Bhutan Drukyul Hiking Tour - 12 days

The Bhutan Drukyul hiking tour begins with your flight to the valley town of Paro. As you land at the Paro International Airport, the only international airport in Bhutan, you will experience the adventure of flying closely between the high hills, a challenge on its own. The mountains are seen in a panoramic view from the window. Our Bhutanese guide will welcome you, then transferred you to your respective hotel.

You will begin your day tour today itself. Your first hike will take you to Rinpung Dzong after crossing an old wooden bridge. Rinpung, meaning ‘fortress of the heaps of jewels,’ is one of Paro's most prominent monasteries as it is one of the largest in Bhutan. Built in the 15th century by the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu sect as a fortress, Rinpung now serves as a monastery. You will head upwards by crossing long stone stairs to reach the main building. The main attractions of this monastery are the fourteen shrines and chapels found inside. You can spot the fine wall paintings and the wood-carved windows and doors.

After heading back, you will be taken to your hotel in Paro for the night's stay. You can enjoy the evening market with your new-found friends in Bhutan.

Overnight stay in Paro. 

On this day, after having breakfast, you will head to Chele La Pass by crossing a forest that eventually opens up to a view of snowcapped mountains like Mt. Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. Chele La, at an altitude of 3,988m, lies between Haa and Paro valley. The road is narrow and steep and has prayer flags at the pass. From there, you will take a three-hour hike to Kung Karpo La at an elevation of 4,100m/13,451ft. From the pass, you will get to see the vistas of snowcapped mountains.

You will head on to the Kila Gompa nunnery after taking a steep descend from the Kung Karpo la. Kila Gompa, locally named Chele La Gompa, is bestrode in the cliff that faces Paro. There are seven temples along with retreat huts in the vicinity. It was established in the 9th century as a meditation center by Drupthob Chhoeje Norbu and is prominent for being the oldest nunnery in Bhutan. You will find the nuns committed to a secluded life and conducting their daily spiritual practices. After you head downwards, you will be met with the driver who will take you on a long drive to Thimphu for the overnight stay.

Overnight stay in Thimphu. 

Early in the morning, you will take a morning drive from Thimphu to Begana. The Bhutan Drukyul hike gets even more exciting today as you take a hike towards Tango Goemba. You will take a climb for about an hour through a steep trail, and then an ascend will take you to Tango. You can opt to visit the Zhabdrung cave as you take a left on the way. Tango was built in the 12th century by the Lama Drukpa Kunley, dubbed the ‘Divine Madman.’ The curved frontage of the monastery is unique to Bhutanese dzongs. One of the major attractions of Tango, apart from the amazing exterior, is the sandalwood statue of Chenresig, which was built by Zhabdrung sometime in the 16th century. At present, you will spot the monks studying and practicing Buddhism here.

Cheri Goemba is our next stop for a cultural excursion. After crossing a wooden bridge and taking a steep route, you will head on towards the monastery. Since the route aligns with the Day Hikes In Bhutan And Cultural Discovery, you will get a chance to intermingle with other tourists on this day and a few more days. Along the way, you will spot Gorals- mountain goats. Cheri Goemba is known to be built by Ngawang Namgyal in the 16th century and served the Southern Drukpa Lineage as a teaching center. At present, it acts as a meditation retreat for monks. You will be driven back to Thimphu after enjoying the day's hike.

Overnight stay in Thimphu.

On this day, after having breakfast, you will head out on a long drive to Dochula pass, which sits at an elevation of 3100m/10,170ft. On a clear day, you will be lucky to see the views of the snowcapped mountains. A wide space welcomes you to the sight of 108 memorial Druk Wangyal chortens. From here on, you will begin your day’s hike to Lungchuzekha monastery. You will walk through the rhododendron-covered forest on the steep trail. The high ridges are decorated with colorful Buddhist prayer flags. The vistas of the valley below and the green hills offer a wonderful sight, unlike others.

