Most Classic Bhutan Trekking Route
Located at the southern ridges of the mighty Himalaya Range and with forest coverage over 70%, Bhutan, the happiest country in the world, is an ideal destination to enjoy a real trek. Among all Bhutan treks, the Druk Path Trek is the most popular and classic. It is also the perfect route for beginners and those who prefer a leisure and scenic trekking. Following an ancient trading route, you will trek along the beautiful mountain trails crossing the small mountain range between Paro and Thimphu, rewarded with stunning mountainous landscape willed with ancient Buddhist temples, rural villages, blue pine forests, dwarf rhododendrons, crystal pure lakes and magnificent Himalayan mountains views.
As a short and leisure trek, the Druk Path Trek can easily be added to most of the other Tibet tours, including itineraries to Tiger’s Nest, Thimphu, Punakha, Bumthang, etc., just as this 9 Days Bhutan Highlights Tour does. Available months: March ~ May / September ~ November.
All our Bhutan trekking tours are all-inclusive packages with a powerful support team to help with carrying baggage and gears, cooking fresh meals, guiding, etc. so that you are able to focus 100% on enjoying the fun of trekking.
1. This price is based on a group of 2 adult travelers who will take our private tour and share one standard rooms in regular local 4-star hotel in lower seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2021.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.45. The final quotation will be adjusted accoring to the latest real-time exchange rate.
Welcome to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon! Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be greeted by your local travel guide and driver, and then be escorted to Paro Town (2200m). A guided Paro tour will be enjoyed after checking in your hotel.
You will firstly visit Bhutan National Museum where you are going to learn a crash course in Bhutanese rich culture and history. There are many impressive collections displayed in its five galleries, including traditional thangkas, festival masks, religious statues, interesting carvings, etc. Your next attraction is Rinpung Dzong, also known as Paro Dzong, which is reputed as the finest example of Bhutanese dzong. After appreciating these charming architectures in Rinpung Dzong, you could take a leisure walk through cantilever bridge and to Paro Town and witness national game archery, which is played almost every day on the ground.
After Paro sightseeing, you will attend a pre-trek briefing with your trekking guide at your hotel.
Arrival Ideas: 1) you are able to take an international flight from Kathmandu (1 hour), Kolkata (1 hour), New Delhi (2.5 hours), Guwahati (55 minutes), Siliguri (30 minutes), Bangkok (3 hours), Singapore (5 hours) and some other cities in India in peak seasons; 2) so far, all the flights to Paro depart and arrive in the morning.Start the day with short drive to Paro’s upper valley. If the day is clear, you’ll have an unforgettable view of the “Goddess” – Mt.Chomolhari (23,640 feet).
Afterward, it’s a short drive to Taktsang trail ahead. Take a challenging but necessary 2~3 hours’ trek to Taktsang Monastery, the most famous monastery in Bhutan, also known as “Tiger Nest Monastery, because Guru Rinpoche reportedly flew to the site on the back of a flying tiger late in the 7th century. Between blue pines and a blue sky, the monastery perches miraculously on a cliff nearly 2,700 feet above Paro’s valley floor. Break along the way for tea and snacks in small tea house, and the view of both Taktsang Monastery and Paro Valley is magnificent.
Hike down the mountain, then drive back to Paro for accommodation.
Tips: 1) it takes about 2 ~ 3 hours to trek from the parking lot to Taktsang Monastery, and you could ride a horse for the first hour; 2) photography is strictly forbidden in the monastery, but you can take a nice shot on your road to Taktsang Monastery; 3) travelers have to deposit all belongings (cameras, phones or other electronic equipment and bags) at the entrance.
Elevation: From 2250 metres to 3770 metres
Start today’s trek with an up-hill but not steep climb from Paro’s Natonal Museum (2470m) to Jele Dzong (3540m). En route you will walk through farms, archery fields and some forest before reaching Jeli Pass (3540m). Jele Dzong is located near Jele Pass. Take a strop here to enjoy the clear and matchless view of the Paro Valley and snow-capped mountains behind clearly if weather is clearly.
