Bhutan: Druk Path Trek & Thimphu Festival

We’re kicking things off in style, with a leisurely day in Bangkok, Thailand. In the late afternoon, we’ll meet up as a group and discuss the itinerary and tomorrow’s flight. Then spend the evening exploring Bangkok or just relaxing at our hotel—the rooftop skybar features stunning views of the city—before turning in on the early side. We’re up and out an early to catch our 5am flight to Bhutan.

We left Bangkok before sunrise; three hours later we’re weaving through 18,000-foot Himalayan peaks and sweeping in low through a long, winding valley to land at Paro’s airport. At 8,000 feet, this is the lowest elevation we’ll be at for the entire trip. It’s also the only entry point into the country by plane! Clearly, they keep the best stuff in the places hardest to find.

We’ll transfer to our hotel in Paro just in time for lunch. This age-old city is in one of Bhutan’s most sacred valleys. Take in the view, encircled by towering peaks, and get ready for our incredible adventures to come.

After settling in, we’ll visit Rinpung Dzong, a Bhuddist monastery dating back to the 15th century, for a taste of Bhutanese art and to marvel at this ancient architectural opus in peaceful solitude. Then we’ll stroll through the town of Paro before meeting up for a delicious, locally sourced welcome dinner.

There is no better way to celebrate our adventure, and to gently acclimate to hiking at elevation, than a visit to sacred, iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktshang Goemba). The only access is by foot; it’s a steep climb to the site, which clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face, capped with views of the valley 3,000 feet below. Eight caves burrow into and around the monastery, and many sections of the gold-plated sanctuary are literally carved from the rock face. Each morning at 4am, a prayer wheel in the temple courtyard is rotated by monks to mark the beginning of a new day. Each hour flows by in a mesmerizing rhythm, in time with the clouds floating gracefully across the wide green valley. To spend time here is simply magical.

We’ll have time to explore the grounds before heading back down into Paro for dinner at our hotel, and time to rest and relax ahead of tomorrow’s trekking start.

Our trek begins! After breakfast in Paro, it’s a short drive to the Druk Path, where our guides, pack horses and camp cooks await. This ancient trading route is one of the finest treks in all Bhutan, connecting the Paro and Thimpu Valleys with beautiful rhododendron forests, yak pastures, apple orchards, ancient monasteries and snow-capped mountains.

We’ll load up and head out with our day packs. The trail leads up into the forests and along a narrow road through Himalayan villages dappled across the wooded mountains. We cross valleys traversed by yak herders and continue up a ridge to Jele Dzong. This old fortress, strategically situated on a hilltop between Paro and Thimphu, has catered to travelers for centuries. Kick back, soak in the views and maybe hang your own prayer flags as camp is set up, and as we savor our first camp dinner under the stars.

• Elevation gain: 4,035 ft
• Distance: 3.7 miles
• Hiking time: 3 hours
• Overnight elevation: 11,500 ft

Get ready for our longest—and certainly one of our most rewarding—trekking days. After breakfast, with the morning sun peeking over the Himalayan peaks, we start with a gradual climb to a high ridge for more scenic overlooks and photo ops. We descend through more rhododendrons and forest, the intoxicating piney scent practically levitating us toward our destination this evening, past the yak-herder pastures at Jangchulakha. Before we arrive, we’re rewarded with views of the kingdom’s iconic peaks including Mt Jichu Drake (23,000 ft) and Jumolhari, the ‘Goddess Peak’ (24,035 ft). We’ll camp tonight at Jimilangtsho Lake.

• Elevation gain: 1,673 ft
• Distance: 11 miles
• Hiking time: 8-9 hours
• Overnight elevation: 12,795 ft

It’s all downhill from here—for this morning, anyway. We’ll head out on a leisurely descent before climbing gradually through thick alpine forest, catching glimpses of Jomolhari, the rugged mountain separating Tibet and Paro. We’ll stop for lunch at Janesto Lake, with time to admire the half-dozen towering snow-capped peaks vying for our attention en route to our next campsite. Keep your ears open for pheasants beckoning us ever closer. We camp tonight at Simkotra Lake,.

