- Duration: 8 days.
Best Months to do this Trek: March – May, September – 2nd week of December.
Day 01 Paro – Shana (Start of Trek):
- Our trek to Shana starts at Drukgyal Dzong at 2580 meters following the Paro river and we pass cultivated fields and tiny picturesque villages.
- The forests are alive with numerous birds and brightly coloured butterflies.
- Over night in the camp.
Day 02 Shana – Thangthangka:
- The trail follows the river through a heavily forested area with a few isolated farmhouses.
- It narrows and closes in and the trail winds up and down along the drainage. We pass a junction enroute, where another path leads north over the Tremo La to Tibet.
- Camp is in a meadow with a stone shelter.
Day 03 Thangthangka – Jangothang:
- After passing a small army post, the trail slowly leaves the forest line and gradually climbs into a beautiful valley, passing Tegethang, a winter home of yak herdsmen.
- Lots of yaks will be seen today before we arrive at the Jhomolhari base camp (4,115 m). High mountains overlook the camp and visible nearby are the ruins of an old fortress used to guard Bhutan against Tibetan invasions.
- Over night in Camp.
Day 04 Jangothang:
Rest day at Jangothang, enjoy the superb view all around.
For Day hikes, you have 3 options on this day at Jangothang.
- Hike to Jumolhari Glacier which is around 4 ½ hours (Back and forth)
- Hike to Jichu Drake Glacier which is around 3 hours (Back and Forth).
- Walk up the mountain between Jumolhari and Jichu Drake, the summit is at 5200 meters with a great view of both the mountains. This is 8 hours (Back and forth).
Day 05 Jangothang – Dhumzo (Soi Yaktsa) at 3800 meters via Bonte La pass 4900 meters
- Today we will cover the distance of 16 kms and will take around 7 – 8 hours to reach the Dhumzo Camp site.
- On the way you will see the view of Jhomolhari, Jitchu Drake and the valley to Jhomolhari camp site.
- Your will also come across the several yak harders tent, Tsho Phu lakes and normally see a flock of Himalayan blue Sheep high up on the rocky slopes.
- If you are lucky enough you may see the footprint of Snow Leopard at the Bonte La pass.
- Then the trail winds up till Bonte La (4900m) and is also highest pass of this trek. Take a time to enjoy the scenery, have a snack or put up some prayer flags.
- From here you can see several 5800 meter peaks.
- The trail drops through a steep, narrow gully with gravel and loose rocks till you reached Dhumjo.
- The Soi yaksey Valley is a beautiful site with impressive rock cliffs, waterfalls, deep side valleys, and snow- covered peaks. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 06 Dhumzo (Soi Yaktsa) – Thombushong (4100 meters) via Tagalun Pass at 4550 meters.
- You will have to climb from the camp through rhododendron, birch, oak forest draped in moss brings you to a meadow with huge Juniper trees till you reach a shoulder of ridge from where you walk straight into a beautiful valley with a couple of Yak Herders’ camp.
- You can also get a view of Jhomolhari for a short while.
- Little ahead of the Yak Herders’ camp site, we stop for lunch and then there is a steep climb to the pass for about an hour.
- From the pass, you can see the campsite at Thombushong which is very pristine.
- If you are trekking during May and June, you can see Takins (Our National Animal). This place is the Migratory route of the Takins.
- Dinner and over night in camp.
Day 07 Thombushong to Zankepang at 2600 meter via Thombula pass (4300 meters):
- From the campsite, you start your climb to Thombula which takes about half an hour and then you walk on the ridge which is very beautiful.
- You can see the several mountain peaks view from the pass, the closest one being Jo Drake (5980 Meters).
- The best time to walk on ridge is during the spring time where the whole mountains around is covered with beautiful rhododendron of different colours.
- After a while the path descends very steeply to the army camp which takes around three hours. The camp is another easy 1/1/2 hour from the army camp.
- Dinner and over night in the camp.
Day 08 Zankepang to Drugyel Dzong: Distance: 7 kms.
- This is the place where you see off your Trekking staffs and your horse men. The walk to the road end is only 2 hours. (End of Trek)
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