Druk Path Trek and Cultural Tour

After breakfast, morning flight to Paro, situated in a beautiful valley and is a fitting introduction to this charming kingdom. Your guide will meet you at the airport in Paro and take you to your hotel. There should be time for a stroll around Paro town before lunch. In the afternoon you can visit the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. Nearby you can also visit the 7th century Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple of historical significance and one of the most sacred shrines in Bhutan.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro. Meals: Lunch and Dinner

The Taktshang monastery clings to the rock face 900 metres above the valley floor. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress. He subsequently meditated here for three months. It is one of Bhutan's most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries. You can have lunch at the Taktshang cafeteria from where you get a spectacular view of the monastery. On the way back you may be interested to visit a manor house turned museum in a local village. The house dates from the 17th Century and the museum is designed to showcase the culture of medieval rural Bhutan. Afterwards you may also have time to visit Dumtse Lhakhang, a temple built by Thangtong Gyalpo, the iron bridge builder. This evening you can sort out your luggage for the trek. Anything you don't need to carry with you will be driven safely to Thimphu to await your arrival.

Overnight at your hotel in Paro; Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The first Day of the trek is a long climb; the trek follows the gravel road passing through the village. The wide trail climbs through blue pine and fir forest to a mani wall. It is then a long, but not steep, climb through forests to a camping place in a large pasture just below Jili La, marked by a cairn at 3560m. We will walk on to a second campsite, around 3 hours away from Jili Dzong. Jangchulakha is a pasture for yaks and you will camp here.

Overnight in camp; Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Trek distance: 18kms

Today you climb gradually upwards through juniper forest for around an hour and then you will follow the ridge, making many ascents and descents, from where you can also catch a magnificent view of Mount Jomolhari. Eventually you will make a last steep ascent through large rocks and dwarf rhododendrons to Jimilang Tsho, an isolated lake. There is a pleasant camping place here at the far end of the lake.

Overnight in camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Trek distance: 15kms

Today is a tough day of ascents and descents, but you will be rewarded with several mountain views if the day is clear. Climbing from the lower end of the lake to a ridge at 4010m, you descend again and then climb to crest at 4050m overlooking Janye Tsho. You drop down to the lake, then climb to a ridge at 4150m and descend to some stone ruins overlooking Semkotha Tsho. Camp by the Semkotha Lake.

Overnight in camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Trek distance: 11 kms

The day begins with a gradual climb. If weather permits there will be a beautiful view of Mount Gangkhar Puensum, Bhutan's highest mountain, as well as of further peaks from the Doupchu La Pass. The path gradually descends to Phajoding Gompa, where a monastery and retreat centres for meditation are located. From there you continue your final descent for a couple more hours through blue pine forest, emerging just above Thimphu town where you will be met by your driver and taken to your hotel.

Overnight at your hotel in Thimphu; Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Trek distance: 15kms

After breakfast, we visit the Weekly Market, the revered Memorial Chorten and the School of Traditional Arts. And depending on your interest and consultation with guide, you could visit:

• Changangkha Temple: Perched on the hilltop overlooking the town, devotees flock throughout the day to circumambulate and turn the prayer wheels.  The temple also contains beautiful wall paintings and hundreds of religious scriptures written in gold
• Buddha Dordenma: You can take in more of the sights and culture of the capital, with a visit to this huge statue which commands a tremendous view of Thimphu valley. The huge 3-storey throne holds several chapels and the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha
• Takin Reserve: You can visit here showcasing the unique national animal, the Takin
• Pangri Zampa monastery:  College for traditional astrology
• National Textile Museum or Folk Heritage Museum: Browse the striking collection of intricate textiles
• Tashichho Dzong: Built in 1641, which housed the original National Assembly and is now home to Government offices, the throne room and offices of the King.
• Bhutanese Handicrafts Market: If you would like to view or buy Bhutanese handicrafts, you may like to visit the new market which has an array of stalls run by local handicraft shops selling purely home made articles with no imports.

(Tell your guide what takes your interest)

Overnight in Thimphu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to the airport to see you off onto your flight and wish you Tashi Delek (goodbye and good luck).

Meals: Breakfast

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