Itinerary
- Day 1
Paro
You'll fly into Paro and get those Himalayan views during descent. Your guide meets you at the airport for the hotel transfer. After lunch, the day opens up to check out Ta Dzong, which houses the National Museum, then move through Rinpung Dzong and Kichu Lhakhang temple. Drugyal Dzong fortress rounds out the afternoon if weather cooperates and Mount Jumolhari comes into view on the clearer days, though visibility varies.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ta Dzong (National Museum)
- Walk to Rinpung Dzong
- Visit Kichu Lhakhang temple
- Visit Drugyal Dzong fortress
Landmarks/POIs Ta Dzong Rinpung Dzong Kichu Lhakhang Drugyal Dzong Mount Jumolhari - Day 2
Paro
Early start for the hike up to Taktsang Monastery, perched about 900 meters above the valley floor at 3,180 meters/10,429 feet. The trail has some steep sections but the structure clinging to the cliff makes it worth the effort. Around halfway up, you'll stop for lunch at the cafeteria restaurant where hikers gather. The descent takes less time than the climb, and you're back down in Paro by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served at Cafeteria Restaurant, located about halfway up the mountain), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery
- Explore Taktsang Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Taktsang Monastery - Day 3
Paro to Jele Dzong
After breakfast, you'll head to the roadhead at the National Museum to start trekking. The path climbs gradually with Paro Valley opening up below and snow-capped mountains across the horizon. Jumolhari shows itself on clear days. By afternoon, you reach Jele La Dzong at 3,400 meters/11,155 feet. Most of the structure sits in ruins, but the Lhakhang inside still holds a Buddha Sakyamuni statue you can visit.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Jele Dzong camp
- Explore Jele La Dzong
Landmarks/POIs Jele La Dzong Mount Jumolhari - Day 4
Jele Dzong Trek
The day might start with an optional visit to Jele Dzong at 3,570 meters if you've got the energy. From there, you trek into thick alpine forests where rhododendrons line the path. The climb to Jele La pass at 3,490 meters/11,450 feet is steady but manageable. You might cross paths with yak herders or spot Monal pheasants. Jumolhari and the surrounding snow-capped peaks frame the views throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Jele Dzong
- Trek through alpine forests and rhododendrons
- Cross Jele La pass
Landmarks/POIs Jele La pass Mount Jumolhari - Day 5
Jangchulakha Lake Trek
This day gets serious with a steep push to Jangchulakha pass at 4,180 meters/13,714 feet. The mountain and valley views on clear days are something else. From there, you descend to camp beside Jimilangtsho lakes, known for giant trout. Jichu Drake and Gangkar Puensum (Bhutan's highest at 7,497 meters/24,606 feet) rise in the distance. You'll feel the altitude by the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Jangchulakha pass
- Descend to Jimilangtsho lakes camp
Landmarks/POIs Jangchulakha pass Jimilangtsho lakes Jichu Drake Gangkar Puensum - Day 6
Jimilangtsho to Simkota Lake Trek
Starting from the lower end of the lake, the trek follows ridge traverses before dropping to a single stone shelter for a break. The path then climbs to a 4,050 meter/13,287 foot summit overlooking Janetsho Lake. You might encounter yak herders' camps along the way. By late afternoon, you reach camp near Simkota Lake with the day's exertion behind you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Jimilangtsho lake
- Traverse ridge with views of Janetsho Lake
- Trek to Simkota Lake camp
Landmarks/POIs Janetsho Lake Simkota Lake - Day 7
Simkota Lake to Thimphu Trek
The morning starts with a gradual climb that brings Mount Gangkar Puensum and surrounding peaks into view on clearer days. From the high point, you begin a slow descent through juniper and blue pine forests. Near Phajoding, a community hall marks the transition before the final descent into Thimphu, which runs downhill the whole way through forested areas and feels almost easy after the higher elevations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Simkota Lake
- Trek descent through juniper and blue pine forests
- Arrive Thimphu
Landmarks/POIs Mount Gangkar Puensum Phajoding - Day 8
Thimphu to Punakha
You'll spend the morning hitting several Thimphu sites: King's Memorial Chorten, the Nunnery temple, National Library with its collection of ancient manuscripts, the School of Arts and Crafts, and the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. The traditional paper factory rounds out the cultural stops. After lunch, you head toward Punakha with a tea break at Dochu La pass at 3,100 meters/10,171 feet where the Himalayan views stretch across the horizon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit King's Memorial Chorten
- Visit Nunnery temple
- Visit National Library
- Visit School of Arts and Crafts
- Visit National Institute of Traditional Medicine
- Visit traditional paper factory
- Visit Tashichhodzong
- Tea stop at Dochu La
Landmarks/POIs King's Memorial Chorten National Library School of Arts and Crafts National Institute of Traditional Medicine Tashichhodzong Dochu La Pass - Day 9
Punakha to Paro
Punakha Dzong sits impressively between two rivers, and you'll walk through it during the morning. The drive takes you to Metshina Village for a 20 minute walk across rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, the fertility temple where curious travelers often accept a blessing from the Lama's wooden phallus (it's a thing here). From there, you drive back toward Paro, stopping again at Dochu La Pass and visiting the newer Druk Wangyal Monastery before grabbing lunch in Thimphu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Thimphu), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Punakha Dzong
- Walk through rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang
- Visit Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple
- Visit Druk Wangyal Monastery
Optional Activities
- Receive blessing from Lama's wooden phallus at Chimi Lhakhang
Landmarks/POIs Punakha Dzong Metshina Village Chimi Lhakhang Dochu La Pass Druk Wangyal Monastery - Day 10
Paro Departure
Departure day from Paro Airport. You'll head to the airport for your flight out, leaving behind the mountains and memories from the trek.
