Phobjika Tour + Jomolhari, 14 days

Jomolhari peak from Chele-la pass
Tour & Trek Combined

Tour highlights

  • Half trekking, half cultural sightseeing tour
  • Moderately difficult and highly rewarding trek
  • Stunning views of Jomolhari peak
  • 4850 meters high Bonte-la pass
  • All sights of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue
  • Reaching till the pristine Phobjika valley
From: 
US$ 2970 / person ?
Dates: 
Flexible
 ?
# Itinerary Program
1 Arrival, drive to Thimphu Arrival by plane to Paro airport and drive to Thimphu. In case of arrival by land, cross border from India in Phuntsholing/Jaigon and ~5 hours drive to Thimphu. ➜ Stop at Tachog lhakhang to see traditional bridge made using ancient iron chains. ➜ After reaching Thimphu, drive to Changlimithang stadium to see the archery, traditional sport of Bhutan. Matches are going on from the morning to the evening! ➜ On working day, you might visit Postal Museum to learn about the colorful history of Bhutan's postal service. You can also have the stamps with your own face printed and send postcards to your friends and family back home! ➜ You might also like to see Khaja Throm market where residents make their grocery shopping and where you might try some snacks as well. ➜ Visit to Tashichho dzong castle, the seat of the king and government. ➜ Optionally celebrate arrival to Bhutan in famous Mojo Park music club or other popular venue. ➜ Day's program is subject to arrival time.
2 Thimphu Morning drive to Buddha Dordenma, the gigantic statue of Buddha overlooking the valley and walk to striking city viewpoint. ➜ Continue to wild animal sanctuary, where you can see the takin, famous national animal of Bhutan and other dwellers of Bhutanese forests. ➜ Drop to central Clock Tower square and walk in Norzin lam street to see the traffic police signaling on main junction. Thimphu is only capital in the world without the traffic lights. ➜ Finish walk at handicraft market where many interesting Bhutanese souvenirs can be seen and bought for reasonable price. ➜ Continue with visit to Folk Heritage Museum with the exhibition on traditional village life in Bhutan (closed on Sunday, alternatively visit Simply Bhutan museum). ➜ Go to hand paper factory where you can see production process as well as buy original products. Nearby traditional thangkha painting gallery is also worth of peeking in. ➜ Evening visit of historical Dechen Phodrang monastery, overlooking the Thimphu valley. From here you can also see monumental Tashichho dzong and other landmarks.
3 Thimphu – Gangtey Transfer to Wangdue Phrodang over Dochu-la pass (3010 m) with visit of royal temple Druk Wangyel lhakhang. In clear weather, you have good chances for panoramic views of mountains, including Gangkhar Phuensum (7570m), the highest mountain of Bhutan. ➜ Descend to tropical valley of Punatsang Chu river. Soon after lunch you will start driving up to the mountains again until you reach pristine Phobjika valley (2750 m). ➜ Optionally you can attend lesson on Buddhism led by accomplished master with translation to English in Gangtey monastery shedra (Buddhist college, subject to teacher availability, donation expected).
4 Gangtey – Punakha / Wangdue Visit of historical Gangtey gompa which is both symbolic and geographic heart of the valley and belongs to Nyingma, the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism. ➜ From there take 2.5-hour walking tour through the valley. This gentle hike is one of the Bhutan's most beautiful.You will go through the buckwheat and potato fields to the mixed forest with trees decorated with “old men's” beard lichen, and finally you will get a view of marshland. Here, in late autumn and winter, rare black neck cranes can be seen. ➜ If you are interested, you can also visit Black Neck Crane center to learn more about this elusive bird. ➜ Finish hike with the lunch in local farmhouse to taste local kitchen and other delicacies like the salty suja tea and the ara spirit. ➜ Drive back to Wangdue. ➜ If you’re early, you can visit rustic Rinchengang village.
5 Punakha / Wangdue – Paro Early morning short hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten with wonderful views of the valley and it’s terraced paddy fields. ➜ Optionally you can consider rafting on the Mo Chhu (easy) or Pho Chhu (thrilling) river. ➜ Continue with visit of Punakha dzong, dubbed as “Palace of the Great Happinnes” which counts as the most intricately decorated castle in the kingdom and used to be winter seat of the Bhutanese rulers. ➜ Short walk to Chhimmy lhakhang temple, devoted to the 15th century saint Drukpa Kunley, known as “Divine madman”, who allegedly taught Buddhism by singing, drinking and scandalous sexual exploits. Way to temple is perched by houses decorated with phallic symbols, as commemoration of the saint's antics. Temple is also known as fertility booster, attracting childless couples from all over the Bhutan and foreign countries as well. ➜ If time permits, also visit Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang nunnery with Bhutanese and Nepali style stupa, overlooking the valley from the high hill. ➜ Afternoon drive to Paro.
