SOE YAKSA TREK

Day 1: ARRIVE PARO (L/D)

Fly into Paro by Druk Air.

A flight into Bhutan is spectacular with views of Himalayas. Upon arrival in Paro, clear customs and immigration. Meet your guide and driver outside the terminal building and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit either Rinpung Dzong or National Museum or both as per available time. Welcome dinner & overnight hotel, Paro.

Rinpung Dzong: meaning “fortress of the heap of jewels”. Built in mid-17^th Century, it now serves as the administrative and judicial seat of Paro district and residence for the 200 monks of Paro. It is also the venue for Paro festival held in the spring. Several years ago, the colourful movie Little Buddha was filmed here.

National Museum: Established in 1967, the museum is housed inside a circular Ta Dzong, an ancient Watch Tower. It holds fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangkha paintings, households stuffs, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals and Bhutan’s famous Stamps among others. (open 10-4pm – closed on Monday).

Paro: Paro is one of the most beautiful valleys in the country with Bhutan’s only airport located here, among the terraced fields, and elegant farm houses. Willow trees line many of the roads, contrasting with bright colors of the fields and the most popular and important sites also found within Paro district. Paro town (2,280m) is still a small with one main street and less then one hundred small family-run shops. The weekend market in Paro is held on Saturdays

Day 2: PARO (B/L/D) 

Today you will hike to Taktsang Monastery (meaning Tiger’s nest). Return to Paro in the evening. Overnight at hotel, Paro.

Hike to Taktsang: Drive to north of Paro town for about ½ hr and embark on a trek to the famed Taktsang (Tiger’s lair) monastery. Taktsang monastery is located on the face of a 1,000m seemingly impossible sheer, vertical cliff, above Paro valley.

The trail begins near the Satsam (2650m) and climbs steeply uphill to the Cafeteria (2,940m), an area of exposed ridge with panoramic view of Takstang. This takes little more then an hour. (Ponies are provided on request to ride up till this Cafeteria, but rest of way, including return downhill must be on foot.) You can get a good view from the Cafeteria or hike further uphill for another hour or so to the temple itself. There are several other temples and sites within the vicinity. Lunch is served at the tea house. The return trek to the road head is downhill, where you will be met by the transport.

Day 3: DRIVE TO PUNAKHA (B/L/D)

Transfer to Punakha via Thimphu and Dochula pass. In the Punakha visit the beautiful Dzong and fertility temple. Overnight hotel, Punakha.

Drive from Paro to Punakha:  The distance of about 135 kms from Paro town takes about 3 hours. Drive south following Pachu river to the river confluence at Chuzom, which is also the hub of road network going to Paro, Ha, Thimphu and Phuntsholing. From Chuzom, the drive takes about 1 hour, staying close to the Wangchu River in the valley floor, as you pass through villages and suburbs to the capital, Thimphu.  The drive from Thimphu for about 2 hours. The road climbs from Thimphu to Dochula pass and descends through ever changing forests into the semi-tropical valley of Punakha and Wangdi at around 1200m.

En-route, if weather permits,  stop at Dochula pass (3050m) where you can view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan’s highest mountain, Gangkar Punsum (7,550m).

 

Punakha Dzong: or Pungthang Dechen Phodrang “Palace of Great Happiness” popularly known as Punakha Dzong, located on the confluence of two rivers; Pho and Mochu was built in 1637 by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal. It serves as winter residence for the Central Monastic body, which migrate from Thimphu to Punakha in the winter. It is also the venue for Punakha Festival held in February or March.

Fertility Temple (Chimi Lhakhang): a monastery and fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as “the divine madman” and considered a folk hero in Bhutan for his unconventional ways. Drukpa Kuenley originally built a chorten on the site in the 14th century, on which a temple was later built in 15th century.

Punakha: Punakha is located at about 1,250m with pleasant winters. Cactuses, Oranges, bananas and sub-tropical plants are found here. Punakha was once the winter capital of Bhutan, the tradition that is still held by the Central Monastic body.

