Annapurna and Druk Path Trek - the best combo trek!

We did this trip in spring and boy, did we love it! My wife and I are ardent hikers and we tend to take off to the mountains whenever we get a chance from our busy schedule. We had trekked through the Inca Trail, Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Grand Canyon and the Chadar (River Zanskar) Trail. Bhutan had been in our bucket list for a long, long time. Initially we wanted to do the ‘Snowman’s Trek’ but when our Travel Consultant from Third Rock Adventures suggested this trek, we couldn’t say no. This trip combined a trek in the Annapurna Mountains with a trek in Bhutan. Since we could visit two countries in one go, we finally decided to book this trip. We rarely get to take long vacations and the option of combining two destinations in one trip appealed to us greatly. Moreover the Ghorepani Trek was also one of the treks that we wanted to do. Taking this trip was like killing two birds with one stone.

It was raining when we arrived in Kathmandu. But thankfully the weather cleared when we began trekking. The first day’s walk to Ulleri was kinda tough. Those were never-ending killer steps! This was the only tough portion; the rest of the trek was easy. The rains cleared up the sky and we were presented with some outstanding Himalayan views. It was humbling to stand so close to these great mountains! At Banthanti, a villager whom we befriended on the way invited us to his home to taste a dish made of local frog. Amy declined, but I gladly tried it. It tasted like chicken. Kathmandu was chaotic and we were glad to leave it behind. The flight to Paro was almost surreal. The Himalayan range towered above white wispy clouds and I went crazy clicking on my camera. I felt as if nature was giving us a big hug when we arrived in Bhutan. There is so much of greenery around that you automatically feel soothed and restful. Though tougher than the Annapurna Ghorepani Trek, the Druk Path Trek left us with a feeling of achievement. Some portions were challenging and we struggled especially when the weather turned inclement. It was a good thing that we had packed our rainproof gear. Through those brief spells off spring showers, we were able to keep ourselves dry. The kitchen crew and our guide kept us entertained and well-fed. Their humor and good cheer kept us in good spirits and helped us ignore the harsh weather.

All in all we had a great trip. Thank you so much to the team at Third Rock Adventures for planning our trip and introducing us to Bhutan. We have completely fallen in love with this country and we sure will be back for more adventures! This trip as well as this agency is highly recommended!