It it is a very beautiful trek, and takes you on a journey back in time along ridges reaching altitudes of 4500m. With wild flowers growing on either side of the trail, and the absolutely stunning view from these ridges, makes it one of the best treks in the country. And at night you camp near placid lakes wouderfully formed on top of mountains.
This is a short and fairly easy trek lasting 4-5 days and connects Paro valley to the Capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. This used to be the old trail used by the Bhutanese to travel between Thimphu and Paro, one of the most used routes of the old days.
Day 01: Arrival at Paro
Day 2: Paro – Jele Dzong
Day 3: Jili Dzong – Jangchulakha
Day 4: Jangchulakha – Jimilang Tsho
Day 5: Jimilang Tsho – Simkotra Tsho
Day 6: Simkotra Tsho – Phajoding
Day 7: Phajodhing – Motithang
Day 8: Thimphu – Paro
Day 9: Tiger’s Nest Hike
Day 10: Departure
Day 01: Arrival at Paro
On arrival at Paro airport, after immigration and custom formalities, your guide for the trip will receive you and transfer you to the hotel. The Paro valley is one of the kingdom’s most fertile, producing the bulk of Bhutan’s famous red rice from its terraced fields.
After having a bit of relaxation in the hotel, we will visit the Ta Dzong (National Museum), which served as the watch tower for Paro Rinpung Dzong in the early days but has now been converted to the National Museum. After that we will go down to visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong, which sits on a hillock above the Paro township. he approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge (called the Nemi Zam) and then up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls. The valley’s annual springtime religious festival, the Paro Tsechu, takes place in the courtyard of the Dzong and on the dance ground on the hillside above.
Altitude at Paro: 2300m
Day 2: Paro – Jele Dzong
Distance 7km, ETA: 4 to 5 hours
Ascent: 1,090m, camp altitude 3,480m
The first day is a long day as you have to climb more than 1,000m elevation. You start from the Ta Dzong in Paro. The trek follows a gravel road past a few farms for about 30 minutes and then climbs up a steep ridge before leading through blue pine and fir forests to Damche Gom. Once you reach the ridge below Jili Dzong you descend about 100m to the campsite below Jili Dzong.
Day 3: Jili Dzong – Jangchulakha
Distance 10 km, ETA: 4 to 5 hours
Ascent: 310m, Descent: 50m, Camp altitude: 3,770m
You begin with a climb for about an hour and a half and then ascend gradually up. The trail takes you through thick alpine forest and dwarf rhododendron tress. You may see yaks and yak herders around your campsite.
Day 4: Jangchulakha – Jimilang Tsho
Distance 11 km, ETA 4 hours
Ascent: 330m, Descent: 230m, Camp altitude: 3,870m
The trail follows the ridge and on a clear day the view of the mountains and valley are beautiful. The campsite is close to the Jimilang Tsho Lake. The lake is known for its giant sized trout.
Day 5: Jimilang Tsho – Simkotra Tsho
Distance 11 km, ETA: 4 hours
Ascent: 820m, Descent :400m, Camp altitude 4,110m
The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees and Janetso Lake. You may come across some yak herder’s camps where you will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a nomad’s life. The campsite is close to Simkotra Tsho Lake.
Day 6: Simkotra Tsho – Phajoding
Distance 10 km, ETA: 3 to 4 hours
Ascent: 130m, Descent: 680m, Camp altitude 3,750m
The trek begins with a gradual climb. If the weather permits, you will have a spectacular view of Mount Gangkar Puensum, the highest mountain in Bhutan and other Himalayan peaks. From this pass, the trek takes you downhill to Phajodhing for a nights halt. The camp is above Phadjoding.
Day 7: Phajodhing – Mothitang
Distance 5 km, ETA: 3 hours
Ascent: 0m, Descent: 1,130
After passing Phadjoding monastery, the trek to Thimphu (Mothitang) is all the way downhill through a forested area of mostly blue pine. The walk, at a leisurely pace, takes about three hours.