After having lunch and enjoying the mesmerizing natural beauty in the Land of Druk, you will head back to the rhododendron, hemlock, and fir-laden forest into Punakha. Upon reaching Punakha, you will head on to visit the Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong sits between the river bed of two rivers, and the Mo Chhu is regarded as the female river, and the Pho Chhu is regarded as the male river. The monastery is an architectural marvel and is the second largest and second oldest in Bhutan. It is regarded as the ‘palace of great happiness or bliss. Listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s tentative list for UNESCO inclusion, Punakha Dzong was once the administrative center for the government of Bhutan. From here on, you will be transferred to your hotel in Punakha.

Overnight stay in Punakha.

Today you will take a full day to explore Punakha, which was once the capital of Bhutan until the capital was moved to Thimphu in 1955. You will head to the Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten with a thirty-minute hike through a rice field from Yabesa village. The Chorten was built by Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchu, the Queen's mother, in 2004. The exterior of the building is like a pagoda built with many wood carvings, and the top looks like a stupa. The interior of this chorten has four stories with images of deities in the marvelous mandalas. From this viewpoint, you can spot the valley afar and rolling hills that seem to melt into the blue sky. The Chorten is silent and serene, so many tourists come here for some soul-searching. 

In the afternoon, after having lunch, you will drive to Lobesa and begin your short hike through the rice fields towards Chimi Lhakhang temple. The temple is perhaps the most unique and interesting throughout Bhutan. It was built by Drukpa Kuenley- the Divine Madman who was known for his unconventional Buddhist teachings and practices. Among them, he promoted the symbolization of phallus objects and paintings denoting fertility. Chimi Lhakhang hosts several such paintings on the walls and objects nearby of cultural significance. Hence, Chimi Lhakhang is the fertility temple where females are believed to be blessed with fertility. After enjoying the stories and the views, you will head back to your hotel in Punakha.

Overnight stay in Punakha.

Today, you will head to the Phobjikha valley, which is a wide valley in central Bhutan. On the way during the winter season, you will spot black-necked Cranes gracefully flying around. The scenic splendor of the semi-tropical vegetation, alpine environment keep you amazed. After heading through rhododendron and dwarf bamboo forest, you will reach Lawala Pass at 3,200m/10,498ft just miles before Pele La pass, which sits at an elevation of 3,300m./10,826ft The Lawala pass offers views of the cloudy forests and the green valley. It has a small stupa and is adorned with colorful prayer flags throughout the way.

On the small ridge of the center of the valley, you will see the Gangtey Monastery. The monastery is a pagoda-shaped marvel built in the 17th century and has been the seat of the Pema Lingpa tradition. One of the rather unusual mysteries of the monastery is the visit of the Black-necked Crane circling three times around the monastery as they arrive and circling three times as they return. You can spot the minute details in the architectural figures of Garuda. Features of other Buddhist leaders can be found around the monastery. It boasts a unique collection of ancient armory and weapons.

Overnight stay in Phobjikha Valley. 

After having breakfast, you will start your hike from Gangtey to Longtey village. The hike takes you to a trail that stretches along meadows and into farms. After reaching the top of the Kayche La pass at the elevation of 3,700m/12,139ft, marked with colorful prayer flags, you will take a gradual descend to Longtey village. You will spot yaks grazing in the fields that stretch a long way down.

You can have your lunch near the road point where you will be picked up for a drive to Trongsa. It Is situated almost at the center of Bhutan, and Trongsa translates to a ‘new village’ in the Tibetan language. It is also the ancestral home of the royal family. The main site that you will go to visit is the Trongsa Dzong. The Dzong was built in the 16th century by Ngawang Namgyal, and it is the largest dzong of Bhutan and holds the administrative division of the government of Trongsa. The Dzong has been listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s tentative list for UNESCO inclusion. It is known to have as many as 25 temples. After viewing the courtyards, passageways, temples, architecture of the monastery, you will head back to Trongsa. 

Overnight stay in Trongsa.

On this day, you will be heading to the northern side of Bhutan, Bumthang, one of the most historic districts known for the abundance of cultural sites. It is a major highlight of your tour. Heading through the lush valley and hilly forests, you will stop at the Yathra factory, a textile weaving factory located in Chumey. You will find many female workers working with bright colored wool fabrics in a special weaving machine made of wood. The Yathra’s make good bags, jackets, seat covers, table cloths, and more. Chumey is located in the southern part of Bumthang. The factories are located right on the highway, so all tourists that pass the highway make sure to visit it once. You can also buy some cheap but high-quality woolen products from the nearby area.

