Mysterious Bhutan Tours & Adventures

Day 1. Arrive Paro by Royal Bhutan Airline Druk Air, the only national carrier from Bangkok. The flight offers you beautiful view of mountains and landscapes. On arrival and after visa formalities you will be welcomed by the representative of Mysterious Bhutan Tours and Adventures. Afternoon, visit the ruined fortress Drugyal Dzong, which defended the Paro valley from Tibetan invasion from the north in the early 17th century. On clear weather, Mount Jomolhari 7320 meters can be seen from the dzong. Night halt at Tashi Namgay Resort (4 stars)
Your Trek begins today.
JOMOLHARI TREK I
Duration: Nine days,
Max. Elevation: 4,930m
Highest Camp: 4,080m
Standard: Medium
Best Seasons: March to June & October to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Dodena (Thimphu)
Summary:
Jomolhari Trek – Jomolhari Trek I is the longer one of the two Jomolhari routes- and the most popular trek in Bhutan. With altitude differences of 2,500m and nearly 5,000m (lowest and highest point of the route), it offers a wide range of landscape ,fauna and flora. The highlight of this trek is the spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari from Jomolhari Basecamp, Jangothang. Nearly the whole trek goes through a small part of the Jigme Singye National Park, passing a few of the Yak herder’s settlement and the remotest region of Lingshi. One should be reasonably physically fit to enjoy the majestic mountain views, endure thin air, serenity & the wilderness of the landscape while on the trek.
Day 2: Drukgyel Dzong – Sharna Zampa (Distance 17km, four to five hours, 360m ascent, 80m descent, camp altitude 2,850m). Drive up to Drukgyel Dzong (2,580m) where the road ends and the trek begins. With a gradual climb the trail follows the Paro Chhu passing beautiful meadows, paddy fields and impressive farm houses. After about
four hours you will reach the army post at Gunitsawa village. At the army checkpost your trek permit (provided by our company) will be checked and endorsed. The campsite is on the opposite side of the river, not far from Gunitsawa.
Day 3: Sharna Zampa- Thangthangkha (Distance 22km, seven to eight hours, 770m ascent, 10m descent, camp altitude 3,610m). On this long day, the trail continues with lots of small ups and downs. After going uphill through the river valley , you enter the Jigme Dorji National Park. The valley finally narrows gradually 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 Mount Jomolhari.
Day 4: Thangthangkha – Jangothang (Distance 19km, five to six hours, 480m ascent, camp altitude 4,080m). If you did not see Mount Jomolhari last evening, you will have a great chance to get a great view this early morning. This morning the trek continues up the Paro Chhu valley which widens into patches of alpine meadow and scanty growths of forest. Cross an army outpost along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. Yaks and the herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Passing the villages Soe, Takethang and Dangochang is another asset on this day. Reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, you will again have a spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari.
Day 5: Jangothang Halt. The day in Jangothang provides plenty of possibilities for day hikes with great views on lakes and snow capped mountains such as Jomolhari and Jichu Drake. There are good chances to spot some blue sheep on the upper slopes of the valley. Jangothang is a perfect environment for your acclimatisation. Trek up to Tosoh or hike around the area. There are good short hiking trails in three directions. Jumolhari and it’s subsidiary mountain chains lie directly west, Jichu Drake to the north and a number of unclimbed peaks to the east.
Day 6: Jangothang – Lingshi (Distance 18km, six to seven hours, 840m ascent, 870m descent, camp altitude 4,010m) After 15 min. from the camp the trail climbs rapidly for about half an hour and then becomes a gradual ascend to the Nyilila pass at 4,870m. While on the climb enjoy the sourrrounding. You might see herds of blue sheep grazing on the slopes of the mountains. From the pass you will have spectacular views of Mt. Jomolhari, Jichu Drake and Tsherimgang, all of them rising above 7,000m. On the way down to the camp you will pass by some of the yak herder’s tent, made from yak wool, where the herders take shelter while on the move to various pastures for their yaks. As you come down into the Lingshi basin, you get a wonderful view of Lingshi Dzong on a clear day. Tserimgang and its glaciers rise up at the north end of the valley. The campsite is next to a stone hut you reach just before Lingshi Dzong.
Day 7: Lingshi – Shodu (Distance 22km, eight to nine hours, 940m ascent, 920m descent, camp altitude 4,080m) The trail climbs up to the Yelila pass at an altitude of 4,930m. From the pass, on a clear day you will get an excellent view of Jumolhari, Tserimgang and Masanggang. The trek from the pass to the campsite at Shodu is a steep downhill.
