THE EXPERIENCE:

Welcome to Bhutan – the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’. Perched among the peaks of the mighty Himalaya, the tiny kingdom of Bhutan has been described as the last Shangri-La, shrouded in centuries of mystery. Bhutan offers a fascinating insight into a Buddhist culture where time has stood still and the chance to experience Himalayan landscapes of astounding, untouched beauty. It's also a mind-blowing place to run. It happens that there is a trail perfect for a running adventure like no other, one based on the first half of the renowned Snowman Trek, one of the hardest in the world. While there are other adventures of trail running in Bhutan to be had, this is the only trip that takes you deep and high into the Himalayas! In partnership with Tour de Trails and Blue Poppy Tours we offer a run adventure as remote as you can imagine on this planet. This is the high Himalaya. The amazing Snowman Trek has been noted by Lonely Planet as “one of the most difficult treks in the world”. 

Unlike most rough and ready expeditions, we're softening the edges. The Bhutan trail running will remain tough given the steep terrain, the altitude, and the lack of facilities - on trail it will be as any other trail run, a true experience of Bhutan's raw and pristine wilderness. But each afternoon you'll run into a pre-set camp, sip some tea with biscuits, have dinner served up and we will even sneak up a bottle of wine. At each end of the trail, our Explorer guests will enjoy relative comfort of Bhutan's accommodation the likes of renowned Tigers Nest Resort, and of course a massage to stretch out the muscles. Some runs will be slow moving, power hiking, steep, and technical so prepare accordingly. All runs will be measured in time rather than distance due to the vertical +/- and technical aspects of the trails.

Bhutan is considered a once in a lifetime destination, and thus we'll make the most of your visit to this magical place. The Jomolhari-Laya-Gasa Trek itself, which forms our route, is considered one of the most scenic in Bhutan, offering amazing views of some of the most pristine and unspoiled landscapes in the Himalaya. It is more often taken by the few lucky ones to have experienced it as a 14+ day walking journey that begins at Drukgyel in Paro and takes you through gorgeous alpine meadows, high mountain passes and dense sub-tropical jungles before finishing in Damji in Tashithang. Along the trail you’ll be able to spot indigenous animals such as blue sheep and Takins, the national animal of Bhutan.  

THE TRAIL: JOMOLHARI-LAYA-GASA TREK

TYPE: POINT TO POINT EXPEDITION

DISTANCE: 140KM

AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 10-30KM

HIGHEST POINT: 5005 METRES (SINCHE LA)

AVERAGE RUN ELEVATION: >4000M

ACCOMMODATION ON TRAIL: CAMPS

ACCOMMODATION OFF TRAIL: 4-5 STAR LODGE

SUPPORT: 1 X RUN GUIDES, 2 X LOCAL GUIDES, CAMP/COOK CREW, MULES

RUN GROUP NUMBERS: LIMITED TO 16 RUNNERS PLUS GUIDES.

All visitors will need to have valid Visas. Via our partner in this expedition, Blue Poppy Tours, will organise visas for Bhutan, which is inclusive in the tour price. We will require scanned copies of your passports.  As we can apply for the visas only after funds for the trip have arrived in Bhutan, we request that the financials for the trip be organised as a priority so we can secure the required permits and visas ahead of time. As you may be aware, travel in Bhutan is controlled by numbers and thus we are required to be very organised and prompt in our payments and applications. 

• Arrive at Paro International Airport from Bangkok or Delhi. Paro is situated in a beautiful valley at 2280 metres and is a fitting introduction to this charming kingdom. Your guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.

• Check into accommodation

• Lunch at hotel and welcome briefing

• Sightseeing today depends on flight timing

• Afternoon at leisure, wander in town and visit handicraft shops (optional)

• Short hike or run to Zuri Dzong (optional)

• Massage can be added today (Not included in price)

• Dinner and briefing

• Overnight at Amba Paro Hotel

• Breakfast at Hotel

• To acclimatise for the trek we will take a run up to the ‘Tiger’s Nest,’ the sacred Taktshang Monastery, which clings to the rock face 900 meters above the valley floor

• Tiger’s Nest is one of the most sacred places for Bhutanese people and is a highlight for many visitors. Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress, and he subsequently meditated there for three months. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites, attracting pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries. Once at the monastery, those who want to can climb higher to various points above – the guide will discuss with the group how far they want to go higher and those who don’t wish to can descend

• Lunch at restaurant

• Dinner at Hotel

• Hike distance (up to the monastery): (6.5 km, 5 to 6 hours)

