Day 01: Arrive Paro
On arrival at airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Paro one of Bhutan's most impressive and well-known Dzongs, and the finest example of Bhutanese architecture. The inward-sloping walls form a massive structure that towers over the town and is visible as a great white monolith from vantage points throughout the valley.
Full day we take city tour of Paro.
Visiting of the Drukgley Dzong and on a clear day the 24,000 ft. white domed peak of sacred Chomolhari (Mt. of Goddess) looms overhead. A visit to the National Museum housed in an ancient watch tower, which has a fine collection of Thangkha, textiles, weapons, and artefacts-short walk to Paro Rimpung Dzong.
Afternoon proceed for Thimpu by surface and on arrival check-in into the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02: In Paro
In the Morning you will take a warm-up hike
Proceed for a four-hour round trip trek to Taktsang or ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery, perched on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of nearly 800m. It is believed that during the second half of the 8th century Guru Padma Sambhava, the second Buddha, meditated at this spot, having travelled there on the back of a flying tigress.
Stay overnight at your hotel.
Day 03: Drukgyel – Jana
The trail begins a half hour drive away at Drukgyel Dzong (2565m). From here you descend to follow the river, continuing on through rice fields to the village of Zamsa. The trail ascends to Dochokha village and then climbs up, the vegetation changing to spruce, fir, juniper and hemlock as you gain height.
You will camp below Jana Temple (3400m) with an excellent view over the Drukgyel Valley. ‘Jana’ means ‘in the mountains’
Stay overnight at your hotel.
Day 04: Jana – Drakey Pangtso
After walking up to the temple dedicated to the local deity, you will climb gently up to the meadow of Chuthana and on up to Shertsola Pass (4311m), the highest point of the trek. From May to July this area is carpeted with blue and yellow poppies and many other wild flowers. Descending from the pass, you reach the beautiful lake Yum Tsho (‘Mother Lake’) and proceed down to the campsite at Daluna, near a waterfall. (4000m)
Day 05: Drakey Pangtso – Chreekha
An uphill walk of about an hour will bring you to the lake of Drakey Pangtso, shaped like a huge bowl and surrounded by Drakey Gang mountain. You may see local people burning incense (juniper and hemlock leaves) to offer the good smells to the lake deity. On your return to camp you will retrace your steps to Chuthana before hiking through rhododendron forest to the campsite at Charekha (3974m), with its stunning view over the valley.
Day 06: Charekha – Bumdra
First you will walk about half an hour from camp to the cave where the local deity, Charee Chen, once meditated and where villagers still worship. From here the trail gradually leads to the Thoegang Pass (4088m) before crossing two more passes, the second of which, Namgayel La (4243m) gives stunning vistas over Paro Valley and, in clear weather, over distant snowcapped peaks. A steep descent for about ninety minutes brings you to the camp spot at Bumdra (3868m).
Day 07: Bumdra – Paro
Bumdra Temple will be your first stop this morning. ‘Bumdra’ means ‘The Rock of a Hundred Thousand Footprints’, reputedly left here by that number of angels who once descended at this place. Your trail continues through forest of spruce and juniper to Choechotse Temple,
surrounded by twelve ruins once used for meditation. From here you descend through a thick forest of oak and blue pine to the monastic school of Sanga Choekhor, the end point of the trek, where your transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
You will have time to wander around Paro or take a traditional hot stone bath in the evening.
Day 08: Paro – Kathmandu Departure
In the morning as per scheduled you will be transferred to airport to connect flight to Kathmandu. After reaching the airport of Kathmandu airport take the connecting flight to your onward destination. |