Jhomolhari Trek

Today we discover the highlights of Kathmandu and the valley. We adapt the programm to your interests and desires and what you have seen before. Usually, we go to Pashupatinath on the bank of the Bagmati River, where the most important Hindu temples and burning ghats of Nepal are situated. In Boudhanath we circumambulate together with Tibetan and Nepali Buddhist pilgrims the whitewashed stupa. Our sightseeing usually ends in Patan, the city of Beauty, an astonishing center of fine art and Buddhist and Hindu culture. Overnight in hotel.

Flight to Paro with Druk Air. With beautiful weather you enjoy beautiful views over the Himalaya range including Mount Everest. On arrival in the charming town of Paro (2 250 m), you will be received by your guide and being transferred to your hotel. After refreshing we visit the Ta-Dzong which was originally built as watch tower for the dzong. After its renovation in 1968 the building was converted to National Museum of Bhutan. The National Museum has over 3 000 works of Bhutanese art covering more than 1 500 years of Bhutan’s cultural heritage in its possession. After we visit the Paro Dzong or Rimpung Dzong (Fotress of the heap of Jewels) which has a long and fascinating history and is known as one the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. The dzong was built in 1645 AD and is currently used as district administration and home for the monastic bodies. Before entering the Dzong we cross the picturesque traditional cantilever bridge, locally known as Nemi Zam. In the evening we stroll around Paro’s lively town with colorfully painted wooden shops, restaurants and bakeries. Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast we make a 5 hour long excursion to Taktshsang monastery which is one of the Bhutan’s most revered monuments. We climb for 2 hours through to blue pines to reach the Tigers Nest. The monastery hangs miraculously on a cliff 900 meters above the Paro valley floor. The legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew from Singye Dzong in Kurtoe on a mythical tigress to subdue a local demon named Singey Samdrup. Before bringing Buddhism to Bhutan he meditated 3 years in the caves of Taktshang. After visiting the Tigers you return to your hotel for lunch and you enjoy free time in Paro.

Arrive into the Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan via Druk Air. Escort by our guide and transfer into a hotel. After Lunch we will hike for about 4 hours to Taktsang Monastry which was built around the cave where Guru Rimpoche mediated. The monastery clings on a cliff of rocks at about 914 meters above the valley floor. Then in the evening we will celebrate the night with welcome dinner.

After breakfast, visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong(2580m) with a short drive down hill to reach Mit-tshe Zam from where we usually start our trek following the river at 2500 meter But now the farm road is up to Gunitshawa, we will drive passing through beautiful small villages, apple orchards and farm houses. The drive takes you through narrow cultivated valley of Gunitshawa (2810m) with a school, crossing the army base camp and reach you at Sharna Zampa. At Gunitshawa you are required to report to the army personals. The trek permit will be checked and endorsed here. All these formalities will be done by your guide while you refresh and hang around with the views. The night will be at Shana (2850m) which is about 17 KM from Drugyel Dzong.

After breakfast, start our trek to reach our destination Thang-Thangkha which is about 22Km. We will cross the old traditional bridge and a village, walking under the shades of trees rhododendron and the conifer forests, breathing in the fresh and thin air of the Himalayas with the birds singing over head to entertain our guests. We have to cross lots of small streams, climbing gently on the hills to reach Shing-Karap, a stone house with a shop at 3110m. The lunch will be served here. After Lunch we will not feel the long and hard walks with lots of up’s and down. We will also come across the white chorten with a log bridge but we will not follow. Then we will follow trail to reach Thang-Thanka where we can see jhomolhari Mountain. And we will halt the night.

After breakfast our destination is at Jango-Thang ( Base camp of Johomolhari) which is 19 Km from Thang- Thangthangkha and is about 4000 meters. We will cross the army camps of the Indian Militia as well as the Bhutan Militia. The lunch is served in thse areas. On the way you will catch the view of high ridges, feeder streams (clean mountain spring water), water- falls. After crossing a white chorten you will enjoy the beautiful valley of Soi (3940m) where you will find a Basic health Unit, a school and some government representative offices. We will walk further to reach Jango-Thang at the camp.

