Druk Path Trek

9 Days

Overview

Druk Path Trek is a trek along with a cultural sightseeing tour which is done in the Kingdom of Bhutan where you trek for a number of days in the spectacular countryside and when it is done, you spend few days sightseeing the cultural side of what the country has to offer all in a matter of just ten days.

Bhutan, besides having a well-developed cultural side to it, it also has some fabulous trekking routes in the country. Druk Path Trek happens to be one of them but on the shorter side. For the longer trekking routes, please check these packages out like Bumthang Cultural Trek Gangtey Valley Trek Jomolhari Circuit Trek. What makes the trek on Druk Path all the more fascinating or any of the other is, that it is done in a cultural sound environment where nature is a large part of the country. The Druk Path Trek takes you through natural vegetation, having its own forms. Plus the trails pass by some villages, which give you what life is like in the Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan on the rural side. In addition to this, your pass through and visit some places of cultural value while on the trek and pass by or stop at alpine lakes while you are trekking. Some might be old monasteries, other Dzongs (fortresses), or some caves in which people once meditated or still do. When the trek is over in a period of six days, the remaining days you are taken on a cultural tour of learning why Bhutan is such a culturally and traditionally a fantastic place when it comes to it.

Bhutan, the country in which you take the Druk Path Trek, is a country, which lies in the Himalayan Mountain almost completely. It is bound by India on the east, south and west with the autonomous region to the north. It is a Buddhist country with a wonderful cultural side to it which is manifested in whatever you see while in the country. Plus Bhutan is the only country in the world with a negative carbon rating as it has over sixty percent of the land forested and the remaining is used in a sustainable way for agriculture. All this stems from the fact that it follows the principles of Buddhism adherently. Plus, it is the only country that has an economic measurement of gross domestic happiness in contrast to other countries around the world being gross domestic production. As you will notice while in the country doing the Druk Path Trek, that all seems to be well with the system and because of this, it is able to provide a good cultural outlook and a pristine environment for any form of healthy outdoor activity such as the trek called Druk Path.

Trekking in the wonderful country of Bhutan as in this Druk Path Trek obviously brings with it memories and photographs for one to cherish. The foremost being, your entry into the Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan, accidentally given the name from the distance thunder hear in the country, rather than dragons being in reality, by the National Carrier of the country along some of the breath-taking Himalayan Mountain scenes of snow-capped covered mountains and lush rolling hills and valleys that have fast flowing rivers and gorges in them. Then comes the trek, which is of about six days, but in those six days, you are taken to places like Jele Dzong, Jangchulakha, Jimilangtsho, Simkotra and Phajoding. Jele Dzong is got to bypassing farmhouses and from the top, one gets a bird-eye view of the Paro valley below and allows you the privilege of seeing what a Dzong was from the ruins of this once fortress. On the way to Jangchulakha you are taken through some of the most eye catching forests. Jimilangtsho just allows the mountains to take your breath away while on the way. Simkotra allows you to get a firsthand taste of nomads on the path with their herds of yak. And, finally it Phajoding, which from its elevated standpoint, gives you a peep into the Thimphu Valley where you would head soon. The next three days of culture will take you across, Dzongs, Temples, Monasteries and Shrines all portraying the best of what Bhutan on your Druk Path trek has to offer, making you wish, that you could spend a long time here and just as well you might be checking out either Bhutan Tour Packages or the Bhutan Trekking Packages we have on offer.

How difficult are treks in Bhutan?
Since Bhutan is a Mountainous country, obviously the trekking routes will be mostly ascending and descend, some moderate gradients and some quite steep. They are made in such a way, that you climb sharply and descend comfortably. Anybody, in proper physical condition with not much walking experience, will be able to do the daily hiking trips some with a bit of difficulty and others quite moderately. The best part of them, however difficult they might seem, they are ameliorated by the scenery one gets on any given day which takes away the pains of walking. You feel better at the end of the trek. The air is pure which cleanses the soul.

