Druk Path if you’re not into big climbs, don’t sweat it; we’ve got loads of lower-impact walks and iconic treks you’ll love, too. In the ascent together, our team puts heart and soul into the journey to make it as memorable as the trek itself.
Decades ago, our forefathers commuted two-ways just in a day. Leave aside tourists, even the locals dread to hike in a day, they rather do it in an hour by car to go to Paro or come to Thimphu. However, for the leisure of light trekkers, the ancient trail Druk Path is stretched over a six day.
In this ancient trail, we hike from the floor of the valley right up in the alpines at an elevation of 4200 meters. Along the way, we discover the beauty of spectacular rhododendron forests, alpine yak pastures and beautiful lakes taking the hike through carpets of primulas. It grows at alpine slopes to boggy meadows. Amongst hundreds of primulas growing around the world, the one we find in our trek is spherical umbels on stout stems arising from basal rosettes of leaves.
- Spot Gangkhar Puensum, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world at 7570 meters. Gangkhar Puensum means- White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers. It lies on the border with Tibet. After Bhutan was opened for mountaineering in 1983 there were four expeditions that made failed summit attempts in 1985 and 1986. However, in 1998, a team successfully climbed a subsidiary peak of the mountain from Tibet.
- Jili Dzong is a 16th-century religious fortress in a transit to ruins; frequented only by tourists and the nomads- the temple of the fortress owns a statue of Buddha known to bless the passerby. Most of the travelers, locals or tourists, they find at peace to go around the fortress and find oneself.
- Phajoding is a Buddhist monastery built in the 13th century by Phajo Drugom Zhigpo (1184-1251), the Tibetan lama who spread the Drukpa Kagyu. Up in the mountains, farthest from any human habitats, it is a must visit place and above the monastery, hike more than three hours or more, there are plenty of lakes to meet peace and tranquil.
- Day 1 Paro: Flagging off from the National Museum in Paro, crossing through agricultural farms and a steep ridge rising 1000 meters from the floor of the valley amid blue pine and fir forests- we reach the campsite just 100 meters below the Jili Dzong. It is only after a short visit to the fortress that we will come down 100 meters to the campsite. It can be one arduous journey for the first day, it is also an acclimatization process.
- Day 2 Jili Dzong – Jangchulakha: Hike straight for a little more than an hour up against a steep slope, then you the slope evens out for an easier hike. The hike will be penetrating through light vegetation of alpine forests and rhododendron trees. Upon reaching the campsite, you will get to interact with the nomadic folks.
- Day 3 Jangchulakha – Jimgelang Tsho: Once again panting off from a ridge amid alpine vegetation, the day’s treat will be a sumptuous feast for the eyes witnessing the rise and fall of the amazing scenery of the mountains. The valleys afar is a minuscule dot in the embrace of the mighty mountains; a telescope in your bag might let you see cow herders playing the flute to the cows. After a satisfying hike, another one to experience is the campsite by a lake popular for its giant trout. You may muse about fishing but not fish here. You can opt for fly-fishing in other legs of the tour.
- Day 4 JimgelangTsho – SimkotraTsho: Almost a sojourn of lakes, you are Simtotra Lake bound. If not equal, you will enjoy more than yesterday traversing between the wedge of mountains experiencing the centuries-old lifestyle of nomads of the Himalayas and in particular that of Bhutan. Nomads in Bhutan stay in seclude of the mighty Himalayas and encountering them gives larger than life occurrence. By nightfall, we will camp at Simkotra Tsho. Let us remind you, there are fishes here too yet to be discovered. So, be another Christopher Columbus, we wish you the best.
- Day 5 SimkotraTsho – Phajoding: A religious attraction taking respite almost in the clouds, Phajoding is much more than a 13th-century Buddhist monastery. It is a place of refuge, compassion, belonging and hope. If fate alone permits for a clear weather, on this hike that is almost the end of the tour, you will witness the colossal Gangkar Puensum- acclaimed as the highest unclimbed mountain. There are other spiraling mountain peaks adding joy. For the night, we will camp little above the Phajoding monastery.
- Day 6 Phajodhing – Motithang: Taking refuge for a while in Phajoding’s peace and tranquil, we will head downhill to the capital city Thimphu.
