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Duration : 11 days
Availability : March-June & Sept-Nov
Max Altitude : 3870m
Min Age : 1
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Package Grade
Demanding to Strenuous
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Trip Highlights

Trek from Paro to Thimpu via one of Bhutan's oldest pathways, which offers a stunning variety of natural beauty and mountain views.
Visit Punakha Dzong and take a stroll to the storied Tiger's Nest Monastery.
Examine the important cultural attractions of Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha.
Enjoy Bhutan's culture influenced by Buddhism.
On the Druk Path, take in the whole panorama of the Himalayas.

Overview

One of the best short hikes in Bhutan is the Druk Path Trek. It connects the valleys of Paro and Thimphu by an old trade route that traverses via high mountain passes. It creates the ideal trekking vacation in this distinctive Himalayan region when combined with opportunity to discover the intriguing culture and sights of the Thunder Dragon Kingdom.

Between Bhutan's two largest cities, the Paro and Thimphu Districts, in the country's northwest, is where you can find the Druk Path Trek. The journey boasts fantastic views of some of Bhutan's tallest mountains because it is located close to the powerful Himalayas, which span the whole length of the Bhutanese border with Tibet. There are lovely lakes teeming with fish and the region is renowned for its breathtaking rhododendron forests, despite the fact that there is little habitation along this road. Since the average elevation of this climb is between 2400 and 4200 meters, it is suitable for all levels of hikers. After passing the Ta Dzong and National Museum, you must ascend steeply on an unpaved jeep track to reach the trailhead. From the end of the road, you begin to walk. At the trailhead, a mule train and the kitchen staff will be ready to transport the heavy supplies.

The first day's hike comes to a close at Jele Dzong, a little medieval stronghold perched atop a hill. You'll be inspired by the stunning views of the Paro Valley and Mount Jomolhari. Traditional farms, apple orchards, and forests of blue pine and fir are all passed by the trail as it meanders. Take a deep breath and enjoy the surroundings as they are. You will be traveling on a trail devoid of human habitation starting on the second day. Any stress you may be feeling will vanish thanks to the untamed landscape and breathtaking mountain views. You will travel on an uphill and downhill trail for the following two days to reach Jangchulakha, Jimilangtsho, Langrithang, and Tsaluna. Along the way, pass through cedar and rhododendron forests, yak herder summer camps, and glacier lakes. One should dress appropriately because it gets cooler in the upper elevations. You walk from Langrithang to Tasluna and then down to the Thimphu highway.

This camping trip is meticulously planned. You will be traveling with a skilled trekking guide and a kitchen team. They'll prepare wholesome meals and pitch a tent for the trekking party.

One of Bhutan's shortest and easiest Himalayan treks is the Druk Path Trek. This is the vacation for you if you wish to explore the breathtaking Bhutanese highlands and forests on foot.

Best Season for Druk Path Trek

The Druk Path Trek is most enjoyable in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). The current period of time is beautiful weather. Less rain and fog means that the sky is clear and that you can see the mountains clearly.

This can actually be a rather decent hike in terms of weather for a brief, modest climb in Bhutan. The Druk Path Trek can be done at any time of the year because there are very few obstacles, even in the dead of winter. Traditional trekking seasons in Bhutan are from March to May and late September to November. Although there is no guarantee that the weather will be favorable when you arrive, heavy rain or heavy snow can frequently put a stop to a journey. As a result, summer and winter are questionable months for trekking.

Why "Druk Path Trek" with Accessible Adventure? 

Accessible Adventure is a travel and tour company run and managed by a group of seasoned Nepalese citizens. This staff has extensive experience organizing and managing vacation destinations in Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet throughout the Himalayas.

We are a major and rising travel company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with over a decade of experience organizing successful tours with one-of-a-kind quality services at affordable prices. During your stay with us, you will have access to all of the Himalayan vacation destinations that we provide.

Each of our holidays is painstakingly planned and managed, and we consistently receive good comments from both previous and present customers and clients. They are quite pleased and grateful for the value of the vacations we provide.

Itinerary

Your tour guide will greet you at Bhutan's only international airport, Paro, and transport you to your hotel. You will go sightseeing in and around Paro after taking a nap.

Later, you will leave Paro for a short drive and hike up to Dzong Drakha. Above the tiny village of Bondhey and overlooking the Paro Valley is this stunning collection of cliff temples from the 16th century. This trek is a fantastic way to stretch your legs and help your body adjust to the altitude, even though it won't last more than a few hours. In the evening, we can stroll through the surrounding Paro markets and streets.

