Druk Path Trek

All meals during the trek are included and will be prepared by an experienced trekking cook, which is a variety of Continental and Bhutanese cuisine using Bhutanese fresh vegetables. If you have any food restrictions and/or allergies, kindly advise us during the reservation process.

◆ 2 bottles of mineral water for each person will be made available; one of these will be handed over each morning.

◆ Tea/ Coffee and packed juices will be served whilst on the trek. We strongly recommend that you do not drink any alcohol whilst on the trek, due to high-altitude camping locations. However, please do let us know if you have any preferred beverages that you wish to take on the trek, so that we can arrange accordingly. (These drinks will be an additional charge.)

Accommodation and Meals are significant factors for the high altitude Himalaya trek. When trekkers get healthy foods and get the appropriate place to rest, they feel relaxed and rejuvenated for the next day of trek. Let’s take a look at Accommodation and Meals throughout the trek.

Foods

Druk Path is the opportunity to experience and taste beautiful local and western meals throughout the trek. The trekkers can taste meals with delicious regional products and also have a chance to taste dishes made by expert Western chefs. Enjoy traditional Bhutanese delicacies like Ema Datshi (chilli and cheese), Momos (dumplings), and Thukpa (noodle soup), along with Western options like pasta, sandwiches, and omelettes. The dishes might be more local in remote trail areas but are equally tasty.

Accommodation

Accommodation must be essential for a comfortable stay and sleep during the trekking days. In this trek, the trekkers will stay in comfortable lodges or three-star hotels in cities, and in remote areas, they will stay in camping tents. The campsites are crowded with spacious tenth spaces and places to burn bonfires to cook food and enjoy the stunning views of the valley and mountains.

The Druk Path Trek is a moderate to challenging trek in the lap of the Himalaya. This trek is moderate for trekkers with prior experience but much more challenging for beginners. Most of the trek itinerary spread across the remote trail between Paro and Thimphu and then to the high altitude of the several passes. Here are some factors of difficulty.

High Altitude

One significant trek difficulty that the trekkers face during the Druk Path trek is the high altitude. The trekkers will reach Labana Pass at an elevation of 4235m. The trekkers start feeling the symptoms of altitude sickness after the altitude of 3000m, so after 4000m, the chance of altitude sickness increases even more.

Remote Trail

The remote trail is another significant difficulty on the Druk Path Trek. The path through Thimphu and Paro is as remote and demanding as it can be, as there are no village settlements, so the trekkers have to stay in tents. At the high altitude, trekking outside in the colder climate is detrimental to health.

Rough Terrain

The terrain on the Druk Path Trek is rough and steep. Some of the terrain is steep, with challenging ascents and descents. The physical demand of the trek is difficult for even the modest trekkers, let alone the newcomers. Druk Path trek also passes through lush jungles, rocky ridges, peaks, and snowy mountains, making the 10-day trek even more challenging.

Bhutan, also known as the Land of Thunder Dragon, is one of the most underrated destinations for trekkers and tourists worldwide. Over the years, the number of tourists has been increasing due to its popularity. This is because Bhutan has been using a new approach to Sustainable development and Tourism.

In a world where even the most remote areas are affected by globalization, Bhutan has focused on happiness and well-being instead of just material wealth and rapid economic growth. The country’s approach is based on “Gross National Happiness,” introduced by His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, in the 1970s.

The new approach uses 33 different indicators to measure happiness and the country’s overall development. The four main pillars used for this approach are sustainable economic growth, cultural preservation, environmental governance, and good governance. These four pillars are further divided into nine more comprehensive ranges that record the Bhutanese people’s well-being.

Scenic Mountain Views

One major attraction of the Druk Path Trek is the stunning mountain views. The mountains like Jhichu Drake, Mount Jumolhari, and Gangkar Puensum are visible during the trek. This trek also passes through glacial lakes, where you can see the stunning views of the mountains, which you have been admiring throughout the trek. The trek from Paro and Thimphu captures the most spectacular views of the mountains.

Remote Trekking

Another major attraction of trekking is the chance to see the remote places. Besides Paro and Thimphu, all the places trekkers will explore are remote as they lack infrastructure. This trek is moderate and involves daily hikes of about 5-6 hours. It is suitable for reasonably fit people. The main attractions include crossing the Jele La pass, where you can see Mount Jomolhari, and visiting the sacred sites of Jele Dzong and Phajoding Goemba.

Traditional Villages and Monasteries

The Druk Path Trek is the chance to explore and praise the beautiful monasteries and villages. Some of the traditional villages you visit during the trek are Jele Dzong, Labana, and Jangchulakha, where you will meet local people and immerse yourself in the new culture and traditions.

Rich Flora and fauna

Another essential reason to experience the Druk Path Trek at least once is to meet some rare and endangered Himalayan flora and fauna. The steep ascent trail from Paro and Thimphu is covered with beautiful rhododendron forests. As you ascend, you will see alpine and coniferous plants and forests throughout the trails. You will also see rare animals like the Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear, Birds, Yaks, Dzos, etc.

Breathtaking lakes

The Druk Path Trek is not only a trek for the trail of the off-beaten ridges and stunning mountains but also stunning views of the beautiful lakes. One of the lakes you can explore and witness is Jimliang Tsho, which is situated at 3,870m. There is some mythical story about this lake, where, according to a local herd, a sand ox arose from it. You will visit two more lakes: Janetsho Lake and Simkotra Tsho. These two lakes are also equally beautiful and located at a higher altitude.

Druk Path Trek is a challenging trek through the remote trails of Bhutan. Here are some packing essentials you might want to take during this tough trek.

Clothing Items

• Waterproof hiking boots
• Change of clothes for Paro
• Medium/Heavyweight down jacket
• Synthetic hiking pants
• Rain jacket
• Gloves
• Nylon-wool blend socks (2-3)
• Wool or synthetic hat
• Sandals/Crocs/Old sneakers
• Synthetic T-shirt
• Fleece jacket or vest
• Rain pants
• Synthetic long underwear (top and bottom)

Trekking Gears

• Duffle bag or backpack
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen
• Personal toiletries and medicine
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle or camelback (2+ litres)
• Sleeping bag w/ 0ºF rating
• Hand sanitiser
• Toilet paper in a ziplock bag
• Quick-dry towel
• Ditty Bag and extra ziplock baggies

The Druk Path Trek is challenging for beginners as some difficulty factors can be solved by trekking to the destination in the appropriate season. There are two ideal seasons for trekking, spring and autumn, and two less ideal seasons, monsoon and winter.

Spring and Autumn

Spring and Autumn are two ideal seasons for trekking the Druk Path. The Spring season lasts from March to May, whereas the Autumn season lasts from September to November. The weather is fantastic during Spring and Autumn, and the temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees in Spring and around 15 to 18 degrees in Autumn. The trails are covered in spring with flowering blooms and lush rhododendron forests. In contrast, in autumn, the atmosphere is covered with brown to golden leaves, which beautifully reflect the sunrise.

Monsoon and Winter Season

Monsoon and Winter are the least ideal seasons for trekking. The Monsoon season begins in the middle of June and ends in August, whereas the winter season begins in December and ends in February. The constant moderate to heavy rainfall creates a poor atmosphere. On the other hand, the winter season has dynamic weather and freezing temperatures with continuous fear of avalanches, making it very tough to trek the hilly trails.