• Elevation gain: 853 ft
• Distance: 6.8 miles
• Hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Overnight Elevation: 13,484 ft

Next up is Phajoding, up and up, and over our first pass today—and the highest pass of our trek—at 14,764 feet. On clear days it’s impossible to miss Gangkhar Puensum (24,836 ft), the highest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Breathe in that crisp alpine air, descend through dwarf rhododendron trees as we skirt around a small lake. Then, we climb to our second-highest pass, Phume La, at 13,812 feet, with magnificent views of the eastern Himalayas. This is what Bhutan trekking is all about.

Our long descent runs through juniper forests down to Phajoding Monastery, where end the day as any Bhutanese monk or nun should: communing with local pilgrims at the ancient monastery, with the chance to join in their chants and rituals.

• Elevation gain: 328 ft
• Elevation loss: 1,509 ft
• Distance: 8 miles
• Hiking time: 5-6 hours
• Overnight elevation: 12,303 ft

Our final trekking day is downhill all the way. We start our long, slow descent through thick forest of blue pine, fir and spruce, rewarded with breathtaking views of Thimphu Valley below. Our trail ends in the afternoon at Motithang.

It’s a short drive to Thimphu, and before we arrive we’ll make a quick stop at Jungshi, where locals produce Deh-sho, the authentic and traditional Bhutanese paper, and the National Memorial Chorten, before settling into our boutique hotel in the heart of this ancient city. 

• Elevation loss: 4,429 ft
• Distance: 6.2 miles
• Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Festival day! After breakfast we’ll head out and mingle with locals and villagers, monks and pilgrims, as we celebrate Thimphu’s annual tscechu (festival) at the stunning Tashicho Dzong on the banks of the Wang Chu river. The festival has been celebrated each year since the 17th century; today it’s one of the largest and most colorful in Bhutan, befitting Thimphu’s status as capital city. It celebrates the birth of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Prayerful song, masked dancers and the most colorful cultural regalia: This is the Dragon Kingdom in all its glory. 

After a picnic lunch on the festival grounds, we’ll stop at Thimphu’s Buddha Dordenma statue, a bronze monolith glistening in its golden gild, a landmark to the meditation hall he sits atop. As if one Buddha wasn’t enlightening enough, the statue in fact contains more than 100,000 miniature Buddhas within. Back at the hotel, the evening is yours to explore Thimphu’s temples, markets, cafes and restaurants.

Today we depart Thimphu for Punakha—and as with much of our journey, we’re taking the scenic route. Along the way, a traditional herbal expert will invite us into their home and teach us about the rich history of medicinal plants and herbal tinctures, the basis for much of Bhutan’s health care up until the 1980s.

Lunch is at 10,000 feet in Dochu La Pass, where the sights are as good as the local fare. In the small village of Metsina, we’ll receive a blessing from its Lord of Fertility at Chimi Lhakhang temple. Fully satiated by stellar scenery and spirituality, we arrive in Punakha for dinner and time to relax at our hotel.

Today we’ll slow down and explore the history and culture of Punakha. First up, a visit to Punakha’s iconic dzong. It’s the second-oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan, and certainly one of the country’s most photo-worthy and majestic structures.

After a picnic lunch on the dzong grounds, plus time to explore the food stalls and outdoor market, we head to the Wolakha Village nunnery for a blessing and to witness afternoon prayers. We’ll have time back at the hotel before we meet up for dinner.

Today we depart Punakha for our return to Paro, on a beautiful drive passing parades of prayer flags and sprawling mountain vistas. Along the way we’ll stop at the Iron Chain Bridge, Tachog Lhakhang, built in the 15th century and rebuilt after a 1969 flood. More than 100 of these iron-chain bridges were built in the 15th century over the Himalaya’s wide, fast-flowing rivers by Thangtong Gyalpo: yogi, doctor, blacksmith, architect and a pioneering engineer. Take in the views—and hang on—as you sway side to side over the rushing Paro River.

We’ll have lunch in Paro, and settle into our hotel for a final afternoon to explore this ancient city. We’ll meet for a farewell celebration at one of Bhutan’s only craft brewers, Namgay Brewery, for dinner and a flight (or two!) of local brews. As they say in Bhutan, “Tashi Delek!” to the joyful times we’ve shared, and the friendships we’ll bring back with us.

Our time in this magical mountain kingdom has come to an end. After a final breakfast today, we’ll say farewell and head to Paro airport for flights to Bangkok. Book a late flight home from Bangkok, or stay an additional night to ease back into reality. Until we meet again—log jay gay!