Upon arrival at Paro International airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative and the tour guide will receive and escort you to designated Hotels. In the afternoon drive to the ruins of the 17th Century Drukgyel Dzong, an historic monument built by the Zhabdrung to commemorate his victory against invading Tibetans in 1644. In fine weather the towering peak of the sacred Mount Jomolhari (7314m) appears as a stunning backdrop. On the return visit 7th Century Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Overnight at Paro

Drukgyal Dzong: In the morning, we’ll drive north of Paro Valley to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong. Built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, this dzong was destroyed by fire and remains a powerful reminder of Bhutan’s historic victories. Explore the ramparts and relive the memories of a glorious past.

–Taktsang Monastery: We’ll hike for about an hour to a vantage point, the cafeteria, where you can enjoy stunning views of the monastery. This is where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century.

Kyichu Lhakhang: After a delicious local lunch, we will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples.

We’ll drive to Haa via Chele La Pass (3,988 m). From the pass, you can enjoy views of Paro Valley on one side and Haa Valley on the other. Consider having a picnic at Chele La for a scenic lunch.

In Haa, we will enjoy some sightseeing and visit Katsho Village and Katsho Lhakhang. Haa Valley, only opened to tourists in 2002, remains one of Bhutan’s least visited valleys, preserving its traditional lifestyle. Due to limited tourist infrastructure, we will return to Paro for the night.

In the morning drive to Yabesa village and hike to through rice fields and up to Khamsum Yueley Namgyal Chorten, built by her majesty the queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. Perched high on a hill on the bank of the river, the Chorten houses paintings belonging to Nyingmapa Traditions. Drive back to Thimphu where you will have an opportunity to visit handicraft and souvenir stores. Afterwards proceed to Paro, visiting Semtokha Dzong en route. The Dzong, built in 1627, is the oldest in Bhutan. On arrival in Paro, check into the hotel. Evening stroll through the charming Paro town. Overnight at Paro.

The trail ascends to an army camp, then follows the river above the tree line, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks. We’ll have a hot lunch at a yak herder’s camp. A short walk takes us to our campsite at Jangothang (4,040m), with superb views of Jhomolhari and Jichu Drake

The trail follows a stream for half an hour, crossing a bridge to the right bank. We climb to the first ridge, enjoying breathtaking views of Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserimgang. The trail crosses a level valley floor before climbing to Nyele-la Pass (4,700m). We gradually descend to our campsite at Lingshi (4,000m), enjoying panoramic views of mountain peaks and Lingshi Dzong.

The first half of the trek takes us through a treeless valley, ascending to Yale-la Pass at 4,950 m. On clear days, we can see Mt. Jumolhari, Mt. Tsherimgang, and Mt. Masagang. Nomads use this well-marked trail between Lingshi and Thimphu. We descend from the pass, joining the Jaradinthang Chhu, which becomes the Thimphu Chhu. At an altitude of 4,150 m, we pass a chorten (stupa) and follow the river east to our camp at Shodu, just after crossing a sandy slope.

Today’s trail winds up and down, following the Thimphu Chhu through a limestone valley. Monks meditate in caves here, and Shabdrung is said to have meditated in these rocks when fleeing from Tibet in the 17th century. We’ll see giant rock faces and waterfalls. The trail ascends 130 m to the ruins of Barshong Dzong, a small village with just a few houses.

The trail features several ups and downs, with crossings of small streams. We’ll reach a trail split, with the right path leading to our campsite for the night.

Today’s hike is relatively easy, with gentle ups and downs followed by short, steep switchbacks descending a vertical cliff. The trail then descends through bamboo forests, following a mule trail high above the river. We’ll reach Dodina, where a vehicle will meet us for a half-hour drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s modern capital. Thimphu, with a population of about 98,500, is the only capital city in the world without traffic lights.

Today, we bid farewell to this beautiful Himalayan country and take an early flight back to Singapore. We hope you’ve made new friends and captured many photos and beautiful memories of Bhutan. We look forward to welcoming you back to this enchanting land! Tashi Delek!