Day 01: KTM /PBH
During this flight, Druk Air will give you an opportunity to glance at the magnificent view of the Himalayas you will be greeted by ITT representatives and drive (20 min.) through the beautiful Paro Valley. (Over night stay at the Kichu Resort 220m)
Day 02: Paro sightseeing.
You can have the afternoon to yourself or visit a farm house.
Day 03:
For better acclimatization we hike up to Taktsang monastery (3000m). The hike takes about 3 hrs and overlooks the Paro valley. You have the evening to yourself.
Day 04: Paro - Shana 16 kms.
5 to 6 hour walk reaching altitude of 2800m.
Day 05: Shana - Soi Thangthangkha 24 kms.
8 to 9 hour walk reaching an altitude of 3800m. On day 4 we continue uphill through the river valley. It narrows and closes in and the trial winds up and down along the drainage. Camp is in a meadow with stone shelter BTC has built for trekkers.
Day 06: Soi Thangthangkha - Jangothang 12 kms.
4 to 5 hours walk reaching an altitude of 4500m.
Day 07: Halt at Jangothang.
Options - fishing /excursion to Chomolhari base camp or simply relax.
Day 08: Jangothang - Lingshi 18 kms.
6 to 7 hours walk climbing over the Neyle pass at 4700 m.
Day 09: Lingshi - Chebisa 14kms
5 to 6 hrs walk.(3900 m.) Today is the shortest walking day and you can really take it easy. On reaching camp at Chebisa village you can visit the village houses.
Day 10: Chebisa - Shomuthang 16 kms.
7 to 8 hours walk crossing the Gubu la pass (4600m). The walk is through wild high pastures with few people and few yaks. Cross Gobu la (La means pass) Camp here is on a bank of a river, a tributary to the Mo Chu which came out just below Gasa Tsachu.
Day 11: Shomuthang - Robluthang. 18 kms.
8 to 9 hours walk crossing the Jari la pass (4650m.) Today is a day to start a little early. After crossing Jari la pass you drop to Tsharijatang the valley where herds of Takin are normally seen.
Day 12: Robluthang - Lingmithang 16 kms.
8 to 9 hours walk crossing the shinje la pass (4950 m) After crossing shinje la pass, you drop down again and then follow the valley. Lemithang is in the Laya district land here you begin to see the wonderful children in funny hats. Camp at Lemithang is beneath Kang Che Ta, Great Tiger Mountain. If you have time it would be worth wile to spend a rest of the day exploring.
Day 13: Lingmithang - Laya 13 kms.
5 to 6 hours walk (3850m) Today is all the way down hill along a winding river valley with quite a closed-in feeling. The trail splits, on going down with the river to the camp site used by the army. The other stays high and brings you into the west side of Laya village. You can camp on a high flat bench above the west end of Laya Village. Overnight in camp.
Day 14: Laya halt.
The natives of Laya wear yak hair clothing and conical bamboo hats, and are perfectly content in their almost complete isolation from the outside world. For those so inclined, an hour's hike above the village takes you to a superb lookout point and your first close-up look at the some of the mountains we'll be seeing from Lunana and the route in.
Day 15: Laya - Rudophu 19 kms.
8 to 9 hours walk. Camp at alt. 4150 m. Now that we have reached the northernmost limit of Bhutan, near the Tibetan border, we head east and begin trekking parallel to the border over some passes into the remote and little-visited Lunana Valley. We begin by retracing our steps of yesterday for awhile, then turn to the east. We'll spend much of the day ascending, in and out of the tree line, until we finally reach our camp in a magical hanging valley. We may see an occasional deserted hut and meet a few nomads, living in their black yak hair tents. Our camp at Rodophu is spectacularly sited, ringed by jagged peaks that mark the western edge of Lunana.
Day 16: Roduphu - Narithang 16Kms.
6 to 7 hours walk climbing over Tsimola pass (4700m) Today we raise the ante, and the adrenaline. We have a steep climb out of our camp up to the first of two passes, each over 15,000 feet. Peaks of the Tshendaygang group begin to appear to the north. Camp is at Narathang
Day 17: Narithang - Tarina 17 kms.
7 to 8 hours walk climbing over Kangla Karchula pass. We'll ascend for several hours to our highest pass on the entrance to Lunana, Gangla Karchung La. We then descend along several ridge trails, one with an impressive drop-off, and across a long, high plateau. Far below are the exquisite turquoise lakes which are the source of the Pho Chu. A descent of 3,000 feet brings us to tonight's camp at Tarina
Day 18: Tarina - Woche 15kms.
