Druk Path Trek

• Tour spot: Taktsang (tigers nest) monastery, Paro city tour

Our team member will meet you at Paro Airport upon arrival and transfer you to your pre-trek hotel. In the afternoon, you can join an optional city tour. You can visit Ta Dzong, Bhutan’s National Museum, established in 1968. It showcases a diverse collection of art, relics, the history of Bhutan, and stamps in a circular building.

Afterwards, we’ll take a short walk to Rinpung Dzong, an iconic 17th-century fortress built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual ruler of Bhutan. Today, it serves as both a religious and administrative center. You’ll enter via the beautiful Nemi Zam bridge, which offers great photo opportunities of the Dzong and surrounding scenery. In the evening, you’ll meet your Lead Guide for a pre-trek briefing to go over the trek trail, gear, and expectations for the days ahead. Overnight stay at a comfortable three-star hotel in Paro.

• Tour spot: Taktsang (tigers nest) monastery, Paro city tour

The second day of the Druk Path trek begins with a delicious morning breakfast. After breakfast, you will hike to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger Nest) perched on the hilltop. This iconic site is one of Bhutan’s most sacred and visually stunning landmarks. According to legend, Guru Rinpoche, the revered spiritual master, flew to this very spot on the back of a tigress and meditated for 3 months. The monastery was later built in this holy place in 1684.

The trail winds through pine forests and offers breathtaking views of the Paro Valley below. About halfway down the return trail, you’ll stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant decorated with prayer flags with views of the monastery in the distance. Afterwards, you will continue back to Paro, where you’ll rest. Overnight stay in Paro.

• Tour Spot: Jele Dzong

The actual trek starts today. On day 3, we will start our trek early in the morning to avoid the region’s heat waves. The trek starts above the trail of Ta Dzong. As you climb uphill, you will pass through mixed forests and scattered traditional farmhouses, and the path ascends to gain elevation gradually. By lunchtime, you will be in thicker coniferous woods. Take a moment to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery. You may come across Himalayan wild animals and birds too, so keep a lookout.

You will arrive at Jele Dzong, located at 3,400 m above sea level, in the evening. Your campsite is a few hundred meters downhill in a vast meadow, where yak herder’s camp while they migrate their herds. You’ll spend the night here in tents under the stars, surrounded by natural beauty and mountain silence.

• Tour Spot: Tshokam

The fourth day of the Druk Path Trek begins with breakfast at Jele Dzong. After breakfast, you will visit Jili Dzong (sometimes called Jele Dzong), built in the 15th century. The main hall has a tall Buddha statue nearly 4 meters high. We can see a clear view of Paro Valley outside the Dzong, with the Jhomolhari (7,314 m) and Jichu Drakey (6,989 m) mountains in the distance.

The trail continues with a long walk along a ridge through rhododendron forests, reaching 3,550 meters, and then descends through the woods. Soon, we arrive at Jangchu Lakha pasture, which is at 3,760 meters. After walking gently for 3-4 hours, we reach Tshokam, a yak pasture at 3,770 meters, where we will have a stone bath and camp for the night.

• Tour Spot: Jana Tsho

Today’s trek leads us to the serene alpine lake of Jana Tsho. After an early breakfast, you will pack up and begin your gradual ascent from Tshokam. You will take the trail that passes upwards towards Jangchu La Pass, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Mount Chomolhari and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

From the pass, you will follow a scenic ridge trail for about an hour and then descend to the turquoise waters of Jimi Lang Tsho Lake. You will spend some time here. After enjoying the lakeside beauty, you will continue climbing gently through dwarf rhododendron trees for another hour and a half until you reach the campsite near Jana Tsho. Tonight, you’ll camp by the lake and relax by the warmth of a bonfire under a starlit sky.

Day 6 of the Druk path trek takes you to Phajoing Gompa, one of the finest attractions of Bhutan. As usual, you will start the day with a delicious breakfast. Then, you will take a short trek from Jan Tsho to Simkotra La. The trek will be tricky as you cross seven minor passes. On the fifth pass of our trek, known as Thujedraj, we can see the majestic Mount Gangkar Puensum. If we climb a small rocky hill to the left of this pass, we will enjoy a great view of the Bhutan Himalayas. You will also cross Phume La Pass.

The final pass, Dochu La, looks down into the Thimphu Valley. After crossing the final pass, Dochu La (not to be confused with the motorable pass of the same name), we begin a steep descent through pine forests toward Phajoding Monastery. A community hall near Phajoding Monastery serves as a rest stop for trekkers on the trek to the Druk Path trek and other trails. Tonight, you will camp near the monastery.

• Tour spot: Thimphu Tashichho Dzong

Following the 10-day Druk Path trek itinerary, today we start the trek with a downward trek towards the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. You will walk through the blue pine forest until you reach the road, where our vehicles are waiting. It’s a short drive into town. In the afternoon, you have time to explore Thimphu with your travel guide.

You can visit the Tashichho Dzong and the large Shakyamuni Buddha statue that overlooks the town. You can also check out the town centre, including Watchtower Square and Changlimithang Stadium. You can also take a stroll around shopping centres to buy souvenirs, visit restaurants, bars, hotels, etc., where you can spend time and enjoy yourself. Overnight at Thimphu hotel.

• Tour spot: Dochu La, Punakha Dzong, Chhimi lhakhang monastery

After breakfast, you will head towards Punakha. Punakha is the former winter capital of Bhutan and a region known for its rich history and warm climate. Along the way, you will cross the stunning Dochu La Pass at 3,050 meters. This is one of the most beautiful points of your Bhutan trek. On a clear day, the pass offers breathtaking panoramic views of the eastern Himalayas, including towering peaks such as Masagang, Tsendagang, Terigang, and the legendary Gangkar Puensum. The pass is also home to the 108 memorial chortens.

After enjoying the views and taking photos at Dochu La, we continue our drive toward Punakha. En route, we stop to visit the famous Chhimi Lhakhang Monastery, also known as the Temple of Fertility. It is a unique monastery dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley. Once in Punakha, we check into a comfortable three-star hotel for a relaxing overnight stay.

• Tour spots: Royal Textile Academy, Weekend Market, Institute of Zorign Chusum.

After a peaceful night, you will begin the day with a warm breakfast and prepare to leave Punakha. Before returning to Thimphu, you will visit Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong is a 17th-century fortress and the second-largest Dzong in the country. Following our visit, we will drive back to Thimphu.

Upon arrival, we explore some key cultural highlights including the Royal Textile Academy, which preserves the rich tradition of Bhutanese weaving, the Institute of Zorig Chusum, where students train in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts, and the bustling Weekend Market, a great place to browse local produce, spices, and handicrafts. In the evening, we check into our comfortable hotel in Thimphu for an overnight stay.

Our 10-Day Druk Path Trek concludes here. After breakfast, you will drive to Paro airport to catch Bhutan Airlines for a flight to your destination. We hope you enjoyed your expedition to the beautiful Himalaya along the Bhutan. We hope to see you again.