Snowman Trek - 30 days

It is a thrilling experience to fly into Paro international airport, located amidst the mountains. After the immigration formalities, your Bhutanese guide will meet you at the airport terminal and drive you to your hotel. Check-in and take a rest. No activity is planned for today. If you wish, you can stroll around and explore a bit of the city on your own.

Overnight in Paro at Hotel.

Your Paro sightseeing tour will commence after breakfast. Visit the most popular heritage spots in the city - Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong. Kyichu Monastery and Drugyel Dzong. Built-in the traditional style of architecture, the dzongs of fortresses used to be key defense posts of the Bhutanese military in the ancient days. Now, these buildings have been converted into museums, monasteries, and government offices.

Overnight in Paro at Hotel.

Today you visit one of Bhutan's iconic tourist spots, Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's Nest. After an early breakfast, you will be driven out of town to the base of a hill. You take the rough gravel trail and hike up to the monastery, standing suspended on a steep rocky cliff. The path winds upwards on a well-maintained dirt track shaded by pine trees and decorated with colorful prayer flags.

No technical climbing is required. If you find the hike tiresome, you can hire a pony (you should bear the cost) and ride up to the halfway mark. There's a café at the halfway point, and you stop here for refreshment. Later you resume your journey and make your way up and down a stone staircase on a steep gorge. You can enjoy the Paro valley's stunning views and the mountains surrounding the green valley on reaching the monastery.

Tiger's Nest was Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava's meditation cave that introduced Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan. According to local folklore, the Buddhist saint flew to this very cave on the back of a tigress. His meditation chamber is located inside the monastery. After visiting the monastery, walk down to the trailhead. Our vehicle will be waiting for you to drop you at your hotel.

Overnight in Paro at Hotel.

The trek starts from the ruins of Drugyal Dzong at 2,300m with a downhill walk on a wide trail. The trail climbs gently, traversing through well-maintained rice terraces and fields of millet. The route later enters an area of apple orchards and forests. Soon the valley widens, and you reach Gunitsawa village, where you pass the army post. The campsite is on the opposite side of the river, not far from Gunitsawa. Camp at an altitude of 2,850m

Overnight in Shana at Camp

From Paro, we drive for an hour or so to Sharna Zampa, the starting point of our trek. On your first day of the trek, you walk past the Jigme Dorje National Park and get your first view of Mount Jomolhari. The trail meanders past through terraced fields and apple orchards. Follow an up and down trail to the Po Chhu river valley. Your campsite is located in a green meadow overlooking the Himalayan mountains. Enjoy the splendid views as our kitchen staff prepare dinner for you.

Overnight in Thangthangka at Camp.

An ascent up the Paro Chhu valley brings you to vast meadows dotted with temporary settlements of yak herders. The trail goes past an army checkpoint and follows a ridgeline with amazing views of the Bhutanese peaks. Walk past the villages of Takethang, Soe, and Dangochang and observe the rural lifestyle. The camp will be set up at a scenic location in Jangothang, from where you can enjoy clear views of Mount Jomolhari and Jichu Drake.

Overnight in Jangothang at Camp.

Jangothang lies in a picturesque location offering multiple options for short day hikes and excursions. You can enjoy mesmerizing views of mountain lakes and the Himalayan range during your hike. Take a hike to Tsophu Lake or walk towards some of the bigger mountains like Jichu Drake to enjoy close-up views. You can spot blue sheep and yaks while hiking on the slopes. Spending a day at this altitude will allow your body to get used to thin air.

Overnight in Jangothang at Camp.

You cross your first mountain pass, the Nyilila Pass (4,870m), today. It is a long and arduous climb to the pass from where you get to savor jaw-dropping views of Jichu Drake, Jomolhari, and Tsherimgang. As you walk on the alpine trail, you will get to see herds of Blue Sheep grazing. From the pass head down to the Lingshi Basin. On the trail, you can see tents of nomadic yak herders. Your campsite offers an amazing view of Lingshi Dzong and snow-covered peaks.

Overnight in Lingshi at Camp.

After starting from your campsite, you reach a chorten. You either take the path to Lingshi Dzong and visit this old citadel sitting on top of a ridge or continue on your way to Chebisa.