After lunch, continue to hike along prayer flags, and climb up again through thick alpine forests and rhododendrons to higher ridges. You can hear the monal pheasants calling and nomadic yaks herding along the route. From the higher ridges, you are rewarded with dramatic views of Paro Valley and Bemang Rong Valley. If weather permits, you will have chance to see the Black Mountains and Mt. Chomolhari. You will finally reach Jangchulakha, the campsite of today.
Elevation: From 3770 metres to 3870 metres
Today’s trek is full of short ascents and descents. Leaving Jangchulakha, you will take the horse road ascending diagonally to a viewingpoit with prayer flags (3960m). Keep walking 30mins from the viewpoint to a meadow, then pass through rhododendrons, climb up the top of the Langye Ja La Pass (4070m) to enjoy an impressive panoramic view. Keep trekking to another higher pass (4150m) then drop down from the pass to the bank of Jimgelang Tsho (3885m), a plateau lake famous for giant sized trouts. During the descend, you can enjoy a great view of Jichu Drake (6989m), which is believed to be the protective deity of Paro. Camp at the side of Jimgelang Tsho.
Elevation: 3870 metres to 4110 metres
Leaving the campsite, take the trail from the lower end of Jimgelang Tsho rising through yellow rhododendrons forest to two ridges over 4000m. Overlook Janye Thso m, a beautiful lying at 3956m, from the second ridge. Descend from the pass to a yak herder’s camp near the lake where may spend some time seeing how the herders live. After the final climb from the herder’s camp, you will reach today’s campsite by the lake of Simkota Tsho.
Elevation: 4210 metres to 2350 metres
Today you will trek from Simkota to Thimpu in the morning and explore Thimpu city in the afternoon. Begin with a gradule climb up to the Phume La Pass which is the highest poit of our drek at 4210m. Overlooking from the pass, you can see the majestic Mt. Gangkar Puensum (7570m), Bhutan’s highest peak and world’s highest unclimbed peak. Descending the pass, the trail meander through juniper forest to Phajoding Monastery (3950m), built in 13th century by Togden Pajo who was a Tibetan Yoga master from Tibet. It serves as an important meditation center for Buddhist. The final part of the trek is a downhill all the way from the monastery to Thimphu city, passing through a blue pine forests.
Check in your hotel in Thimphu and take a rest. The rest time of today is to enjoy a guided walk around the town. Feel free to tell your interests to your guide who will organize Thimphu exploration accordingly.
This morning you will start the day by visiting the National Memorial Chorten (shrine), a monument dedicated to the past 3rd king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. More than a memorial stupa, it is also one important religious center for Bhutanese daily worship. Then go to visit National Institute for Zorig Chusum, a school where students are taught to make Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts, like painting, woodcarving, embroidery, statue-making and so on. Next, go to Bhutan Post Office Headquarters, an informative and indulging museum with excellent exhibition of the evolution of Post & Telegraph in Bhutan as well as good details on historical and symbolic interpretation behind stamps. Afterward, drive to Buddha View Point where a massive bronze statue of Buddha Dordenma sits. The statue is placed on a lotus and below it is a meditation hall housed with 125,000 small statues of Buddha. This Buddha dominates over the valley of Thimphu, and you can hardly tell whether the view from Buddha Dordenma or the view of Buddha Dordenma is more spectacular.
Leaving Thimphu, drive through a forest of pine and hemlock, up to cross over the Dochu La Pass (Alt: 10142ft/ 3,050 m). From the place, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the majestic Himalaya Mountains. Keep driving along the winding road to the fertile valley of Punakha (Alt: 4430ft/ 1,350 meters).
Accommodate in Punakha Town.
Tip: there are many other interesting museums where you can probe into Bhutan's culture, history and local people's daily life, including Simply Bhutan Museum, National Textile Museum, National Library and Archives of Bhutan, etc. Feel free to tell your travel consultant if you are interested in visiting any one of them.
