Days 01 : 

ARRIVE PARO BY DRUK AIR
Your journey to Bhutan begins from Paro arrival by Druk air, Bhutan’s National airline arriving to Paro Valley before noon. If you are lucky, you will have a glorious view of the Snowcapped Himalayas including Everest, the icon of the Himalayan range. The remarkable and steep descent into the Paro valley is an awe-inspiring beginning to an adventure of a lifetime with its transparent purity of the air and its absorbing serenity. Paro retains its bucolic nature in spite of the existence of development projects. Fields of green covers most of the valley floor while hamlets and isolated farms dot the landscape. After visa formalities and collection of baggage, you will meet the representative from Phuntshokling Adventure. We will drive through Paro valley to your hotel and have some lunch at the hotel. Afternoon we will drive to visit the National Museum, located juts above Paro Dzong’s, a 17th-century watchtower. The building itself boasts an unusual shape said to resemble a conch shell. The National Museum has a fine collection of old Thangkha paintings and textiles, ancient weapons, and Bhutanese artifacts, which will shed further light to some of things that you will be seeing on your trip. Thereafter we will drive to visit Paro Dzong built in 1646, which houses the administrative center of the Paro district and religious institute for monks. Then you will walk down to the coach crossing over the traditional wooden covered bridge called Nymezampa which spans the Paro River and then drive to take a walk through Paro’s main street to interact with the local people and visit small shops occupying the ground levels that provides the basic necessities. Return to your hotel for welcome Dinner. Overnight: Hotel.

Days 02 :

Paro Taktsang Excursion
This morning will be a very special day, with an excursion to visit the spectacular Taktsang (Tiger Nest), monastery. After breakfast we take a short drive to the north of Paro Valley to Ramthankha, from where we start our hike to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of tress festooned with Spanish moss and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Visitors are permitted to hike up to the viewpoint from where you can see the monastery hanging on a cliff. We will obtain a special permit to allow you to visit the monastery. Legend has it that Guru Rimpoche, founder of Buddhism flew from Eastern Bhutan on a tigress, bringing Buddhist teachings and meditated here in this cliff. This is one of the most venerated and sacred of all Buddhist sights around the world. We can arrange a horse ridding till the cafeteria, if you feel that you would prefer to have take are horse ride. After visiting the monastery, we will walk down to Taktsang cafeteria for lunch. Finally on time availability, we will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest and most sacred monasteries dating from the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century. Dinner and Overnight: Hotel

DRUK PATH TREK DESCRIPTION
This is a short, with lot of variations, beautiful nature and nice views of towering snowy peaks, isolated Dongs (fortress), monasteries and wonderful lakes teeming fish. This trek takes 4 or 5 days, which leads from Paro to Thimphu or vice versa, crossing the chain of mountains that separates the two valleys. It is one of the popular trekking routes in Bhutan due to the location close to Paro and Thimphu and also it is not a long trek. The area is famous for its spectacular rhododendron forests which bloom in May. In the clear weather of late autumn and winter there are views across to the Himalayas

Days 03 :

Paro by car to the National museum (8036ft / 2450m) to campsite below Jele Dzong (11, 270ft)
Time: 4-5 hours Distance: 5 miles / 8 km Altitude gain: 3503ft /1068 Altitude: 269ft /82 At the museum you will meet your trekking staff, the horsemen and pack animals. At the start of the Trek, the trek crew takes some times to get organized, so you can continue your hike and the luggage will be undoubtedly behind with you. The trail winds its way through blue pine forest and around several farmhouses and fenced apple orchards and crosses a dusty road used during the apple harvest. The Damchena (9510ft/2900m) marks the end of dusty road, near the big the big stone.

After walking for 1hr or so of steady climbing there will be nice views over the Paro valley. The Jele Dzong is visible above, located on the top the ridge. At 9825ft / 2995m, after 1 -2 hrs of hiking, the route passes a long main wall in an open flat meadow. Near here, the route joins one coming from Damji on the east side the Do Chu at 7544ft, 2300m. Climb steeply up now through blue pine, fir and bamboo, around 3235m hemlock trees, over 600 years old, over shadows the trail.