After that, you will continue your drive and reach Bumthang. You will be transferred to your hotel then head on for the exploration of Chamkhar Town after lunch. Chamkhar town is packed with traditional houses and restaurants, grocery stores, and more. You can intermingle with the locals with the assistance of your guide. The true lifestyle of the Bhutanese people can be spotted out on the streets of the town. 

Overnight stay in Bumthang.

This day marks one of the main highlights of your tour as you walk through the Chokhor Valley in Bumthang. You can begin with a visit to the Kurje Lhakhang. It is known best to be the final resting place of the remains of three Druk Gyalpo. According to the myth, Guru Rimpoche, the spiritual leader, left hidden teaching in the form of a large tree while he was meditating in the caves. After viewing the main building, you can walk to the east to cross a footbridge and then uphill to an opposite trail. In a while, you will reach the Dorjibi village, which has a weaving center where women have seen weaving. The area is known for potato production. You can interact with the locals in the farmhouses and understand more about the Bhutanese culture and traditions.

After that, you will have your lunch and head to another landmark, Tamshing Goemba, which takes a 30-minute walk on the east bank trail. You will find monks roaming around the courtyards. It is also inscribed in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Bhutan. You can see some amazing wall paintings depicting Buddhist culture and butter lamps lit in front of it for traditional purposes by the devotees. After the wonderful trip to Bumthang, you will then be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Overnight stay in Bumthang.

On this day, after having breakfast, you will be driven to the domestic airport on a flight to Paro. The flight is short yet alluring as you watch all the places you had been to. You will be transferred to your hotel in Paro.

After having lunch, you can head for a visit to the Kyichu Lakhang monastery. It is situated in the Lango Gewong, and the Jowo Temple in the vicinity is regarded as one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. It is known to have been built in the 7th century by Songsten Gampo, a Tibetan Emperor. As per the beliefs, Guru Rimpoche, the spiritual leader, had visited this establishment and concealed many spiritual treasures. The temples have been restored many times before, and new temples have been added throughout the centuries. The deity Vajrasattva, Vajrakilaya, and Palchen Heruka are worshipped in the annual rites of great accomplishments. It is a short hike day, after which you will head back to your hotel for the night.

Overnight stay in Paro.

You cannot complete the Bhutan Drukgyl hike without visiting the cultural icon Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The monastery sits clinging on a rocky cliff 900m/2,952ft above the valley of Paro. Pine forests cover the area towards the monastery. The name Tiger’s Nest is attributed to the religious belief that Guru Rimpoche/Padmasambhava flew down to this cave on a tigress’s back to mediate. Guru Rimpoche is given a high value in the Bhutanese Culture as he is known to be the tutelary deity who introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan. Also known as Paro Taktsang, it is one of the thirteen tigers' nest caves in which Guru Rimpoche did meditation.

There are four main temples and residential shelters for meditation. In particular, you need to see; Thulo Phuk, where Guru Rimpoche first came to the cave on a tiger’s back, and Pel Phuk, where he resided and did meditation. You will find many images of Bodhisattvas in the caves. As per tradition, the idols are worshipped with butter lamps placed in front that light up the place. From the rocky stairways, you can go from one building to the other for the excursion. From the balcony of the buildings, you can view the amazing Paro valley enveloped by green hills. After enjoying the ravishing spectacle, you will head back to your hotel in Paro.

Overnight stay in Paro.

You will prepare yourself for the final departure from Bhutan on this day. Our Bhutanese guide from Third Rock Adventures will transfer you to the Paro International Airport for your homeward flight. You will remember the architectural marvel of Rinpung Dzong, the views of Jumolhari and Jichu Drake, the wonderful villages of Punakha and Bumthang, the majestic Tiger’s Nest, and many adventures in your tour as you head back home.

After the wonderful trip with us, you can opt to visit the neighboring countries of India and Nepal for an elongated stay with similar experiences.