  Starting elevation – 2610 metres

  Highest elevation – 3155 metres

  Ending elevation – 2610 metres

• Massages can be organized

• Overnight at Amba Paro Hotel

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Today you can do a second acclimatisation hike. First drive about an hour and a half to Chele La pass at about 3800 metres where you will have a splendid view of the Himalaya range, weather permitting. From the road you can walk up the incline around 2 hours towards Gung Karpo La (4100m), continuing above the tree line along the ridge that divides Paro and Haa valleys. Here if the day is clear you will see even more breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains, including Mount Jomolhari and other further peaks such as Kanchenjunga. Walk down the hill through rhododendron and hemlock forest towards Kila Gompa, a nunnery inhabited by about 30 nuns who live a life of contemplation and seclusion, with daily prayer and spiritual practice. The community is one of the oldest of seven nunneries in Bhutan and was initially established in the early 9th century as a meditation site.  The main temple houses ancient statues of Chenrezig and Guru Rinpoche, among others. After visiting the nunnery you can return to the car, and drive back to Paro which takes about 1 hour.

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (6 km, 3-4 hours)

  Starting elevation – 2800 metres

  Highest elevation – 4100 metres

  Ending elevation – 3630 metres

• Overnight at Amba Paro Hotel

• Picinic Lunch

• Dinner at Hotel

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Run to be determined soon

• This afternoon we can visit a local farmhouse or similar where we can try

  archery and a hot stone bath. Or chill at the hotel and take advantage of the

  spa.

• 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 Gasa to await your arrival.

• Overnight at Amba Paro Hotel

• Picinic Lunch

• Dinner at Hotel

• Breakfast at hotel

• Early in the morning we will drive about 2 hours through farm road to Shana, where you will start your trek. We ascend through the river valley and beautiful pine and

  rhododendron forests.

• We stop for lunch by the first bridge over the river and then continue to follow the right bank for a couple of hours until we reach a junction of two valleys, marked by a stupa. Here we turn north towards Mount Jomolhari, which can be seen from the top of the valley.  Our first camp will be at 3620 metres. 

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (21 km, 7 to 8 hours)

  Starting elevation – 2880 metres

  Highest elevation – 3620 metres

  Ending elevation – 3620 metres

• Packed lunch

• Dinner at camp site

• Accommodations: Tent camping *Your tents will be set up for you when you arrive, and larger bags will be waiting for you

• Wake up to coffee/tea in the tent and then enjoy a breakfast before starting our run

• Today we run from Soi Thangthangkha to Jangothang. The path passes a small, border army post where the valley begins to widen again and we leave the forest behind.  Enjoy views of snow-capped peaks, high mountain ridges and yaks and yak herders.  We will stop for lunch in a small hamlet where the family will welcome us. You can also stop to visit a small local school at Soe, before reaching Jangothang. From here it is not far to reach camp, which is in a beautiful grassy meadow beneath a ruined fortress at the base of Mount Jomolhari (4100 m). 

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (16 km, 5 to 6 hours)

  Starting elevation – 3620 metres

  Highest elevation – 4100 metres

  Ending elevation – 4100 metres

• Lunch (Packed lunch to take on the trail)

• Dinner at camp site after the run

• Accommodations: Tent Camping *Your tents will be set up when you arrive, and larger bags will be waiting for you

• Coffee/Tea delivered to the tent. Breakfast before the run

• Today we run from Jangothang to Chebisa. The trail climbs gradually and then more steeply to Nyeli La (4870 m).  On the way you will be rewarded when you stop for breath with tremendous views toward Jomolhari and Jichu Drake. If the weather is clear, Lingshi Dzong can be clearly seen as we descend into the Lingshi basin, and Tserim Kang with its glaciers can be seen to the north.  Follow the ridge for a long way until you drop through the forests till you reach Lingshi village at 4000 metres.  Then continue on the path along the hillside with views across the valley. After a few hours you will catch a splendid view of Tserim Kang, before descending to Gang Yul (‘village at the pass’), a picturesque village of about 150 people. From here it is only an hour or so on a path which runs along the hillside until we reach our camp at Chebisa (3860m), where it is possible to visit some village houses and a waterfall just behind the village.

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (27 km, 8 to 9 hours)

  Starting elevation – 4100 metres

  Highest elevation – 4800 metres

  Ending elevation – 3860 metres

• Lunch (Packed lunch to take on the trail)

• Dinner at camp site after run

• Accommodations: Tent Camping *Your tents will be set up when you arrive, and larger bags will be waiting for you

• Coffee/tea delivered to the tent, followed by breakfast.

• Today we will run from Chebisa to Shomuthang. The trail climbs gradually at first, getting steeper and steeper through wild pastures where yaks graze.  You may also catch sight of blue sheep and eagles. Eventually we cross Gobu La (4400 m). From here it is a short run down through rhododendron forest to the stream where we will stop for lunch. The afternoon’s run is through a pine and rhododendron forest, with a gradual ascent for about 30 minutes, followed by a gradual descent towards Zhache Pasang, where you will cross the river. From there, the path traverses the hillside before climbing steeply once more to Shomuthang (3970 m).  The camp is near a tributary to the Mo Chu, which emerges below the Gasa Tsachu (Hot Spring).  From here you can see the helipad, sometimes used if the passes get snowed in.

