of the mountains you can also see the valley of Paro and Haa.

After breakfast start trek. Today you can have excellent view of mountains and valleys of Bhutan. On this route it is very common to see yak herders. Trail winds ups and down through the conifer forest to our campsite at Tsagala.

After breakfast start trek, descend back to Paro valley. The trek ends at Balakha before Drukgyel Dzong Your vehicle will pick you up and drive you to Paro town for an early lunch. After lunch drive to Thimpu. There are unpaved vehicle road reaches up to Sangnachokor. Upon arrival check in hotel. Evening rest. Thimpu is currently the capital city of Bhutan.

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.

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.

Evening back to hotel for dinner and rest.

After breakfast, we set off for Punakha (77km, 3.5 hr drive).

Dochula Pass
Located on the way to Punakha, the pass offers a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of Himalayan mountain range. The view is especially scenic on clear, winter days with snowcapped mountains forming a majestic backdrop to the tranquility of the 108 chortens gracing the mountain pass. Known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens- the construction of these108 chortens was commissioned by the eldest Queen Mother, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk.Arrive in Punakha for lunch.

Punakha Dzong
Built in 1637 AD, the Dzong houses the district administration offices. It is also the winter residence of the State Monastic Body and its Chief Abbot. Punakha was the former capital of Bhutan. The Dzong (fortress) lies between two rivers known as Pochu and Mochu which means “Male River and Female River.”

After that transfer to hotel for check in and dinner.

After breakfast check out and drive to Paro.

Chime Leaching
30 minutes’ walk across terraced fields through the village of Sopsokha from the roadside to the small temple. It is located on a hillock in the center of the valley below Metshina. Ngawang Chogyel built the temple in 15th century after the ‘Divine Madman’ Drukpa Kuenlay built a small Chorten there. It is a pilgrim site for Barren women.

After that continue drive to Paro (6.5 hrs). Check in Resort and dinner.

After breakfast transfer to Paro Airport for departure.