Druk Path Trek Program (6th – 19th Nov. 2012) Name of trek Route: Drukpath Duration: 14 Days Max elevation: 4210m Grade: Medium Season: March to June, September to November Summery: One of the most scenic and popular treks in Bhutan, following a wilderness trail past several remote lakes and magnificent views of the snow-capped mountains. In this program you will be able to able to cover sightseeing in Paro valley, the most popular tourist spot, the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (highlight of the trip) and the capital city of Thimphu. Day 01. 6th Nov. Tue: Kathmandu-Paro by KB flight. Drive to Thimphu. Arrival at Paro on national carrier; Druk Air. It is the most exciting mountain flights and befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In a clear weather, there are magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks. On arrival, meet & greet by our local host at the airport, assist you with your luggage and drive to Thimphu through lush valleys of Paro & Thimphu. On arrival, check in to Hotel Dragon Roots. Alt. 2300m) Day 02. 7th Nov. Wed. Thimphu Sightseeing Following breakfast, go for sightseeing of the places of interest in Thimphu. Visit the weekend market (Friday till Sunday) to see people from all walks of life buying and selling local as well as imported products. Memorial Chorten: This is a most impressive stupa built in the memory of Bhutan’s third King by the order of Grand Queen mother Ashi Phuntsho Chhoden in 1974. It is a multi-storied stupa with numerous paintings and complex statues inside the monument provide a rare insight of the Buddhist philosophy. Everyday there will be any devotees circumambulating the stupa with prayer beads in their hands. Changangkha Lhakhang: One of the oldest and most sacred temples in Thimphu valley situated on top of a knoll overlooking the Thimphu city built in 15th century dedicated to the god of compassion. Drive further up and visit the zoo to see Bhutan national animal “The Takin”. National Library: It holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts, manuscripts and also modern academic books. National Institute for Zorig Chusum (thirteen traditional arts & crafts). The Royal Government of Bhutan has sponsored and established this national institute in the year 1971 to preserve and promote culture and to contribute to the country’s economy through quality products and services. In the course of history Bhutan has developed a unique artistic tradition, which has played a vital role in modeling its distinct cultural heritage and this tradition is reflected in thirteen traditional arts & crafts. You can see the students making clay statues, slate carving, wood carving, sewing, drawing, painting etc. Handicrafts Emporium: It displays wide range of products such as beautifully woven fabrics for man & women, crafted products & other decorative items. After lunch, visit Traditional Medicine Institute: It was established with the help of EU to improve traditional medicine. Different medicinal herbs, minerals, animal products are used to prepare traditional medicines. Folk Heritage Museum: One of the oldest house in Thimphu, having been restored and transformed into Folk Heritage Museum in the year 2001 under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo. This museum is meant to serve an account of everyday rural life for the young urbanized generations and as a place for preserving objects related to this life, in case this way of life disappears as time passes. Textile Museum: This museum was inaugurated under the patronage of Queen Ashi Sangay Choden in June 2001. Many intricate designs of Bhutanese textiles are displayed here. It will also serve as center for conservation, restoration and documentation of Bhutanese textiles. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Dragon Roots. B/L/D Day 03. 8th Nov. Thu: Thimphu – Paro & Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery Following breakfast drive back to Paro via the same road (60km, 90min) and continue to drive till the hiking point and the start your hike to Taktsang (tiger’s Den) monastery hanging on a cliff 800m above the valley. It takes about 21/2 hours uphill at an average pace through the temperate forest of pine, oak, fir and rhododendron till monastery and 1 hour descend to the valley. Stop at tourism café situated half way for refreshment. In the 8th century Guru Rimpoche flew here on the back of a tigress in one of his eight forms (Guru Dorje Drolo) and meditated for 3 months in a cave and converted Paro valley into Buddhism. On your way back, stop at the café for lunch. After lunch, descend down to the valley floor and drive back to your hotel. Evening, at leisure. You can prepare your luggage for your next day trek. Overnight at the hotel. BLD Day 04. 9th Nov. Fri: Trekking starts Trek: National Museum - Jele Dzong Following breakfast, drive to the point where starts trek. For the first couple of hours, follow the farm road that goes through villages and apple orchards. The trail ascends gradually through the forest of chir pine, spruce; silver fir etc. to the camp below Jele dzong (fort). If weather permits, Paro valley can be seen with views of snow-capped mountains behind. Altitude: 3,350m, Distance: 8 km. Time about 4 hours. Overnight in tent. B/L/D Day 05. 10th Nov. Sat: Jele Dzong - Jangchulakha Following breakfast, begin with climb; past the Jele Dzong (if care taker is present, you can visit the temple inside) following the ridge and enter the thick forest of junipers. The trail then takes you through thick temperate forests and rhododendron trees. You may see yak herders around your campsite. Altitude: 3550m, Distance: 9km. Time: 5 hours. Overnight in tent. B/L/D Day 06. 