Hiking the Druk Path Trek in Bhutan

After you arrive in Paro, your guiding service will transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon you’ll visit Ta Dzong, a fortress which was used as a watch tower to defend the Paro Dzong and Paro Valley and was later converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. The museum boasts more than 3,000 artifacts and is filled with antique Tibetan Buddhist paintings, textiles, weapons and Bhutan’s renowned postage stamps. Below Ta Dzong is Rinpung Dzong (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), a large Buddhist monastery and fortress which boasts a long and interesting history. You’ll spend the night at the hotel in Paro.

Meals: Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Kick off the day by visiting Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan. Make your way to Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. According to the legends, Guru Padmasambhava, a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India, flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress and landed at the spot where the monastery was later built. The excursion to Tiger’s Nest takes about 5 hours. In the evening, you’ll visit Dungtse Lhakhang, a Buddhist temple built in 1433 by the iron bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo. Later on, enjoy a stroll around Paro city center. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Paro.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

On the third day, you’ll drive to a road where your trekking crew will be waiting for you. A long day is ahead of you and you’ll need to climb more than 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation. The trail will gradually lead you through the blue pine and fir forest to a small monastery located on the ridge. Stop here for lunch or refreshment and continue walking along the ridge. After some time, the trail takes you through thick alpine forest and dwarf rhododendron trees to your campsite at Jangchulakha. You may witness the strikingly big and spectacular yaks around your campsite.

Distance: 17 km (10.56 miles), approx. 7 hours
Elevation: 1,400 m (4,593 ft) ascent, 50 m (164 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,770m (12,368 ft)

The trail will lead you mostly along the mountain ridges with lots of knee jerking routes and a good view of the mountains and valleys around you. You can even see the colorful monal pheasants native to Himalayan forests and shrublandsl. You’ll set camp near a beautiful lake called Jimilang Tsho, known for its giant-sized trout.

Distance: 11 km (6.84 miles), approx. 4 hours
Elevation: 230 m (755 ft) descent, 330 m (1,082 ft) ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,870 m (12,696 ft)

Continue your adventure through dwarf rhododendron trees and reach another smaller lake, Janetsho Lake. You may come across some yak herders’ camps where you’ll have the opportunity to get a glimpse of nomad life.

Distance: 11 km (6.84 miles), approx. 4 hours
Elevation: 820m (2,690 ft) ascent, 400 m (1,312 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 4,110 m (13,484 ft)

The harder part of this trek begins with a gradual climb and crosses Labana La Pass standing at 4,210 m (13,812 ft). If the weather permits, you’ll have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m – 24,840 ft), the highest mountain in Bhutan, and other Himalayan peaks. You’ll gradually descend down to Phajoding village which comprises mainly a monastic community.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles), 3-4 hours
Elevation: 130 m (426.5 ft) ascent, 680 m (2,230 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,750 m (12,303 ft)

On the last day of the trek, visit the Phajoding monastery and contine along the trek to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. To reach the city, continue hiking downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. A vehicle will pick you up and drive you to your hotel. In the afternoon, go for a short sightseeing tour of the city and enjoy the local atmosphere. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Thimphu.

Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles), 3 hours
Elevation: 1,130 m (3,707 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, visit Buddha Dordenma. This massive gilded statue of Shakyamuni made of bronze measures 51.5 m (168.96 ft) in height, making it one of the largest statues in Bhutan. Drive to Memorial Chorten, a stupa known as the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan. It was built in memory of Bhutan’s Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who is regarded as the Father of modern Bhutan.

Next, you’ll visit the Bhutan Textile Museum. Bhutanese textiles are an integral part of its cultural heritage and unique for their diversity and sophistication. The other sights of interest are: The National Institute for Zorig Chusum, which provides training to young students in 13 traditional crafts of Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, and the Motithang zoo, where you can see the takin, Bhutan’s national animal. Wrap up the day by visiting Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress known as the “fortress of the glorious religion.” It was initially built in 1641 and restored in 1965. It’s been the seat of Bhutan’s government since 1968 and is home to the throne room and offices of the King of Bhutan. Spend your evening ecploring a local crafts bazaar and retreat for the night to a hotel in Thimphu.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

After your breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Bhutan. You’ll be transferred to the airport in Paro for your flight to your next destination. Your guiding service will assist you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.

