Druk Path Trek

During the flight into Bhutan, one will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your Cypress Himalaya Tours representative. After completion of arrival formalities, including the processing of your visa (please bring your copy) we will drive to Thimphu. After lunch explore Thimphu city.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

This morning, we will drive to Kuensel Phodrang and see the second-largest seated Buddha; locals call it “Buddha Point”. Then, we will take a trip to The Institute for Zorig Chusum (commonly known as Traditional Arts School of Bhutan) where students undertake a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts & craft of Bhutan. We’ll visit the Traditional Medicine Institute where the ancient healing arts are still practiced. You can browse the striking collection of intricate textiles at the National Textile Museum and at the weaving center. Observe traditional paper making from Daphnia and Edgeworthia shrub to the finished product and purchase some beautiful writing sets from the factory.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

On the way to Punakha is the Dochu la pass (1004ft) from where a beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain ranges can be seen, especially on clear winter days. The beauty of this place will capture your heart by the sight of The Druk Wangyel Chorten, a 108 stupas built for the well being of all sentient beings by the eldest queen mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. Punakha has a temperate climate and its rich fertile valley is fed by the Phochu (Male River) and Mochu (Female River) rivers. Upon arrival, we will hike to Chimmi Lhakhang, most popularly known as the temple of fertility. The temple was built in the 15th century as a dedication to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, known as the divine mad man and considered one of Bhutan’s favorite saints. The hike to this temple will take us through a village surrounded by beautiful rice fields and it will take us only 50 minutes (round trip). We’ll visit the Punakha Dzong built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the unifier of Bhutan) in 1637. It stands majestically at the junction of the two rivers, Phochhu (Male River) and Mochhu (Female River). Visit the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan built over the Phochhu.

Overnight Punakha (4624ft)

Today we will drive back to Thimphu and upon arrival we will drive to the North of Thimphu valley which will take us to the end of the road to the entrance to Jigme Dorji National Park, one of Bhutan’s revered wildlife sanctuaries and from there we will hike approximately an hour up to the Cheri Goemba (Meditation Centre), the monastery where the first monastic body was established in the Kingdom. We will visit Pangri Zampa Temple, which is now the seat of the monastic college of astrology. We can get an astrology reading at the college. Visit Memorial Chorten built in 1974 in the memory of our third king, a multi-storied stupa that will introduce you to the vitality of Tantric Buddhism. In the evening we will have a leisure time in the city.

Overnight – Thimphu (7576 ft)

Distance: 8kms/4.97miles (3 & half hr)
Altitude Gain: 1130m/3707ft
Altitude Loss:

Today is a short trekking day and the journey starts from the Bhutan Telecom tower. It starts with a climb through the prayer flags and a blue pine forest, spruce, fir, juniper and rhododendron. The altitude gain today is significant so it is recommended that you walk at a slow and steady pace. The first night camp is near the Phajodhing Goemba (monastery) which is perched on the ridge and whose monks welcome visitors.

Campsite Elevation: 3640m/11942ft

Distance: 10kms/6.21miles (4hrs)
Altitude Gain: 680m/2231ft
Altitude Loss: 130m/426.50ft

The morning begins with an ascent for approximately about 90min towards the Pass (4090m/13,419ft) and from there you will have a great view of Thimphu city. After this you climb bit higher to crest at 4120m/13517ft and then go across to a hill with some prayer flags and a stone wall that marks the sky burial site. Then you drop down to Labana camp site where there is almost dry lake at 4110m/13,484ft. Labana means ‘between the passes’ so you have to climb over another crest at 4210m/13,812ft and traverse along a broad valley, where you could view Dochula and Mt. Jomolhari (7314m/23,996ft). The path then ascends gradually to group of Cairns atop Labana La 4235m/13,894ft (‘pass between passes’). After long walk over rocky path and several descents past several false summits, you will be at your campsite near stone ruins overlooking Simkotra Tsho.