11th Nov. Sun: Jangchulakha - Jimilangtsho Distance: 10km, 6-7 hours. Camp at 3850mts. The trail follows the ridge making many ups and downs and is said to be long and bit challenging. On a clear day, there are beautiful views of the mountains and the valleys. Advise you to start early and walk at very slow pace with several short stops and plenty of liquid to drink and energetic packs to give you more energy to walk. Overnight in camp. B/L/D Day 07. 12th Nov. Mon: Jimilangtsho – Simkotra Tsho ( lake) Distance: 7 km, 4 hours ( altitude: 3955 mts) Following breakfast, start with another gradual climb past several false summits and arrive to Lake Jynetsho. Stop for lunch here and then start uphill for another 2 hours until you arrive to the camp area above the lake Simkotra. Overnight in Camp. BLD. Day 08. 13th Nov. Tue: Simkotra Tsho- Phajoding Distance: 10km, 5 hours. (3690mts) It is another long climb past several false summits, then a long rocky traverse to a group of cairns atop Labana pass at 4210m. The trail descends gently and traverses above a broad valley to another crest. Along this stretch of trail, there are great views of Dochula and Mt. Jomolhari and other mountains. Pass a rough stone wall and soon come to some prayer flags on a hill above the trail that mark a seldom-used sky burial site. Another long traverse leads to a crest and the trail drops and crosses a final ridge called Phumela pass at 4080m. Weather permitting; there are stunning views of the highest mountain in Bhutan (Mt. Gangkhar Puensum) and other Himalayan peaks. Above Phajoding, the trail is marked by a small stone stupa. Below sprawls the entire Thimphu valley. Descend steep downhill on a maze of eroded trail through Juniper and rhododendron bushes to camp neat Phajoding Monastery. Overnight in camp at 3690 mts near Phajoding monastery. Day 09. 14th Nov. Wed. Trek Phajoding – Thimphu. Distance: 4km, time: 2-3 hours at slow pace. Following breakfast, continue downhill through an area forested with blue pine, oak and rhododendron. Taking it leisurely, you reach Motithang (part of Thimphu valley), where the trek ends. You will be greeted by our representative at the end of the trek with some refreshments and drive to hotel for a hot showers and a nice lunch. After lunch, you can visit weekend market and mix up with local people who come to buy and sell vegetables, fruits, rice and rice products, milk products etc. You can as well buy little souvenirs that are displayed on the other side of the Wangchu river. Overnight at hotel Migmar. B/L/D Day 10. 15th Nov. Thu: Early morning drive to Punakha (72 Km, 2hrs) Following breakfast, drive to Punakha, the winter residence of chief abbot. The road climbs for about an hour till you reach a pass at Dochula at an altitude of 3150M. Weather permitting, this pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas. After hot cup of tea/coffee at the Dochula tourist’s resort, continue to descend a long way to Punakha & Wangdue through temperate forest of rhododendron & magnolia bloom in spring then a semi-tropical zone where orange trees, banana trees and cactuses are found in abundance. On arrival, check in to the hotel. After your lunch at the hotel in Punakha, visit the Punakha Dzong some 4-5 km away from the hotel. Punakha Dzong is the most impressive dzong in Bhutan situated in the confluence of Phochhu & Mochhu (male & female rivers). It looks like a giant ship with excellent wood work and detail of paintings. It was here that the first King was crowned in 1907. It was capital of Bhutan until 1955 and then it was shifted to Thimphu. This dzong was built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1637. This dzong still serves as winter resident of the chief lama of Bhutan and houses both administrative & religious centre of Punakha district. On you way back to hotel, stop at Khuruthang new town for evening tea. Overnight at Puna Tsangchu Cottages. B/L/D Day 11.16th Nov. Fri: Punakha –Bumthang. Following early breakfast, drive to Trongsa in Central Bhutan. The road passes through Wangdi district crossing over Pilela Pass at 3,300m, the boundary between western and central Bhutan. It is a journey you are not likely to forget. The scenery is certainly stunning so you need to make occasional stops to take beautiful pictures. In some places, the road is literally carved out of hair raising impressive cliff sides. Lunch will be served at Chendebji Restaurant or depends on time at other restaurants that will be arranged by our guide. After lunch, continue drive to Trongsa. Trongsa Dzong looks superb from a great distance. It is the longest monastery/fortress in the kingdom built along the ridge at a very strategic location in 1648 by Ngagi Wangchuk for political reason. It was from here that the present royal family emerged as the most powerful force at the beginning of 20th century. From Trongsa, it takes another 2 hours ascend to reach Bumthang crossing over Yotongla pass at 3400m. On arrival, check in to the hotel. BLD Day 12. 17th Nov. Sat: Bumthang Local sightseeing Following breakfast, enjoy full day visiting sightseeing places of interests that includes: 7th century Jampa Lhakhang, The oldest and the most sacred temple in the valley, The most famous Kurje Lhakhang, Tamshing Lhakhang, Koncho Sum Lhakhang, Swiss farm, Jakar dzong, Wangduecholing old palace, sey temple ( gold temple) and the Jakar new town. Overnight at the hotel. BLD Day 13. 18th Nov. Sun: Bumthang –Thimphu ( 263km, 7 hours) Following breakfast, drive back to Thimphu via the same road. Stop at Trongsa and visit the Dzong, lunch again at Chendebji and continue to Thimphu passing Wangdue Town and Dochula pass. On arrival, check in to the hotel Phuntsho Pelri. BLD Day 14. 19th Nov. Mon: Thimphu – Paro and exit to Kathmandu. Following early b/fast, drive to airport for your onward destination. Your guide will assist you with your baggage, bid you farewell and wish you safe journey back home. End of our service. TASHI DELEK Himalayan High Spirits Adventures
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 12:18:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015