Jomolhari Trek

Your guide meets you at the airport. The afternoon is for Rinpung Dzong and the National Museum, and for rest.

We walk to Taktsang and back as a first day at altitude. In the afternoon your guide checks your kit and explains how the days on trek will run. Anything you do not need on the trail can be left at the hotel.

An early drive takes us up the Paro valley, past Drukgyel Dzong, to the road head at Shana, where the crew and pack animals are waiting. The trail follows the river upstream all day through forest of oak, rhododendron and fir, crossing and recrossing it on bridges. It is a long day, and the path is stony and often muddy.

The camp is in a meadow. If the evening is clear, Jomolhari shows at the head of the valley.

The valley widens and the trees fall behind. We pass an army post, where permits are checked, and then the yak herders' settlements of the upper valley, among them Dangochong. Jangothang, the base camp, is a broad meadow beside a ruined fort, with Jomolhari rising directly above it.

A rest day, which the body needs before the passes. Resting at altitude works best with some gentle exercise, so there are walks in three directions: up the valley towards the foot of Jomolhari, up the ridge to the north for a view of Jichu Drake, or to the twin lakes of Tsophu, about an hour and a half above camp. Blue sheep graze the slopes around the camp.

The trail climbs steadily out of the valley to Nyile La, the first of the two high passes. From the top the view runs back to Jomolhari and Jichu Drake. On the long descent Lingshi Dzong comes into view, a small fortress on a hill in the middle of a wide valley, and we camp below it.

The longest and highest day. We start early and climb through the morning to Yeli La at 4,930 m, the highest point of the trek. On a clear day you can see Jomolhari, and other peaks along the border, from the pass. The descent follows a stream down a long valley to the camp at Shodu, where the first trees reappear.

The path follows the Thimphu river down through a gorge, crossing it several times, past waterfalls and cliffs. The forest thickens as we lose height. A last climb leads to the ruins of Barshong Dzong, where we camp.

We walk down through forest to the road head, where the vehicle is waiting, and drive to Thimphu. The afternoon is free for a shower, a rest and a walk in town.

We visit the Buddha Dordenma and the National Memorial Chorten in the morning, and the craft bazaar if you would like to shop. After lunch we drive to Paro and visit Kyichu Lhakhang.

Your guide and driver take you to the airport after breakfast.