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D

After breakfast, we take a short drive to the foot of Tiger's Nest, where we begin our two-hour ascent to the monastery cafe, where we are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Taktsang. After another half-hour of hiking, we'll reach the majestic Taktsang Monastery and be greeted by the resident monks. It is thought that from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan, Guru Rimpoche flew on a flaming tigress to here, Bhutan's holiest monastery, where he meditated for three months. Beginning in the eighth century, under his leadership, Buddhism in Paro flourished. He flew here from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, who he turned into a flying tigress for the trip. He landed on the cliff, which he "anointed" as the place to build a monastery. People have called him the "protector saint of Bhutan" because he brought Buddhism and the Nyingmapa school of Mahayana Buddhism to Bhutan. In the monastery, there are eight caves. Four of them are pretty easy to get to. Padmasambhava is thought to have entered the first cave on the back of a tiger. This cave is called "Tholu Phuk," and the cave where he meditates is called "Pel Phuk."

All of the monastic structures are cut directly into the cliff face, which has extraordinarily steep slopes. Despite its intimidating appearance, the monastery complex may be reached from multiple directions. These include the northwest by a path through the forest, the south via a path used by devotees, and the north via the "Hundred Thousand Fairies". 

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D

We set off on our adventure today. After breakfast, we take a quick drive up to a height of 2620 meters, which is near the historic Ta Dzong watchtower. Although the first day's trekking is short in terms of hours, it is all uphill, and we gain quite a bit of elevation. A gradual ascent of around 1.5 hours on a jeep track leads to a prayer wall from the starting location of our walk. The trail soon becomes more congested, and we continue going through the forest on a rocky road that is now a little steeper. We stop for lunch about an hour later in a clearing, after which it takes us approximately an hour to trek to the Jele La (3550m), where our camp is located just below the pass and the Jele Dzong. We can see the Paro Valley below if the sky is clear. The Jele La is a short distance from a crumbling shepherd hut with a tiny Bon shrine for anyone with the stamina to continue walking up the ridge.

Accommodation
Camping
Distance
7 km
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr
Descent
40 m
Ascent
1,090 m

Early in the day we take a short detour of a short hike of only twenty minutes from the camp to the dzong. There is a gigantic Padma Sambhava statue inside this reportedly haunted monastery. In the arrow holes, the birds have made their homes, and on the walls, you can see ancient Mongol helmets and shields. A recent renovation has brought the long-abandoned building back into use. Its vantage point on a mountain provides breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding lowlands and the Himalayas to the north. Mount Chomolhari, the second-highest mountain in Bhutan, is visible on clear days. Its elevation is 7,314 meters (23,997 feet). Once the path leaves the monastery, it follows a ridge for a bit before dropping down into the woodland. The road then winds like a serpent through a maze of rhododendron bushes along the slopes of the mountains. The surrounding mountains, especially Kangcheeta, another massive peak, are beautiful, and you may run into local yak herdsmen on occasion. The Dagala range, towards the south, is the most prominent geographical feature. Tshomphu Monastery, situated at the base of Mt. Kangcheeta, is home to a temple where a mythical god is said to float weightlessly. Our former guides claimed they went to the temple and saw the floating statue by passing a string under it. Over time, you'll go through a series of yak herder clearings, ultimately settling into the largest one for the night.

Accommodation
Camping
Distance
10 km
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr
Descent
50m
Ascent
310m

Today will be a long day, and the walk will most likely be the most difficult of the entire trek. To go back to the main trail, we have to leave camp and hike for approximately an hour down a trail that is much narrower than the one we came in on. We are continuing our ascent across a rugged terrain that is peppered with rhododendron plants of varying sizes. After climbing to a divide at 4073 meters, which is marked with prayer flags, we descend a short distance to reach a cave. The path then continues to ascend very steeply to a crest, from which, on a day with good skies, we get breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including Chomolhari and Jichudrake. We stop for lunch on the crest to take in the scenery, after which we continue climbing the ridge to reach an elevation of 4120 meters. From here, we make a small contour to the right and then descend precipitously on a rocky trail to reach the shores of Jimi Lang Tscho, which is famous for the trout that live there.

Accommodation
Camping
Distance
11 km
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr
Ascent
330m

After a hearty and delectable breakfast, there is a delightful walk through glorious high mountain scenery today. You will be crossing the highest pass of your journey, the Simkota La which is also known as Phume La.  A broad stone path that winds through rhododendron bushes and leads down to a basin that holds a third lake can be found by following the lake. There are two more lakes up there, one considered male and one female, but they are hidden from our direct  view. Dungkar Tsho is the name given to all of them collectively. The latter of these has a very powerful spirit, and if something considered "unclean" is done in the vicinity, a cloud will descend, and the only way to remove it is via a great deal of prayer. At this point, the route consists of a combination of different mountain passes and mountain tracks, some of which travel beneath cliffs. You will arrive in Labana, where you will set up tent for the night, here. You will have the remainder of the day off to look about the neighborhood at your leisure.