Outline Trekking Itinerary for Druk Path Trek
Day 1: Arrival Paro (2,250m)
Day 2: Paro – Trek to Jele Dzong (3,450m)
Day 3: Trek from Jele Dzong to Jangchulakha (3,780m)
Day 4: Trek from Jangchulakha to Jimilangtso (3,880m)
Day 5: Trek from Jimilangtso to Simkota (4,040m)
Day 6: Trek from Simkota to Phajoding (3,690m)
Day 7: Trek from Phajoding to Thimphu (2,350m)
Day 8: Thimphu- Paro & hike to Taktsang Monastery (3,120m)
Day 9: Depart Bhutan

Trip Highlights

  • Traverse beautiful landscapes from lush valleys to dense forests and snow capped mountains.
  • Experience Bhutan’s unique culture up-close with farmhouse visits and village excursions.
  • Spend time Marvelling at the ancient wall paintings and carvings in Dzongs and temples.
  • Discover some of the most sacred Buddhist monasteries and temples in the Himalaya.
  • Visit many cultural attractions including medieval fortresses (Dzongs), markets and museums.
  • Hike up to the famous Taktsang Monastery, perched on a cliff 900m above the valley floor.

Itinerary

Today, you arrive at Paro after a breath-taking flight aboard the National Carrier of the country. You will then be greeted by the staff of your trekking tour here who will then take you for lunch at Paro and then to your hotel to rest. You stay the day in Paro getting acclimatized for the trek at this altitude. You will take a cultural tour today to some Dzongs and monasteries. Then you will be returned to your hotel for your night’s stay.

Today, your hike is of short distance which begins at the National Museum. We climb till we reach the camp site and if the weather is clear we will get a nice view of the Paro Valley below. Then we might take a visit to the old Jele Dzong if the care taker is there. We stay in a camp for the night.

The trek first begins with a short steep climb which then softens out to pass through a thick forest of rhododendron tree and then a softer climb to camp site. You might get the chance of seeing herdsmen around the camp site. We set camp here for the night.

Following the ridge, the hike take a soft climb which on a clear day you get a lovely view of the mountains covered with snow and the beautiful valley below. Then we get to our camp site beside the Jimilangtso Lake known for its giant sized trout and with some luck we might have some for dinner. We set camp here for the night.

Today, the hike takes us through dwarf sized trees of Rhododendron past a lake into Simkotra where we make camp for the night.

Today, we slowly hike down to Phajoding Monastery and pay a visit. From Phajoding, the town of Thimphu is visible along with valley floor. We camp, here in Phajoding for the night.

Today, we hike through a dense forest with a variety of trees in them to reach the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. We might go on a short sightseeing trip around the city if not too tired. We stay the night at a hotel.

Completing breakfast, we drive to Paro, while on the way, we stop at the base of Taktsang Monastery and take a two hour climb to the monastery that stands against a cliff nearly 3000 metres above. It is a famous monastery in Bhutan and it is believed the Guru Rinpoche came here flying onto of a tigress just to meditate for three months. We then head to a hotel for our nightly stay.

Since our hiking trip and cultural tour is over, the staff of the company will bid you farewell at the airport for your outbound flight to your next destination.

Cost

What is Included

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle.
  • 3-star accommodation throughout your Bhutan stay (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium). Camping while on trek.
  • Bhutan visa fee – including all necessary processing.
  • Route Permit.
  • Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours.
  • Three meals per day - Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner (only breakfast on last day)
  • A licensed English Speaking Bhutanese trek/tour guide.
  • All land transportation by a private vehicle.
  • Trek & sightseeing as per itinerary.
  • Monuments entrance fees wherever applicable.
  • Bottled drinking water.
  • All internal taxes and charges.
  • A sustainable development fee of $65. (This sustainable development fee goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.)

What is Not Included

  • Airfare & Travel Insurance.
  • Expenses of personal nature, Tips & Gratuities.
  • Expenses occurred due to unavoidable events i.e. road wrecks, flight delays etc.

FAQs

Where is Bhutan located in Asia?

Bhutan located in Asia in between Tibet and India, and it’s a small country. It is towards east of Nepal and north to Bangladesh. Bhutan is a part of South Asia.

What is Druk path trek Bhutan?

Druk path trek Bhutan is one of the most popular trek which actually is the ancient trading route that connects Paro and Thimphu valleys. The trek passes through pine and juniper forests with spectacular Himalayan views.

What is Druk path trek itinerary?

Druk path trek itinerary starts from Paro and ends in Thimphu where on the first day you will hike above national museum in Paro then start the trek which finally ends at Thimphu.

What is Druk path trek cost?

Druk path trek cost depends upon on your date of travel since the cost is high and low as per the high and low season. Also it depends on the group size.

