This trek is very gentle and easy, but lets
you enjoy high passes and snow-covered mountains.
It goes through the village of Ngang Lhankhang
to the Ugyen Chholing Palace, the home of the
descendents of Bhutan’s royal families.
The trek features forest, bamboo marsh, fields
and the Phe-Phe la mountain pass at 3200m.
Day 1: Paro. 2250M.
A flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular
of all mountain flights. One can see Everest,
Kanchenjunga, Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan
such as the Chomolhari, Jichu Drake and Tsrim
Gang. The first glance you will see of Bhutan
is the Paro valley and small Airport. Our guide
will meet you there and escort you to the hotel
for check – in & Lunch. Visit National
Museum of Bhutan and Paro Dzong the head quarters
of Paro District. Overnight Paro.
Day 2: Paro sightseeing.
Hike or take a horse ride to the Taktsang Monastery
viewpoint. Taktsang meaning “Tiger’s
Nest” is built around a cave in which
Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated; it
clings seemingly impossible to a cliff at 3000
feet above the valley floor. For the local people
it is a place of pilgrimage, but for a tourist,
a hike up to the viewpoint opposite the monastery
can be exhausting, thrilling and mystical. The
legend has it that Guru Rimpoche is said to
have flown to the site of monastery on the back
of tigress from Tibet and meditated in the cave
there for three months.
Although the main building of the temple was
destroyed by fire on 19 April 1998, the hike
up to the viewpoint is still worth visit once
in a lifetime. The restoration work has been
completed and has been restored in its former
glory. When we are coming back from Taktsang
and reach to main road we turn to the right
and dive further to Drukgyel Dzong. Which Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyel built in 1649. It caught fire
in 1951. Only the shingle roof was restored
in1981 and now it is preserved as a historical
site. On the way back we will visit one of the
oldest monasteries in Bhutan. The first King
of Tibet Songtsen Gampo built this Kichu Lhakhang
in the 7th century to introduce Buddhism into
our country. Night Paro.
Day 3: Paro - Thimphu. 65 KM. 2 Hours.
Altitude: 2350 M.
Drive to Thimphu the modern capital of Bhutan.
The drive will take around 2 hours. Check in
the hotel. After lunch, visit the Memorial stupa
of the Late King, built in 1974, the Indigenous
Hospital, where traditional medicine is still
practiced, and the Painting School, where children
still learn the ancient art of painting. Overnight
Thimphu.
Day 4: Thimphu Sightseeing.
Visit to a viewpoint overlooking Thimphu, National
animal of Bhutan (Takin), Dupthop Nunnery, National
Library, Traditional Paper factory, Changangkha
monastery, Folk heritage museum and Textile
museum etc. Overnight Thimphu.
Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha - Trongsa.
205KM. 8 Hours. Altitude: 220 M.
After an early breakfast we will drive to Punakha
District. It is 77 Kilometers. The drive will
take 3 hours from the capital Thimphu and Punakha
lies at the altitude of 1350 m above sea level.
It is a sub- Tropical area. On the way we will
cross the Dochula pass 3150 m, on a clear day
we will see the whole range of the eastern Himalayas
from here. We drive downhill until we reach
Punakha. The temporal ruler of Bhutan Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyel built Punakha Dzong in 1637
at the confluence of two rivers called the PO-Chu
and MO-CHU. (Male & Female)
After lunch, we drive to Trongsa. It is 128
kilometers and 5 hours drive from Punakha. Wangdue
is another District and is only a half hours
drive from Punakha. Wandgdue Dzong was Also
built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel but one year
later than Punakha in1638. The road will climb
all the way to Pele- la pass 3300m. It is a
landmark between East & west and from here
we will drive all the way down to Trongsa. Other
way we will come across Yak herder’s camps
and encounter Yaks especially during winter.
We will also see the high Himalayan villages
like Rukubji and Chendebji. Overnight Trongsa.
Day 6: Trongsa - Bumthang. 68 KM. 3
Hours. Altitude: 2600 -+ M.
In the morning after breakfast we will take
an excursion to Kuenga Rabten. It was the winter
Palace for our beloved 2nd King Jigme Wangchuk.
It is 23 kilometers from Trongsa and it takes
about 2 hours by car. Although most is empty
and only one room is occupied for the library
the palace is under Special Commission of cultural
Affairs. We do not need any permit to get inside.
This trip from Trongsa to Kuenga Rabten will
give you an intimate insight into the early
days of Bhutan’s Monarchy. Besides the
palace you will also see the beautiful expanse
of rice terraces in the lower Mangdu-Chu valley
and large waterfall. Drive back to Trongsa for
lunch.
