In the Shadow of Mount Jomolhari

During the flight to Bhutan, you will have a chance to enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Jomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake. On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be received by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will visit Paro Dzong, built in the 17th century and now housing government offices and religious institutions. Then you will visit Kichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, believed to have been built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. In the evening, you can stroll through Paro town and explore the local surroundings. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

In the morning, you will hike to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, Bhutan’s most famous monastery, situated at an altitude of 3,180 meters. Guru Rinpoche, the spiritual master, is said to have flown on the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong in Lhuntse to meditate in a cave where Taktsang Monastery now stands. The monastery is perched on the edge of a steep cliff, about 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria. After lunch, you will explore the monastery before hiking back down to the valley in the afternoon. This hike will also help you prepare for the higher altitudes during the trek. Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

At the end of the road from Paro lies Drukgyal Dzong, with Mt. Jomolhari (23,995 ft/7,315 m) in the background. This is a beautiful place to start the trek. Here, you will meet our trekking staff and the pack animals that will carry the camping equipment. You will walk along a dirt road for about one hour through a richly cultivated valley called Tsento. Tsento is the first small settlement you will come across. Along the way, you will see traditional Bhutanese farmhouses, with red chillies drying on their roofs during the season, small shops and a Basic Health Unit that provides healthcare to people living far from the hospital. You will cross a Swiss-built suspension bridge at the end of the road. The trek then continues along the east side of the river. After about 2–2.5 hours, you will stop for lunch near a Chorten (stupa) at 8,450 ft/2,577 m. After lunch, you will cross the main bridge and continue along a pleasant trail towards the hamlet of Chobiso, where you will enter Jigme Dorji National Park. At Gunitsawa, there is a school and some small shops. Your trekking permits will be checked at the entrance. You will continue through the camp and cross the bridge over the Paro Chhu. After about 20 minutes of walking through the forest, with some ups and downs along the trail, you will reach Shana campsite by evening. Overnight at the campsite.

With a lot of distance to cover, this is going to be a hard day. After lunch, the trail becomes rough and stony, with many ascents and descents, so you can expect a late arrival at the camp. You will follow the river upstream on its right side along a muddy trail. After crossing the bridge, the trail climbs steadily through a beautiful thick forest of oak, rhododendron, bamboo and ferns. After 2–2.5 hours of trekking, you will reach Shing Karap (10,170 ft/3,100 m), a clearing with two houses where home-brewed beer is sold. Not far from here, the trail forks, and you will take the right trail towards Soe. After a short, steep climb, you will cross a bridge. About five minutes later, you will come across a large clearing in the forest called Thongo Samba, which can be used as a lunch spot or campsite. The trek to Soi Thangthanka continues for another 3–4 hours through beautiful forests of birch, fir, larch, maple, blue pine and rhododendron. After about three hours, you will cross a bridge. You may encounter yaks from here, so make sure you move to the upper side of the trail rather than the lower side when they pass. A short climb follows, and you will come to a second bridge at the confluence of two rivers. After crossing the bridge, you may get your first views of Mt. Jomolhari on the way to a large valley called Soi Yakse. You will continue trekking for another 20–30 minutes on a good trail to reach Soi Thangthanka. Overnight at the campsite.

After enjoying the views of Jomolhari and having a good breakfast, you will walk for about one hour through the forest. Today’s trail again follows the river and changes direction several times. Late in spring, you may spot the Blue Poppy, Bhutan’s national flower. At Heansho Thangkha (12,235 ft/3,730 m), you will come across a Bhutanese and Indian army camp with a helipad, which also guards another pass into Tibet. About one hour beyond the camp, you will reach a beautiful campsite called Geza, where the yaks are kept during the winter. Today, you will also come across small villages. You might be invited into one of the houses for a cup of the famous butter tea, and it is considered impolite to refuse. You will have lunch at one of the villages along the way. By now, you will be able to see the summit of the spiky peak Jitchu Drakey (22,470 ft/6,850 m) and Tsheri Kang (21,405 ft/6,526 m) to the right. When you see the ruins of a Dzong on the rocks, decorated with prayer flags, you are getting closer to Jangothang. After crossing a bridge, the impressive snow- and ice-covered east face of Jomolhari (23,995 ft/7,315 m) suddenly appears, with its massive wall of granite, marble and quartzite rising about 3,200 m above the valley. You have reached Jangothang (Jomolhari Base Camp). Jangothang is also where the pack animals are changed from mules and horses to yaks. Overnight at the campsite.