Accommodation
Camping
Distance
11 km
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr
Descent
680m
Ascent
150m

Phadjoding can be reached after 2.5 hours of zigzagging down the mountain. There will be plenty of time for exploring the temples. The monks who serve as acolytes will lead you around the interior temples of these magnificent structures, which have golden roofs. There are a number of houses in Phadjoding that are used solely for retreat purposes, making it an excellent meditation center. In order to indicate that the occupant of the space should not be disturbed, a specific kind of branch is placed outside the entrance door. A well-known hermit temple may be found high up on the cliff that is located behind Phadjoding. This temple was constructed many hundreds of years ago, yet it is still in use today.

The descent through the forest, which may be very steep at points, on the well-trodden path takes anything between three and four hours to complete. It is well worth the effort to rise before the sun to take advantage of the clear vistas of the Eastern Himalaya. Gangkar Punsum, the tallest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed peak in the world, can be seen plainly on the horizon behind the temples. Its elevation of 7,550 meters makes it the highest unclimbed peak in the world. There are a few routes that lead down to Thimphu; among these routes, the one that goes to the Radio Station and takes around three hours is considered to be the most scenic. In many cases, the valley below will be covered in cloud, and the mountains will be the only things visible thrusting up into the clear air. At the trailhead, your vehicle will be waiting for you so that you can make the quick drive to your accommodation in the city. 

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5 hr

Today after you wake up and we take breakfast, we will take a scenic drive to the Buddha point in Kuenselphodrang National park. It houses one of the largest sitting Buddha staties in the world. It is perched on a hill where you can get panoramic views of the valley and the mountains that are in the surrounding area.

From here we visit the Sangaygang tower, the scene from atop the hill is amazing. You might also be able to witness the national animal of Bhutan. 

We also visit the Dechen Phodrang. Since 1971, it has served as the location of the state monastic school, and a lengthy procession of monks frequently makes its way between this building and the dzong. More than 450 students are educated over the course of eight years by a group of fifteen instructors. We also visit the living museum and a photo studio in Bhutan showcasing Bhutanese tradition and cultural diversity. Finally we visit the Simtokha Dzong, which lies five miles from Thimpu which is one of the very first Dzongs built in 1627. 

 

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
4 hr

We move to Punakha today from Thimpu after breakfast. Along the road to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan until 1955, we will make a pit stop at Dochula Pass today. Punakha is our destination today. This well-known destination for tourists offers breathtaking vistas in every direction of the Himalayas. Additionally, it is the location of the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens, which were constructed on a tiny hill as a tribute to the Bhutanese troops who died in a battle in the year 2003. In addition to the chortens, there is a monastery called the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang. It was built to honor the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who was the head of state of Bhutan.

We also visit the Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge, which measures 160 meters in length. TThe 160-meter-long Pho Chhu Suspension Bridge is known as Bhutan's longest suspension bridge. From it, you can see amazing views of Punakha Dzong and the Pho Chhu Valley.

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr

We move to Paro again, from Punakha. In addition, the valley is home to Mount Jomolhari, which stands at 7,300 meters and is located at the northern end of the valley. The glacial runoff from Mount Jomolhari is what forms the Pa Chhu, which flows through the valley. The oldest temple in Bhutan is called Kyichu Lhakhang. It is sometimes referred to as the Kyerchu temple or Lho Kyerchu. It is one of the 108 temples established by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in order to conquer and pin down an ogress that was blocking the development of Buddhism. This temple is quite similar to Jambhay Lhakhang, which is located in Bumthang. The creation of all 108 temples is said to have taken place in a single night in the mythology. 

Travel back in time and across history by visiting the Kyichu temple, which was built in the seventh century. You will find yourself at ease in this place, since the name of the temple alludes to the fact that it is a wellspring of serenity. Within walking distance of the temple is a home that has been transformed into a museum in memory of the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. There are photographs and other objects that were once owned by Rinpoche that are still around. 

The Dumtse Lhakhang was constructed in 1433 by Thangton Gyalpo, who was also responsible for the construction of the iron bridge. The temple was constructed to conquer a demon and was therefore shackled tightly to the ground. Its three levels stand for the three realms of hell, earth, and heaven. You will need a special permission slip in order to go into the Dumtse Lhakhang.

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D
Time
5hr

Today, we will say goodbye to this beautiful country in the Himalayas. We hope that by now you have made some friends and taken lots of photos to remember Bhutan. We hope to see you again in this beautiful land of never-ending Enchantments. Tashi Delek!

Accommodation
3* Hotel
Meals
B,L,D

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