Visit Trongsa Dzong. It was built at different
periods on a spur over looking the Mangdu-Chu
River and it is one of the longest & most
impressive Dzongs in Bhutan. How did Trongsa
get its name? Well many centuries ago the horse
of Palden Lhamo (Bhutan’s guardian deity)
appeared before Lam Naggi Wangchuk who has settled
in this village of yueli, a few kilometers above
today’s fortress of Trongsa. For Naggi
Wangchuk, the presence of Lhamo-Pal den’s
horse was an auspicious event. In order to immortalize
the miraculous event, he built a small meditation
hut- Tshamkhang and started to meditation there,
gradually more and more meditating huts arose
near by & the place looked more like a village.
People of yueli called it Dzongsar (New Village)
and because they pronounced it as Trong –Sar
the name stuck.
In evening drive Bumthang. We climb all the
way to Yotong la pass 3400m.It will be the highest
pass on your trip to Bhutan. After the pass
we drive down to the Chhumey valley before we
reach Jakar. This valley is famous for yathra
weaving in central Bhutan. Overnight Bumthang.
Day 7: Bumthang
Bumthang is different from all the
other valleys in Bhutan. It is very spacious
and open ranging in altitude from 2600m to 4000m.
Bumthang is a heaven for hikers and Trekkers,
not to mention the numerous beautiful and important
Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sin different
locations.
Take a walk up to Tamshing monastery, founded
by the Terton Pema Lingpa, where about 200 monks
reside. Visits to Wangdi Chholing Palace, Jambay
Lhakhang and Kurjey Lhakhang one of the oldest
monastery in the Kingdom. All the Kings of Bhutan
are taken for their cremation rites to Kurjee
Monastery. Visit some more temples. its, making
it the Cultural and Historic heartland of Bhutan.
One could spend months exploring this fascinating
valley. Almost every little valley or hill has
a background of interesting myths and legends
about Kings, Buddhist masters and Serpents.
Bumthang is especially dominated by the religious
influence of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) who
is believed to be the second Buddha 7th –8th
A.D. His reincarnation the Treasure revealer
or Terton Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) who is known
to have discovered many sacred Buddhist texts
& treasures hidden by Padmasambhava (Guru
Rimpoche)
Day 8: Jakar - Nagang lhakhang. Walking
time around 6 hours.
The trek route follows the Chamkhar Chu River,
coming across many villages and temples. This
is a very easy and relaxing day. Arrive at the
Nagang Lhakhang Village. ‘meaning’
(The Land of swans) Overnight Camp. Altitude:
2900 m.
Day 9: Ngang Lhakhang - Ugyenchholing.
Walking time 7-8 hours.
The trail ascends gradually going through the
forest of junipers, until you arrive at the
Phe -Phe – La pass at an altitude 3340
meters. After the pass descend to the Tang valley,
finally arriving at Ugyen Chholing village.
Overnight Camp. Altitude: 2850 m.
Day 10: Drive to Bumthang
Morning walk up to the Ugyenchholing Dzong.
Visit the Dzong and the surrounding village
and then drive to Jakar following the Tang Chu
River until you arrive at the main road junction
and on the way visit Tang Mebartsho (Burning
lake), where the Terton Pema Lingpa, the reincarnation
of Padmasambhava, is supposed to have discovered
religious treasure in the 12th century. This
lake is very sacred and is visited by many Bhutanese
during auspicious days to offer butter lamps.
Mebartsho, (Meaning Burning Lake). The important
of the site is indicated by the extensive array
of prayer flags and is considered as one of
the most holy places for Buddhist pilgrimage.
Evening have free time in town. Overnight Bumthang.
Day 11: Bumthang – Gangtey –
Wangdue. 8Hours.
Gangtey Goemba was built in small hillock
surrounded by blue pine trees and was founded
by the descendant of Pema Lingpa. The great
Bhutanese saint from Bumthang in 16th century.
At the end of 17th century it was enlarged
and at present it is headed by the 9th reincarnation
called Gantey Trulku. At present it is under
renovation and it is ringed with the family
homes of Gomchens (Laymen) who work and worship
at monastery.
Further on you will reach to Phobjikha valley.
This place is reserved for the migration of
the Black Necked Crane. The people out here
have become friendly with the endangered species
and every consecutive year starting from 2nd
week of November to 1st week of April, the fields
and marshes of this undisturbed valley occupied
with these wonderful birds. After having a picnic
lunch here and then drive to wangdue. Overnight
Wangdue.
Day 12: Wangdue – Paro. 5Hours.
After breakfast, visit wangdue Dzong. It was
built 1638. It is believed to be built on the
back of the giant Elephants back and is considered
one of the most important Dzongs of the 17th
century as it controlled west - East and to
the South.
Make a hike to the Divine Mad Man Monastery.
The Buddhist community considers it the land
of fertility. If a couple is trying for a baby
they have to come here to pray for it to be
possible. A lot people come here to get the
name for their child, as it is believed to bless.
Overnight Paro.
Day 13: Departure.
Early morning drive to Paro Airport. Where our
guide will bid you a farewell