Chomolhari & Bonte La

DAY 1

Arrive Paro. Transfer to Paro Hotel

Arrive at Paro Airport. You’ll be met upon arrival and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel in the very small town of Paro. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Paro.

Accommodation: Tenzinling Resort Hotel or similar, Paro
Meals: Dinner

For detailed information, choices and advice for International flight options to Paro, Bhutan - please click here

DAY 2

Trek to Thongbu Samba

It's around a 90 minute private vehicle transfer to Shana (2860m) and the start of the trek. Once everything is loaded up with your support crew you'll then set off following a path beside the river before climbing to the first night's camp at Thongbu Samba (3104m). It's a relatively shortt walk today of around 3hrs.

Accommodation: Camp, Thongbu Samba
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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DAY 3

Trek to Soi Thangka

Most of today's walking is up, up, and up through dense forests, with just the odd remote farmhouse along the way. Usually, you’ll spot some birds along the way, and maybe even bears. If it has rained there are sections that get tricky due to mud and being slippy underfoot. Walking time is approximately 5-6 hours. Altitude at camp: 3520m

Accommodation: Camp, Soi Thangka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Chomolhari Base Camp

You continue walking towards Chomolhari. At 7314 m, this is the second-highest peak in Bhutan. Once again, you’re trekking up through forests, but after an hour or so of walking, you emerge above the tree line. Heading further up the valley, the ascent is fairly gradual, and now, amongst a more open landscape, you’re in the alpine zone of the Bhutan Himalayas. Chomolhari is seen at the end of the valley as you pass a place known as Tengethang, a Yak grazing area used during the winter months by the local herders. Eventually you’ll see a row of chortens and a few stone built huts that is regarded as Chomolhari Base Camp. Needless to say, the views of Chomolhari from here, as it looms over the camping area, are worth all the effort required to reach here. The altitude at camp is 4104 m, with Toddy’s walking time being approx. 5–6 hrs.

Accommodation: Camp, Jangothang (CBC)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

Chomolhari Base Camp - Acclimatisation Day

Now, at just above the 4,000-metre mark, an acclimatisation day is necessary. But that doesn’t mean sitting around. Nearby, there’s an old fortress (now in ruins) that used to protect Bhutan from the threat of Tibetan invaders to take a look at. There are a couple of acclimatisation walk options too. Up towards Jitchu Drake or a rather more difficult hike up to Chomolhari’s glacier and further up to a ridge and a rocky summit for amazing views of both Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake.

Accommodation: Camp, Jangothang (CBC)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Over the Bonte La

Probably the toughest day of the trek was the crossing of the 4900-metre Bonte La. The whistling of Himalayan Marmots may sound your approach as you initially ascend very steeply up a hanging valley. Climbing ever higher, you reach the picturesque Tsho Phu Lakes. No doubt you’ll stop for breath frequently on the climb up, and you can look behind you to see some outlandish views of Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake. Heading further up the valley side, there’s still a couple of hours of ascent to reach the Bonte La. But the views are getting even better, and the pass itself is simply outlandish. Big Himalayan peaks and a true mountain wilderness. There’s around 1100m of descent to follow as you enter the Soi Yaksey Valley. Down below you’ll see a more greener and less steep sided part of the valley, which is where tonight's camp will be at around 3820m. A challenging walking day of around 9hrs.

Accommodation: Camp, Soi Yaksey Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Over the Tagulun La to Thangbue

As remote and isolated as you now are, there are some small, permanent habitations in the valley. Leaving camp after breakfast, you head upwards to reach a mani wall and then descend to the river below, only to now climb up again through rhododendron forest. Things ease off briefly, but it’s ascending again once more to reach the Tagulun La (4540m). Once again, you are treated to views of Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake before descending around 400m to camp at 4110m. Walking time: approx. 7 hrs. One option would be to spend an additional day or night at Soi Yaksey camp before tackling this other high pass and taking a day hike to Sey Dzong.

Accommodation: Camp, Thangbue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Thombu La to Shana

Another day and another pass, this time the Thombu La. Thankfully, this one isn’t as hard as the previous two. Heading up to a ridge, there’s some really enjoyable ridge walking for just over an hour, with wonderful views on both sides, to reach the Thombu La (4270m). Now it’s a long, long downhill into the Paro Chu Valley that thankfully eases eventually. Things become more gradual as you enter beneath the tree line once more and walk down through the forest to camp at Shana (2895m). Walking time today is a little less, approx. 6 hours.

Accommodation: Camp, Shana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

End of the trek at Drugyel Dzong

A short and easy day in comparison to everything that has gone before. Your legs may well be grateful that it’s relatively level walking through the very beautiful farmed area of the Paro Chu Valley. Reaching the roadhead, you’ll then be driven by a private vehicle back to Paro. Walking time: approx. 3 hours

Accommodation: Tenzingling Resort Hotel or similar, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Taktsang Monastery Trek

The Machhu Picchu of Bhutan is Taktsang Monastery, and today you’ll visit it. It’s actually a stiff 2-hour walk up through woodland and a rather steep climb of around 350 m. Thankfully, there’s a teahouse at one of the classic Taktsang Monastery view points where you can rest and refresh before a further 30 minutes of climbing brings you to Takstang (3110m) itself. On the final climb, you pass what is probably the most famous view point, which looks directly across to the monastery. It’s usually possible to enter the monastery, but if there’s something going on at the monastery (religious or VIP visit), then it may not be possible. Heading steeply down, a descent of around 100m leads into a gorge before climbing back up to the main monastery gate, from which it’s down to the valley floor and your ride “home”. Walking time is around 4-5 hours, with around 750m of ascent and descent. It’s actually quite a challenging walk to get your iconic photo’s of what is probably Bhutan’s most famous site.

Accommodation: Tenzingling Resort Hotel or similar, Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11

Depart Paro

A private vehicle transfer to Paro Airport for your departing flight

Meals: Breakfast

Of course, there's no reason to depart today; your Bhutan holiday can be readily tailored.