Gangtey Trek

You will take the Royal Bhutan Airlines flight to Paro Airport, Bhutan. During the flight, you will enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Himalayas. After watching the beautiful plateau scenery on the plane, you will arrive at Paro Airport, the only airport in Bhutan. Your Bhutanese guide will wait for you outside the terminal building, and then take you to Thimphu - the capital of Bhutan. It takes about 2hrs driving for 55 kilometers.

In the afternoon, you will proceed to Trashi Chhoe Dzong, a majestic and grand castle on the west bank of the Wangchu River. This is the office of the current king and the seat of the internal affairs and finance departments. It is also the summer residence of religious leaders and central religious institutions. After the visit, go north to Takin Zoo, where is exclusively built for Bhutan's national animal - takin. Takin is a creature with a sheep head and cow body which is only living in Bhutan. If time permits, we will also arrange you to visit Thimphu's ordinary market.

Stay overnight in Thimphu

• Meals:
• Dinner

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After breakfast, we drive up to Dochu-la pass (3,088m/ 10,130 ft) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the Chorten, mani wall, and prayer flags that decorate the highest point on the road. If the weather is fine, you can see peaks like Masagang (7,158m), Tsendagang (6,960m), Terigang (7,060m), Jejegangphugang (7,158 m ), Kangphugang (7,170 m ), Zongphugang (7, 060 m ), and Gangkar puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7,497m.

After 5 hrs’ drive, you will get to the Phobjikha Valley , which is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled places in Bhutan and well known as the winter home of the black-necked cranes. You can see these elegant and shy birds from early November to the end of March. Finally, you may overlook the Phobjikha valley from Gangtey Goemba, an old monastery that dates back to the 17th century.

Overnight at the hotel in Gangtey

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

15KM | 6-7 HOURS | 610M ASCENT | 410M DESCENT | CAMP ALT 3130M

The trek begins from Phobjika Valley at 2830km and leads south, then west through meadows, and through a mixed forest of rhododendron, bamboo, juniper, and magnolia. After crossing Tsele La Pass (3,430m), you will descend to Juge Kangkha Chhu valley. Afterward, there'll be a short climb to the camp at Gogona (3,100m), a beautiful hilltop site overlooking a long valley. Nearby is Gogona Lhakhang and dozens of poles with white prayer flags fluttering. Gogona is well known for its “Gogona Cheese” production.

A 30-minute walk beyond Gogona is a hamlet where you may find homemade ara (local alcoholic drink) to buy. The women here weave blankets. The village folks speak here a different dialect called Bjop-kha (language of the nomads).

Overnight camp

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

16KM | 5-7 HOURS | 450M ASCENT | 860M DESCENT | CAMP ALT 2790M

Follow the trail going gently uphill, you will pass flocks of sheep and plowed fields then climb into a forest of firs, oak, spruce, dwarf rhododendron, miniature azaleas, cypress, and juniper. You may identify the daphne plants by its yellow flowers, from which the Bhutanese make traditional paper. After a long, but gradual climbs, you will cross Shobe La Pass at 3480 meters.

The trail down from the pass leads to a wide valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges. Eventually, you will come to Chorten Karpo, where there are four Chortens dedicated to the four chief abbots who came from this area. The best campsite nearby is in a clearing at 2790m, beside a forest of large blue pines overlooking the valley and the village of Khothangkha, comprising about 60 rustic houses.

Overnight camp

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

12KM | 4-5 HOURS | 120M ASCENT | 1340M DESCENT

From the camp, you will ascend shortly to the Tashi La pass(2800m), then the path descends steeply through a wonderful forest full of birdlife and the undergrowth changing from rhododendrons and magnolia to ferns and dwarf bamboo. This stretch of trail is Bhutan’s best bird watching area. The trail then descends steeply from terraced wheat fields and eventually meets the road near Tikke Zampa at 1500m. Trek ends.

Later, transfer to Wangdue Phodrang town. For the rest of the day, you may walk around to explore the town.

Stay overnight in Wangdue Phodrang

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

In the morning, we will set out from Wangdue Phodrang to Paro. By the way, You will visit Chimi Lhakhang, which is a temple built-in memory of Lama Drukpa Kunley by his cousin. Lama Drukpa Kunley is a saint widely respected by Bhutanese and is called a mad saint. It is said that women without children can get pregnant after coming here to worship.

Later, you will visit the most important attraction today Punakha Dzong, the second castle in Bhutan, located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley. It was still the seat of the national government until 1950. Punakha Dzong is recognized as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan, especially in spring, when the blue-purple jacarandas surrounding the Dzong are in full bloom.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

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In the morning you will trek from the bottom of Paro Valley to the Taktsang Monastery, perched on the side of the mountain. Taktsang (commonly known as Tiger's Nest) is the most sacred site in Bhutan and one of the top ten super temples in the world to go. Located at an elevation of 3120 meters, Taktsang is the birthplace of Bhutanese Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress, which was the manifestation of his divine consort Yeshe Tsogyal.

You can ride a horse or walk to Tiger’s Nest. It is a challenging trek so you will gain merit with every step. The view from the Paro Valley to the monastery is worth your climb. The hike starts from a gentle forest with some prayer flags. After passing a creek and some water-powered prayer wheels, the trail starts getting steeper.

On halfway up the monastery, there is a nice teahouse with great views of Taktsang Monastery that makes a welcome stopping point. You can get some tea and take a break here. You can continue climbing to the viewpoint, which is the best place to take photos of Taktsang. From here, you will walk down a series of steep stairs to a waterfall to achieve your final ascent to the entrance. Here you will be required to leave your backpacks, cameras, and phones.

In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Bhutan. After visiting today’s attractions, your tour guide can also take you to visit the ordinary market in Paro, where you can buy some handicrafts with Bhutanese characteristics.

Stay overnight in Paro

• Meals:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

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Your guide will pick you up from your hotel, take you to the airport, and help you check in for your flight from Bhutan.

• Meals:
• Breakfast