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (17 km, 6 to 7 hours)

  Starting elevation – 3860 metres

  Highest elevation – 4420 metres

  Ending elevation – 4220 metres

• Lunch (packed lunch to take on the trail)

• Dinner at camp site after run

• Accommodations: Tent Camping *Your tents will be set up when you arrive, and larger bags will be waiting for you

• Coffee/tea delivered to the tent, followed by breakfast

• Today we run from Shomuthang to Robluthang. We start with a climb to Jhari La (4720 m) where we are rewarded with quite stunning views, then descend again through forest to Tsharijathang, the valley where herds of takin can normally be seen. Today’s scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Cross the river and clamber up the hillside for an hour or so to camp at Robluthang (4150 m).

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (15 km, 5 to 6 hours)

  Starting elevation – 4220 metres

  Highest elevation – 4720 metres

  Ending elevation – 4150 metres

• Lunch (Packed lunch to take on the trail)

• Dinner at camp site after run

• Accommodations: Tent Camping *Your tents will be set up when you arrive, and larger bags will be waiting for you

• Coffee/Tea delivered to your tent, followed by breakfast

• Today we run from Robluthang to Limithang. Above camp the yak trail which is our path today can be seen, taking us through a hanging valley and past a yak herder’s hut after about one or two hours on the trail. From here we take the left side of the valley and soon the Sinche La comes into view. It is a tough climb to the pass, which marks the boundary of the Laya district (5010 m). From here the path descends rapidly through the valley to a huge bank of moraine on the edge of a lake, and behind the Gang Che Ta (‘Great Tiger Mountain’) can be seen.  We camp here in a meadow by the river at Limithang in the Laya district, where the locals will be seen wearing unique regional dress (4090 m).

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (19 km, 7 to 8 hours)

  Starting elevation – 4150 metres

  Highest elevation – 5010 metres

  Ending elevation – 4130 metres

• Lunch (Packed lunch to take on the trail)

• Dinner at camp site after run

• Accommodations: Tent Camping *Your tents will be set up when you arrive, and your larger bags will be waiting for you

• Coffee/tea delivered to your tent, followed by breakfast

• Today we run from Limithang to Tongchu Ja via Laya. Today is one of the shortest days, where fast runners can reach Laya village in about 3 hours; however, some runners may take longer. The path goes downhill at first through a winding river valley with forest of spruce and juniper. We climb gradually from the river until we enter the eastern end of Laya village (3810 m). Here you may like to walk around the village for a few minutes before continuing for about 1.5 hours to Taktshe Makha (army camp). It is possible that the farm road from Gasa may reach all the way to the army camp. If not, then you would have to continue for about one more hour to Tongchu Ja.

• Estimated distance and hiking/running time: (15 km, 5 to 6 hours)

  Starting elevation – 4130 metres

  Highest elevation – 4130 metres

  Ending elevation – 3810 metres

• Here you will be picked up by an Indian Mahindra Bolero Pick-Up truck for the drive to Gasa which will take around 2.5 hours.

• Lunch (Packed lunch to take on trail)

• Dinner at guest house

• Accommodations: Basic guest house in Gasa (*Single room not available this night)

• Breakfast at guest house

• This morning your bus will be available to take you down to the Gasa Hot Springs where you can have a bath. The spring is believed to be effective in curing various ailments including aching joints, and many Bhutanese families visit every winter. There are eight pools, with temperatures ranging from warm to hot.

• After the hot springs, we will drive 3 hours past rolling hillsides with vistas of fields, villages and oak and pine forests to reach the old capital, Punakha, at 1250

  metres. 

• Option to go white water rafting in the afternoon on the Pho Chu River, class II - III+ (*$250 USD and not included in price)

• Visit the imposing Punakha Dzong, “Palace of Great Happiness”. Built in 1637, it is strategically placed at the confluence of two rivers, the Po Chu and the Mo Chu.

• Lunch at restaurant

• Dinner at hotel

• Accommodations: Dhensa Hotel Punakha

• Breakfast at hotel

• Today we return to Paro which will take around 4 hours.

• Afternoon at leisure. You may like to enjoy some spa treatments or try your hand at archery. (Spa treatments not included in price)

• This evening you could visit Namgay Artisanal Brewery for dinner and try some locally brewed beer (drinks not included in price).

• Lunch at restaurant

• Dinner at Hotel and celebrate the amazing 2 weeks we have had!

• Accommodations: Zhiwaling Hotel Paro

• Breakfast at hotel

• Early in the morning your guide will accompany you to the airport to see you off onto your flight and wish you Tashi Delek (goodbye and good luck).