En route, you walk past the villages of Goyul and Lingshi. You will be camping in the village of Chebisa, which is made up of traditional Bhutanese wooden houses.  You can visit local homes and interact with the villages.

Overnight in Chebisa at camp.

Follow the trail that lies behind the village and climb up to the Gobu La pass. Walk past a wide pasture filled with yaks grazing and the yak herders minding their flock. After reaching the pass, you descend to the valley, climb up, and then descend to a U-shaped valley of Shakepasa. A little bit of ascent brings you to your campsite at Shomuthang. The campsite lies above a tributary of the Nochu river.

Overnight in Shomuthang at Camp.

Climb up the valley and follow a trail covered with wildflowers. Towards the southeast, you can glimpse the glistening snowcapped summit of Kang Bum. Walk up a gentle ascent and reach Jhari La, another mountain pass. From here, Sinche La, a mountain pass you will cross the next day, is visible. You can also enjoy grand views of Gangchennta or the Great Tiger Mountain and Tserim Kang. Walk past a wide river valley where herds of takins (national animal of Bhutan) migrate during summer. Known as Tsheri Jathang, this area is a takin sanctuary. Your campsite is located in Robluthang, a meadow surrounded by boulders and rocks.

Overnight in Robluthang at Camp.

It is a tough ascent to Sinche La (5,010m). You spend more than an hour or two climbing up the steep incline. The trail is filled with huge rocks. Once you reach the pass, you make a quick descent down, enjoying views of a glacial lake and lateral moraines.  Your campsite is located in Limithang, overlooking the majestic Gangchhenta peak.

Overnight in Limithang at Camp.

After enjoying the splendid view of Gangchhenta, you begin your day's trek. You take the route downwards, following a narrow river valley. Walk through a forest filled with moss-covered trees. The trail brings you to the western corner of Laya village. Sitting at an elevation of 3,850m, Laya is the second highest village in Bhutan. Soak in inspiring views of snow-covered Gangchhenta and Mount Masagang from the village.

Overnight in Laya at Camp.

You can spend your day exploring the village and interacting with the locals or hike up to one of the small hills surrounding the campsite. 

Overnight in Laya at Camp.

Follow the trail down the Lunana trail junction and ascend a hill. From the top, you get awesome views of the Mo Chhu and Rodu Chhu rivers. Walk through a forest filled with pine and rhododendron trees. Enjoy grand views of the Tsenda Kang glacier and the glacial valley before reaching your campsite. Your camp for the nightlies beside the Rodu Chhu river at Rhoduphu.

Overnight in Rhoduphu at camp.

You walk past the river and climb up to a hill before reaching Tsomo La (4,900m), another high mountain pass. Parts of Tibet are visible from the top of the pass. Savor views of Jichu Drake, Jomolhari, and Lunana also. Cross a treeless plateau and walk to Narethang, where you camp for the night.

Overnight in Narethang at Camp.

Today you reach the highest point of your trek, the Ganglakarchung Pass, at 5,120m. From the top of the pass, you get to view some of the important Bhutanese peaks - Teri Gang (7,300m), Jejepangphugang (7,120m), Kang Bum (6,530m), and Tsendhen Gang (7,100m).  Walk down the massive moraines while enjoying views of a glacier sliding down the Teri Gang. You take time out to capture the captivating visuals of the mountain lakes at the glacier base. Take a steep descent to the Tarina Valley and walk to your camp set up beside the pristine Tang Chuu river.

Overnight in Tarina at Camp.

Hike down the Tangchhu river and cross waterfalls en route to Woche village. Located at an altitude of 4,350m, Woche is the first settlement of the Lunana Region. One of the remotest villages in Bhutan, Woche only has few inhabitants and houses.

Overnight in Woche at Camp.

Follow an up and down trail till you reach a glacial lake and the Keche La Pass (4,650m). From the top, you get stunning views of the Himalayan mountains, including the Jejegangphu Gang. Head down to the Pochu valley and trek onwards to Thaga village. From the trail, you can enjoy views of Table Mountain. Head downwards, crossing many more settlements en route. Walking the banks of the Pochu River, you finally reach Lhedi, your stop for tonight.

