Dur Hot Spring Trek

Day 1: Arrival at Paro International Airport

Fly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and other Druk airports to Paro Bhutan. One can have the breathtaking bird’s eye view of Himalayan Mountain and green valley of Paro. On arrival at Paro airport you will be received by a representative of Bhutan Tour Treks will send you to a Hotel where arrangements will be made for two nights halt.

Day 2: Paro Sightseeing

Beautiful Monuments can be seen at Paro. It includes Drugyel Dzong a ruined fortress having a great historical importance where Bhutanese finally defeated Tibetan invaders and drove them back. Others monuments include Dilgo Khyentshe’s temple, Kichu lhakhang built in 7th century, Dungtshe Lhakhang built by Lam Thongto Gyalpo who first introduced iron in Bhutan.  Take a break for lunch at the finest restaurant in the town. Visit National Museum housed in Ta Dzong which was used as watch tower during the time of Tibetan invasions and amazing Rimpung Dzong below the Ta Dzong. In the evening visit a farmhouse in a local village and take leisurely stroll around the town. Overnight stay and dinner in a hotel.

Day 3: Taktshang Hike, Paro- Thimphu

Your hike will be to Taktshang Monastery literally meaning Tiger’s Nest in local Language. It is located at 2000 ft/600 m at a steep Rock cliff. It is believed to be a place where Guru Rinpochoe flew on the back of Tiger and meditated there. The place is about 3 hours walk from the nearest road. Lunch and tea will be served in a tea house on the way with the majestic view of the Taktshang Monastery and Paro Valley.

Ponies will be arranged on request till the tea house which is about 2 hours walk from the nearest road. You may opt to further continue the trip from the tea house which is about 1 hour walk uphill. On return back to the road it would take about 1 and half hours to walk downhill. At this point driver will be waiting for you to proceed to Paro town and then continue to Thimphu which is about 1 and half hour drive along the Paro river downstream to the confluence with Wang Chhu then turn upstream along the Wang Chhu to Thimphu. Rest, dinner and overnight halt in a hotel.

Day 4: Thimphu, Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Thimphu includes Memorial Chorten built in the memory of our third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Buddha Statue at Kuensel Phodrang, Tashichho Dzong Administrative Secretariat with Monk Bodys’ living quarters, His Majesty the king’s Throne room and Office of Government Ministries are housed, National Library where ancient manuscripts are preserved, paintings and wood crafts schools where traditional arts are kept alive, indigenous hospitals, textile museum, handmade paper factory, folk heritage museum, Simtokha Dzong the first and oldest Dzong in Bhutan and other various Monastery around Thimphu.

Day 5: Thimphu – Punakha (about 75 km.)

Drive east across the Dochula pass (10000ft/3000m) that has beautiful view with 108 temples and a Monastery. On the clear day panoramic view of Himalayas and Gasa Dzong can be obtained. The road after the pass is routed down the hill through the varied and ever-changing forest and vegetation finally arriving at the settlement & farmlands area, low lying- sub-tropical Punakha and Wangdiphodrang valley. An easy walk across the paddy field for about 20 minutes to Chimmi lhakhang dedicated to Saint Drukpa Kuenley known as a divine madman. After Lunch drive to Punakha Dzong which is at the edge of confluence of two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu. Overnight stay and rest in a hotel.

Day 6: (Punakha – Bumthang) about 190 km.

Drive down the valley towards the Wangduephodrang town and visit Wangduephodrang Dzong located on a hillock that resembles a sleeping elephant. Continue the road to east with the changing and varying forest and vegetation as the road gradually winds to up way crossing Black Mountain at Pelela pass (11,152 ft). On a clear day mountain Chomolhari and valleys can be viewed from here. As we cross the Pelela pass and route down the hill, we reach Trongsa to have lunch there.

Continue the journey crossing Trongsa driving up the hill to reach another pass Yotogla at 11234 ft and then descend down into the valley of Chumey first village of Bumthang. As we move further, we got to cross Jakar central Bumthang to reach Chamkhar town. In the evening walk through the town of Chamkhar and Overnight halt and dinner in a Hotel.

