Bhutan Tiger’s Nest & Druk Path Trek 12D11N, Fully Guided

Welcome to Nepal’s gorgeous capital city, Kathmandu, also known as Kathmandu Metropolitan City. This city holds thousands of years of culture within every temple and monastery, an excellent starting point for our adventure.

Following our arrival at the Royal Singi Hotel, our luxurious night accommodation is in the heart of the city. Settle in and recover from the jet lag in your comfy room. Its location is close to tourist centres, market areas, and restaurants.

A good place to begin your adventure is Thamel. It is a lively neighbourhood with bars, restaurants, casinos, cafes and shops selling unique souvenirs. The area is also famed for its nightlife and you can find out why.

Note: The start hotel Royal Singi Hotel is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. The tour provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.

If the weather permits, we enjoy a scenic flight to Paro. You should get a breathtaking view (from the left-hand side of the plane) of much of the eastern half of the Himalayas, including Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari (Jhomolhari). We transfer to our hotel once we finalise our visa formalities in Paro. The Paro Valley is famed as one of the most beautiful in Bhutan, with blue pine-decorated hills and lovely farmhouses among paddy fields - all overlooked by the massive Dzong (fort).

Our plans for this afternoon include visiting Paro Dzong and the national museum above it. Park Dzong, one of the most impressive in Bhutan, is one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. The inward-sloping walls form an imposing structure that towers over the town. Erected in the 17th century, it was one of the strongest and most important fortresses in Bhutan. It was used on many occasions to defend the Paro Valley from invasions by Tibet. The Dzong, which used to be the meeting hall for the national assembly, now houses a monastic school and district government offices. West of the Dzong is a covered wooden bridge known as Nyamal Zam, a restoration of the original bridge, which was washed away in a flood in 1969.

At the hill’s summit, above the Dzong, is the old watchtower known locally as Ta Dzong. Built in 1656, it was renovated in 1968 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk to house the National Museum. Destroyed by the earthquake in 2011, the museum is now in a new building above the Ta Dzong. The museum features collections of masks and thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings).

Arrive at our home for the next two nights, Rema Resorts. Rema Resorts, a quaint spa hotel, is situated in a serene location, offering heart-stopping views of the Paro River and majestic mountains, which you can enjoy from the terrace.

Please note: The itinerary above could change subject to flight timings, which are generally unpredictable.

Level 4, Approx 12 km (7 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 660m (2,165ft), Elevation loss: 660 m (2,165 ft)

We begin the day with a warm-up hike to Taktsang Monastery. Also known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, it sits on the ledge of a cliff high above the Paro Valley. It was partially damaged by fire in 1998 and has now been restored to its former magnificence. We take a short drive from the hotel before hiking for about 1hr 30min to a viewpoint for classic vistas of the monastic buildings that embrace the cliff wall opposite. Still feeling energetic? Trek another 45 minutes to the actual monastery. The walk is good for familiarisation, and we recommend wearing trekking boots. Please note there are about 100 steps up and down. Returning to the hotel, we have the afternoon to explore Paro town.

Paro is overflowing with rich culture and history; there’s so much to do. You can explore its iconic monasteries and dzongs, stroll along the Paro Chhu River, take a cooking class, or watch a game of traditional archery. Your guides will be happy to give recommendations.

Level 3, Approx 7 km (4 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 954 m (3,130 ft), Elevation loss: 70 m (230 ft)

Today marks the beginning of our epic trek. After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a short drive to a height of about 2,620 meters (8,595 feet), just above the ancient Ta Dzong watchtower. Though the trek itself is not long in hours, it ascends steadily, gaining a fair amount of altitude.

We set off with a gentle climb that leads us to a prayer wall within about 1 hour and 30 minutes, tracing a steep track. The trail then tightens, guiding us through a rugged, rocky path that steepens slightly as it winds through the forest.

Our lunch is enjoyed in a tranquil clearing, an hour further along our journey. In the afternoon, we continue for roughly an hour until reaching Jele La (3,550 meters/11,645 feet), where our camp is set just below the pass and the crumbling Jele Dzong. If the weather graces us with clarity, the panoramic view of the Paro Valley unfolds below. For those with a bit more stamina, there’s an option to trek further up the ridge from Jele La to a dilapidated hut that houses a small Bon shrine, adding a touch of mystique to our adventure.

Level 3, Approx 12 km (7 miles), 3-5 hours walking, Elevation gain: 680m (2,231ft), Elevation loss: 295 m (968 ft)

Following a wholesome breakfast, we take a short walk back to the main trail and climb for about 30 minutes to Jele Dzong. If it is accessible, we go inside the 14th-century Dzong. We keep going 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. We navigate the winding trail through thick rhododendron forests as we keep our eyes peeled for colourful monal and blood pheasants. Lunch is in a forest clearing, and afterwards, we go on a short trek to our camp at Rawna.

