Druk Path Trek

Day 01            - BKK/CCU/DEL/KTM            -   PBH

The flight to Bhutan gives you the enchanting views of great Himalayas and slowly descends to Paro valley with sights of typical buildings and farmland. After the Immigration & custom formalities you will be transferred to hotel. If time permit, visit the places of interests or walk around the Paro town. Overnight hotel in Paro.

Day 02- PARO  -  TAKSANG (Tigers Nest)

Morning early, start the hike to famous Taktsang Gompa (tiger nest monastery) of 8^thcentury built on the cliff of a rock 3000ft above the Paro valley. The walk is 3 hours uphill to the monastery and 1 hour to explore the monastery and 2 hours back. 

~Taktsang means the tiger’s nest. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress. Guru Rinpoche then meditated in the cave for three months and converted the Paro valley to Buddhism. According to Bhutanese tradition, the tigress was a form taken by one of Guru Rinpoche’s consorts for the occasion~

Evening visit Kichu monastery, and Drukgyel Dzong (Victorious fortress) Overnight in hotels.

Day 03            - PARO (DAMCHUNA) – JELE DZONG

Morning vistit Paro Rimpung Dzong (fortress) of 17^th century and Ta Dzong (Watch Tower) which is now a national museum.  Then drive above Ta dzong till Damchuna from where you will start your Druk Path Trek.  After meeting the trekking crew begin the hike gradually up hill with winding trails into the dense forest of pine, spruce, everygreen oaks, fir, hemlock, rodhodendron, poplars etc to Jele Dzong on the ridge Alt. 11500 ft. The hike is about 3 to 4 hours. If you reach early to the camp you can visit the Jele Dzong.

~The 15th-century Jili (or Jele) Dzong has long occupied an important site. It was the residence of Ngawang Chhogyel (1465–1540), the cousin of Lama Drukpa Kunley, and the Zhabdrung is said to have meditated here before heading down to Paro to defeat an invading Tibetan army. The impressive main lhakhang contains a large statue of Sakyamuni almost 4m high. One can only wonder what kinds of mischief the resident monks must have perpetrated to warrant banishment to such a high and isolated monastery~

Day 04            - JELE DZONG – JANGCHU LHAKHA(Tso Kam):

The hike is with gradual ascent at first on  the ridge with view of Paro valley and its surrounding mountains tops in white and slowly entering the deep dense highland vegetation of fir, junipers, rhododendrons etc. with gradual down and uphill to the Jangchu lakha Alt.11800 ft. The hike is 5-6 hours and overnight in tented camp.

Day 05            - JANGCHU LHAKHA – JIMILANGTSO

The trail will go through the dwarf rhododendrons and Junipers approximately of 12000 ft., with gradual ups and down sometime on the slopes and on the ridges , with view of valleys, stream and small lakes. The hike will be 7-8 hours, campsite at the bank of Jimilangtso lake at Alt. 12000 ft. Overnight in the tented camp.

Day 06            - JIMILANGTSO - SIMKOTRA

The hike will be first along the bank of the lake and cross the stream with gradually up through the dwarf rhododendrons and junipers, passing the yak pastures and lakes with slightly ups and down, hiking on the same level of 12300 ft. The hike is 5-6 hours to reach near the Simkotra lake surrounded by dwarf rhododendrons and junipers. Overnight in the tented camp.

Day 07            - SIMKOTRA - PHAJODING

The trail at first will take up hill for an hour and slowly descend with slightly up and down till you reach the view point with prayer flags and small chorten from where you could enjoy the Himalayan mountains views and at the same time you could spot the campsite below near the monasteries which will take another hour to the campsite. The hike is of 4 to 5 hours, Alt. 1180 ft. If you reach your campsite early, you can visit the Phajoding Monastery. Overnight in the tented camp. 

~Phajoding Monastery was once regarded as the richest monastery of Bhutan, which got destroyed due to ignorance of the administration. Phajoding was listed among the five most endangered cultural monuments by the World Monuments Fund in 2010.  Visit this monastery to experience the traditional customs and practices of Buddhism, which homes many scared Buddhist artifacts. It is known for its vast number of temples,  meditation retreats and monk quarters, all signifying the fine Bhutanese architectural style. This complex dates back to 13th century when Todgen Pajo, the founder of the monastery and a yogi from Tibet was looking for a place to meditate peacefully. Most of the buildings in the complex date back to the period of 1748, which were constructed by the efforts of Shakya Rinchen, the ninth Je Khenpo. From the top of this monastery you can get mesmerized with the stunning views of the Thimphu Valley.

It was at this site where Phajo underwent a one month meditation and at the end of this meditation he had a vision of Chenrezig; the Buddha of compassion. In order to ascertain whether his teachings would spread across the whole of Bhutan it is said that he placed his walking stick into the cliff face where he meditated and if his teachings were to spread, water would emerge from the rock face, which it subsequently did. This sacred water known as ‘drub chu’ is still flowing from the cliff face and is famous throughout the whole of Bhutan for curing people with speech impediments~

DAY 08- PHAJ0PDING - THIMPHU

Today is the last day of your trek which is about 4-5 hours hike all the way down through the dense forest of firs, spruce, oaks, pine, and bamboos vegetation to Motithang where the transport will meet you to transfer you to hotel. Afternoon at leisure. If you want, you can visit the largest Buddha statue from where you can have great view of Thimphu city in the evening. Overnight in hotel in Thimphu.

Day 09 – THIMPHU    -    PARO/DELHI

Today, journey back home and you will be transferred to Paro Air-port for the flight to BKK/DEL/CCU/DAC/KTM. The drive from Thimphu to Paro is an hour and reporting time for the flight is two hours before the departure time. Your guide and driver will see you to the airport and bid farewell.