Compare Cultural Tour that extends to Ura Valley by Adventures Within Reach vs Bhutan: Druk Path Trek by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 12 days |
| Price From | $ 2,495 | $ 8,250 |
| Price Per Day | $ 250 | $ 688 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
Breakfast is included throughout the trip plus nine lunches and nine dinners in Bhutan. The hotel/restaurant meals in Bhutan are usually buffets and include Bhutanese and Western food. Bhutanese food is sometimes called a little bland – this is generally because chillies are frequently used in traditional dishes and these are often omitted to adapt to foreigners’ tastes. However, you will find an assortment of meat, vegetable, rice and potato dishes and many examples of ema datshi (chillies and cheese) so there are plenty of nutrients for your day ahead! While camping, the staff bring a hot drink (usually tea) to your tent each morning. When you reach camp in the afternoon, tea and biscuits are served. At breakfast, dinner and in the afternoons, there is a choice of hot drinks. Breakfasts typically include cereal and/or porridge plus toast and eggs. Lunch on trek is usually served as a picnic en route (except on shorter days when it is in camp). Lunch and dinner typically include soup to start, followed by a variety of hot dishes (both local and Western) such as potatoes/chips, vegetables, curry, pasta, rice, dhal and vegetables. At dinner, a dessert such as fresh or tinned fruit, fritters or cake is also served. Please note, although some meals include meat, it is not as readily available while camping. Please allow the equivalent of approximately US$30-US$40 per day for other main meals in Kathmandu. Drinking water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity but particularly so at altitude where it is generally recommended to drink at least 100floz to 135floz (three litres to four litres) per person per day. However, we strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water on trek as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in the trekking areas of Bhutan. On trek, the cooks collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may need to collect water during the day and may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. Purification tablets can be an economical way to treat your water, most taking between 30 minutes to one hour to purify one litre of water and are easy to used in water bladders/hydration packs. Purification tablets which contain chlorine dioxide are reported not to leave an obvious taste as other tablets may. You may like to bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening and use a Steripen to treat any non-boiled water. A Steripen is a handheld UV water purifier – small, lightweight and battery powered, so easy to pack. It’s quick to use, far more effective than purification tablets, and the water is ready immediately. It’s fine to use a Steripen on non-boiled water so long as it isn’t cloudy or full of sediment (which is uncommon in these regions). Steripens are widely stocked on Amazon, outdoor shops and other online retailers; look for the latest models but avoid USB charging ones. Models that take lithium batteries are best as they last longer, especially in cold conditions. Exodus has also partnered with Water-to-Go, a filtration system that eliminates more than 99.99 percent of all microbiological contaminants from any non-saltwater source – visit Water-to-Go for more information. Exodus customers can claim 15 percent off their first order and, better still, 15 percent of the purchase value will be donated to the Exodus Travels Foundation. Please note, if the water freezes it will clog up the filter. In this event, defrost before use by sitting the filter in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes. |
| Description |
Ten days of cultural tours including Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, Gangtey, Jakar, Ura Valley and a half-day hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery. Add a day to this tour and attend a Tshechu (Festival). |
The Druk Path is one of the classic treks in Bhutan and follows an ancient, high-level trade route from Paro to Thimphu in a country visited by only a lucky few. Trek through splendid rhododendron forests, past yak herder settlements, across several passes, and camp beside clear mountain lakes with spectacular views of the peaks that border Tibet. Experience the fascinating culture of Bhutan and, on specific departures, colourful festivals with masked dances and general joviality.Hike the ancient trading route between Paro and Thimphu |
Day 1: Fly to Paro, transfer to Thimphu
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Pedling Hotel or similar (Standard)
Visiting: Paro, Thimphu
Upon arrival at the airport and customs your Bhutanese escort will greet you and drive you 1.5 hours through the beautiful Paro valley to Thimphu. You can spend the rest of the evening exploring Thimphu, soaking in the Bhutanese way of life.
