JOMOLHARI ROUND TREK

Day 1- Paro to Sharna Zampa

Trek Rating: Moderate

Camping Altitude: 2870m

Duration: 6 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

You will drive from your hotel in Paro to the historic Drugyal Dzong (2580m) which is your trek start point and meet your trekking crew. After a brief meeting, you will walk downhill on a wide trail following the Pachhu (river), which then climbs gently traversing through well-maintained rice terraces and fields of millet.

Soon the valley widens and the route enters an area of apple orchards, traditional farmhouses and the tiny settlements of Mitshi Zampa and Sangatan. You reach the army post of Gunitsawa at 2810m after walking for a while through blue pine forest.

Here your trekking permit will be checked and stamped. This is the last stop before Tibet and border close to it. You will then cross Pachu River on a wooden bridge and then climb to Sharna Zampa at 2870m. Just beyond Shana Zampa, there are several meadows surrounded by trees where you will camp for tonight.

 

Day 2- Sharna Zampa to Soi Thankha

Trek Rating: Medium Hard

Camping Altitude: 3750m

Duration: 8 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

The trail continues to follow Pachhu (Paro river), going up and down through pine, oak and spruce forests. After 2 hours of continuous hiking and crossing several streams, you will reach at Shingkharap, a stone house at 3110m.

A hot lunch will be served after crossing the bridge towards the left side of the river. Little ahead is the trail junction – left an old trade route and invasion from Tibet and right leading to the wooden bridge (we follow the right). After climbing up through rhododendron forests and finally crossing the bridge again, we reach our campsite at 3750m, which is amidst beautiful meadows.

 

Day 3- Soi Thangkha to Jangothang Base Camp

Trek Rating: Moderate

Camping Altitude: 4040m

Duration: 6 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

Although today is not a long trekking day, a significant height gain will take place as your trail goes above the tree line. From the camp, your path ascends for a while till you reach the army camp. Then follow the river above the tree line enjoying the stunning view of the surrounding peaks. We walk through a very muddy section of trail, pass a mani wall and enter yak country.Hot lunch will be served inside a yak herder’s camp. After lunch, we walk past yak herder settlements of Soe and Takethang. Common crops that people grow here are barley, potatoes and turnips. We walk our final approach across a plateau and up a stream bed and Dangochang village to the awesome campsite of Jangothang at an altitude of 4040m. From here, the views of Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake are superb.

 

Day 4- Jangothang Base Camp – (Halt)

Camping Altitude: 4040m

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

Today, you will spend a day by doing four-hour acclimatization hike to the north of your camp. There is practically no trail but you will climb on an open and endless slope till you see the view of Mt Jichu Drakye (6989m).

You can scramble further up till 4895m (higher than Mount Blanc) to see an amazing view of Mount Jumolhari. You are likely to spot rare blue sheep, Himalayan rhubarb, griffon vultures, golden eagles and the remarkable blue poppy.

Jangothang base is flat grassy land with an old ruined fortress on a hillock in the foreground, beneath the colossal Mount Jumolhari and its neighbor Jitchu Drake. Most people show signs of mountain sickness at this altitude and it is recommended that all trekkers halt here. If you do not wish to hike but simply wish to just relax in camp, whichever option you choose, it’s certainly going to be a memorable day.

 

Day 5- Jangothang to Lingshi

Trek Rating: Moderate

Camping Altitude: 4010m

Duration: 7 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

The trail follows the stream for half an hour and crosses the bridge to the right side. Start the climb up to the first ridge with a breathtaking view of Jumolhari (7314m), Jichu Drake (6989m) and Tshering Gang (6789m). Then walk towards the valley, almost flat for a while, until you climb to the Ngye La pass at an altitude of 4700m. After the pass, it is a gradual descent to the camp, enjoying the panoramic view of the surrounding peaks and Lingshi Dzong.

If time permits, you can have a detour to this tiny fortress, which is sitting on a hilltop overlooking Lingzhi village below. For centuries, Lingzhi Dzong was a way station for weary Buddhist pilgrims and defense fort against Tibetan and Mongol invaders. Camp at an altitude of 4010m.

 

Day 6- Lingshi to Shodu

Trek Rating: Medium Hard

Camping Altitude: 4100m

Duration: 9 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

The Laya-Gasa route leaves the Jumolhari trek here. The trek route climbs towards a small white Chorten on a ridge above the camp, then turns south up the deep Mo Chhu valley. The trail stays on the west side of the largely treeless valley, climbing steadily a short distance above Mo Chhu.

It then crosses the river and climbs steeply for two hours to Yeli La pass (4,820m). From the pass, on a clear day, you can see Jumolhari, Gangchen Ta, Tshering Gang and Masang Gang. Descend alongside a stream to a shelter, and then further downstream to a camp at Shodu (4,100m), a meadow with a Chorten.

 

Day 7- Shodu to Barshong

Trek Rating: Medium

Camping Altitude: 3700m

Duration: 6 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

At this place, one comes back to tree line. The path follows Thimphu River, descending through rhododendron, juniper and other alpine forests. The view of the cliff facing rocks and waterfalls is stunning.

Hot lunches will be served by the riverside. After lunch, the trail gradually ascends to the ruins of riversides. After lunch the trail gradually ascends to the ruins of Barshong Dzong, reaching the camp at an altitude of 3700m.

 

Day 8- Barshong to Dolam Kencho

Trek Rating: Medium

Camping Altitude: 3600m

Duration: 6 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Camping

The trail descends gently through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch and conifers, and then drops steeply to meet Thimphu Chhu.

It stays on the river left, climbing over ridges and descending to side streams. Then traverses steep cliff to Dolam Kencho, a camp among pastureland at 3600m.

 

Day 9- Dolam Kencho to Dodena to Thimphu

Trek Rating: Medium

Duration: 5 hours

Lunch: Picnic

Overnight: Hotel

The trail goes in and out steeply to the river and follows southward to the road head at Dodena, elevation 2600m where you will be picked up by Bhutan-In-Style transport to drive to Thimphu.