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Bhutan Chomolhari & Jitchu Drake Trek

Paro - Thimpu - Punaka - Kathmandu

This magnificent treks takes us along ancient trade routes to some of the most striking areas of Bhutan, perhaps even of the entire Himalayan range. Our goal is the most revered peak in Bhutan, Chomolhari (7314m) and its sister peak, Jitchu Drake, situated at the borders of Tibet and Bhutan. We will trek into regions that few foreigners have visited, passing through scattered small villages and nomadic yak herders’ camps along the way. The trek ranges from densely forested subtropical jungle to alpine regions with soaring, snowcapped peaks, all with an incredible variety of endemic Himalayan flora and fauna. Fields of spring flowers and orchards of blossoming fruit trees paint a wonderful patchwork in the valleys.

Following in the footsteps of the ubiquitous Guru Rimpchoche (Precious Master), the father of Tibetan Buddhism who came to Paro Valley over a thousand years ago riding on the back of a mythical tiger, we will visit some of the charming, picturesquely-set villages of Bhutan. We arrive in Bhutan at the Paro Airport, perhaps the most idyllic on the planet, and spend a few days in this wonderful, green oasis nestled in the midst of densely forested hillsides. We get ready for our Chomolhari trek by an acclimitizing day-trek to the incredible Takstang Gompa, colorfully and precariously perched in a wooded cliffside. After our trek, we spend several days visiting Thimpu and Punakha, both with impressive dzongs, or forts, and Thimpu having an ecclectic week-end market, well worth a morning’s visit. The exotic, ochre monasteries, ancient dzongs, unique Bhutanese architecture, and strong Tibetan Buddhist, or Lamaist, traditions and warm Bhutanese people make this trip into the heart of Bhutan a truly incredible journey.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu 1350m

You’ll be met at the airport by Kim and/or a representative from Explore Himalaya, one of our travel partners in Nepal, so look out for a Project Himalaya sign with your name on it. We take you to The Kathmandu Guest House and get you checked into your room. There is a beautiful Nepali-style garden at the guesthouse if you want to relax before heading out into the crowds of Thamel.

Later in the afternoon, we can do a bit of roaming the streets of Thamel, the main tourist area of Kathmandu. Thamel is a myriad of banners, signs, music shops, bakeries, internet cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops of all imaginable varieties and eccentrically clad backpackers. Over dinner we check your insurance details and equipment, collect passports and get to know each other over a beer at the New Orleans Café

2  - Kathmandu 1350m

Today we explore the Kathmandu valley. Options: Climb the many steps to Swayambhunath (the monkey temple) with its commanding views of Kathmandu, its whitewashed stupas and its unique synthesis of Buddhism and Hinduism. Visit Hindu Pashupatinath and its sacred temple complex on the banks of the holy Bagmati river. Here, monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning ghats, and trident-bearing saddhus draped in burnt-orange and yellow sit serenely meditating - when they’re not posing for photos-for-rupees. The striking Buddha eyes of Boudhanath Stupa watch over a lively and colorful Tibetan community and attract pilgrims from all over the Himalayan Buddhist realm. In the midst of traditional gompas, and hung with long strings of multi-colored prayer flags, Boudhanath attracts Sherpas, Tibetans and tourists alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the stupa. Durbar Square, one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, is a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist temples, stupas and statues, and is often the site of festivals, marriages and other ceremonies. We will get together for dinner later. Perhaps a pizza from The Roadhouse Café or Fire & Ice?

3 - fly Kathmandu - Paro

A trip to Bhutan usually begins and ends in the charming village of Paro. There is an overwhelming sense of peace as we follow the willow-lined road along the rice paddy checkered valley into Paro. On clears days in Paro there is a magnificent view of Mt. Chomolhari. Guru Rimpoche meditated for three months in a nearby cave, now the sight of Taktsang Lhakang (the Tiger’s Nest) Monastery. Paro Dzong, one of the oldest and most celebrated in Bhutan, dates from the 15th century and towers majestically over the village of Paro. Above the dzong is the old watchtower, now home to Bhutan’s national museum which houses a collection of ancient Bhutanese arts and artifacts, weapons and stamps, birds and animals, and silver tea ware. The rest of Paro is a maze of narrow streets, packed with Bhutanese out for a walk, or ‘passing time’, a favorite past-time in Bhutan.