Campsite Elevation: 4100m/13,451ft

Distance: 11kms/6.83miles (4-5 hrs)
Altitude Gain: 400m/1312ft
Altitude Loss: 820m/2690ft

Today, we climb at first climb about 50m/164ft to a ridge at 4150m/13,615ft and then descend to Janye Tsho at 3950m/12,959ft. Continue walking along the shore to reach yak herder’s camp and then climb another 100m/328ft to crest where you have a view of the lake you passed. Then you make several ups and downs to another ridge and then make climb to a single stone shelter. From there you traverse along the side of the ridge to descend to Lake Jimilang Tsho, our campsite for today. The name Jimilang Tsho means ‘Sand Ox Lake’ and was called after a bull that emerged from the lake to join the cattle of a family that uses the area as a summer grazing ground. The lake is also known for its giant trout, which were introduced in the 1970s.

Campsite Elevation: 3885m/12,746ft

Distance: 11kms/6.83miles (4hrs)
Altitude Gain: 375m/1230ft
Altitude Loss: 370m/1213ft

Today after leaving the lake, we traverse to the crest and then make a short decent through boulders and rhododendrons at first and then through a forest. Then make a climb for about an hour to the top of a ridge at 4175m/13,698ft, from where we will have a great view of Mt. Jomolhari (7314m/23,996ft) and Paro valley. From here we descend to a valley and make a climb up to a meadow, where yak herder’s camp. After the open it is only short gradual climb to the small pass at 4080m/13,386ft with again the view of a Paro valley and Mt. Jomolhari and leaving the pass we will descend to our campsite, an open and plain area called Jangchhu Lakha, a yak pasture.

Campsite Elevation: 3760m/12,336ft

Distance: 10kms/6.21miles (4hrs)
Altitude Gain: 50m/164ft
Altitude Loss: 425m/1394ft

Today’s walk is a short and enjoyable ridge walk, full of a short ascents an descents so there’s plenty of time for a afternoon visit to Jili Dzong (fortress). We might see or hear a beautiful Monal Pheasants during the day. Today’s campsite is just below the Jili Dzong.

Campsite Elevation: 3480m/11,417ft

Distance: 5kms/miles (2 & half hr)
Altitude Gain: 40m/131ft
Altitude Loss: 555m/1821ft

Today after our breakfast, we will climb to Jili La (pass) 3540m/11614ft and from the pass we’ll descend more than 500m/1,640ft to our destination through the hemlock, fir, bamboo and blue pine forest. After 2 hours of descend will take us to a mani wall (carved stone) and campsite in a clearing known as Damchena (2985m/9,793ft) where we will meet our driver and a coach. From here we’ll drive to our hotel.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)

Today, we will spend our day watching Archery match, Bhutan’s national sport. We’ll visit the Ta Dzong (watch tower) Museum housing many religious relics, works of art and handicrafts offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Visit the Rimpung Dzong to see the painting of the great saint Milarepa, considered as the master of meditation by the Bhutanese and believed to have attained enlightenment in a lifetime. Dzongs are large monasteries and district administrative centers, which were once strategic forts. Later in the evening we will visit a farm house and have a traditional bath known as ‘Hot stone bath’ and enjoy the authentic Bhutanese Dinner.

Overnight – Paro (7478ft)

After an early breakfast, we will hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktshang Goemba). The trip is an uphill walk of about three hours and an hour and half hike to the café where there is also clear vantage view where you can enjoy the stunning view of the monastery. The legend of Taktshang (Tiger’s Nest/Lair) evolves form Tantric mythology when, in 747 AD, Guru Rimpochhe (Padma Sambhava) chose a cave on this sheer rock face to meditate and, assuming his wrathful form, Guru Dorji Droloe, he subdued the local deity, converting into spiritual protector of Taktshang. Some people living in the valley saw the tigress lying by the cave and thought to be tiger’s lair. Thus, the name tak (tiger) tshang (lair) came into existence and became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist world. For Bhutanese; we have to visit this monastery once in a life time.

Overnight-Paro (7478ft)