Meals: Breakfast

After you arrive in Paro, your guiding service will transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon you’ll visit Ta Dzong, a fortress which was used as a watch tower to defend the Paro Dzong and Paro Valley and was later converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. The museum boasts more than 3,000 artifacts and is filled with antique Tibetan Buddhist paintings, textiles, weapons and Bhutan’s renowned postage stamps. Below Ta Dzong is Rinpung Dzong (“fortress of the heap of jewels”), a large Buddhist monastery and fortress which boasts a long and interesting history. You’ll spend the night at the hotel in Paro.

Meals: Lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Kick off the day by visiting Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan. Make your way to Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest. According to the legends, Guru Padmasambhava, a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India, flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress and landed at the spot where the monastery was later built. The excursion to Tiger’s Nest takes about 5 hours. In the evening, you’ll visit Dungtse Lhakhang, a Buddhist temple built in 1433 by the iron bridge builder Thangtong Gyalpo. Later on, enjoy a stroll around Paro city center. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Paro.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

On the third day, you’ll drive to a road where your trekking crew will be waiting for you. A long day is ahead of you and you’ll need to climb more than 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of elevation. The trail will gradually lead you through the blue pine and fir forest to a small monastery located on the ridge. Stop here for lunch or refreshment and continue walking along the ridge. After some time, the trail takes you through thick alpine forest and dwarf rhododendron trees to your campsite at Jangchulakha. You may witness the strikingly big and spectacular yaks around your campsite.

Distance: 17 km (10.56 miles), approx. 7 hours
Elevation: 1,400 m (4,593 ft) ascent, 50 m (164 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,770m (12,368 ft)

The trail will lead you mostly along the mountain ridges with lots of knee jerking routes and a good view of the mountains and valleys around you. You can even see the colorful monal pheasants native to Himalayan forests and shrublandsl. You’ll set camp near a beautiful lake called Jimilang Tsho, known for its giant-sized trout.

Distance: 11 km (6.84 miles), approx. 4 hours
Elevation: 230 m (755 ft) descent, 330 m (1,082 ft) ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,870 m (12,696 ft)

Continue your adventure through dwarf rhododendron trees and reach another smaller lake, Janetsho Lake. You may come across some yak herders’ camps where you’ll have the opportunity to get a glimpse of nomad life.

Distance: 11 km (6.84 miles), approx. 4 hours
Elevation: 820m (2,690 ft) ascent, 400 m (1,312 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 4,110 m (13,484 ft)

The harder part of this trek begins with a gradual climb and crosses Labana La Pass standing at 4,210 m (13,812 ft). If the weather permits, you’ll have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m – 24,840 ft), the highest mountain in Bhutan, and other Himalayan peaks. You’ll gradually descend down to Phajoding village which comprises mainly a monastic community.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles), 3-4 hours
Elevation: 130 m (426.5 ft) ascent, 680 m (2,230 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Camp altitude: 3,750 m (12,303 ft)

On the last day of the trek, visit the Phajoding monastery and contine along the trek to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. To reach the city, continue hiking downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. A vehicle will pick you up and drive you to your hotel. In the afternoon, go for a short sightseeing tour of the city and enjoy the local atmosphere. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in Thimphu.

Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles), 3 hours
Elevation: 1,130 m (3,707 ft) descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, visit Buddha Dordenma. This massive gilded statue of Shakyamuni made of bronze measures 51.5 m (168.96 ft) in height, making it one of the largest statues in Bhutan. Drive to Memorial Chorten, a stupa known as the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan. It was built in memory of Bhutan’s Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck who is regarded as the Father of modern Bhutan.

Next, you’ll visit the Bhutan Textile Museum. Bhutanese textiles are an integral part of its cultural heritage and unique for their diversity and sophistication. The other sights of interest are: The National Institute for Zorig Chusum, which provides training to young students in 13 traditional crafts of Bhutan, Folk Heritage Museum, and the Motithang zoo, where you can see the takin, Bhutan’s national animal. Wrap up the day by visiting Tashichho Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress known as the “fortress of the glorious religion.” It was initially built in 1641 and restored in 1965. It’s been the seat of Bhutan’s government since 1968 and is home to the throne room and offices of the King of Bhutan. Spend your evening ecploring a local crafts bazaar and retreat for the night to a hotel in Thimphu.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

After your breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Bhutan. You’ll be transferred to the airport in Paro for your flight to your next destination. Your guiding service will assist you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.

Meals: Breakfast