Day 8: Shodu – Barshong (Distance 16km, five to six hours, 250m ascent, 670m descent, camp altitude 3,710m). The trail follows the Thimphu Chhu through rhododendron forests, past beautiful waterfalls along the way. The valley narrows till the path takes to the slopes and gradually ascends to the ruins of Barshong Dzong.
Day 9: Barshong – Dolam Kencho (Distance 15km, four to six hours, 290m ascent, 640m descent, camp altitude 3,320m). The trail descends down to the Thimphu Chhu river valley, through dense forests of rhododendron, birch, conifer, maples and bamboos and then ascends to pasture lands. The camp is in a meadow.
Day 10: Dolam Kencho – Dodena (Distance 8km, three to four hours, 500m ascent, 930m descent)
The trail continues through forested areas winding up and down and through a small pass. Langurs (monkeys) can be seen along the way. In Dodena, you will exit the Jigme Dorji National Park and reach the road head next to a impressive cantilever bridge. From Dodena, you will be driven to Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan and Night halt at Hotel Jumolhari (4 Stars).
Day 11. After early breakfast, drive to Paro to hike Tiger Nest. The drive will take about an hour and reach the base of the Tiger Nest. From the base, hike to the Tiger Nest and the duration of hike is about 2 hours. After lunch at Cafeteria at the Tiger Nest, visit Paro Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple to built in 7th century. Visit National Museum and Paro Rinpung Dzong. Evening leisure at Paro town and Night at Tashi Namgay Resort (4 stars).
Your second leg of Drukpath Trek begins today
DRUK PATH TREK
Duration: Six days,Max.Elevation: 4,200m
Highest Camp: 4,110m
Standard: Easy to medium
Best Seasons: March to June & September to November
Start: National Museum in Paro
Finish: Mothitang (Thimphu)
Summary:
Druk Path Trek is one of the most popular treks in Bhutan. It is a short and scenic trek with some great views and beautiful lakes en route. Although it leads up to altitudes above 4,000m it is not too strenuous as walking distances between the camps are not too long. Besides the lakes, it is the Phadjoding monastery that is one of the highlights of this trek.
Day 12: Paro – Jili Dzong (Distance seven km, four to five hours, 1,090m ascent, camp altitude 3,480m). The first day is a long day as you have to climb more than 1,000m elevation. You start from the Ta Dzong (National Museum) in Paro. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. Once you reach the ridge below Jili Dzong you descend about 100m to the campsite below Jili Dzong.
Day 13: Jili Dzong – Jangchulakha (Distance 10 km, four to five hours, 310m ascent, 50m descent, camp altitude 3,770m). You begin with a climb for about an hour and a half and then ascend gradually up. The trail takes you through thick alpine forest and dwarf rhododendron tress. You may see yaks and yak herders around your campsite.
Day 14: Jangchulakha – Jimilang Tsho (Distance 11 km, four hours, 230m descent, 330m ascent, camp altitude – 3,870m). The trail follows the ridge and on a clear day the view of the mountains and valley are beautiful. The campsite is close to the Jimilang Tsho Lake. The lake is known for its giant sized trout.
Day 15: Jimilang Tsho – Simkotra Tsho (Distance 11 km, four hours, 820m ascent, 400 m descent, camp altitude 4,110m). The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder’s camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.
Day 16: Simkotra Tsho – Phajoding (Distance 10 km, three to four hours, 130m ascent, 680m descent, camp altitude 3,750m). The trek begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill to Phajodhing for a nights halt. The camp is above Phadjoding.
Day 17: Phajodhing – Mothitang (Distance fur to five km, three hours, 1,130 m descent). After passing Phadjoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu (Mothitang) is all the way downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours. Night at Hotel Jumolhari in Thimphu.
Day 18: Departure.
Early morning after breakfast, drive to Paro Airport and soon after you will be leaving Bhutan.
Cost for this Trek and Tours including Visa, for each Person
1. No. of Nights 17
2. Meals all inclusive (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
3. Visa fee inclusive
4. Royalty of US $ 65 a day inclusive
5. Local tax of 2% from gross payment inclusive
6. Special permit fee inclusive
7. One Trekking Guide
8. Two cooks
9. Two Horsemen
10. No. of Horses 8
11. 2 or 3 men tent for sleeping
12. Toilet tent
13. Dinning tent
14. Portable tables and Chairs
15. Lamp
16. Thermal Mattress and Pillow
17. Tea and Coffee on the trail while trekking.
Cost for each person for this trekking Tour is US $ 4,270
Airfare from BKK-PBH-BKK US$ 900 extra.