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).