Druk Path Trek – 9 Days
14 days
Age 12+
Sep, Oct, Nov
Availability 50
Trip Code:
HSBDRUKPATH
Country:
Bhutan
Duration:
9 Days
Trip Level:
Strenuous Treks at this level are considered challenging, the altitude reached is between 3500m to 5600m. There will be several nights rest at above 4000m of altitude. You must have a decent level of fitness in order to embark on this trek.
Max Altitude:
4,090 m / 13,415.2 ft
Activity:
Sightseeing and High Altitude Trekking
Starts at:
Paro
Ends at:
Paro
Trip Route:
Paro - Jangchulakha - Simkotra - Phazoding - Thimphu - Paro
Best Season:
March, April, May, September, October & November
Trip Highlights
- Visit the landlocked kingdom of Bhutan.
- Tour the capital city of Bhutan – Thimphu.
- Do not miss the famous Paro Taktsang monastery commonly known as Tiger’s Nest.
- Reach Simkotra peak at 4,090 metres in altitude.
- Admire the stunning vistas of Mount Gangker Phuensum.
- Enjoy the striking scenery of Lake Jimilangtsho.
Trip Information
Druk Path Trek is among the easiest trekking routes in Bhutan, a sort of entry level in terms of Bhutan hiking, shorter and less demanding.
The fascinating Bhutan kingdom is amongst some of the most amazing treks in the world, and also with the extremes: Druk Path Trek the easiest and Snowman Trek the toughest (completed by fewer persons than those who have climbed the Everest).
The itinerary of Druk Path Trek follows an old trading route, passing through high altitude passes and connecting the valleys of Thimpu and Paro. You will encounter in your route splendid rhododendron forests, pine forests, alpine turquoise lakes and yak pastures.
The ruins of the ancient fortress Jele Dzong will pop up on your way, together with some high level passes, including Phume La positioned at 4,210 metres in altitude and Simkota Tsho at 4,110m. After that you will descend among juniper and pine forests to arrive in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. On your way back you will have the chance to admire various Buddhist monasteries among which Taktsang Monastery in the Paro Valley, Phadjoding and Tashichho dzong.
The famous Taktsang Monastery or Tiger’s Nest is the the world wide known symbol of Bhutan. It is perched on a rocky cliff at about 600 metres in altitude supervising the Paro Valley. The temple complex dates back to the 17th century and was constructed around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave, where the legendary saint Guru Padma Sambhava is said to have passed by in the 8th century three years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours meditating. Also, the legend informs that Padmasambhava appeared flying on the back of a tigress (that’s why the name Tiger’s Nest) to fight the demons who were resisting the proliferation of Buddhism inside the kingdom of Bhutan.
Padmasambhava is considered the parent of Buddhism in Bhutan and is a sacred kingdom.
The main attraction of this trek is, of course, the breathtaking Himalayan panoramas along the Tibet – Bhutan border and integrates peaks such as Gangkar Puensum 7,570m, Mount Jumolhari 7,314m and Jichu Drake 6,989m.
Itinerary
- Day 1 – Arrival at Paro Airport (2,280m). Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 2 – Day excursion from Paro to the Taktsang Monastery. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 3 – Trek from Paro to Jele Dzong (3,436m) – Distance: 8 kms – 5 hrs. Overnight at tented camps.
- Day 4 – Trek to Jangchulakha (3,962m) – Distance: 9 kms – 5 hrs. Overnight at tented camps.
- Day 5 –Trek to Jimilang Tsho ( 3,880m) – Distance: 10 kms – 6 hrs. Overnight at tented camps.
- Day 6 – Trek to Simkotra (4,090m) – Distance: 7 kms – 4 hrs. Overnight at tented camps.
- Day 7 – Trek to Thimphu via Phazoding – Distance: 14 kms – 7 hrs. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 8 – Drive from Thimphu to Paro. Overnight at a hotel.
- Day 9 – Departure from Paro (by Druk Air)
Day 1 - Arrival in Paro, at an altitude of 2,280 m
You will be welcomed by a Himalayan Steps representative at the Paro Airport and transferred to your hotel. Today you visit the National Museum, Paro Dzong and the shopping district of Paro.
Accommodation in hotel, with lunch and dinner.
Day 2 - Guided visit of Paro region
Today you are invited to visit the Tiger’s Nest or the Taktsang Monastery, considered by
many the symbol of Bhutan. This is a spectacular monastery placed on a spectacular spot. The visit to the monastery will take about five hours, after that you have spare time to relax.
Accommodation in hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 3 - 5 hours trek from Paro to arrive in Jele Dzong at an altitude of 3,436 m
A short trekking day, of about 8 km, that ascends gradually till you reach the campsite in the neighborhood of Jele Dzong. In the evening you can visit the monastery.
