 Day 1:
Arrive Paro
On arrival at Paro airport, you will
be met by our Bhutanese representative
and transferred to your hotel after
completion of arrival formalities. Evening
visit to Paro market and town. Overnight
at the hotel in Paro.
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| Day 2:
Paro - Sightseeing |
 Morning
visit to Ta Dzong, built in 1651 as
a watchtower and in 1968 inaugurated
as Bhutan’s National Museum. The
collection includes art, relics, religious
thangkha paintings, postage stamps,
coins and handicrafts, as well as a
small natural history collection. Below
Ta Dzong is Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong),
“the fortress of the heap of jewels”,
built in 1646, and now housing the offices
of the district administration and Paro’s
monk body.
In the afternoon, visit Kyichu Lhakhang.
Built by the Tibetan king, Songtsen
Gampo in the 7th century, it is one
of the oldest and most sacred shrines
of Bhutan. Overnight at the hotel
in Paro.
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| Day 3:
Paro-Shana (17 km, 5/6 hours) Trek starts |
The trek starts from Drukgyel Dzong
(2,580m) with a short downhill walk
on a wide trail. The trail then climbs
gently through well maintained rice
terraces and fields of millet. Later
on we come to apple orchards and forests.
Soon the valley widens, and we reach
the army post of Gunitsawa (2,810m).
This is the last stop before Tibet.
We continue upwards to just beyond Sharma
Zampa (2,870m), where there are several
good camping places in meadows surrounded
by trees. |
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| Day 4:
Shana- Sio Thangkha (20 km, 7/8 hours) |
| The trail again follows
the Pa Chu (Paro river), ascending and
descending through pine, oak and spruce
forests. After crossing a bridge to
the left bank of the river, we stop
for a hot lunch. Then we continue along
the river, climbing upwards through
rhododendron forests, and crossing the
river once more before reaching our
campsite (3,750m). |
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| Day 5:
Sio Thangkha- Jangothang (19 km, 7/8
hours) |
| The path ascends for
a while till you reach the army camp.
Then follow the river above the tree
line enjoying the stunning view of surrounding
peaks. Hot lunch will be served inside
a yak herder’s camp. A short walk
into the valley will take you to the
camp at Jangothang at an altitude of
4,040m. From here, the view of Mt. Jhomolhari
and Jichu Drake are superb. |
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| Day 6:
Rest day at Jangothang |
| Acclimatization. Explore
near by mountains and lakes. |
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| Day 7:
Jangothang - Lingshi (18 km, 7/8 hours) |
| The trail goes the stream
for half an hour and crosses the bridge
to the right bank. We now start our
climb up to the first ridge, enjoying
breathtaking views of Chomolhari, Jichu
Drake and Tserimgang. The trail then
takes us across a fairly level valley
floor until the climb up to Nyele-la
pass (4,700m). We descend gradually
from the pass to our campsite at Lingshi
(4,000m), enjoying a panoramic view
of the mountain peaks and Lingshi Dzong
as we walk. |
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| Day 8:
Lingshi- Shodu (22 km, 8/9 hours) |
 The Laya-Gasa route leaves the Chomolhari
trek route here. Our trail climbs up
towards a small white chorten on a ridge
above the camp, then turns south up
the deep Mo Chu valley. The trail stays
on the west side of this largely treeless
valley, climbing steadily a short distance
above the Mo Chu. It then crosses the
river, and climbs steeply for two hours
to Yeli-la (4,820m). On a clear day
you can see Chomolhari, Gangchenta,
Tserimgang and Masagang from this pass.
Descend alongside a stream to a rock
shelter in the cliff face, and then
continue on downstream till reaching
Shodu (4,100m), where we will camp in
a meadow with a chorten in it. |
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| Day 9:
Shodu-Barshong (16 km, 6/7 hours) |
We are now back at
the tree line, and our path follows
the course of the Thimphu Chu, descending
through rhododendron, juniper and
mixed alpine forests. There are stunning
views of rocky cliff faces and waterfalls
along the way. We stop at the riverside
for a hot lunch. Then the trail takes
us gradually upwards to the ruins
of Barshong Dzong (3,600m), near which
we camp for the night. |
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| Day 10:
Barshong-Dolam Kencho (15 km, 5/6 hours) |
| The trail descends gently
through a dense forest of rhododendron,
birch and conifers, then drops steeply
to meet the Thimphu Chu. The trail runs
along the left bank of the river, climbing
over ridges and descending into gullies
where side streams run down into the
river. The final stage of the trail
climbs around a cliff face high above
the Thimphu Chu, coming out onto pastureland
where we camp for the night at 3,600m. |
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| Day 11:
Dolam Kencho-Dodena-Thimphu (8 km,3
hours) Trek ends |
 The
trail winds in and out of side valleys
above the Thimphu Chu, making a long
ascent through a forest of conifers
and high altitude broadleaf species
to a pass at 3,510m. The trail then
drops steeply down to the river, following
it southward to the road head at Dodena
(2,600m). Etho Metho transport meets
us here, and we drive to Thimphu.
Overnight at hotel in
Thimphu.
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| Day 12:
Thimphu |
Full day of sightseeing
in Thimphu valley visiting the following,
as time permits:
National Memorial Chorten; Tashichhodzong
(“the fortress of the glorious
religion”); National Library;
Institute for Zorig Chusum (Bhutanese
arts and crafts school); National Institute
of Traditional Medicine (outside only);
Handicrafts Emporium.
Evening drive to Paro. Overnight at
the hotel in Paro. |
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| Day 13:
A free day in Paro/Shopping |
| Basically you can do some
sightseeing in the morning and afternoon,
you can enjoy shopping. |
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| Day 14:
Depart Paro |
After breakfast, drive
to Paro airport for flight to onward
destination.
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