The trail continues steeply up through the forest just before (11, 540ft/ 3518m) just below before reaching the Dzong, the route opens a bit, there many be some yaks with the herders and dogs. Tonight small camp site (11,270ft /3436m) is little way down from the pass. You can hear the monks playing instruments in the Lhagkhang during one of their prayers sessions.

Jele Dzong, It is an impressive fort located impressively on a hill, surrounded by many prayers flags. The views are great looking towards the Paro far below, while in the far distance stand snowy peaks mountains on the border with Tibet, including Jomolhari (23,995ft /7314m) in the center. It houses a religious institute for monks and you can pay a visit to the Dzong.

Days 04 :

Campsite just below Jele Dzong (11,270ft/3436m) to Jimgelangtsho (12,726ft/3880m)
Time: 6-7 hrs, Distance 14 Kms, Altitude Gain 17526ft /580m) Altitude loss 965ft / 295m)
Today it is a hard day with lot of walking distance and also with the altitude again. You need to start it early from the camp. After crossing the Dzong, you will walk north for about 10 m on the ridge, with beautiful view before disappearing into forest, which looks rather bleak as a result of damage by bark beetles. Cross over the easterly side of the ridge and go up around the small peak, a steep 110m ascent to an altitude of 12,300ft /3750m). Looking back you see part of Paro valley and the large Do Chu side of valley. To the south, the Dagala range is visible. After about three hours you will reach to a possible camp site Janchu Lakha, 12 365ft /3370m). After another 1hr climb, you will reach to Tshokam (12,995ft /3962m) just after the small saddle, another better campsite; you will have your packed lunch. Thereafter your walk will follow along the ridge, offers more stunning views of the mountains or you can take route going down the base to through the alpine forest to Janey Tsho. If you are following the trail along the ridge, you will climb gently for several hours to reach a small pass at about 13,350/4070m). The trail has loose stones, so watch your step. Continue further along the ridge, to the next small pass with the view of Jomolhari peak and down below several monasteries are visible at the far end of the valley, Gensakha Gompa, Sharadango Gompa towards the north and Ragyo Chiwokha Gompa.

Opposite side, there is a view of Jimilangtsho. Two possible trails lead to the large sacred lake Jigmilangtsho (Bemilangtsho). The higher trail is a more challenging loop and can be over grown. At the side lake there is good camp site;

Days 05 :

Jimilangtsho 12, 726ft /3380m) to Simikota Tsho (13,415ft / 490m)
This morning the trail climbs through bushes but later you will have a good views will open up. The exposed cliff trail leads to a small saddle and from here you will see the nest lake Janey Tsho 12,975ft /3956m). From the lake a wide open stone path between rhododendrons bushes traverses a valley with a small lake below. Climb up a ridge and after 1hr of walking you will reach at a viewing point (13,610 /4150m) you will see Simikota Lake (13, 410ft /4090), which has some stones ruins nearby. This is tonight’s campsite.

Days 06 :

Simikota Tsho (13, 415ft /4090m) - Phajoding 12, 103ft/ 3690m)
Time: 4 -5 hrs, Distance 5 miles/ 10kms, Altitude Gain: 755ft/ 230m) to the view point: Altitude Loss: 1330ft / 405m) to Phajoding for 4190ft/277m radio tower)

The trail begins with gradual climb passing over around seven minor passes before you finally look down to Phajoding and Thimphu valley. When climbing up pass number five _ Thujedra, Gangkhar Puensum becomes visible. If you are lucky with the weather, the other Himalayan peaks can be seen. From the pass, climb 250m up to the small rocky outlook on the left side. It is covered with flags and there are traces of fires on the top. This place was used for sky burials and has an incredible view over the whole of Bhutan Himalayas. After this excursion descend a little, then climb to pass number six (13,515ft/ 4120). The final pass is Dochula (13,430ft /4095m) and it is very windy. There is a good view over the last part of the trek, as steep descent to Phajoding monastery. Camping at Phajoding (12100ft/3690m is definitely worthwhile.

