Jomolhari Trek - 11 days

Your Jomolhari trek begins with a scenic flight to the valley town of Paro, Bhutan. Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan. Your wanderlust will only amplify as you observe the mesmerizing views of Paro Dzong and the snowcapped mountains from your window. Upon your arrival at Paro, our Bhutanese guide will pick you up at Third Rock Adventures, who will drive you to your hotel for your stay. You will be briefed about the entire Jomolhari trek by our guide after refreshment. 

After having some lunch, you will visit Rimpung Dzong. Rimpung Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress of the Drukpa Lineage dating back to the 17th century. The monastery stands for high value as it houses the district's monastic body and the government administrative offices. You will cross a wooden bridge into Kichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest and most sacred shrines.  

Paro is a beautiful town with ancient architecture displayed in the buildings around the street. You should not miss out on walking through the streets of Paro as the sun goes down.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Paro. 

Today is a special day as you get to visit one of the most popular landmarks in Bhutan. The hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery begins early in the morning after breakfast. On the hike to the monastery, you will find a forest of pine where you can hear the sounds of birds chirping and prayer flags fluttering. 

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery, also known locally as Paro Taktsang or Taktsang Palphug, is a mystical place sitting on the edge of a high cliff surrounded by mist. As per the mythical belief, Guru Rimpoche/Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tigress and identified the caves of the monastery as a place of solitude. It is believed that he then meditated for 3 months in this monastery. Padmasambhava is known to be the mystical tantric that introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. The monastery was built in 1684 by the Penlop of Paro and has since become a place of worship for Buddhist pilgrims. After the one-of-a-kind experience, you will head back to your hotel at Paro for an overnight stay. 

Overnight in Paro. 

Today is the start of your trekking days. After having breakfast, you will head towards Drukgyal Dzong. It is a Buddhist monastery in the upper part of Paro, now an ancient ruin (Please delete this sentence). You will walk along the Pachu River then along the rice terrace and millet fields. Along the route, you will pass through small villages with traditional houses. After Mitsizamp, the farms eventually disappear into the trail that leads through high trees towards Zakhapang after a steady ascend. 

You continue to trek through blue pine forests, apple orchards and reach Gunitsawa village. You will pass through an army post along the way. Just beyond, you will check into your campsite at Shana. The campsite is a wide space nestled between pine forests. Near the campsite is a swiftly flowing river.

You will rest in the camp overnight. 

After a heavy breakfast, you will follow the trail that leads to the river. Today is one of the days you will experience the Jomolhari trek difficulty as it is one of the longest days of your trek spanning a distance of around 21 km. The trek takes a gradual ascend through a lush forest of blue pine, oak, rhododendron trees, birch, and fir. Eventually, you will begin walking through the rocky and bumpy path and pass wooden bridges. 

You will reach Thombu zam, from where there are many other trails branched to other trekking destinations. After passing up a ridge with a chorten, you will reach your campsite. You can instantly spot the amazing Jomolhari Mountain from the end of the valley. Jomolhari is one of the world’s highest mountains at an altitude of 7,326m/24,035ft.

The spacious camp faces Jomolhari and is an ideal place to rest for the night after a long trek.

Overnight stay at the campsite.

Today the trek leads to Paro Chuu valley. The trail passes through an alpine meadow and leads towards the forest. As you reach the army outpost, you’ll have to stop and register at the entry permits. The entry permit to Bhutan will be taken care of by your guide. 

You walk beside the Pachu River and pass some small villages of Sio, Takethang, and Dangochang. This is one of the most special days of the trek as you reach the Jangothang Base Camp at 4,050m. The views of Mt. Jomolhari will keep you company as the sunsets. The unique flora and fauna found here are some of the points of attraction. You will hear the sweet sound of birds chirping. If you are lucky enough, you might even spot the Yellow-billed Chough, Fire-tailed Sunbird, White-throated Dipper, and Snow Patridge, to name a few. Views of snowcapped Jomolhari, Jichu Drake, and the ravens are perhaps the highlight of today’s trek.  

Overnight stay at the campsite.

On this day, you will stop at Jangothang and take a rest. There are a lot of small activities you can enjoy during this day. You can take a small hike around the nearby landscape or up to Tsophu Lake. All in all, the beauty of Jangothang is added by the Jomolhari, and Jichu Drake views from a distance. For a better view of Jomolhari, you can even trek a little further up. You can also check out the ruins of an old fortress nearby. 

You might come across some blue sheep on the upper slopes of the valley. The Himalayan Rhubarb, Golden Eagles, and the Himalayan Blue Poppy- the national flower of Bhutan can be spotted. Rest on this day is necessary to acclimatize your body to the sudden change in altitude. Also, after the long days of trekking, this rest day is a blessing.

Overnight stay at the campsite.

On this day, you will be heading to Lingshi, which takes about 19 km. The trail begins with a steep climb above the base camp into glacial moraine. The sight of Jomolhari and Jichu Drake looks very different on this day. You will walk through a snowy path to Nylie La pass at 4830m. You are bound to experience a cold and swift wind coming straight from the mountains. From there, you will be introduced to a panoramic view of Tshering Gang at an altitude of 6789m. 

The trek then gets a little tough as it descends to Lingshi campsite. From your campsite, the views of the majestic peaks and Lingshi Dzong is seen. Lingshi is a monastery that houses the office of the Drungpa. Nothing could be as serene as the views seen from there.

You will stay at the campsite for the night. 

Today you will be taking a long trek that takes about 9 hours and covers a distance of 22 km to reach Shodu. The trail starts with a decent climb upwards to a chorten on a ridge into the Mo Chhu valley. You will cross a river and ascend to the Yeli La pass at the altitude of 4,820m/15,813ft. The land is mainly deserted from thereon but offers views of the majestic snowcapped Jomolhari, Gangchen Ta, Tshering Gang, and Masangagng. The path becomes narrower hereon and reaches Jimenameshing. 

The trail gradually descends to the campsite in a meadow as you reach Shodu. Many other treks also reach this destination as the trekking days come to an end since this is the main trail back to Thimphu. You can enjoy the rest of your day by having hot soup and enjoying yourself with other trekkers at your camp. 

Overnight stay at the campsite. 

Today you will come back to the tree line. The path follows the Thimphu River, descending through rhododendron, juniper, and other alpine forests. You will be able to see stunning views of rocky cliffs and waterfalls. You can rest by the riverside and enjoy a hot meal.

After lunch, you will gradually ascend to the ruins of Barshong Dzong. Continue to your campsite near a river, Domshisa, which is at 3,400m.

Overnight stay at the campsite. 

The trail descends gently through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch, and conifers and then ascends till you meet the dirt road. Walk along the dirt road for a while, and then you will be picked up. You might spot the Langur monkeys on the trees afar. Dodena is the exit point of Jigme Dorji National Park, and it opens up to the main road that drives to Thimphu.

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and one of the modern cities there. After some refreshment and a shower, you can stroll around the town of Thimphu. As a memory of your remarkable travel to Bhutan, you can go to the street and buy some souvenirs to take back home for yourself and your loved ones.

Overnight stay at hotel. 

Today marks the end of your interesting Jomolhari trek. We will bid you a farewell with a heavy heart after you are driven to the Paro International Airport. As you head home after boarding the flight, you are bound to reminisce the landmarks you visited in Paro, the monasteries along the trek, and the amazing views of the Himalayas.

You can remember Third Rock Adventures to plan another wonderful trip.