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9 Days Druk Path Trek From Paro To Thimphu
9 days
About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Paro International Airport - Sightseeing in Paro
Stop At: National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan
The National Museum of Bhutan is located in Paro just above the Rinpung Dzong (administrative headquarter of Paro district). It is housed in an ancient watch tower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watch tower fortress”) built in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snap-shot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. This unique ancient watch tower was converted into the National Museum in 1968.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro Bhutan
Paro Rinpung Dzong (Rinpung Dzong means “fortress of the heap of jewels”) was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1646 and established as the administrative and monastic centre of the western region. Today, the Dzong serves as the office of the governor of Paro district and head of the district monk body in Paro.
A great annual festival known as Paro Tsechu is held in Rinpung Dzong from the eleventh to the fifteenth day of the second month of the traditional Bhutanese lunar calendar (usually in March or April of the Gregorian calendar). On this occasion, holy images are taken in a procession followed by a series of traditional mask dances conveying religious stories which are performed by monks for five days.
After visiting the Dzong, take a short walk to the traditional wooden cantilever bridge called Nemeyzampa, where your driver will be waiting for you. The roofed wooden cantilever bridge is built in a traditional style and this type bridges are called Bazam.
Duration: 40 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 2: Hike to the famous Paro Taktsang to Acclimatize
Stop At: Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), Taktsang Trail, Paro 11001 Bhutan
It takes normally about 2 hours to reach the monastery from the nearest road point. The hike is a steep climb but takes you through the cool shades of pine trees giving you a lot of opportunities to take beautiful pictures of the valley below or the ridge above. There is a nice cafeteria on the way where you can rest and can see the breathtaking view of the Taktsang Monastery. It takes about another hour to reach the monastery from the cafeteria.
Taktsang or the Tiger’s Lair (people prefer to call Tiger’s Nest) is located on a sheer 800-meter rocky cliff in Paro. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Bhutan. It is regarded as one of the most important monasteries in Bhutan. Its history is associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava (known as Guru Rinpoche), the Indian saint who came to Bhutan and introduced Tantric Buddhism in the 8th century A.D. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew into the cave from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in eastern Bhutan, riding on a tigress.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: An authentic homecooked local cuisine will be served at one of the beautiful farmhouses in Paro.
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 3: The 6-Day 1st Day of Druk Path Trek begins today from Ta Dzong, the National Musuem of Paro to Jili Dzong
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The first day can be quite arduous as you have to climb more than 1,000m elevation. You start from the Ta Dzong (National Museum) in Paro. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. Once you reach the ridge below Jili Dzong you descend about 100m to the campsite below the Dzong.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping below Jili Dzong at 3480m above sea level.
Day 4: 2nd Day of Trekking: Jili Dzong to Jangchulakha
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
You begin with a steep climb for about an hour and a half, then the slope evens a bit and the ascent is more gradual. The trail takes you through thick alpine forests and dwarf rhododendron trees. You may see herder and their yaks around your campsite offering you an opportunity to interact and experience a glimpse of their semi-nomadic lifestyle.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at 3,770m above sea level
Day 5: 3rd Day of Treeking: Jangchulakha to Jimilang Tsho
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The trail follows a ridge and on a clear day the view of the mountains and valley are simply stunning. The campsite is close to the Jimilang Tsho Lake. This lake is known for its giant sized trout.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Jimilang Tsho, 3,870m above the sea level
Day 6: 4th Day of Trekking: Jimilang Tsho to Simkotra
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and past Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Simkotra, 4,1110m above the sea level.
Day 7: 5th & Last Day of Trekking: Simkotra to Phajodhing
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The day begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and several other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill towards Phajodhing where you will halt for the night. The camp is located just above Phadjoding Monastery.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Phojodhing, 3,750m above the sea level.
Day 8: Hike downhill from Phajoding to the Capital City Thimphu
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
After passing Phajoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu is downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours. On the way, you will pass through Chokhortse Temple on the outskirts of Thimphu and couple of hundred meters steep downhill brings you to a radio transmission tower where your driver will be waiting. This is the point where our trekking staff will bid you farewell. We will drive to your hotel where a sumptuous lunch will be served after 6 days of eating camp meals. Just nearby on the way, if you are interested, we will stop by the Royal Takin Preserve where you can see few Takins (the national animal of Bhutan) in a large enclosure.
