SINCHULA WINTER TREK
Sinchu la trek is for two nights three days and it starts from Thimphu (The current capital of Bhutan) to Punakha (The ancient capital of Bhutan). This trek follows the old foot trail used by the people traveling between Thimphu and Punakha when there were no motor roads.
It takes you through several villages, terraced rice fields, pine and oak trees. If the weather is clear, it offers an incredible view of Phajoding Monastery and crosses through Sinchu la Pass. The best times for this trek are between March-May and September-November.
Day 1- Thimphu – Kabesa – Galapang
Day 2- Balakayba-Sinchula-Dungshing Pang
Day 3- Dungshing Pang – Sirigang – Punakha
Day 1- Thimphu – Kabesa – Galapang
Trek Rating: Moderate
Camping Altitude: 2890m
Duration: 1-2 hours
Lunch: Picnic
Overnight: camping
In the morning you drive towards Kabesa from Thimphu, 8km away from Thimphu, the capital. The trek begins with a gradual climb and takes you through rich green forest, blue pine trees and rhododendron forest till you reach Galapang your campsite.
Day 2- Balakayba-Sinchula-Dungshing Pang
Trek Rating: Moderate
Camping Altitude: 2420m
Duration: 6-7 hours
Lunch: picnic
Overnight: camping
About one and a half hour of slant upward trek you will reach Sinchula Pass, an altitude of 3476meters. On clear weather, this trek offers you the beautiful view of Phajoding monastery and some of the snowcapped Himalayan peaks.
The small village of Thinley Gang, Talo monastery and the highway to Thimphu can be seen after an hour of walk. It takes you through the green thick forest till you arrive at your campsite.
Day 3- Dungshing Pang – Sirigang – Punakha
Trek Rating: Moderate
Camping Altitude: 1078m
Duration: 6-7hrs trek
Lunch: Picnic
Overnight: Hotel
On the last day, drop down quite sharply through the subtropical forest till you reach a suspension bridge and then takes you through villages, rice paddy fields until you reach Chorten Ningpo Lhakhang, which was founded in the 15th century by the divine mad man Lam Drukpa Kinley.
An hour further down the mountainside will take you to Punakha-Gasa highway from where your driver will drive you to Punakha.