Please note: If other trekking groups are around, we may have to camp at Jangchu Lakha (3,700m/12,140ft) or Tsokam (3,750m/12,300ft). The three campsites are close by, each in different forest clearings.

Level 5, Approx 10km (6 miles), 5-7+ hours walking, Elevation gain: 628m (2,060ft), Elevation loss: 622 m (2,041 ft)

You may need to prepare yourself for today as it will be a long day and probably the most tedious walk of the trek. We walk steeply from the camp on a narrow trail for about an hour to reconnect to the main trail. We keep climbing through a jagged landscape decorated with small rhododendron bushes. We arrive at a col at 4,073 m (13,367ft) marked with prayer flags and then drop down a short way to a cave. The trail then ascends again quite steeply to a ridge at 4,080m (13,385ft), where we get breathtaking mountain panoramas on a clear day, including Chomolhari and Jichudrake. We eat lunch on the ridge to go with the lovely views we feast our sights on before travelling a little further up the ridge to 1,120 m (13,520 ft). From here, we move around a little and then drop on a rocky trail to the shores of Jimi Lang Tscho, famed for its trout.

Level 5, Approx 9 km (6 miles), 5-7 hours walking, Elevation gain: 708 m (2,323ft)

We embark on another long but fulfilling walk with good mountain vistas. The trail extends from camp along a jagged trail up to Janye Tscho Lake. Hiking even higher to a col at 4,150 m (13,614 ft), we take a short descent to Simthokha Lake, 4,090 m (13,420 ft), the highest lake on our trek. From here, the trail winds to our camp at Labana.

Level 4, Approx 11 km (7 miles), 4-6 hours walking, Elevation gain: 235m (771ft)

The trail leads us up the Labana Pass, the highest altitude of this trek at 4,235m (13,895ft). The views get more attractive, 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 summit, we traverse the hillside with stunning mountain views and descend towards Thimphu. There are several small climbs to cols, but the general direction is downhill. From the Phajoding Labsa chorten (shrine), we go down even further to Phajoding Monastery for lunch. There are several temples here, and a monastic school, and it is visited by many Bhutanese. We descend even further through forests of blue pine to the end of our trek at the Motithang, just above Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

We should arrive at Hotel Pedling by mid-afternoon, a simple and comfortable hotel and spa located in the vibrant parts of Thimphu. You are assured a rejuvenating session in the spa and quick access to exciting activities due to its location.

We use the day to visit 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 towering Thimphu). There are many museums in Thimphu and an art school—the post office and marketing are also interesting places to visit. Your leader’s goal is to show you as much as possible in the time available depending on opening times. In the late afternoon, we drive to Paro (a one-hour drive).

Alternative itinerary for festival departures: Thimphu/Dechenphu Tshechu Festival - September & October 2024 and October & November 2025.

We spend the day witnessing one of the most lively festivals in Bhutan. During the festivals, the Bhutanese gather to see the monks and lay dancers dressed in vibrant brocade and silk costumes, donning painted masks, reenacting the stories of the religious and lay history of Bhutan through music and dance. There are masked dances, prayer meetings, and a carnival atmosphere for a few days as many villagers arrive to meet old friends. The Bhutanese all put on their finest national dress for the festival, and one of the highlights is the magnificently colourful silks on display. Compared to Dechenphu Tshechu, which is much smaller, Paro and Thimphu are the most famous festivals in Bhutan.

We begin the day by visiting Kyichu Lhakhang. It was built in the seventh century and is said to be the oldest temple in Bhutan; it holds great spiritual significance to the country. Legend says it was erected on the foot of an ogre by a king in one night. Following this, we continue to explore the city and neighbouring areas.

Alternative itinerary for festival departures: Paro Festival - 14 March 2024 & 02 April 2025 See day 9 for description.

We start today with a flight back to Kathmandu. You have the rest of the day to traverse the temples and markets of the Nepalese capital or go shopping. Several sightseeing tours are available (you may inquire about them from our representative in Kathmandu).

You may also check out 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 vibrant markets of Thamel are great for souvenir hunting.

Our amazing trip comes to an end in Kathmandu after breakfast. If you’d like more time to explore, you should speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Sometimes, we have to change the sightseeing times around due to opening times, holidays or festivals. We endeavour to show you all the sights available at the time. If it is impossible to visit any of the sights described in the notes above, an alternative will be provided.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.