Accommodation in camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 4 - 5 hours hike to reach Jangchulakha, at an altitude of 3,962 m
The 9 km trail of today starts with a climb and after that gradually ascends among rhododendrons and alpine forests.
Accommodation in camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 5 - 6 hours trek to get to Jimilang Tsho, positioned at an altitude of 3,880 m
Today’s trekking route follows the ridge till reaching the Lake Jimilangtsho, and along the way will display beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains.
Accommodation in camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6 - 4 hour trek to arrive to Simkotra, at an altitude of 4,090 m
Your hike today drives your steps among rhododendron trees and next to the Janetsho Lake.
Accommodation in camping. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 7 - 7 hours trek to arrive in Thimphu via Phazoding
If the weather has nothing against, today you will observe the highest peak of Bhutan – Gangkhar Puensum. After a gradual climb in the beginning, the rest of the route is all descending, among juniper trees till the Phajoding monastery, and downhill till you arrive in Thimphu.
Accommodation in hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 8 - Drive from Thimphu to Paro
A tour of the Thimphu Valley in plan for today. Visit the National Library, Textile and Folk Heritage Museum, Traditional paper factory, Traditional Medicine Institute, National Memorial Chorten, Arts & Crafts School, Zilukha Nunnery, Handicrafts Emporium and Tashichho dzong.
Accommodation in hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 9 - Departure day
Your trip to Bhutan has already ended and today you will be transferred to the Paro Airport for your international flight.
Accommodation in hotel with breakfast included.
Price Includes:
- Pick up from and drop off at the hotel and the airport on a private tourist vehicle.
- Guided city tour in Paro by private tourist vehicle.
- Standard government-approved accommodation (in twin sharing rooms) for the duration of the tour.
- Full-board meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea & snacks – for the duration of your stay.
- Tented accommodation and equipment during the camping trek. (We will provide fully water proof two men tents, dining tents, kitchen gear, dining table, chairs, toilet tents, shower tent etc.)
- Drinking water for the duration of the tour.
- Country presentation and tour Briefing on the evening of Day1 with welcome drinks.
- Licensed English-speaking Bhutanese tour guides.
- The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage and camping equipment during the trek.
- Private transportation and a designated driver within Bhutan. Toyota 4WD luggage vans and light trucks for group travel. Luggage will be hauled by horses, mules or yaks at higher elevations.
- Monument and museums entrance fees for all sightseeing locations detailed in the itinerary.
- Cultural afternoon/evening sessions with traditional mask and folk dances (with beverages). Only for group tours.
- Bhutan visa fees and processing assistance.
- Government royalty (35% of $225), which goes to the country’s health and education projects.
- All trekking, route and monument access permits and fees.
- All government taxes, official expenses and tourist service charges.
Price Does not Include:
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. Depending on your budget, it may cost about USD 15 to USD 20 per person.
- International airfare and airport departure tax.
- Travel insurance which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
- Tips for trekking staff and driver (Tipping is expected).
- All items of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc.
- Others expenses not mentioned in the Price Includes section.
The information below has been created so that you can use this as a guide in understanding the necessary equipment, clothing, gear, medicines and miscellaneous items required for this trekking tour. This list is of a general nature and you may decide to add or remove some of these items, please make sure that you have enough clothing to maximize your comfortability whilst on the trek.
We will provide you with a porter and a duffel bag to support and carry your heavier belongings however we do recommend that you also bring your own daypack to carry your money, personal items and any important documents.
General
- 4 seasons Sleeping bag
- Duffel or Rucksack bag or suitcase
- Daypack
- Down Jacket
Upper Body – Head / Ears / Eyes
- Shade hat or baseball cap
- Warm wool or synthetic hat that cover your ears.
- Balaclava – lightweight, thinner variety.
- Glacier glasses-100% UV protection with side shields and a hard-sided storage case (i.e. Julbo or Cebe).
- Headlamp
- Some people like ear-muffs.
- A neck warmer (optional).
Hand
- 1 pair liner gloves, thin wool or synthetic, useful alone on mild days or as a layer inside other gloves / mitts for additional warmth.
- 1 pair warm gloves (heavier fleece or wool).
- 1 pair shell gloves or mitts; Gore-Tex is preferred for keeping hands dry.
- Instant hand warmers (optional).
Core Body
- T-shirts (2).
- Light and expedition weight thermal tops.
- Fleece jacket or pullover.
- Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional).
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket.
- 2 women sports bras, Synthetic, no cotton!