Day 4: PUNAKHA – PHOBJIKHA (B/L/D)

After breakfast, drive to beautiful  Phobjikha valley – THE WINTER HOME OF ENDANGERED BLACK NECKED CRANES.  Enroute stop briefly at old Wangdiphodrang town. Visit Gangtey Gompa (monastery) before reaching Phobjikha. Take a walk in the valley and observe the rare BIRDS closely in their natural habitat. Overnight hotel, Phobjikha.

Drive from Punakha to Phobjikha: Drive to Phobjikha takes about 2 ½ hours covering distance of 60 km. The road climbs from Wandue, drive uphill almost crosses over Pele La pass 3400m. Before, reaching the pass, the road diverges and we take the road least traveled by. This eventually leads into the ‘hidden valley’ containing the stunningly beautiful monastery of Gangtey Gompa.

Phobjikha Valley: Phobjikha (3000m) is a wide-glacial and beautiful valley, designated as conservation zone within the Black Mountains National Park, a natural habitat for wildlife, including nesting black-necked cranes from Central Asia (mid autumn till early spring).

Gangtey Gompa: Gantey Gompa monastery sits atop a hillock that overlooks the Phobjikha valley. It is headed by the ninth Gangtey Trulku and is the largest Nyingma monastery in western Bhutan. It was founded in 1613 by Gyalse Pema Thinlay, a grandson and reincarnation of influential treasure finder Pema Lingpa. Incarnate line of Pema Thinlay, representing the body aspects of Pema Lingpa, contrasted with mind and speech emanations. The monastery has been recently built and surrounding the monastery are village homes and hermitages.

Black-necked Crane: ‘Thrung Trung Karmo’ as this bird is passionately called in Bhutan is subject of many Bhutanese songs and folklore. They are seen among the painting on the walls of temples and Thankga. These endangered species of cranes migrate from Tibet in late autumn and typically stay till the mid march. About 300-400 cranes reside in the wetland in the center of the valley.

Day 5: PHOBJIKHA – THIMPHU (B/L/D)

Drive to Thimphu and enjoy the scenic beauty enroute with changes in vegetation pattern from the subtropical to Temperate and Alpine.  Stop at Wangdue & Dochula Pass (3050 m). Upon arrival in Thimphu visit Trashichho Dzong and there will be time to stroll around streets of Thimphu. Overnight hotel, Thimphu.

Drive from Gangtey to Thimphu: The drive to Thimphu takes about 5 hours covering distance of approx. 130 km. The road climbs almost to Pele La pass (3400m) and descend until you reach Wangdue.

From Wangdue, drive west and climb up to Dochula pass (3,050m), where you have another opportunity to view the peaks of the eastern Himalayas. Descend to Thimphu from Dochula takes about 40 minutes.

Tashichhodzong: This fortress serves as the office of the King, ministers and various government organizations. It also is the headquarters for central monastic body of Bhutan. Bhutan’s spiritual leader Je-Khenpo and the monks of both Thimphu and Punakha reside here during summer. It is also the venue for Thimphu Festival in the fall season.

Thimphu (2,300m) was a wooded farming valley until 1961, when it became Bhutan’s official national capital. The massive Tashicho Dzong, about 700 years old, was carefully revamped in the 1960s by the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to house the royal and main government offices. Even today, it still only has a few streets and no traffic lights with estimated population of 95,000 people.

Day 6: THIMPHU SIGHTSEEING- PARO (B/L/D)

Full day sightseeing in Thimphu.

Visit Memorial Chorten, Takin Sanctuary, Buddha Point, Traditional School of arts & crafts, Craft Bazar & Textile museum. In the evening, drive to Paro. Overnight hotel, Paro

Memorial Chorten: This landmark of Thimphu was built in 1974 in the memory of third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, who is popularly regarded as Father of Modern Bhutan. It is a four-storey tall white building, containing statues and iconography of deities from complex tantric teachings and serves as an important place of worship for Thimphu residents, as well as from other parts of the country.

Buddha Point: This is a new monument and main highlight of Thimphu valley. It has 165 meter high Buddha Statue.