6 Paro – Gunitsawa Morning visit of Kyichu lhakhang, the temple built in 8th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Climb to Taktsang gompa (Tiger's Nest), most venerated and holy place in Bhutan overlooking valley from the steep cliff. ➜ After lunch drive to Drukyel dzong. This used to be a place where the trek started before. See ruins of the old dzong (castle) and continue further to military camp of Gunitsawa on the new built road. ➜ Possibility to make detour to Lhadi Gompa just before military camp. First night camping just above military camp at the elevation of 2890 m.
7 Trek: Gunitsawa – Thangthangkha Trek 16 km, 7-8 hours, ➚ 770 m, ➘ 10 m, camp altitude 3610 m. ➜ On this long day there are a lot of up and downs, mostly through the forest along the Paro chhu river. Finally, you will reach to large chorten on the junction, where you will need take trail to the left. ➜ After about half hour, you will reach to Thangthangtha campsite. The place is equipped with dilapidated toilets, kitchen house, and caretaker's dwelling. If weather permits, you might glimpse the first great view of Jomolhari, best photographed right from the toilets. Camp is cold, and it gets dark early.
8 Trek: Thangthangkha – Jangothang Trek 10 km, 5-6 hours, ➚ 480 m, camp altitude 4,080 m. ➜ If you did not see Jomolhari peak in the evening, you still have a chance to get a great view this morning. ➜ The trek continues up the Paro chhu valley which widens into patches of alpine meadow and scanty growths of forest. You will cross an army checkpoint along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. In this area yaks and their herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. ➜ Passing the villages Soe, Takethang, and Dangochang is another asset on this day. ➜ After reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, you can enjoy most spectacular view of Jomolhari over the ruins of ancient temple or fortress.
9 Halt: Jangothang Enjoy the sunrise and first rays of sun on the majestic Jomolhari mountain. Calling Jangothang one of the most beautiful campsites in the Himalayas is no exaggeration! ➜ Today, you will be hiking to higher altitude to Jomolhari and Jichu Drake peaks viewpoint above the campsite. Hike offers spectacular panoramic views and on top of that it will help you to acclimatize to high altitude. The hike takes a bit more than half a day. ➜ Rest day would be better spent relaxing in camp or around as too much of exercise is not good for your acclimatization.
10 Trek: Jangothang – Chore (Dhumzo) Trek 16 km, 6-7 hours, ➚ 810 m, ➘ 1090 m, crossing Bonte-la (4890 m), camp altitude 3,800 m. ➜ Start steep climb of 300 m in a short distance. After strenuous climb, you will be rewarded with flat or mildly ascending path around beautiful lakes. The views of Jomolhari and Jiychu Drake are breathtaking. ➜ Continue ascent to Bonte-la pass. It's quite likely, that there will be some mild snow here. ➜ After crossing the pass with prayer flags, it will take about 3-4 hours descending through steep gully to Soi Yaksa valley.
11 Trek: Chore (Dhumzo) – Thombu shong Trek 11 km, 4-5 hours, ➚ 720 m, ➘ 340 m, camping at 4120 m. ➜ Climb through the rhododendron forest and along the ruins of the old castle monastery Sey Dzong to Tagulung-la pass (4,540 m). From the summit, you can have a spectacular view of the Jomolhari, Jichu Drake, and even Kanchenjunga and Makalu peaks in great distance to the west. ➜ After some walk you descend to the Thombu valley, the last camp of the trek.
12 Trek: Thombu shong – Gunitsawa, drive to Paro Trek 15 km, 5-6 hours, ➚ 150 m, ➘ 1380 m. ➜ Short and steep climb through rhododendron bushes to the summit of Thombu la pass (4270 m) and continue on the ridge with great views of surrounding and distant mountains. ➜ Shortly after you start descending steeply for about 2-3 hours until you reach the military camp of Gunitsawa, where the whole trek started. From here you'll drive to Paro for hotel accommodation.
13 Paro Visit of National museum of Bhutan and Paro dzong, castle where Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha film was shot. ➜ You can spend afternoon in leisure, or you can drive to Chele la pass (3,800 m) from where you will get splendid views of Jomolhari and Kanchenjunga peaks in good weather conditions. ➜ Also you can make interesting hike through the mixed alpine forest from the pass to Kila Gompa, the oldest nunnery in Bhutan.
14 Departure Depart from Paro airport by flight or 6 hours drive to land border in Phuntsholing.
Tour variants, extensions and combinations: 
  • Gasa Hot springs (+1 or 2 days): Gasa is highland region north of Punakha, just recently connected by road. Apart from beautiful dzong and vistas of nearby high peaks, you can enjoy the natural hot springs, so called "tsachu". There is number of pools with different temperatures. Water is sulfurous and it's believed it's beneficial for number of skin ailments. It's great relax in luxurious pools anyway. Additional experience can be spending overnight here in local farmhouse to try authentic Bhutanese hospitality.
  • Skip the rest day at the tour end (-1 day): And make tour one day shorter and more affordable.
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