6 to 7 hours walk climbing over Keche la pass (4500m) We descend a short distance to a rushing river, which must be forded. The gorge here is narrow, with high waterfalls regularly sighted beside the trail. All about are pine, heather, brushwood, and alpine flowers, but no sign of human habitation. In mid-afternoon we begin the long ascent to the small Lunana village of Woche, a welcome sign of civilization. It is anyone's guess whether we'll be more surprised to see them or vice-versa. We plan to visit the locals in their homes late this afternoon, where yak butter tea will be the drink of choice. Inside their homes, one has the feeling of stepping back in time. The warm hospitality within the homes is a highlight of the entire journey.
Day 19: Woche - Lhedi 17kms.
6 to 7 hours walk climbing over Keche la pass (4500m.) The morning walk begins with a deceptively gentle walk through a lovely forest, bringing us gradually down to the river. We then climb steeeply on the far side to Kshe La and beautiful, pea-colored lake. The locals would not dare throw rocks into the lake, as that would offend the resident deity; we'll follow their lead. We then drop down steeply to the little village of Tegar, where we'll again stop to visit with the locals. The trail now contours above the river, and brings us in late afternoon to tonight's camp at another village, Lhedi. It is beginning to feel like a real population center, Bhutanese-style
Day 20: Lhedi - Tanza 18 kms.
7 to 8 hours walk. Camp at alt. 4000m. This morning's trek brings us to the last village of Lunana, Tanza. After a quick visit in the village, we begin ascending, reaching a high hanging valley in mid-afternoon. To the north are huge rock walls and the 24,000' Table Mountain beyond; to the south are more snow-covered peaks.
Day 21: Tanza - Tshochena 18kms.
7 to 8 hours climbing over Jaze la (4900m) Well rested, it is time for yet another challenge. Having worked very hard to get ourselves into this remote valley, we must now work almost as hard to get back out. The next three days will see us crossing five high passes, all but the last one well over 16,000'. Today we'll cross the Jaze La before descending a short distance to our wilderness camp at Tshochena
Day 22: Tshochena - Jichu Dramo 14 kms.
6 to 7 hours walk crossing the Loju la pass (4900m)
Day 23: Jichu Dramo - Chukarpo 18 kms.
6 to 7 hours walk crossing the Rinchenzoe pass (5400m.) We'll again spend the entire day up high, crossing the Loju La and two other passes before descending to our high camp for the entire trek, at Jichu Dramo
Day 24: Chukarpo - Tempetso 19 kms.
8 to 9 hours walk. Today's pass, Rinchenzoe La is the highest of the trek, but after all we've been through, it should not pose too difficult a challenge for our well-tested bodies. Camp is at Chukarpo alt. 3400m.
Day 25: Tempetso - Marothang 15 kms.
6 to 7 hours walk. After two days' forced march, we get a bit of a breather. It's two hours of uphill to the Tomple La, and then all downhill to tonight's camp at Maorothang near the Nika Chu. We'll pass lovely rhododendron forests today, and the weather in camp will feel almost tropical! Camp alt. 3400m
Day 26: Marothang - Nikachu 22 kms.
7 to 8 hours walk. Our last day of trekking is a long one (8 hours), but over easy terrain. We lose elevation all day beside the river, finding ourselves again in the lush, subtropical forests which we saw at the beginning of our trek. In late afternoon we reach the roadhead near Nika Chu Chazam Camp at alt. 2600m or drive to Wangdiphodrang.
Day 27: Early morning drive (5hrs) to the capital city Thimphu.
Enroute we visit Punakha the old capital and winter residence of the head abbot.
Day 28: Thimphu sightseeing
Visit the indigenous hospital where traditional method are still practiced, painting school, National library a treasure trove of priceless Buddhist manuscripts, Royal goldsmith workshop, weaving centre and Bhutanese paper making. After lunch we visit the memorial chorten dedicated to the late King. We also visit the 15th century Changangkha Lhakhang, Drupthop Nunnery and Tashichho Dzong centre of Government and religion. In the evening we drive to Paro (2hrs). (Over-night stay at the Kichu resort)
Day 29:
Early morning drive to airport for departure.