Togden Pajo, Tibetan yogi is looking for a place for mediation, found the site in the 13th century. Most of the buildings were constructed by 9th Jey Khenpo Shakya Rinchen, in the first half on the 18th century. The 16th Jey Khenpo was also involved in some of the buildings; King’s secretary has donated money for one of the more recent temples, built in honour of Guru Padma Sambava. Phajoding is not just one complex, the many buildings spread out over the mountainside includes Lhakhangs/ gompas, monks quarters and numerous mediation centers. You can also visit the several monasteries.

Days 07 :

Phajoding (12,103ft/3690m) to radio tower (9245ft /2818m) / Thimphu
Time 3- 4 hrs, Distance 4 miles / 8 kms Altitude loss (2860ft /872m)
This morning the trail to Thimphu is all the way down hill through a forested area of mostly Blue pine. By taking leisurely pace you can reach Thimphu in about 3 hours for a nice hot shower and lunch at the hotel. Late afternoon free time explore in Thimphu town. Overnight: Hotel

Days 08 :

Thimphu Valley Sightseeing
This morning you will visit the following places of cultural interest.

In the morning you will visit the National Memorial Chorten with its golden spines shining in the sun, its tinkling bells built in honour of third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The inside paintings and statues provide a very rare insights into Buddhist Philosophy in all its complexity of tantric Buddhism. This Chorten is centrally located and you will see an endless procession of elderly people circling around it.

Textiles Museum, co- founded by Mrs Bill Gates featuring old Bhutanese Textiles and artifacts from the various regions and tribes of Bhutan.

The Folk and Heritage Museum: lets you experience the Bhutanese rural way of living through an exhibitions of items and artifacts used in households. The principal exhibit is the museum building itself which is a resorted three storey traditional rammed mud and timber house.

The Arts and Craft Institute: This is a vocational training institute, where traditional techniques of drawing, paintings, calligraphy, embroidery, weaving, wood carving and sculpturing are taught to students with the objective of preserving the rich and pristine heritage.

The Indigenous Hospital: The hospital manufactures traditional medicines from various raw materials collected from varying altitudes within the country.

Afternoon we will drive to Sangjay Gang to have a “Birds Eye View” of Thimphu valley and en-route visit the mini zoo to see the National Animal “Takin”, we drive to Sangjay Gang to have a “Birds Eye View” of Thimphu valley and en-route visit the zoo to see the National Animal “Takin”, and then we will visit the Drubthob Gompa Nunnery: Nuns with sport short hair, who play a vital role in the religious affairs of the local communities. Then drive onto Tashicho Dzong, the main secretariat which houses the summer residence of the central monk body and main seat of government. Its majestic architecture in finely balanced proportions is complemented by artistic decorations and paintings. Dinner and Overnight: Hotel

Days 09 :

Morning Thimphu Sightseeing
This morning you will drive to north of Thimphu valley to see the country side and hike about an hour to Tango monastery, a Buddhist college for monks. You will visit the monastery and have an opportunity to interact with the monks at the monastery. Lunch will one of the local restaurant in Thimphu. Afternoon you will have free to do your last shopping for souvenirs and late afternoon we will depart for Paro, drive take around 2 hours. Drive about an hour from you will reach at the confluence of Thimphu and Paro, at the confluence; you will see three forms of Chortens in different styles i.e. Nepalese, Tibetan and Bhutanese. River. After crossing confluence, you will view Tachogang monastery, “the temple of excellent horse” built by Thangthong Gyalpo (Iron chain builder in Bhutan and pass through the village of Shaba and Bondey and finally to your Paro valley. Evening at leisure. Fare well Dinner and Overnight: Hotel.

Days 10 :

Departure
Drive to Paro Airport for your onward flight.