11 Nights - 12 Days Tour & Trek

This is a 5-day trek to a large number of lovely high altitude lakes above Thimphu . The trek is easy and most trekking days are short but there are some long steep climbs. It starts from Semtokha in Thimphu and ends at Genekha. The highest point is 4300m.

Day - 1 Arrive Paro International Airport

Day - 01 ARRIVAL AT PARO

You will be on board Druk Air , Bhutan ’s only National Airlines, and land at Paro Airport (the only Airport of the kingdom).  The journey offers you the most magnificent and breathtaking views of the Eastern Himalayas , including the towering Mt Everest. 

While en route, complete immigration and custom form formalities for later declaration. Put your address in Bhutan as c/o Himalayan Kingdom Tours. Keep your custom forms safe, as you need to produce the same on departure. Put the forms in the passport along with $20 visa fee and two passport sized photos.

On arrival, the group will be accorded a very warm reception by a representative of Himalayan Kingdom Tours and driven to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day –02 Paro Sightseeing

After breakfast, sightseeing to Drukgyel Dzong, the fort of the victorious Drukpas. Although gutted by a fire, this fort is renowned as the stand from which several Tibetan invasions were repulsed.  To the north can be seen in all its majesty, the dome of sacred Mt. Chomolhari or the abode of the "mountain of goddess.”

En route, see one of the oldest landmarks in Bhutan . The 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang was one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gembo. It is revered as one of the most holy shrines in Bhutan and embodies the arrival of Buddhism here.

After lunch, visit to Ta Dzong, originally the Watch Tower for the Rinpung Dzong. It was later converted into the National Museum of the Kingdom and boasts a wide range of antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and natural and historic artifacts.

Walk down the trail to Rinpung Dzong or the 'fortress of the heap of jewels' which is the seat of the district administration and the residence of the monastic school. The dzong is famous for its wall murals depicting Buddhist parables, symbols and the lives of prominent saints.  Walk down to the cantilever bridge below the dzong where your car awaits.

Ovenight at hotel.

Day - 3  Paro - Thimphu

Drive to Thimphu which takes about 2 hours with a distance of 65 Km. Check in at Hotel. After some rest visit the memorial temple that depicts the Buddhist teachings in form of paintings and statues. Originally the Third King who is known as the “Father of Modern Bhutan” initiated this temple to protect the nation against negative elements. His son the present King and the Queen Mother completed the temple. Visit the Folk Heritage Museum , where life in medieval Bhutan is still showcased; the National Library, the repository of all ancient books and manuscripts; the Textile Museum for antique textile collections; and the Tashichhodzong, the seat of the government and the summer residence of the head abbot and the monastic school.

Day - 4 Thimphu sightseeing

Visit Semtokha Dzong, the  oldest fortresses in Bhutan , built in 1629 A.D. Visit the wood craft and painting schools where traditional art and crafts are still kept alive. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium where Bhutanese textiles and other arts are displayed and can be purchased. Lunch and afternoon siesta 

Day - 5 The Trek Begins from Thimphu to Talekha

The trek starts from Semtokha Dzong where ponies and camping crew members will be waiting. The trek trail leads through blue pine and evergreen forests till Talekha village which lies at an altitude of 2925m. The first two hours are difficult but the remaining two hours are pleasant. The Talekha village consists of five houses and a huge temple called Tale-Lhakhang. Overnight at Talekha campsite.

Day - 6 Talekha - Japhuna

The trek leads you through thick forests of blue pine and evergreen oak trees into soft pine and spruce forests for about two and half hours. For lunch halt at a yak camp site. Here the tree line ends. After lunch you cross a pass called Jelezela, Alt. 4000m. From the pass, one can have a breathtaking view of Thimphu valley and its surrounding mountain ridges. After crossing two ridges, you arrive at the second campsite, Japhuna, at Alt. 3800m.

Day - 7 Japhuna - Jaduna

The trail from Japhuna takes you up and down over several ridges for about four hours till you come across a small stream where you will find two trails which will lead you to the same destination. Along the route, there are many small lakes. After another hour and a half’s climb through rhododendron shrubs, you reach the third campsite, which is also a yak camp. Alt. 4100m.

Day - 8 Jaduna - Labatama

There are two trails, one going on the left side of Aum Jomo ( highest peak in the Dagala range ), and the other onto the right side of Aum Jomo over the Jomigue pass and Setso Yumtso lakes. We follow the trail on the right and climb up to the Jomigue pass (alt. 4460m) after passing the Dungka Tso Lake . After the pass, you descend for about 2 hrs to reach Labatama yak camp by the side of the Yumtso Lake where you camp for the night.

Day - 9 Labatama - Labatama

You can visit several lakes and enjoy a good fishing day or go back to Jomigue pass and climb Aum Jomo till the summit (5050m) which will take about 5-6 hrs.

Day - 10 Labatama - Genekha

Today, you leave the lovely pastures of Labana and move out of the Dagala range. The trail ascends gradually through beautiful landscape till you reach Pagalaptsa pass (alt 4170m), the highest point of the day. From the pass, you have beautiful views of Genekha village and a portion of the Paro valley. After the pass, you gradually climb down through dense Rhododendron shrubs and oak forest till you reach Genekha. Overnight camp in Genekha.

Day - 11 Genekha - Paro

A short walk will bring you to the motor road where your transport will be waiting. Drive to Paro which is only 45 Kms and takes a little over an hour. Overnight in hotel.

Day - 12 Paro Excursion

After an early breakfast,  drive to the foot of the Taktshang cliff before walking uphill for 2 hours to reach this monastery, giddily perched on a sheer 800m rock face.  Taktshang means ‘Tiger’s Nest’ as legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava flew to this spot on the back of a tigress in the eight century. He meditated here making this temple a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. Lunch at the Taktshang Cafeteria. The trip to and fro takes four hours for which riding ponies can be arranged.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 13 – Departure

Representative of Himalayan Kingdom Tours will bid you farewell.

TASHI DELEK.

SEASON: March – June & Sept-Nov.

CLIMATE: Days are normally warm. Nights can at times be very cold and in winter sometimes comes below freezing points.

WHAT TO BRING: Personal clothing, strong normal clothing (accordingly). Preferably cotton for summer. Woolen clothes for evening and winter.

For TREKKING: Strong trekking boots, sunglasses, headgear, raincoat, sleeping bag, torchlights etc.