Day 2: Tour of Thimphu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Pedling Hotel or similar (Standard)
Visiting: Thimphu
Sightseeing in Thimphu includes a visit to the National Library which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts, the School of Thanka Paintings, and the traditional Medicine Institute where centuries old healing arts are still practiced. Then visit the Handicrafts Emporium to see the exquisite artistry of traditional crafts and textile then take a stroll through the streets for a little shopping. After lunch, visit the memorial Chorten to His Late Majesty (King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk), who reigned from 1952-1972. Later take a 15 minute drive to Dechenchohhling to witness the gold and silversmiths at work. Finally, visit the Tashichho Dzong (fortress of the Glorious Region) built in 1641 and reconstructed in 1961 using traditional methods without the use of any nails, plans, or paper.
As well as the main sites of Thimphu you can also spend a day hiking to Tango and Cheri, two magnificent monasteries on the edge of the Thimphu valley. Instead you may choose to visit Phajoding monastery with its stunning views over the valley, touring the markets and monasteries that flourish in this uniquely tranquil national capital. Shop for textiles, puppets and paintings that are handcrafted as they have been for centuries.
Day 3: Drive to Punakha and Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Dragon Nest Resort or similar (Standard)
Visiting: Thimphu, Punakha Valley
The old capital of Bhutan stands at the confluence of Mo Chhu and Po Chhu rivers. The Punakha Dzong is Bhutan's second oldest, and is arguably the country's most beautiful. Construction of the dzong began in 1637 and was completed the following year. It is more properly called the Pungthang Dechen Phodrang or the Palace of Great Happiness.
Day 4: Drive to Trongsa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Trongsa (Standard)
Visiting: Trongsa
Drive about 6 hours to Trongsa.
Day 5: Tour of Trongsa, Drive to Jakar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Jakar (Standard)
Visiting: Trongsa, Jakar
Visit Trongsa Dzong, the ancestral home of the royal family and the watch tower, built in 1649. It is now the administrative seat of the district and the home of the monastic school. This architectural wonder was a vigilance point for both eastern and western threats. The watch tower, located directly above the dzong, has on display many interesting armors and other war artifacts used by ancient warriors. Afterwards continue 2.5 hours to Jakar.
Day 6: Tour of Jakar, Excursion to Ura Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Jakar (Standard)
Visiting: Jakar, Ura Valley
From View Point enjoy the beautiful outlook of Jakar Dzong , also known as the Castle of the White Bird. It was built in 1646 by Minjur Tenpa, the third Druk Dese (temporal ruler). In 1683 it was extended by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth Desi.
A full day excursion to Ura Valley. Drive about 2 hours to Ura and take a leisurely stroll through the charming and clustered village. Take your time to visit a beautiful Buddhist Monastery. You will have the opportunity to see yaks grazing in the rich pastureland.
Day 7: Tour of Jakar, Drive to Gangtey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Gangtey (Standard)
Visiting: Jakar, Gangtey
Visit several ancient and sacred monasteries such as Jambay Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, Kencho Sum Lhakhang, Tmashing and Pema Samba Lhakhangs. Also visit Member Tso "The flamming Lake", considered one of the most important pilgrimage spots. A trip to the Bumthang Swiss farm is also interesting. Drive for 4 hours to Gangtey.
Day 8: Tour of Gangtey, Drive to Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Olathang or similar (Standard)
Visiting: Gangtey, Paro
Gangtey is a beautiful meadow where you can experience breathtaking views of the Black Mountain range. Phobjikha, the valley stretching boundlessly from the below Gangtey, is the winter habitat of the rare and endangered Black Necked Cranes. Continue towards Paro.
Day 9: Tour of Paro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Olathang or similar (Standard)
Visiting: Paro
Visit Ta Dzong, the national museum housed in an ancient watchtower, which has superb antiquities on display. You can see a fine collection of thankas, paintings, textiles, and artifacts.
Hike to Taktsang viewpoint, a superb vantage point that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding granite cliffs and valley. On a clear day, the white dome of the sacred Chomolhari (Mountain of Goddess) can be seen. The Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest monastery, clings to a sheer cliff. Severely damaged in a fire in 1998, the monastery has been completely restored.
Tour Drukgyal Dzong, whose massive ruins offer insight into the unique construction of Bhutan's famous dzongs. The Dzong is also of great historical importance as it was from its ramparts that the Bhutanese repelled Tibetan invaders.
Day 10: Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Visiting: Paro
Transfer to airport for departure.
Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu
The adventure begins in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The evening is free to relax. If you have time, you may wish to explore the nearby buzzy Thamel district. Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Fly to Paro; visit Paro Dzong and museum
We fly to Paro today. If the weather is clear, we should get a fantastic view (from the left-hand side of the plane) of much of the eastern half of the Himalaya, including Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari (Jhomolhari). After completing visa formalities in Paro, we transfer to our hotel. The Paro Valley is considered one of the most beautiful in Bhutan with blue pine-covered hills and attractive farmhouses among paddy fields – all dominated by the massive dzong (fort). This afternoon, we aim to visit Paro Dzong and the national museum above it. Paro Dzong is one of the most impressive in Bhutan, and the finest example of Bhutanese architecture you will see. The inward-sloping walls form a massive structure that towers over the town. Built in the 17th century, it was one of the strongest and most important fortresses in Bhutan and was used on several occasions to defend the Paro Valley from invasions by Tibet. Formally the meeting hall for the national assembly, the dzong now houses a monastic school and district government offices. West of the dzong is a covered wooden bridge named Nyamal Zam, a reconstruction of the original bridge, which was washed away in a flood in 1969. At the top of the hill, above the dzong, is the old watchtower known locally as Ta Dzong. Originally built in 1656, it was renovated in 1968 by King Jigme Dorje Wangchuk to house the National Museum. Damaged by the earthquake in 2011, the museum is now in a new building above the Ta Dzong. Inside the museum, there are collections of masks and thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings). Please note, the itinerary above could change subject to flight timings, which are generally unpredictable. Accommodation: Rema Resorts
Day 3 Warm-up hike to Taktsang Monastery
Today we have a warm-up hike to Taktsang Monastery. Also known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, it is perched on the ledge of a cliff high above the Paro Valley. Partly destroyed by fire in 1998, it has now been completely restored to its former magnificence. We drive a short distance from the hotel and then hike up for about 1hr 30min to a viewpoint for classic views of the monastic buildings that cling impossibly to the cliff wall opposite. If you’re feeling energetic, walk another 45 minutes to the actual monastery. The walk is good for acclimatisation and we recommend you wear trekking boots. Please note, there about 100 steps up and down. Returning to the hotel, we have time in the afternoon to explore Paro town. Accommodation: Rema Resorts (or similar)
Day 4 Trek to Jele Dzong
Today we start our trek. After breakfast, we have a short drive to about 8,595ft (2,620m), just above the ancient Ta Dzong watchtower. The first day’s trekking is not long in terms of hours but it’s uphill all the way and we gain quite a lot of height. From our start point, it is a gentle climb for about 1hr 30min on a jeep track to a prayer wall. The trail then narrows and we continue climbing on a rocky path (a little steeper now) through the forest. We have lunch in a clearing about an hour further on and then it’s about an hour’s walk in the afternoon to the Jele La (11,645ft/3,550m) and our camp just below the pass and Jele Dzong. If the weather is clear, we can see the Paro Valley below. If you’re still keen to walk, trek further up the ridge from the Jele La to a ruined shepherd hut with a small Bon shrine inside. Accommodation: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 11,580ft/3,530m)
Day 5 Trek to Jangchulaka
After breakfast, we walk five minutes back up to the main trail and continue climbing for about 30 minutes to Jele Dzong. If it is open, we can go inside the 14th-century dzong. Continuing up the ridge for a short way, we can see the Paro Valley way below and, if the weather is clear, we may even spot the peak of Chomolhari in the distance. The trail undulates through thick rhododendron forests this morning – keep your eyes peeled for colourful monal and blood pheasants. Lunch is in a forest clearing and we have a short walk in the afternoon to our camp at Rawna. Please note, if there are other trekking groups around, we may have to camp at Jangchu Lakha (12,140ft/3,700m) or Tsokam (12,300ft/3,750m). All three campsites are close by, each in different forest clearings. Accommodation: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 12,665ft/3,860m)
Day 6 Follow the ridge with spectacular views of Jichdrake to reach Jimi Lang Tsho
