General Information
Start/ End: Paro/ Paro
Duration: 12 days/ 11 nights
Tour Route: Paro – Thimphu – Punakha – Paro – Gunitsawa – Thangthangkha – Jangothang – Chore – Thombu Shong – Gunitsawa – Paro
Tour Customize: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Guide/s: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide or Other Languages depends on your Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Paro Arrival – Thimphu
Day 2: Thimphu – Punakha
Day 3: Punakha – Paro
Day 4: Paro – Gunitsawa
Day 5: Trekking: Gunitsawa – Thangthangkha
Day 6: Trekking: Thangthangkha – Jangothang
Day 7: Halt at Jangothang
Day 8: Trekking: Jangothang – Chore (Dhumzo)
Day 9: Trekking: Chore (Dhumzo) – Thombu Shong
Day 10: Trekking: Thombu Shong – Gunitsawa, Drive to Paro
Day 11: Paro Local Sightseeing
Day 12: Paro Departure
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Paro Arrival – Thimphu
Arrival by plane to Paro airport and drive to Thimphu. After check-in and a short rest, visit Tashichho Dzong, the castle, which serves as the seat of the king and government. Overnight in Thimphu
Day 2: Thimphu – Punakha (B)
Early morning drive to Buddha Dordenma, the gigantic statue of Buddha overlooking the valley and walk to striking city viewpoint. Then see Memorial Chorten, always busy with devotees. Walk along Norzin Lam Street and see the traffic police signaling injunctions. Thimphu is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. Finish walk at the handicraft market where many interesting Bhutanese souvenirs can be seen and bought for a reasonable price.
Drive to Changlimithang stadium to see archery match, the traditional sport of Bhutan. From Friday to Sunday you can also visit the Centenary market where local people go shopping for food supplies. The market also has an interesting handicraft section. Otherwise, you can enjoy some free time in the town, exploring it on your own.
Afternoon transfer to Wangdue or Punakha over Dochu-La pass (3010 m) and stop to enjoy mountain scenery (weather permitting) and admire unique 108 Chorten stupas. Overnight in Punakha
Day 3: Punakha – Paro (B)
This morning, climb to Khamsum monastery with a wonderful view of the valley and it‘s terraced paddy fields. See the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan stretching the length of 350m over Pho Chhu River. Then visit Punakha Dzong, which counts as the most intricately decorated castle in the kingdom.
Later, pay a short walk to Chhimmy Lhakhang temple, devoted to the 15th-century saint Drukpa Kunley, known as “Divine madman”, who taught Buddhism by singing, drinking and scandalous sexual exploits. If time permits, you can visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery with Bhutanese and Nepali style stupa, overlooking the valley from the high hill. In the afternoon, drive to Paro for overnight
Day 4: Paro – Gunitsawa (B)
In the morning, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the temple built in the 8th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Then trek to Taktsang Gompa (Tiger’s Nest), most venerated and holy place in Bhutan overlooking the valley from the steep cliff.
After lunch, move to Drukyel dzong. This used to be a place where the trek started before. See ruins of the old dzong (castle) and continue further to the military camp of Gunitsawa on the newly built road. Afterward, make a detour to Lhadi Gompa just before military camp. Enjoy the first-night camping just above military camp at the elevation of 2,890 m.
Day 5: Trekking: Gunitsawa – Thangthangkha (B)
Distance 16 km, 7-8 hours, 770 m ascent, 10 m descent, camp altitude 3,610 m.
On this long day, there is a lot of up and downs. After going uphill around the river, the valley finally narrows to a mere path which descends to a meadow where a camp will be set up. From here, if weather permits, you will have the first great view of Jomolhari.
Day 6: Trekking: Thangthangkha – Jangothang (B)
Distance 10 km, 5-6 hours, 480 m ascent, camp altitude 4,080 m.
If you cannot see Mt. Jomolhari the previous day, you will still have a chance to get a great view early this morning. The trek continues up the Paro Chhu valley which widens into patches of alpine meadow and scanty growths of forest.
You will cross an army checkpoint along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. In this area yaks and their herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Passing the villages Soe, Takethang, and Dangochang is another asset on this day. After reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, you will again have a spectacular view of Jomolhari.
Day 7: Halt at Jangothang (B)
This is the rest day in order to get proper acclimatization for high altitude. The best way how to spend it is to climb in direction of Jomolhari and Jichu Drake peaks for spectacular viewpoint, around 800 meters higher. The hike takes a little bit more than half-day and will help you to adjust to the thin air.
Day 8: Trekking: Jangothang – Chore (Dhumzo) (B)
Trek: 16 km, 6-7 hours, 810 m ascent, 1,090 m descent, crossing Bonte-la (4,890 m), camp altitude 3,800 m. Start steep climb of 300 m in a short distance.
After a strenuous climb, you will be rewarded with a flat or mildly ascending path around beautiful lakes. The views of Jomolhari and Jiychu Drake are breathtaking. Continue ascent to Bonte-la pass. It’s quite likely, that there will be some mild snow here. After crossing the pass with prayer flags, it will take about 3-4 hours descending through a steep gully to Soi Yaksa valley.
Day 9: Trekking: Chore (Dhumzo) – Thombu Shong (B)
Trek: 11 km, 4-5 hours, 720 m ascent, 340 m descent, camping at 4,120 m.
Climb through the rhododendron forest and along with the ruins of the old castle monastery Sey Dzong to Tagulung-la pass (4,540 m). From the summit, you can have spectacular views of the Jomolhari, Jichu Drake and even Kanchenjunga and Makalu peaks in great distance to the west. After some walk, you descend to the Thombu valley, the last camp of the trek.
Day 10: Trekking: Thombu Shong – Gunitsawa, Drive to Paro (B)
Trek: 15 km, 5-6 hours, 150 m ascent, 1380 m descent.
A short and steep climb through rhododendron bushes to the summit of Thombu La Pass (4,270 m) and continue on the ridge with great views of surrounding and distant mountains. Shortly after you start descending steeply for about 2-3 hours until you reach the military camp of Gunitsawa, where the whole trek started. From here you’ll drive to Paro for hotel accommodation.
Day 11: Paro Local Sightseeing (B)
Today, visit the National Museum of Bhutan and Paro Dzong, the castle where Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha film was shot. You can spend the afternoon in leisure or you can drive to Chele la pass (3,800 m) from where you will get splendid views of Jomolhari and Kanchenjunga peaks in good weather conditions. Also, you can make an interesting hike through the mixed alpine forest from the pass to Kila Gompa, the oldest nunnery in Bhutan.
Day 12: Paro Departure (B)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight to the next destinations. Trip ends.
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