Trek the Druk Path & Trans Bhutan Trail: Self-Launched

Touch down at Paro International Airport (PBH) — one of the world's most dramatic landings, surrounded by Himalayan peaks. Your locally-booked guide will meet you and transfer you to a guesthouse in the Paro Valley. Spend the afternoon exploring Paro Rinpung Dzong, the 17th-century fortress overlooking the valley, and walk down to the traditional cantilevered bridge over the Paro River. Stroll through Paro town, grab a Bhutanese dinner of ema datshi (chilli and cheese) at a local restaurant, and get an early night ahead of tomorrow's hike.

🚌Airport pickup arranged through your local Bhutan operator — typically included in package price (~£10–15 if quoted separately)

🛏Guesthouse or 2-star hotel in Paro Valley — book directly through your local Bhutan operator (e.g. Bhutan Snowman Treks & Tours, Etho Metho Tours). Expect twin-share rooms included in your local operator package.

• →Paro Rinpung Dzong visit (included with SDF)
• →Walk to cantilevered bridge over the Paro River
• →Stroll through Paro town

An unforgettable warm-up hike to one of the world's most iconic monasteries. The trail climbs steeply through pine forest past prayer wheels and fluttering flags, ascending to the famous viewpoint at over 10,000ft where Paro Taktsang clings impossibly to the cliff face. You'll hike up to the monastery itself — one of Bhutan's most sacred sites — and enter briefly under monk guidance (no photography inside). Descend and visit Kichu Lhakhang, Bhutan's oldest temple (7th century), before heading back to the hotel. Your government-licensed guide is mandatory for this hike and will be arranged through your local operator.

🚌Short drive to trailhead — included with local operator package

🛏Guesthouse in Paro Valley (same as Day 1)

• →Full hike to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang) — 6 miles, 4–5hrs, 2,297ft elevation gain
• →Monastery visit with monk guide
• →Visit Kichu Lhakhang temple

The Druk Path begins! After breakfast, take a scenic 1.5-hour drive to the trailhead village of Damchena. The trail climbs steadily for 2.5 hours through blue pine and silver birch forest, past a mani wall (sacred stone inscriptions), to Jili La Pass at 11,745ft — with spectacular views back over the Paro Valley. Explore Jili Dzong, a prayer-flag-draped hilltop monastery, before continuing along a high wooded ridge through conifers and rhododendrons. Catch your first glimpse of Chomolhari, Bhutan's sacred snow-capped peak. Arrive at the high-altitude grazing ground of Jangchulakha for your first night camping. Your trekking team (mandatory through your licensed operator) sets up camp and cooks dinner.

🚌1.5hr drive from Paro to Damchena trailhead — included with operator

🛏Camping at Jangchulakha (high-altitude grazing ground) — tents, sleeping bags, and camp meals provided by your trekking crew as part of local operator package

• →Druk Path trek: Damchena to Jangchulakha — 11 miles, 7–8hrs, 4,429ft elevation gain
• →Jili La Pass (11,745ft) crossing
• →Visit Jili Dzong monastery
• →Yak herder settlement spotting

A shorter but stunning day on the trail. The path climbs to an alpine ridge with uninterrupted views of the Himalayan border with Tibet, crossing a series of small passes at ~13,287ft, each marked by stone memorials and prayer flags. The remote Jimilang Tsho lake gradually comes into view, dramatically backdropped by Chomolhari. A final descent through alpine meadows and rhododendron groves brings you to your campsite on the shores of this peaceful high-altitude lake.

🚌Trekking (no vehicle transport today)

🛏Camping at Jimilang Tsho Lake — provided by trekking crew

• →Druk Path trek: Jangchulakha to Jimilang Tsho — 7 miles, 4–5hrs
• →High alpine ridge crossing (~13,287ft passes)
• →Views of Chomolhari and the Himalayan-Tibet border

Savour the morning calm at Jimilang Tsho before heading through juniper and dwarf rhododendron forests and across yak-grazing meadows. Rest at the secluded Janye Tsho encampment (12,959ft), then continue with short ascents and descents past Simkotra Tsho Lake, with sweeping views back toward Jili Dzong. By late afternoon, reach Labana — a remote yak herders' campsite dotted with small alpine lakes. Tomorrow is the highest point of the trek, so rest well tonight at 13,550ft.