What is Druk path trek route?

Druk path trek route is hike above national museum in Paro then trekking through Jele Dzong, Jangchulakha, Jimilangtsho, Simkotra , Phajoding and finally to Thimphu.

What is Druk path trek difficulty?

Druk path trek difficulty is medium graded trek since the trek goes to higher elevations. The highest point is around 4235 meters at Labana la pas. It’s a long and hard climb to reach at the top of the pass. So, you will require a good level of physical fitness to complete this trek.

How much is Druk path trek altitude?

Druk path trek altitude starts from above 3000 meters to above 4000 meters. The trek itinerary is carefully planned with gradual altitude gain so as to avoid altitude sickness and less walking hours each day.

Can I do Druk path trek in December?

Yes, you can do Druk path trek in December but it will be colder since December is the winter season so you can expect snowbound trails. Also you need to pack some warm clothing like dawn jacket, fleece layers, long selves, gloves etc.

Is Druk path trek in Bhutan a good choice?

Definitely, Druk path trek in Bhutan is one of the most sought out trek which gives a good insight of Bhutanese culture and traditions, enjoy the most beautiful landscapes and witness majestic mountain panorama.

Is Druk path trek Thimphu to Paro?

Yes, Druk path trek is from Thimphu to Paro, and upon arrival in Thimphu, you will go for Thimphu sightseeing visiting several cultural and historical landmarks. If you want to further extend the tour then you can go to Punaka, Gangtey ‘Phobijikha Valley’ and back to Paro.

How much will be Druk path trek temperature?

Druk path trek temperature in spring (March to May) are some of the warmer months of the year, with temperatures ranging from around 12 degrees in March to as high as 17 degrees in May, and with nighttime temperatures never getting below freezing point.

Trip Information

Bhutan Visa Information:
The citizen of Bangladesh, Maldives and India do not require VISA to enter Bhutan. People from other countries except from Bangladesh, Maldives and India need a VISA permit while traveling to Bhutan. The VISA processing for Bhutan requires a readable color copy of passport via email that has at least six month of validity from the date of exit from Bhutan. The file Scan Copy should be forwarded to via email in JPEG or PDF format. The passport number and picture of the applicant should be visible in the e-document.

The application should be processed at least 10 days prior to the date of entry to Bhutan. The tourism council of Bhutan then issues a VISA clearance letter and fax or email it to the local travel agent. Please note that the VISA service is not offered in Bhutan, travelers have to buy full service package from the local tour operator. Travelers traveling by air are required to produce a printed VISA clearance copy at the time of check-in for Druk Air flight. People traveling by land to enter Bhutan via Phuentshoking or Samdrup Jonkhar are required to produce a VISA clearance letter at the immigration center. The actual VISA is stamped in your passport on your arrival in Bhutan.

Flights to Bhutan:
There are several cities that have direct flights to Bhutan. There are two airlines Druk air and Bhutan airlines running the flights to Bhutan. Druk air is the national carrier of Bhutan. With its fleet of Airbuses A319-115 and ATR 42 the airlines fly from different Asian countries to the Paro international airport, Paro (PBH); which is only the international airport in Bhutan. There are daily direct flights from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Paro International Airport.

The flights from Indian cities to Paro International Airport with the airport name and their codes are listed below:
Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB)
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (BOM)

Likewise, there flights from other countries with the codes are as follows:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand (BKK)
Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh (DAC)
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore (SIN)

Note: The flight schedule and timings are subject to change. If you want to know more about the flight schedules and tour to Bhutan please feel free to contact us. We can also help to find you the cheapest fares available.

Best time to visit Bhutan:
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan lies in south Asia between China and India. Climate and weather vary according to the altitude, season and place of visit. Bhutan is open all year around for the visitors but it is better to make the travel arrangements as per your preference and nature of visit.

The ideal time to visit Bhutan is spring (March-May) and Autumn/fall (September-November). These are considered to be the best time to visit Bhutan to get the maximum adventure and trouble free experience. Summer and winter also have their own specialties that could draw the attention of tourists during these seasons. During the spring the weather mostly remains clear and climate is fantastic. It is also the best time to visit for the nature lovers to experience the mystifying beauty of nature. Varieties of flowers and plants bloom in this season that makes your adventure an exotic one. The route opens for Jomolhari and Druk Path treks from mid-April to May.