After lunch you will visit some of the attractions in the town. The population of Thimphu is about 100,000 and it is the only capital city in the world that does not use traffic lights and billboards.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Motithang Takin Preserve, Thimphu Bhutan
Just at the outskirt of Thimphu city, visit the Royal Takin Preserve which is the only animal enclosure in Bhutan. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-Star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 9: From Thimphu transfer to Paro International Airport for departure
Stop At: Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point, Paro Bhutan
Today is your final morning in this magical Kingdom of Bhutan. After breakfast, we will drive to Paro and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Your guide will assist you to complete all exit formalities before you check-in. As we bid farewell and wish you a good luck in your onward journey, we sincerely hope that you enjoyed the trip and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
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Day 1: Arrive Paro International Airport - Sightseeing in Paro
Stop At: National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan
The National Museum of Bhutan is located in Paro just above the Rinpung Dzong (administrative headquarter of Paro district). It is housed in an ancient watch tower called Paro Ta Dzong (Ta Dzong means “watch tower fortress”) built in 1649. It displays hundreds of ancient Bhutanese artifacts and artworks including traditional costumes, armour, weaponry and handcrafted implements for daily life. The collection at the National Museum preserves a snap-shot of the rich cultural traditions of the country. This unique ancient watch tower was converted into the National Museum in 1968.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rinpung Dzong, Paro Bhutan
Paro Rinpung Dzong (Rinpung Dzong means “fortress of the heap of jewels”) was built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1646 and established as the administrative and monastic centre of the western region. Today, the Dzong serves as the office of the governor of Paro district and head of the district monk body in Paro.
A great annual festival known as Paro Tsechu is held in Rinpung Dzong from the eleventh to the fifteenth day of the second month of the traditional Bhutanese lunar calendar (usually in March or April of the Gregorian calendar). On this occasion, holy images are taken in a procession followed by a series of traditional mask dances conveying religious stories which are performed by monks for five days.
After visiting the Dzong, take a short walk to the traditional wooden cantilever bridge called Nemeyzampa, where your driver will be waiting for you. The roofed wooden cantilever bridge is built in a traditional style and this type bridges are called Bazam.
Duration: 40 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 2: Hike to the famous Paro Taktsang to Acclimatize
Stop At: Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), Taktsang Trail, Paro 11001 Bhutan
It takes normally about 2 hours to reach the monastery from the nearest road point. The hike is a steep climb but takes you through the cool shades of pine trees giving you a lot of opportunities to take beautiful pictures of the valley below or the ridge above. There is a nice cafeteria on the way where you can rest and can see the breathtaking view of the Taktsang Monastery. It takes about another hour to reach the monastery from the cafeteria.
Taktsang or the Tiger’s Lair (people prefer to call Tiger’s Nest) is located on a sheer 800-meter rocky cliff in Paro. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Bhutan. It is regarded as one of the most important monasteries in Bhutan. Its history is associated with the visit of Guru Padmasambhava (known as Guru Rinpoche), the Indian saint who came to Bhutan and introduced Tantric Buddhism in the 8th century A.D. It is believed that Guru Padmasambhava flew into the cave from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in eastern Bhutan, riding on a tigress.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: An authentic homecooked local cuisine will be served at one of the beautiful farmhouses in Paro.
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 3: The 6-Day 1st Day of Druk Path Trek begins today from Ta Dzong, the National Musuem of Paro to Jili Dzong
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The first day can be quite arduous as you have to climb more than 1,000m elevation. You start from the Ta Dzong (National Museum) in Paro. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. Once you reach the ridge below Jili Dzong you descend about 100m to the campsite below the Dzong.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping below Jili Dzong at 3480m above sea level.
Day 4: 2nd Day of Trekking: Jili Dzong to Jangchulakha
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
You begin with a steep climb for about an hour and a half, then the slope evens a bit and the ascent is more gradual. The trail takes you through thick alpine forests and dwarf rhododendron trees. You may see herder and their yaks around your campsite offering you an opportunity to interact and experience a glimpse of their semi-nomadic lifestyle.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at 3,770m above sea level
Day 5: 3rd Day of Treeking: Jangchulakha to Jimilang Tsho
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The trail follows a ridge and on a clear day the view of the mountains and valley are simply stunning. The campsite is close to the Jimilang Tsho Lake. This lake is known for its giant sized trout.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Jimilang Tsho, 3,870m above the sea level
Day 6: 4th Day of Trekking: Jimilang Tsho to Simkotra
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and past Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Simkotra, 4,1110m above the sea level.
Day 7: 5th & Last Day of Trekking: Simkotra to Phajodhing
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
The day begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and several other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill towards Phajodhing where you will halt for the night. The camp is located just above Phadjoding Monastery.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Outdoor camping at Phojodhing, 3,750m above the sea level.
