Day 01 : Paro – Thimphu

Fly to Paro, Bhutan on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan. If you get a seat on the left side of the plane and the weather cooperates, you might have spectacular views of the high peaks of the eastern Himalaya, including Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga—five of the highest peaks in the world—and peaks in Bhutan such as Jhomolhari, Jichu Drakye, and Tsering Kang. After visa formalities at the Paro airport, your guide will meet you and drive you to Thimphu with sightseeing along the way. Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan set at 7,725 feet along the Wang Chhu.

On the way stop at Tamchu and take an invigorating walk to Tachog Lhakhang situated across Paro River; and devour yourself in the medieval setup and breeze of the place before continuing to Thimphu.

The remainder of the day is free to rest and relax.

Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 02: Explore Thimphu

After breakfast drive to the north end of Thimphu to Dodena (8,600′) and hike an hour up a steep hill to visit Cheri Monastery or Goemba, founded in 1620 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and established with an original staff of 30 monks. Nowadays the monastery serves as the main meditation center of the country and has more than 70 monks undergoing their three-year, three-month retreat. Inside is a silver Chorten holding the ashes of Zhabdrung’s father. On your return, you’ll visit Tango Goemba (another steep one-hour climb); founded in the 12th century (the present building was constructed in the 15th century). It is now a Buddhist institute for higher learning.

Time permitting; you’ll visit Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the royal government and central monastic body, upon your return from the hike. 

Drive time: 1 Hour

Hiking Time:  4 hours

Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 03: Paro – Hike To Taktsang Monastery

Morning drive about 2 hours to the trailhead in Paro where we start our four-six hours’ hike up to Taktsang Monastery perched on a cliff 2,700 feet above the floor of the Paro Valley. The hike follows a steep switchback trail through the forest.

After lunch at the tea house below the monastery, we descend to the valley floor. Drive back to Paro.

Visit the ancient Kichu Lhakhang and learn about the legends connected to the construction of the temple in the 7th century.

Overnight: Hotel in Paro

Day 04: Haa Valley (9,400)

Drive about three hours to a campsite in the Haa Valley, lying along the western border of Bhutan and closed to all visitors until five years ago.

• On arriving at Haa valley- walk through a medieval village before climbing up to the secluded Jungney Dra where you can see footprint of Machig Labdron on a rock before hiking further to Kathso Gompa.

• Later, visit Lhakhang Karpo (“temple of the white dove”), a monastery believed to have been built in the 7th century by a Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, after he sent two doves (one black and one white) to find a sacred place to build a monastery.

Today you have the option of staying in a traditional Bhutanese homestay with a local family where you can engage in their activities like cooking Bhutanese dish, preparing butter tea, milking cow or relax by taking a traditional herbal hot stone bath or stay in a hotel to relax on your own.

Drive Duration: 112Kms/4hours

Overnight: Hotel in Haa or Homestay

Day 05: Begin Trek – Camp Below Saga La (11,800)

You‘ll begin your trek by walking gradually uphill through a blue pine forest and farmland. As you climb it gets a little steeper and you walk along streams past rhododendron, juniper, spruce, and birch trees. Lunch in a grassy meadow at about 11,200′, and then continue to a camp at 11,800′, about 45 minutes below Saga La (pass). Weather permitting; you can take an afternoon hike up to Saga La for views of sacred Jhomolhari (24,000′) and several other peaks. You’ll also have panoramic views of the Haa Valley. (4½-5 hours hiking.)

Overnight: Camp

Day 06: Ningula (12,300)

In the morning, you hike once again up to Saga La and then follow the ridge up and down to 13,200′ (you may be able to catch a glimpse of Taktsang Monastery from here). Continue steeply through dwarf rhododendron to 13,700′ and down through narrow grazing paths. Camp at Ningula in rhododendron forest from where you have beautiful view of the peaks of Jhomolhari and JichuDrakye.

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Overnight at Camp

Day 07: Kung Karpo (13,500)

Climb steeply back up to the ridge and cross the Kale La at 12,900′, with its views of Paro and the Haa Valley. Weather permitting; you’ll have a terrific view of the Paro Dzong and surrounding peaks including Kanchenjunga (28,208′), the third highest peak in the world.

Continue climbing up to Kung Karpo at 13,500′, with views of the mountains and both valleys again (weather permitting). Descend and traverse toward the Chele La (13,080′). Along the way, you pass a place where Mahayana Buddhists offer their newborn child to God; the Bhutanese do not participate in cremation and believe that if they offer their child to God after their death, they will be born again very soon. All day today, you will have clear views of the mountains and the Paro and Haa Valleys (weather permitting). Once at the Chele La, you meet our vehicle and drive two hours to Paro.

Hiking time: 6-7 hours hiking

Driving time:  2-hour drive

Overnight: Hotel in Paro 

Day 08: Departure