Halt at Jango-Thang ( Jhomolhari Base Camp) Enjoy the beauty of Jhomolhari Mountain. Mingle up with the local people of Soi and talk about the happy mountainous life.(Gross National Happiness). We will also make a day hike, that is 3-4 hour excursion up the ridge to the north of the camp. Ridge is endless, but after an hour of climbing there is a good view of Jichu Drakey, although the upper part of the ridge blocks the view of Jhomolhari unless you continue to climb 4750m. We can also trek up the main valley towards Jichu Drakey or walk in the direction of Jhomolhari which leads to the foot of the mountain. And the other alternative is the fishing expedition to Tshophu, a high altitude lake.

We start our trek towards Lingshi. This journey is the toughest journey. The trek starts from the plains of Jango-Thang, cross the swift flowing streams and the stone houses and then climbs up the swampy path. We will cross the bridge and then walk uphills. As we travel we will find Jichu Drakey and Johmolhari Mountain towering above the Jango-Thang. AT 4470m the trail pass through the big rocks entering the glacial valley at east west. We will find the dwarf Juniper bushes, blue ship on the hillside and the marmots darting into their burrows and the yak herders camp. As we move upward we will meet with the marble route at 4870m. The Nyele la pass is one of the toughest pass which is very windy and breezy with cold air of the Nyele-la pass which is 4800 meters. We will refresh ourselves here climbing on the tip of the marble mountain. We will continue our journey descending the marble slope to a stream on the valley floor at 4450m. The mountain flowers will surround us and it is an excellent place to stop for Lunch.

The trail now travels north along the side hill high above the valley floor. We can see the army camps down the river, Jichu Drakey Mountain, Tsherim Kang Mountain and Lingshi Dzong on the top of a ridge in a distance at 4360m. Again trail descends steeply into the large Jaje Chu valley passing through the shades of rhododendron. The camp is at Chha Shi Thang near a large community at 4010m.

Halt at Lingshi by Visit Lingshi Dzong which was built in 1668 by the 3rd Desi Chogyel Menjur Tempa, to commemorate Victory over a Tibetan Invasion. Then we will have an excursion to Tshokha (15 Km ) the base camp at Jitchu Drakey and Tsherim mountain. We will also concern over the cremation ground. Visit the Jha Gyoe Dzong. It is very religiouse because Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel meditated when he first came to Bhutan. It is located at 4340 meters away from Gang-Yul valleys.

After breakfast we start with our journey turning south up the deep Mochu valley.The trail is from the west side treeless valley, climbing steadily and crossing many streams. About three hours from the camp we will come across Mo-chhu which has many channels without a bridge. The trail climbs steeply upwards through rocks to a large cairn top Yeli-la at 4920m. From the pass we can see the Jhomolhare, Tsherim Kang and Gangchhenta. It will be followed by a steep descent passing a small lake at 4830m descending into another huge valley and another large lake at 4720m. Then we will reach Jaradinthang Chhu and descends along the valley following the river south wards. After crossing a log bridge at 4340m, we will find a white chorten at 4150m where it turns east wards towards the upper Wang-chhu valley. Descending and crossing to the south bank of the wangchu on a log bridge the trail takes takes us through a narrow ans sandy slope to a camping area at Sodhu at 4080m.

The trail traverse under a steep yellow cliff cliffs with a few meditation caves carved into them. It is believed that Zhabdrung mediated in these caves. After descending a steep stone staircase we will cross a log bridge at 3870m. The trail crosses a same river 5 time sloping through the muddy cypress forests. The route takes almost one hour to reach Barshong where you will see the dilapidated community hall and the ruins of small dzongs and we will camp at 3710m.

Trail descends gently through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch and conifers and drops steeply on a rocky trail to meet Wang-chhu. After 30 minutes walk we will reach Ta Gume Thang (waiting for horses) at 3370m. Stay on the river left, climbing over ridges and descending along the river at 3340m. After 30 minutes descend we will reach to Do-Lam Kencho where there is a camp site at 3320m. we will continue our journey by staying on the left hand trail. We will descend and travel through bamboo forest along a rocky stream bed and the trail takes us to the Wang-chhu at 2720m. It is then 15 minutes walk south along a rocky route to the road head at Dodena at 2640m opposite of the bridge that leads to Chari Gomba. From there we will be received in a car and take us to the hotel in Thimphu for the night. If the time permits we will have sightseeing in Thimphu.

Early morning we will drive to paro for departure. Bid farewell to each other.