It’s a long day today and probably the hardest walk of the trek. We climb steeply from camp on a narrow trail for about an hour to rejoin the main trail. We continue climbing through a rocky landscape littered with small rhododendron bushes. We reach a col at 13,367ft (4,073m) marked with prayer flags and then drop down a short way to a cave. The trail then climbs again quite steeply to a ridge at 13,385ft (4,080m), where we get spectacular mountain views on a clear day, including Chomolhari and Jichudrake. We have lunch on the ridge while enjoying the views and then continue a little further up the ridge to 13,520ft (4,120m). From here, we contour round a little and then drop steeply on a rocky trail to the shores of Jimi Lang Tscho, well known for its trout. Accommodation: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 12,746ft/3,885m)
Day 7 Trek to Labana
We have another long but great day’s walk with good mountain views. The trail climbs from camp along a rocky trail up to Janye Tscho Lake. Climbing even higher to a col at 13,615ft (4,150m), we then have a short descent to Simthokha Lake (13,420ft/4,090m), the highest lake on our trek. From here, the trail undulates all the way to our camp at Labana. Accommodation: Full-service camping (sleeping altitude: 13,450ft/4,100m)
Day 8 Cross the Labana Pass and descend to Phajoding; transfer to Thimphu
The trail climbs gradually up to the Labana Pass, the highest point of this trek at 13,895ft (4,235m). The views get better and better and, on a clear day, we can see Gangar Punsum, Table Mountain and much of the Bhutan Himalaya. Way below is the Thimphu Valley. From the top, we traverse the hillside with great mountain views and descend towards Thimphu. There are a couple of small climbs to cols but the general direction is downhill. From the Phajoding Labsa chorten (shrine), we descend quite steeply to Phajoding Monastery for lunch. There are several temples here and a monastic school and the place is visited by many Bhutanese. We descend even further through forests of blue pine to the end of our trek at Motithang, just above Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. We should reach our hotel by mid-afternoon. The evening is free to explore Thimphu. Accommodation: Hotel Pedling (or similar)
Day 9 Thimphu sightseeing. Festival departures: Spend the day at Thimphu/Dechenphug Tshechu Festival
We spend the day visiting the most important sites in and around Thimphu, including the Memorial Chorten (built in 1974 to honour the memory of the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk) and Buddha Point (a large Buddha statue on the hillside overlooking Thimphu). There are several museums in Thimphu and an art school, while the post office and market are also interesting. Above the town is a takin preserve. Your leader aims to show you as much as possible in the time available depending on opening times. In the late afternoon, we drive to Paro (one-hour drive). Alternative itinerary for festival departures: Thimphu/Dechenphug Tshechu Festival - September & October 2024 and October & November 2025. We spend the whole day experiencing one of the many vibrant festivals in Bhutan. During the festivals, the Bhutanese gather to see the monks and lay dancers dressed in colourful brocade and silk costumes, wearing painted masks re-enacting the stories of the religious and lay history of Bhutan through music and dance. For several days, there are masked dances, prayer meetings, and a carnival atmosphere as many villagers arrive to meet old friends. The Bhutanese all wear their finest national dress for the festival and one of the highlights is the magnificently colourful silks on display. Paro and Thimphu are the most popular festivals in Bhutan whereas Dechenphug Tshechu is much smaller. Accommodation: Rema Resorts (or similar)
Day 10 Paro Sightseeing. Festival departures: Spend the day at Paro Festival
We start today but visiting Kyichu Lhakhang. Built in the seventh century, it is said to be the oldest temple in Bhutan and therefore holds great spiritual significance to the country. Legend says it was built on the foot of ogre by a king in one night. After this, we continue to explore the city and surrounding area. Alternative itinerary for festival departures: Paro Festival - 14 March 2024 & 02 April 2025 See day 9 for description. Accommodation: Rema Resorts
Day 11 Fly to Kathmandu
We fly back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free to explore the temples and markets of the Nepalese capital or go shopping. There are several sightseeing tours available (ask the Exodus representative in Kathmandu) or you may want to explore on your own. You could visit the monkey temple at Swayambhunath, the largest Hindu temple in Nepal at Pashupatinath, or one of the largest Buddhist stupas in Asia at Boudhanath. Once you’ve had your fill of culture, the colourful markets of Thamel are great for souvenir hunting. Accommodation: Royal Singi Hotel (or similar)
Day 12 End Kathmandu
Our trip ends in Kathmandu after breakfast. If you’d like more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Sometimes, due to opening times, holidays or festivals, we have to change the timings of the sightseeing around. We endeavour to show you all the sights in the time available. In case it is not possible to visit any of the sights described in the notes above an alternative will be provided.
