Overview
Bumdra Trek is a short hiking package along with cultural tours of primarily of the city of Paro in Bhutan having a five day and four night itinerary plan.
Primarily the Bumdra trek, besides the cultural side of the trek to Bumdra, takes you to the hills above the city of Paro known as Bumdra. Bumdra is at the top of a hill, nearly 4,300 meters above sea level. The top consists of a 17th-century temple and a meditation cave. The trail to the top through a stiff climb over a smooth upward trail, passes through some of the most wonderful views to be had of Oak and rhododendron trees. At the top, where you camp for the night, you get wonderful views of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks to the north with misty clouds floating between them. Besides, the summit, trail to the top, go along some of the finest ridgelines, giving you the look of the valley below you of meadows, wildflowers and an assortment of flora and fauna native to that part of the world.
The country in which the trek to Bumdra happens in Bhutan is a country that lies in the Himalayan Region with the territories of India to the west, south and east and that of the autonomous region of Tibet to the north, making it a landlocked country. It is a country that has evolved using Buddhism which is showcased in every aspect of it, whether it is socially, historically, traditionally, or religiously. So much so, that the cultural part of the Bumdra trek will bring this into the highlight. Plus the trek in Bumdra will also showcase another important part of Bhutanese heritage of being the only country with a negative carbon rating all because of keeping its forest intact. It has over sixty percent of its landmass covered by forestation and the remaining is used for sustainable agricultural practices. This is what will be noticeable understood on your hike up to Bumdra.
There are quite a few important aspect of this Bumdra trek besides the trek to the top, where the trail up takes you through some of the best woodlands to be had. The top of the hill also gives you panoramic views of not only snow-capped mountain peaks, but of the magnificent landscape below in the valley. The top has a temple and a meditating cave which has been used from time immemorial by lamas and others to meditate. This is only one part to the hike to Bumdra, the other is you are at a point which overlooks the most important Monastery of the land, the Taktsang Monastery which is against a vertical cliff at nearly 3,000 metres high. This monastery, you will be visiting in the cultural part of the hike. It is believed that the Guru Rinpoche came flying there on the back of a tigress just to meditate. The cultural part of the hike in Bumdra also takes you to some dzongs (fortresses) worth of note that were built in historical times and served as the defence of the country when needed. Then there are some shrines which you will get to visit bringing a close to this Bumdra hike, just to fly out by the national carrier which also brings you in over the most astonishing terrain of snow-capped mountain peaks of the high Himalayan mounts to the north and lush green hills below which has valleys with fast flowing rivers and gorges cut into them.
Is this a difficult trek?
Yes, to a certain extent as the hike to the top is a constant climb to Bumdra hill top. Yes, you would need to have the general fitness which calls for walking you a trail that goes only upwards, but then on the return way, it is only down. Plus the other parts of the itinerary plan, is mostly visits to culturally important places, so it would not be that telling on the body. The hard part of the hike is made up by what you see on the trek which takes away most of the physic toll on the body.
Outline Trekking Itinerary for Bumdra Trek
Day 1: Arrive Paro (2,250m) – Sightseeing
Day 2: Drive to Sangchen Chokhor & trek to Bumdra (3,800m)
Day 3: Day excursion (Ridge Hike) in Bumdra (3,800m)
Day 4: Trek back to Paro via Taktsang Monastery (3,120m)
Day 5: Depart Paro
Trip Highlights
- Witness the world’s highest mountains during the flight to the lush green Paro Valley.
- Explore Paro town with guided city tour.
- Carry easy hike into the Bumdra region.
- Hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’ perched in a vertical cliff.
- Discover age-old Bhutanese culture and traditions.
- Witness spectacular panoramic views of the Bhutanese landscape and snow-capped mountains.
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