After ascending around 1,800 m in three days, most people will feel the effects of the altitude. A rest day at Jangothang will help you acclimatize before continuing the trek. There are several good day hikes from the camp, and a short hike today will also help with acclimatization. Follow the standard rule: trek high, sleep low. Side Trips for the Day: Hike towards the foot of Jomolhari You can take an easy day hike up the valley towards the foot of Jomolhari. The trail climbs up the moraine and gives you a good view of the glacier. You may also see herds of Himalayan Blue Sheep in the valley. Tso Phu Twin Lakes You can take a beautiful hike eastward to the twin lakes of Tso Phu (14,270 ft/4,350 m), which are known for their trout. From the lakes, you can enjoy views of Jomolhari and Jitchu Drakey. Hike up the grassy ridge The most challenging day hike is up the steep, grassy ridge located north of the camp. It takes around 3–4 hours to reach the final rocky summit at 15,974 ft/4,870 m. From the top, you can get good views of Jitchu Drakey and Jomolhari. Make sure to carry a windproof jacket, gloves and a hat. Hike towards Jitchu Drakey A pleasant hike of about 2–2.5 hours uphill and 1–1.5 hours downhill goes in the direction of Jitchu Drakey. Walk northeast from the camp, following the same trail used to cross Nyile La towards Lingshi. After passing the last house, cross the bridge, turn left and follow the less steep trail into the valley towards the foot of Jitchu Drakey. A little higher up, there is a large, flat meadow where a memorial plaque once stood for two Italians who were killed on Jitchu Drakey in 1984. This hike gives you very good views of Jitchu Drakey, Jomolhari and the surrounding glaciers. Viewing Point Another viewing point is the steep, grassy hill at 16,334 ft/4,980 m, which starts from the second bridge. It takes about three hours to hike up and offers a superb view of the Jomolhari and Jitchu Drakey groups and the camp. Ruined Dzong You can also try to climb up to the rock where the ruined Dzong is situated. Be prepared for a difficult climb and make sure you have the appropriate experience and equipment. Overnight at the campsite.

Walk north towards the houses of Jangothang. After passing the last house, you will cross a log bridge over the river. It is a long climb of about 3–3.5 hours to reach the first high and very windy pass of the trek, Nyile La (16,040 ft/4,890 m). Today’s trek will test your level of acclimatization. If you are having difficulty with the altitude, this is the point where you may need to turn back. From Nyile La, you can get views of Tsheri Kang (21,405 ft/6,526 m) to the north and Tiger Mountain (6,840 m) towards the east. From the pass, descend for less than 30 minutes to a flat and more sheltered area, where you will have lunch. After lunch, continue the trek through a narrow gorge with a small river crossing. You may spot Masang Gang peak in the distance. From here, the trail becomes easier, with a relatively flat and good path leading to a viewpoint from where Lingshi Dzong can be seen, standing alone in the middle of the vast wilderness. The camp is located near a ruined tourist bungalow. For the rest of the day, you can explore Lingshi Village if you wish. Overnight at the campsite.

Your trek today should begin early. From the camp, you will turn south towards the Mo Chhu Valley and continue along the west side of the valley. About three hours from the camp, you will cross the Mo Chhu and then climb steeply to Yeli La (4,930 m). From the pass, you can get beautiful views of Jomolhari, Gangchen Ta, Tshering Gang and Masang Gang if the weather is clear. From Yeli La, you will descend to your campsite at Shodu, situated at around 4,080 m. Overnight at the campsite.

Today you will return to the tree line. The path follows the Thimphu River, descending through rhododendron, juniper and other alpine forests. You will be able to see beautiful views of rocky cliffs and waterfalls along the way. You can rest by the riverside and enjoy a hot packed lunch. After lunch, you will gradually ascend to the ruins of Barshong Dzong. Continue to your campsite near the river at Domshisa, which is at an altitude of around 3,400 m. Overnight at the campsite.

The trail descends gently through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch and conifers before ascending again until you reach the dirt road. Walk along the dirt road for a while, where you will be picked up by your vehicle. You might spot Langur monkeys in the trees along the way. Dodena is the exit point of Jigme Dorji National Park and connects to the main road leading to Thimphu. Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. After some refreshments and a shower, you can stroll around Thimphu town. As a souvenir of your trek in Bhutan, you can visit the local shops and buy some souvenirs to take back home for yourself and your loved ones. Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Paro International Airport for your departure. Our representative will bid you farewell at the airport.