Start today’s journey in the early morning with a visit to Wangdu Phodrang Dzong, where you can get a commanding view of the below valleys. In fact, Wangdu Phodrang Dzong enjoys an important status in the history as well, and it was the second capital city in the early days. Since Wangdu Phodrang is situated on the ridge, you can walk down to the bridge and have a short hiking to the village of Rinchangang. After the wonderful sightseeing, you will drive to Paro via Dochula Pass again.
Accommodate in Paro.
After breakfast, you will go to visit Punakha Dzong, situated between Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (male and female rivers) and featuring in three docheys (one more than other dzongs). It is praised by many people as the most beautiful one in Bhutan’s 21 dzongs, especially in spring when the lilac jacaranda trees in blossom. Next, move to Wangdu Phodrang Dzong, where you can get a commanding view of the below valleys. In fact, Wangdu Phodrang Dzong enjoys an important status in the history as well, and it was the second capital city in the early days. Since Wangdu Phodrang is situated on the ridge, you can walk down to the bridge and have a short hiking to the village of Rinchangang. After the wonderful sightseeing, drive to the Chimi Lhakhang, a mysterious temple built in 1499 by the legendary “Divine Madman” - lama Drukpa Kunley. There is a tradition that the childless women can visit this temple to receive a wang (blessing) from the saint, then they will have a child.
After lunch, drive about 3.5 hours back to Paro. Have a good night in Paro Town.
Your journey in Bhutan comes to an end today! After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the hotel to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to your next destination. Before that, you can take a rest at the hotel or go for a walk nearby.
Tips: Please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charge, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel.
1. This price is based on a group of 2 adult travelers who will take our private tour and share one standard rooms in regular local 4-star hotel in lower seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2021.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.45. The final quotation will be adjusted accoring to the latest real-time exchange rate.
While the trip of a lifetime is priceless, we know value is a vital aspect for those deciding which tour to choose.
When comparing tour prices, be sure to compare like to like. Our tours are designed to ensure that our customers experience all the culture, history, and beauty that Tibet has to offer, and at a reasonable price.
A great way to enjoy the lowest possible price is to invite more people to join your trip to share the travel experience as well as the tour expense. The more people in a group, the lower the price per person. (We recommend you join our group tour if you are traveling alone. Please contact our travel consultant for more information)
Booking early is also an easy way to ensure the best rate! We highly recommend you contact us at least 1 month before your planned departure date.
Yes, We had a great time. Hotel was perfect. Warm rooms, comfy beds, good enough breakfast. Van was very comfortable. Guide was a nice guy. Driver drove safely. I liked that we were given options for meals. All attractions good but would have liked to see more of the city described on day two. The shopping street part was after sunset and we walked and walked - too much.
Overall, very happy with the trip and will recommend it to friends.
Jenn
Jenn's Harbin Winter Tour with Tibet Discovery
Jenn's Wonderful Snow and Ice Holiday in Harbin with Friends
Thanks for today! Everything went well !!
Alice
Our customer Alice visited Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing
Our customer Alice visited Summer Palace in Beijing
The driver Xiamen has been excellent, thank you!
David
No documents found.
Tibet has too much to offer and our aim is to bring you the best experience in Tibet. Following are some other recommended Tibet tour packages that you may be interested in. All of our Tibet tour packages are customizable to meet your personal requirements. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want.
Paro / Thimphu / Punakha / Paro
Taktsang Monastery, Rinpung Dzong, National Memorial Chorten, Punakha Dzong
Request / DetailsParo / Thimphu / Punakha / Phobjikha / Paro
Taktsang Monastery, Kychu Monastery, Punakha Dzong, Folk Heritage Museum
Request / DetailsParo / Thimphu / Punakha / Kathmandu / Pokhara / Ngari / Everest / Shigatse / Gyatnse / Lhasa
Swayambhunath, Potala Palace, Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, Punakha Dzong
/ DetailsPlease tell us more about your travel plans within just a few simple steps. We'll get back to you with a quotation in 0.5~23.5hrs.