We bed-down for the evening at a lovely, traditional Bhutanese hotel with wonderful rooms and equally good views.

4 - Trek Paro - Shana (5-6 hours)

The first three days of the trek follow the Paro Chhu valley, climbing gently with only a few short, steep climbs over side ridges. The trek starts from Drukgyel Dzong at 2580m with a short downhill walk on a wide trail. The trial climbs very gently, traversing through well-maintained rice terraces and fields of millet. It's a well-worn trail with lots of round stones, irrigation water running down, and forest of blue pines surrounding us. Just below the shop at Gunyitsawa the trail crosses the Paro Chhu to river right on a wooden cantilever bridge. It then climbs a little to the rustic little village of Shana. At 2870m, just beyond Shana Zampa, are several good camping places in meadows surrounded by trees.

5 - trek Shana - Thangthangkha (6-7 hours)

The trail continues along steep, treeless and waterless terrain, along the side of a spectacular steep canyon, to a pass marked by rock cairns at 3540m. We then descend gradually descent to a group of chortens on a ridge, eventually arriving at the village of Samar. The Annapurnas, although still dominated by Nilgiri, are visible far to the south. The route climbs sharply up and down over a series of high passes, before the final descent to Geling. We camp amongst poplar trees and fields of barley.

6 - trek Thangthangkha - Jangothang (5-6 hours)

This is not a long day, but as we gain 450 meters elevation, we will be comfortably tired when we reach camp. The trail crosses a wooden bridge over a fast-flowing stream a short distance beyond the army post. We are now entering yak country, and we will see these huge beasts lumbering across the hillside and lazing about in meadows alongside the trail. The villagers grow barley and a large succulent plant called kashaykoni that is fed to the yaks during the winter. It is slow going uphill beside a side stream to the camp at Jangothang, 4090m, where we will be treated to a spectacular view of Chomolhari. The ruins of a small fortress sit atop a rock in the middle of the side valley that leads north- west to Chomolhari.

Our campsite just below Chomolhari is as magnificent as they come, and sunsets and sunrises are a must ...

7 - trek Jangothang - Dhumzo (Soi Yaksa) (6-7hours)

The trail leads north to the last settlement in the valley and drops to the Paro Chu, crossing over it on a wooden bridge. We switch back up the side of the hill to Tshophu Lake (4380m). Staying on the eastern side of the lake, we pass a second lake as the trail gets steeper, and climb to Bhonte La (4890m). From the pass, the route winds down a ridge with many criss-crossing yak trails, and finally leads back down to a stream. We trek downstream to a ridge, cross to the south side of the stream, and continue a short distance to our camp at 3800m.

8 - Soi Yaksa

A rest day to explore the Yaksa yak herders village … We can walk up the valley to a spectacular waterfall tumbling over an amphitheater of rockfaces, a climber’s paradise, and admire the million-dollar real estate, the traditional Bhutanese houses overlooking this small bit of paradise. Up and over a small crest, where villagers collect a valuable medicinal herb which translates as ‘summer insect, winter plant’ and back to our campsite for a perfect daytrip. We might get some fresh meat from the villagers for dinner tonight.

9 - trek Dhumzo - Thongbu Shong (4-5 hours)

The trail climbs 100 meters over a ridge before dropping down to another stream. Crossing that stream, we head up the hillside, drop into a small side valley, and emerge onto a high ridge. Here the route turns south, ascending past a few yak herds to Thongbu La (4520m). A steep descent leads to Thongbu Shong (4180 m) with two small herders’ huts, where we camp for the night.

10 - drive Paro

After returning to Thimpu, we spend the morning at the Saturday market, a treasure chest of old and new textiles from around the Tibetan Buddhist kingdom, as well as silver, Buddhist artifacts, fresh and dried fruits and vegetables and all sort of other handicrafts from Bhutan. We can also stop at the Artists Co-op, run by friends, a non-profit organisation that teached the local crafts to young schoolchildren from Thimpu. After lunch, we drive back to Paro and our beautiful hotel overlooking the Paro valley.

11 - fly Paro - Kathmandu

Fly Paro to Kathmandu on another spectacular early morning flight. We arrive late morning and have the afternoon free to do some more exploring of Kathmandu, maybe heading over to Boddha for some post-Bhutan koras of the stupa at sunset.

Day 12 - Depart 

The end of a great trek and a journey deep into Bhutan.

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