Lower Body – Legs
- 2 pairs nylon hiking shorts
- Underwear.
- 2 pairs lightweight long underwear – capilene or other synthetic.
- 1 pair soft shell pants – synthetic, full zip from top and bottom preferable.
- 2 pairs trekking pants, preferably that zip on/off at the knees so they double as shorts.
- 1 pair hard shell pants. Waterproof / breathable, Gore-Tex.
- 1 pair cotton pants (loose jeans/khakis).
- All clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture resistant plastic bags.
Feet
- 4 pairs of liner socks, synthetic or capilene.
- 3 pairs heavy weight socks to be worn over liner socks.
- 1 pair light weight socks, a good option for the lower / warmer parts of the trail.
- 1 pair light to medium weight water proof hiking/trekking boots.
- 1 pair light trekking shoes or sneakers.
- 1 pair hiking gaiters (Optional).
- 1 pair sandals (Optional).
Medicines and First Aid Kits
(Important: Our guide will already have a first aid kit which they bring with them however we also recommend that you bring some of these medicines with you in your daypack too.)
- Extra Strength Excedrin for altitude related headaches.
- Ibuprofen for general aches and pains.
- Immodium or Pepto bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Diamox (commonly prescribed as Acetazolamide) 125 or 250mg tablets for altitude sickness.
- 1 small personal sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as mole skin, band-aids, some waterproof tape, anti-infection ointments, etc.
Miscellaneous, but Important !
- Passport and extra passport photos (4 copies).
- Airline ticket
- Durable wallet / pouch for travel documents, money & passport.
- Lip balm. At least SPF 20, 2 sticks.
- Sunscreen. SPF 40.
- Pocket knife or small Swiss Army type.
- Water purification Iodine tablets or Polar-pure crystals.
- Toiletry kit. Be sure to include toilet paper stored in a plastic bag, hand wipes, and liquid hand sanitizer, towel, soap, etc.
- 2 bandanas.
Optional
- 1 pair adjustable trekking poles. (Optional).
- Favorite snack foods, no more than 2 pounds (Optional).
- Paperback books, cards, mp3 player (Optional).
- Binoculars (Optional).
- 1 light weight point & shoot camera or 1 large SLR. (Optional).
- Hydration bladder with drinking tube and tube insulator (Optional).
- A pee bottle for men and pee funnel for woman (Optional).
- 1 small stainless steel thermos (Optional).
Helpful Tip: For the majority of these items, clothing and equipment there are numerous different brands to choose from, we recommend that you buy most of these when you fly in to Bhutan if possible because this way it can be a lot cheaper for you. If you would like any specific suggestions, please ask and we can certainly recommend those for you.
Here's a few answers to most common Questions asked by the customers.
What type of fitness or shape do I need to be in? +
The Druk Path trek is physically possible for anyone that is of an average fitness level, there is no previous experience required. We generally recommend however that you train for up to a month in advance of your departure date and some of the activities you can do is walking or hiking, running or even better running on a treadmill at incline.
Alternatively swimming is a great choice too. Typically you should be doing at least one or a combination of these activities for an hour each time and roughly 3-4 times a week in the lead up to your trek in Bhutan.
Will somebody come to pick me up at the airport upon my arrival? +
Yes, one of our staff members will be waiting at the airport with a signboard ready to collect you once you arrive and from there we will transfer you by private vehicle to the hotel.
What are the types of accommodation can I expect in Paro, Thimpu and along the Druk Path trail? +
In Paro and thimpu, you can expect to stay in a standard room at a 3 star hotel which will include breakfast.
Whilst you are trekking you will be staying in tents within camping grounds. We do however recommend that you bring your own sleeping bag which you can take with you from home or alternatively rent/buy one in Paro before you go trekking. At the camp grounds, we will provide you with a selection of food and sometimes this will be eaten around a warm fire in a group setting.
When are the best seasons to go on this trek? +
The best times to go trekking in this region are from March-May and then from September-November each year.
Do I have to book my own international flights to and from Bhutan? +
Yes, you will need to book your own international flights between your hometown and Nepal. Himalayan Steps is a local tour operator and if the international flights were included, the cost for our tours would be substantially higher.
You will need to fly with Druk Air as this is the only airline that flies into Bhutan.
What is your cancellation policy? +
If you want to cancel your reserved tour, we may refund your fee payable to us minus a $150 cancellation fee (5000 INR for Indian Nationals). Himalayan Steps will not accept refunds for flights if we already booked your flight. In some cases we may reschedule your trip at no cost or with some cost if you provide us with 7 days advance notice.
We will not give any refunds if you finish the trekking earlier or later, or cancel your tour for medical or personal reason while trekking.