 

Takin Sanctuary/Zoo: Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) has been chosen as the national animal of Bhutan is based both on its uniqueness and its association with country’s history and mythology.  It is said that Devine Madman, a popular saint is said to have created it with his magical power at a large congregation of devotees. It resembles like a cow from back and goat in the front and continues to befuddle taxonomists, who cannot quite relate to other animal.

Traditional school of arts & Crafts:  (open 9-5pm mon-fri and 9-1pm on Sat –with exceptions of holidays and breaks). Commonly known as ‘the painting school’ is a national institute where children attend six-year course that provides instruction in Bhutan’s traditional arts and crafts called Zorig Chuksum – meaning 13 craft.

Textile Museum: A recent addition in the capital city, this museum displays the colorful and intricately hand woven textile, both old and new.

Paper Factory:  Traditional papers were made from the daphne plant, using simple methods.

Drive from Thimphu – Paro:  It is 65 km and takes little more than 1 hour. The western branch of lateral highway from Thimphu, runs close to the Wangchu river in the valley floor, through the suburbs and villages of Thimphu to arrive at the river confluence of Chuzom, which is also the hub of road network going to Paro, Ha, Thimphu and Phuntsholing. From Chuzom, it is north-west for about ½ hour, following Pa Chu river upstream, passing Tachogang temple on the other side of the river, then through relatively straight road, into the villages and farm houses of Paro valley.

Day 7: PARO – TREK SHANA – THANGTHANGKHA (B/L/D)

After breakfast one group will drive to the airport for onward destination and rest will continue Soi Yaksa Adventure towards the base of Mt. Jomolhari.  Drive to Shana from Paro will take about 2 hours, from where we will begin the trek to Thangthangkha.

Trek Shana Thangthangkha: This would be longest day of the trek. The trail continues with numerous ups and downs. After going uphill alongside river, the valley finally narrows gradually to a mere path which descends to a meadow where a camp will be set up. From here, if weather permits, you will have the first great view of Mt. Jomolhari. Camp 3,610 m; Distance 22km; walking time 7-8 hours; Ascent 770 m, descent 10 m.

Day 8: TREK THANGTHANGKHA – JANGOTHANG (B/L/D)

If you did not see Mt. Jomolhari the previous evening, you will still have a chance to get a great view early this morning. 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 will again have a spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari. Camp 4,080 m; Distance 19 km; walking time 5-6 hours; Ascent 480 m

Day 9: TREK JANGOTHANG – SOI YAKSA (B/L/D)

The trail leads to a last settlement in the valley and drops to the Paro Chhu. Passing the lake of Tshophu (4,380m) you will climb up steeply to Bhonte La pass at 4,890 m, the highest point of this trek route. Reaching the Dhumzo Chhu river, you trek downstream passing the few houses of Soi Yaktsa (Dhumzo) to arrive at your camp soon after. Camp 3800 m; Distance 16 km; walking time 6-7 hours; Ascent 810 m, descent 1,090 m

Day 10: TREK SOI YAKSA – THOMBU SHONG (B/L/D)

The trail climbs 100m over a ridge to drop to another stream then. After crossing the Takhung La pass (4,520m) you descent to Thombu Shong, three yak herder huts with your campsite next to them. Camp 4,180 m; Distance 11 km; walking time 4-5 hours; Ascent 720 m, descent 340 m

Day 11: TREK THOMBU SHONG – SHANA – PARO (B/L/D)

Crossing Thombu La pass (4,380m), trail makes a steep descent, zigzagging down the ridge through wildflower bushes, mostly edelweiss, before reaching Gunitsawa and finally Shana Zampa (2580m), where you will meet your transport and drive to hotel in Paro for about 2 hours. Distance 13 km; walking time 4-5 hours; Ascent 200 m, descent 1650 m. Overnight hotel, Paro.

Day 12: PARO -DEPART (B)

After breakfast drive to the airport for your flight to onward destination with wonderful memories of Bhutan.

Tashi Delek !