🚌Trekking (no vehicle transport today)

🛏Camping at Labana (13,550ft) — provided by trekking crew

• →Druk Path trek: Jimilang Tsho to Labana — 9 miles, 7hrs
• →Janye Tsho encampment rest stop
• →Simkotra Tsho Lake views
• →Labana yak herder camp arrival

The grand finale of the Druk Path. Begin with a climb to Pumo La Pass (13,780ft) — the highest point on this ancient trail — for panoramic views of both the Thimphu Valley and, on clear days, the sweep of the high Himalayas (Gangkhar Puensum, the world's highest unclimbed peak, may be visible). Descend past more alpine lakes and yak settlements, passing Phajoding Goemba, a sacred 12th-century monastery. A steep two-hour descent through mixed forest brings you to Motithang, where your guide transfers you into Thimphu for hot showers, a real bed, and a well-earned rest.

🚌Transfer from Motithang to Thimphu hotel — included with local operator

🛏2-star hotel or guesthouse in Thimphu — arranged through local operator. Budget options include Peaceful Resort or Gakyil Hotel (~£25–35/night twin share)

• →Druk Path final stretch: Labana to Thimphu — 10 miles, 7–8hrs
• →Pumo La Pass summit (13,780ft)
• →Phajoding Goemba monastery visit
• →Arrival in Thimphu — Bhutan's capital

After breakfast, drive 45 minutes from Thimphu to the magnificent Dochula Pass (10,171ft), adorned with 108 chortens built in memory of Bhutanese soldiers and offering sweeping Himalayan panoramas on clear days. From here, hike down the 'Divine Madman Trail' — a section of the Trans Bhutan Trail retracing the journey of 16th-century monk Drukpa Kuenley. The trail winds through rice paddies, traditional villages, and dense forest, passing Chimi Lhakhang, the famous fertility temple full of bold murals and the Divine Madman's iconography, where monks offer blessings. After ~4 hours of hiking, arrive in Thinleygang for a farmhouse lunch, then continue by road to Punakha for the night.

🚌Drive Thimphu → Dochula Pass (~45 mins), then vehicle to Punakha after hike — included with operator

🛏Guesthouse or 2-star hotel in Punakha — book through your local operator. Options include Meri Puensum Resort or local guesthouses (~£25–35/night twin share)

• →Dochula Pass (10,171ft) — 108 chortens and Himalayan views
• →Trans Bhutan Trail 'Divine Madman Trail' hike — 6 miles, 3–4hrs
• →Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple visit
• →Farmhouse lunch in Thinleygang

A rewarding full day exploring the stunning Punakha Valley. Hike through rice terraces, pine forests, and traditional farmhouses to the ridge-top Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten — a striking temple built to promote world peace, with jaw-dropping panoramic views of the valley below. Continue along the Trans Bhutan Trail to Sew Dangsa, a prayer-flag-festooned clearing where monks often stop to rest. Descend to Punakha Dzong, the architectural jewel of Bhutan, nestled dramatically at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers. Explore its elaborately painted rooms and courtyards, alive with practicing monks.

🚌Local vehicle transfers arranged through operator

🛏Guesthouse or 2-star hotel in Punakha (same as Day 7)

• →Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten — 8 miles, 4hrs
• →Trans Bhutan Trail to Sew Dangsa
• →Punakha Dzong visit — fortress-monastery at river confluence

Drive into the pristine Haa Valley — one of Bhutan's most untouched and recently BBC-listed as a top destination for 2025. Explore the legendary White Temple (Lhakhang Karpo) and Black Temple (Lhakhang Nagpo), two of Bhutan's oldest historic temples. Enjoy a traditional Bhutanese lunch in the valley, then lace up for the Kila Goenpa hike — a peaceful trail through alpine forest to one of Bhutan's oldest nunneries, dramatically clinging to a cliffside with magnificent views across the Paro and Haa valleys. It's a short, atmospheric finale to your trekking adventures in the kingdom. Return to Paro by late afternoon for a farewell dinner with your guide.

🚌Drive Punakha → Haa Valley → Paro — arranged through local operator

🛏Guesthouse or 2-star hotel in Paro (same area as Day 1–2)

• →Visit White and Black Temples in Haa Valley
• →Traditional Bhutanese lunch in Haa
• →Kila Goenpa (Nunnery of Peace) hike — 2 miles, 2.5hrs
• →Farewell dinner in Paro

After breakfast, your guide and driver transfer you to Paro International Airport (PBH) for your departure. If you have time before your flight, grab a final Suja (butter tea) at a local café. As you take off and bank over the Himalayan peaks, savour the last views of Bhutan's forested valleys, dzongs, and fluttering prayer flags — a truly rare kingdom, well and truly worth every penny.

🚌Transfer to Paro Airport — included with local operator package

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Breakfast and hotel checkout
• →Airport transfer to Paro International Airport (PBH)