Day 8: Hike downhill from Phajoding to the Capital City Thimphu
Stop At: Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel, Thori Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
After passing Phajoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu is downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours. On the way, you will pass through Chokhortse Temple on the outskirts of Thimphu and couple of hundred meters steep downhill brings you to a radio transmission tower where your driver will be waiting. This is the point where our trekking staff will bid you farewell. We will drive to your hotel where a sumptuous lunch will be served after 6 days of eating camp meals. Just nearby on the way, if you are interested, we will stop by the Royal Takin Preserve where you can see few Takins (the national animal of Bhutan) in a large enclosure.
After lunch you will visit some of the attractions in the town. The population of Thimphu is about 100,000 and it is the only capital city in the world that does not use traffic lights and billboards.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Motithang Takin Preserve, Thimphu Bhutan
Just at the outskirt of Thimphu city, visit the Royal Takin Preserve which is the only animal enclosure in Bhutan. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-Star hotel certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Day 9: From Thimphu transfer to Paro International Airport for departure
Stop At: Paro Airport Bird's Eye View Point, Paro Bhutan
Today is your final morning in this magical Kingdom of Bhutan. After breakfast, we will drive to Paro and transfer you to Paro International Airport for your onward journey. Your guide will assist you to complete all exit formalities before you check-in. As we bid farewell and wish you a good luck in your onward journey, we sincerely hope that you enjoyed the trip and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- 8x Breakfast
- 8x Dinner
- 8x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 8 nights
- Visa Fee
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) the Royal Government of Bhutan
- FIT Surcharge for Solo Traveller
- FIT Surcharge for a couple/two person travellers
- All meals - B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner (B L D)
- 3 Nights accommodation at a 3 Star hotel on a twin sharing basis (double occupancy)
- 5 Nights accommodation in a camping tent at high altitude wilderness
- Round trip airport transfers
- Dedicated land transport with driver for the entire duration of your trip within Bhutan
- Porter & Pony charges for trekking
- English speaking Licensed Guide. Guides speaking other languages can be arranged at additional fee.
- All internal taxes
- Bottled Mineral Water on board
- Entrance fees to museum, national parks and other national monuments
- Entry/Admission - National Museum of Bhutan
- Entry/Admission - Rinpung Dzong
- Entry/Admission - Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest)
- Entry/Admission - Bhutan Acorn Tours & Travel
- Entry/Admission - Motithang Takin Preserve
Not included
- Airfares - We can arrange tickets to and from Bhutan (we do not charge commission!). You just have to take care of the connecting flights.
- Travel Insurance
- Emergency evacuation
- Alcoholic beverages
- Laundry services, telephone call charges
- Single Supplement of US$30 per night if any single person in a group opt for a private single room
- Premium accommodation in a 4-Star hotel and above
- Cultural shows that require advance arrangement
- Tips to Guides and Drivers
- Any other personal expenses
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Mode of transport while in the city, up to the starting point and from the end point of the trek is Private SUV/Minivan/Bus Coach depending on the size of your group. During the course of trekking, porters and ponies will carry all trekking equipment including food supplies.
- On Day 5 of the trip, if you would like to fish (trout) at the pristine crystal clear lake at 3,870m/12,370ft altitude, please let us know at the time of booking or soon after, so that we can arrange license from the authority. Fishing without license is strictly prohibited across Bhutan and will result in hefty fine.
- Although this trek is fairly easy given the short distance between campsites, it passes through altitude over 4,000 meters above sea level. So all participants are expected to have some level of physical fitness. Make sure you visit gym!
- January, February, June, July, August & December are considered as Regular Season
- March, April, May, September, October & November are considered as High Season
- Because of the nature of trek, we advise all participants to be physically fit
- Youth rate applies to students aged between 13-24 years old only upon submission of a valid student identification document from their academic institution.
- Visa is 100% guaranteed
- There are only two airlines operating in and out of Bhutan and so securing air tickets can be difficult especially during the months of high season. We recommend you to book few months in advance especially if you plan to visit during the high season. To ease your burden and take the stress out of trip planning we can take care of your air ticket bookings at no extra charge for the flights to/from Bhutan.
- Accommodation will be provided at hotels certified and periodically inspected by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and those are the hotels we love to stay ourselves
- During the course of trekking, accommodation will be provided in a tent at campsites designated by Government
- Please let us know if you have any allergy, intolerance and dietary restrictions or any other special request at the time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
75%
Cultural
50%
Aquatic
20%
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