Day 8: Thimphu – Paro
After breakfast, visit the School of 13 Arts and Crafts, National Library and the Bhutanese Paper factory before having lunch at a restaurant in town. After lunch, go to Kuensel Phodrang to see the magnificent statue of Buddha (the tallest statue of “sitting Buddha” in the world) and a bird’s eye view of Thimphu. While going back, visit the Memorial Chorten (built in 1974 in honor of the 3rd king).
Drive to Paro
Day 9: Tiger’s Nest Hike
The most famous and sacred site among all the places in Bhutan, Taktsang Monastery. Guru Rinpochhe (Padmasambhava) is said to have come riding on a flying tigress to this place and meditated.
The walk is about 2 hours till the top through wide pathways which was built during the restoration works. One hour into the climb there is a tea point from where you get a very good view of the monastery, they also serve lunch here. From there it’s about another 45 minutes climb to the 2nd view point and the highest point in the hike. From there you have to climb down about 700 steps and climb up 200 more until you reach the monastery’s gate.
Day 10: Departure
What should I bring with me?
· Good walking shoes
· Sunglasses
· Sunscreen (highest possible)
· Woolen cap
· Prescription medications/ first aid (only basic first aid is/ can be provided)
· Sturdy and ‘broken-in’ trekking boots
· Rain gear
· Torch (flashlight)
· Insect Repellent
· Gaiters
· Gloves
· T-shirts
· Comfortable walking pants
· Down jacket
· Day bag (to carry your requirements while walking)
· Energy chocolate bars
· Water bottle
· Memory card and batteries for camera and flashlight
· Toiletries
Maximum recommended load for trekking is 25kgs (55 lbs), or 1/5th of body weight.
What will be the weather like in Bhutan?
Days are normally warm, nights can be quite chilly. In winter, the temperature is below freezing point. Monsoon shower in summer can be expected with heavy rains in July and August.
Preventing Altitude Sickness
· Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills or other narcotics, they may decrease ventilation, intensify hypoxemia and make symptoms worse.
· Drink plenty of fluids.
· Avoid heavy exercise at high altitudes. Mild exercise is okay.
· Diamox (acetazolamide) 125 mg. tablets taken twice a day is F.D.A. approved for prevention and treatment of A.M.S. Although it originally was released as a diuretic (water pill), it also helps you breath deeper and faster. This allows you to get more oxygen. Diamox is especially helpful with the sleeping problems and other symptoms of A.M.S.
· Home oxygen will relieve symptoms. Home oxygen is safe, cheap and easy to use. It can be used at night when symptoms are worse and off and on during the day as symptoms dictate.
· If nothing else works, you can return to lower altitude. Going down to lower altitudes will always help relieve the symptoms of AMS, it is also one of the best ways to overcome the sickness.
Acute mountain sickness is caused by lack of Oxygen when traveling to higher elevations. This usually occurs in individuals exposed to an altitude of over 7000 ft (2100 m) who have not had a chance to acclimate to the altitude before engaging in physical activities. Mountaineers, trekkers, skiers and mountain travelers are at the greatest risk. While individual tolerance varies, symptoms usually appear within several hours, with those in weaker physical conditions being more susceptible. Headache, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath and poor appetite are the initial symptoms. Inability to sleep is also frequently reported. In more severe cases, thinking and judgment may become impaired. An uncommon but potentially fatal complication called high altitude pulmonary edema, caused by fluid build-up in the lungs can also occur in rare cases.
The symptoms of acute mountain sickness can be prevented or minimized by gradually ascending (less than 500 meters/day) over several days to give your body a chance to acclimate to the higher altitude. Taking the prescription medication Diamox (acetazolamide) 250 mg three times a day has been shown to speed up the acclimatization process and can be taken shortly before and during the ascent. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to sulfa drugs. This medication is a mild diuretic and may work by changing the body’s acid-base balance and stimulating breathing. Dexamethasone 8 mg once a day has also been shown to be effective. However, this steroid medication may have more adverse effects. Once symptoms occur, they usually improve over several days without treatment. However, if they become severe, they can be relieved with the administration of oxygen or descent to a lower altitude.
Packing
A soft but strong duffel bag luggage is best suited on treks as it will be loaded on horse backs. A small back pack (day bag) to carry your essential things on the way like rain gear, wind stopper, camera, batteries, water bottle, candies etc.