Summer (June-August) in the other hand could get tricky at times due to the early arrival of monsoon. The month of June would be great for traveling if the monsoon is pushed further. Usually monsoon is in full swing by early July. Travelers who would strive to get some trekking experience on muddy trail while witnessing swollen rivers, green forests and flourishing paddy field could choose late summer to plan their adventure. The view of open clear blue sky after the rain is something that strikes you with its mystifying beauty.

Fall (September-November) is another favorable and crowded season after spring. The weather gets mild despite cold mornings and evenings. Tourists from all around the world thong to Bhutan during this season to witness Black-Necked-Crane festival. The month of October has its own significance and the valley turn into a shade of gold as the farmers prepare to harvest their rice crops during this month.

Winter season (December to February) is not that crowded with tourists in comparison to other seasons. Planning your adventure during the winter could be a better idea if you want to avoid the hustle-bustle of the peak season. During the winter Bhutan may see some snow fall. The temperature level goes down (even below freezing point) during some winter days.

VACCINATION FOR BHUTAN:
No vaccinations are presently required However, the following vaccinations are recommended:
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a virus that infects the liver. The disease is distinctly unpleasant, with profound nausea, loss of appetite, and weakness.
Tetanus: Tetanus bacteria can infect small wounds and cause a fatal infection.
Typhoid Fever: Typhoid fever is caused by infection with Salmonella typhi bacteria, passed in human feces and acquired by eating contaminated food or water.

WEATHER IN BHUTAN:
Bhutan lies in South Asia between China and India in the Himalayas, weather in Bhutan depends upon the altitude. In the northern parts of the country where mountains rise up to 7,000m, weather conditions are similar to arctic. Southwards, closer to India, the weather is hot and humid in the summer and cool in winter. The monsoon rains are usually heavy. Winters can be a good time to visit the lower parts, but then the highest areas are freezing.

The best times to visit Bhutan are spring (March-May) and autumn (late September – November) when the weather is warm, dry and sunny but always throw in a couple of warm clothes into your travelling gear when you travel to Bhutan regardless of the season.

WHAT TO WEAR AND BRING:
Layering Clothing
Bring your clothes according to the season and region of your travel. Based on your activity and the weather, you can make quick adjustments, by putting on more clothing if it is cold or taking off layers as it warms up. In the summer time, days can be quite warm, especially in the lowlands of Punakha and Phuentsholing, light cotton clothing is recommended for day time. But in most of the tourist and trekking areas, light woolen clothes for evenings and heavy woollens / down jackets for winter are necessary. A waterproof windbreaker is important for trekking and outdoor activities.
Comfortable and Sturdy shoes.
You have a lot of opportunity to walk around in Bhutan, you will be glad you wore sturdy shoes that keep your feet comfortable. Good shoes will let you explore the rural and allow you to have a long day walk. Bring sandals or slip ons to take off easily when entering temples.
Long pants / skirts
Wear particularly conservative clothing in the towns, women should wear long pants or long skirts, men should wear long pants and shorts are not appropriate for anyone. In the dzongs and temples, the legs and arms must be covered, and even threequarter-length capri pants are not acceptable for women.
Rain gear
Be prepared for occasional shower. A folding umbrella is a good idea to bring with.
Hat, Sunglass, Sunscreen & lip protection.
The sun can be scorching in Bhutan. Be sure to apply sunscreen in the morning and throughout your day.

Other requirements:
A quality sleeping bag.
Waterproof gators.
A headlamp torch and a normal torch. (Including spare batteries.)
Binoculars and Camera.
Small day pack.
Water bottle
Towel
Small medical kit that includes aspirin, motion sickness tablets, diamox.(The guide carries a larger Medical kit but please bring own travel medications)
Antiseptic hand gel for disinfecting hands without water.
Mini-flashlight

DIFFERENT CURRENCY ACCEPTED BY BHUTAN BANK:
Credit cards are accepted only in major international hotels and high-end shops in Bhutan.

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Druk Path Trek

Trip Facts

  • Bhutan
  • 08 Nights/09 Days
  • Spring (March-May) & Autumn/fall (September-November)
  • Private vehicle
  • 3,800 meters
  • Moderate
  • Paro
  • Thimphu
  • Taktsang Monastery, Mt. Chomolhari, Paro Ringpng Dzong, Buddha's Point-Thimphu
  • Government approved 3 stars and Above/Tent during camping

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