Overnight in Lhedi at Camp.

It is an easy walk to Thanza. Leave Lhedi and follow the Pochu River towards the north. You cross several small farms and villages, including Chuzo village and Chezo Dzong, an old fortress. Ascend a hill to reach the Thanza valley. Table Mountain looks awesome from this point. We set up camp at a nice spot with amazing views of the mountains.

Overnight in Thanza at Camp.

Spend the day recharging and resting. You can explore the village and hike to one of the small hills to better view the mountains and lakes. The Table Mountain forming a 3,000m wall of ice and snow looks magnificent. The staff will get new yaks to carry the load and let the old ones go.

Overnight in Thanza at Camp.

You will climb to a large boulders hill towards the south of Thanza and after few hours of easy walk, we reach Danji (4,500m), which is a summer grazing ground for the yaks. At Danji, you may also see herds of blue sheep grazing on the meadows.

From Danji, we climb a few hundred meters up to the top of the ridge, which offers excellent views of surrounding mountains. Walking for another 20 minutes will reach the junction of trails leading to Gangkar Phunsum and Tshochena. We take the trail to the right that leads to Jaze La pass. The Jazela pass, which is at 5,200m, offers majestic views of surrounding mountains in all directions. From the pass, the trail descends through snow-capped peaks and lakes to Tshochena 5,000m.

Overnight in Tshochena at Camp.

Walk on the shore of the lake and ascend a hill to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Follow an up and down the trail and cross a lake before reaching another mountain pass, Loju La (5,170m). The trail follows yak trails and pastures. After crossing a hill that looks like a saddle, you enter a glacial valley. Walk down to Jichu Dramo. Located at 5,050m, this is the highest camp of this trek. 

Overnight in Jichu Dramo at Camp.

Climb a moraine to reach Rinchen Zoe La (5,350m), a pass dividing two river basins – Pochu and Mangdechu. You can view Bhutan's highest mountain Gangkar Puensum (7,520m), from this pass. You can also clearly see the point where the tree line vanishes. Descend to a picturesque valley dotted with lakes and yak pastures. Your camp at Chukarko can be reached by walking past juniper and rhododendron trees.

Overnight in Chukarpo at Camp.

The route follows a riverbank and yak pastures. After reaching the yak herders camp at Galapang Chhu, you make a steep ascent and enter a forest of junipers and firs. Follow a stream till you reach a hidden lake Thampe Tsho, sitting amid the hills. Your camp is set up on the shores of this picturesque lake.

Overnight in Thampe Tsho at Camp.

Today you cross the last mountain pass on the Snowman trail. Thampe La lies near the lake. After crossing the pass, you head down and walk towards Om Tsho, a sacred lake. This is a popular spot to watch Blue Sheep. Walk past a waterfall and another small lake before descending to the Nika Chhu river. Follow a forested path before finally arriving at your campsite in Maurothang, the last camping spot of your adventure. Your camp is set up near the yak herders' camp, close to the river.

Overnight in Maurothang at Camp.

Celebrate the completion of your incredible Snowman Trek with your teammates and local crew. The final leg of your trek takes you down a dense forest and yak pastures. As you walk down, you can see a motorable road and the village of Sephu, the last camping spot of your adventure. From here, you will be driven  (50Km/1 Hour ) down to Gangtey in a private vehicle. Evening, you will rest in the hotel.

Overnight in Gangtey at Hotel.

We will visit Punakha Dzong on the way to Thimphu, the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan and Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Devine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. You will then drive to Thimphu via Dochula pass. Evening, you can stroll in Thimphu city.

Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

Sightseeing in Thimphu includes King’s Memorial Chorten (which was built in honor of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck), School of Arts and Crafts (also known as the painting school), Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, giant Buddha Statue, and Motithang Takin Preserve. In the evening, visit the Tashi Chhoedzong, known as the “Fortress of Glorious Religion”.

Overnight hotel in Thimphu.

You will be driven to the airport on time to catch your flight. If you want to extend your trip to Nepal or India, do let us know. We have a range of itineraries that will fit your budget and interest.