Day 7: Bumthang Sightseeing

Bumthang is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the Country and known as Switzerland of Bhutan. Present royal families trace their ancestry back to a famous saint called Pemalingpa who was also a smith in Jakar. Sightseeing in Bumthang would include Jambay Lhakhang which was built in 7th century when Kichu Lhakhang at paro was built, Chakhar Temple (Iron castle), Kurjey Lhakhang, cross the suspension bridge over the Chamkhar River to visit Tamzhing Lhakhang, Kenchosum Lhakhang. Walk through the farm land to swiss farm area where your driver will be waiting for you to pick up for lunch in a hotel. After lunch visit to Jakar Dzong, Traditional Hospital, Lam Namkhai Nyingpo’s Monastery, and Membartsho (the burning Lake). Dinner and Overnight halt in a Hotel.

Day 8. Bumthang to Gorsum.

Your trek begins from here. After breakfast we drive to the starting point of the trek below Kurjey Lhakhang.  From Bumthang to Gorsum it is a gradual climb following the Chamkhar Chu, a river known for its wild trout.  (Altitude 3120 m, 18 km., 6 to 7 hours)

Day 9. Gorsum to Lungsum

Today’s trail leads through dense forest of spruce, hemlock, cypress, juniper and maple with a gradual ascent to the campsite (3160 m).  (12 kms, 5 hours)

Day 10. Lungsum to Tsochenchen

The vegetation is similar to the previous day, thinning out as we approach the campsite which is situated above the tree line (3100 m).  (15 km.)

Day 11: Tsochenchen to Dur Tsachu

From Tsochenchen we climb to the Juli La Pass (4700 m) from which there is a good view of the surrounding mountains on a clear day.  We descend 1300 meters to reach our campsite.  Musk deer, herds of blue sheep and Himalayan bears can sometimes be seen along the route.  (17 km., 7 hours)

Day 12. Rest day at Dur Tsachu (Hot Spring)

After late breakfast relax in the hot spring or explore the environments at your leisure.

Day 13. Dur Tsachu to Tsochenchen

The route from Dur Tsachu ascends till the Julila Pass and drop down till Tsochenchen. Overnight halt in camp.

Day 14 Tsochenchen to Gorsum

We make an early start to cover today’s leg of the journey which is a gradual descend.  (27 km., 9 hours)

Day 15. Gorsum to Bumthang

From Gorsum the trail descends gently to the bridge near Dur village where a vehicle will be waiting to take you to Bumthang to a hotel. Overnight halt in Hotel.

Day 16: Bumthang to Trongsa

Drive towards west back to Trongsa. It is about 3 hours to Trongsa passing Jakar, Chume valley and across Youtongla pass. In the afternoon visit huge and historical Trongsa Dzong (fortress). Trongsa Dzong is a rambling collection of buildings that trail down the ridge with remarkable street like corridors and wide stone stairs running down. It was from here that the present royal family emerged as the most powerful force at the beginning of this century.

The first two hereditary kings ruled the country from here and it is still a tradition that the crown prince first serves as the Trongsa Penlop before ascending to the throne. Also visit Ta Dzong (watch tower) which now houses the temple dedicated to Jigme Namgyel father of the first King of Bhutan. Your accommodations are planned in a Hotel in Trongsa.

Day 17: Trongsa – Thimphu

Today is a long drive of about 7 hours from Trongsa as you retrace back across the Mangde region with sights of terraced fields, spectacular landscapes, villages, vegetation with wild orchids and other wild flowers depending on the season. You should also be able to spot some yaks, yak herders as you cross the black mountains at Pelela pass and descend into the lush and warm Wangduephodrang. Then continue across Dochula pass to the capital city Thimphu. Overnight halt and dinner in a Hotel

Day 18: Thimphu sightseeing

Part of the Thimphu sightseeing which were not covered on Day 04 will be visited today. The remaining time of the day is free to do shopping or stroll. You can have option to stay in Thimphu tonight or proceed to Paro and stay there for tomorrow’s early morning flight

Day 19: Departure

Drive from Thimphu -Paro (2 hours) in time for your departure flight.