Druk Path

8 days and 7 nights
(6D / 5N trek)

Start

Paro national museum

Finish point

Motithang, Thimphu

Access town

Paro, Thimphu

Max. elevation

4235 m

Druk Path trek is the most popular trek in Bhutan. On average little over thousand trekkers trek along this trail. It is amongst the most convenient in terms of both length and difficulty grade. The main attraction of this trek includes Alpine sceneries, monasteries and remote Lakes. The best seasons to trek along this trail are from late February to May and from September to December. It is more of a better option to avoid monsoon season (June- August) and the peak winter (January to February) as during winter the trail gets closed by the snow. However it is still possible to block your way by snow during early spring (March – April) and late autumn (late October – November). During the trekking season, days remain relatively warm but nights can be extremely cold and therefore it is advisable to prepare yourself properly for bitter weather before you venture for this journey.

Program

Discover all the details of the tour and live a unique experience during your trip to Bhutan.

Welcome to Paro International airport. Your guide and driver will receive you at the arrival gate and drive you to the hotel.

Depending on your available time, you can set out to explore Paro valley. Paro is without doubt Bhutan’s one of the most beautiful and loveliest place to be and with Bhutan’s only international airport located here, it’s a perfect blend of modernization and traditional way of living. Paro town is a small town settled alongside Pa Chu (river) decorated with colorfully painted storefronts, roofed under the unique architectural designs of Bhutan. It is worth exploring the town on foot for hour or two.

Beside Druk Path Trek, several other treks begin from Paro valley including, Laya- Gasa trek, the Jomolhari trek and the toughest of all the Snowmen trek.
Sites around Paro valley: National museum (Ta Dzong), Paro Rinpung Dzong, Kichu Lhakhang.

10 km/ 3-5 hours/ 1115 m ascent/ 40 m descent

Your journey starts from a trailhead located above Paro national museum (2470 m), a short distance drive from your hotel. At here you will be greeted by trekking crew members and their horses. Once loaded, trekking crew members and horses will lead their way followed by you and your guide.

Today is relatively a short distance journey but involves an uphill hike, gaining more than 1000m in altitude. After about an hour into the journey amidst the blue pine jungle is Kuenga Choeling monastery located at an altitude of 2650m above sea level. An hour further up, you will come across traditional stone houses and apple orchards of Damchena (2880m) valley. 15 minutes hike from Damchena is Damchegom (2985m), from where you will have a clear sighting of tonight’s campsite.

From here on its long and gentle climb through the forests of golden moss, across the camps of yak herders to the Jili la pass (3540m). The trail then drops down to beautiful camping site for the night, in a meadow below Jili Dzong (fortress) surrounded by lush green forest of rhododendron.

By the time you reach here, crew members will have finished pitching the tents and will welcome you with a hot cup of tea. If there is enough time left, explore around to have a glimpse of some Himalayan bird species and enjoy watching your crew members preparing typical and delicious Bhutanese dish for the night.

10km/3-4 hours/ 425 m ascent/ 50 m descent

By the time you wake up, your morning tea and breakfast is ready. Your lunch will be prepared here at the camp, packed and carried by the crew members.

Today is fairly an easy day with short descents and ascents leaving us with ample of time to explore around. We will start our journey with a visit to Jili Dzong. From dzong, through the rhododendron forests, we began descending down for a while before ascending about an hour to a great view of Paro valley. On a clear day from the ridge, we will have a spectacular view of Mt. Jomolhari and other snowcapped mountains in the distance. The trial then leads us eastward along the ridge over the view of Gemina village below. Climbing up from here, we traverse westward of a cone shaped hill to saddle and further two clearings from here; we reach Jangchulakha (3770 m), a yak pasture land. Half an hour further up is our tonight’s camp Rabana at an altitude of 3890 m above sea level.

11km/ 4 hours/ 375 m descent/ 370 m ascent

Today if the sky remains blue, we will have a clear view of Mt. Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake. We begin our trek by ascending diagonally across the ridge till a viewpoint. From here on, traverse half an hour across the meadow before descending down to a small peak. Further up we will be crossing Langye la pass (4070m), where one can enjoy a 360 degree view. A short descend from the pass, you will a have sight of lake Jimilang far below. Descending further down from here to a saddle before climbing and angling around the ridge to a stupa from where one can have a final view of Mt. Jomolhari. Around 40 minutes steep descend from here; we will be at our campsite, located at the bank of Lake Jimilang.

11 km/ 4 hours/820 m ascent/ 400 m descent

We begin our day by hiking upward through the rhododendrons, to a ridge. Traverse across ridge for a while before descending down towards the yak herder’s camp near Lake Janye. From here it’s another upward journey through the ridge from where we will have a view of Lake Simkotra; our campsite for the night. Half an hour descend from the ridge is our stopover located at the height of 4100 m above sea level.

10 km/ 3-4 hours/ 130 m ascent/ 680 m descent

Our day starts with a long climb across three small hilltops, before the trail descends to Labana (4110 m). From Labana it’s the final upward journey towards Labana pass at a height of 4235 m. From here the trail descends down to the last pass (4090 m) marked by a small stupa with a view of Thimphu valley; the capital of Bhutan. From here we can also have a view of Mt. Gangkar puensum; Bhutan’s tallest mountain on clear days. The trail then descends down through rhododendrons and junipers, to our stopover for the night; Phajoding goemba (3640 m).

5 km/ 3 hours/1130 m descent

It’s all downhill trek for the day. Under an hour after starting from our campsite, we will reach a junction; the left descends and end at Sangaygang but we will follow right and descend down towards Motithang and meet up with our vehicle. From here drive towards Thimphu city for the lunch, spend some time going around and drive towards Paro for the night.

Your wonderful experience in Bhutan comes to an end today. After breakfast from your hotel, your guide and driver will see you off at Paro international airport. Hope to see you in future

Included

About our company’s services:

Taxes

All government taxes

Visa fee

All government taxes

Entrances

All government taxes

English guide

All government taxes

Transfer

All government taxes

Accommodation

All government taxes

Meals

All government taxes

Snacks

All government taxes

Excluded
  • Flight tickets
  • Health insurance
  • Bank transfer
  • Tips for guide and driver
  • Bar/Beverage
  • Laundry

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