Explore the Himalayas: Chomolhari Mountain Trek

September 30-October 13, 2013

 

 

For those interested in connecting with the Him a lays, we offer our 14-day Chomolhari Mountain Trek.

We'll start our journey off with three fun day hikes to acclimatize and explore cultural highlights in Paro and Thimphu, Bhutan. Next, we will spend eight days on the Chomolhari Trek.

 

 

Weather & Elevation:

Temperature: Ranges from high 70's, low 30's. Temperatures will vary greatly based on our altitude and current weather.
Elevation: Our trek will span elevations between 9,450 and 16,137 feet. Maximum elevation is 16,137 feet on Day 9.

 

Trip Cost:$5950 double occupancy, $400 single supplement (rate includes flight from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan)

 

2013 ITINERARY

Day 1 - Sept. 30: Arrive Paro Airport. Drive to Thimphu (1.5 hours) and settle into hotel. See the afternoon sights of Thimphu.

Day 2 - Oct. 1: Hike to Dodedra Monastery (3.5 miles, ascend 1800 feet) or Cheri Goemba (2.0 miles round trip, ascend 800 feet). Each hike offers amazing mountain views and a great intro into the area. We will visit the monastery and get our first glimpse of Bhutanese culture.

Day 3 - Oct. 2: Drive from Thimphu to Paro ( 1.5 hours), breakfast in Paro and hike to the sacred monastery, the Tiger's Nest, perched 2700 feet above the Paro Valley. It is the most spiritual place for the Bhutanese and a major pilgrimage spot. (4 miles, ascend 1650 feet).

Day 4 - Oct. 3: Kila Gompa Nunnery to Chelila Ridge hike (4.0 miles, ascend 2000 feet). This amazing hike offers unparalleled mountain views and our first real glimpse of the high peaks and the upcoming trek. It is point-to-point so a wonderful outing above Paro with new views around every bend.

Day 5 - Oct. 4: Early morning drive to Sharna Army Camp and start trek to Thangthanka camp (13 miles, 9 to 9.5 hours). We start our trek through the valley of the Paro River, which gradually narrows as the trail leads higher, winding up and down through a thick, lush forest of oak, pine, and juniper. The trail becomes very rocky, muddy, and strenuous, climbing up and down while slowly gaining altitude. As we get closer to our camp for the night, we begin to see the snow capped summit of Chomolhari (if the weather is clear), a mountain that is sacred to the Bhutanese. This is a long, hard day with lots of ups and downs and rock hopping; it can be very muddy

Day 6 - Oct. 5: Jangothang Base Camp (11.5 miles, 5.5 to 6 hours hiking). We continue following the Paro River on a demanding, rocky trail, and then the valley widens again, opening to a spectacular area surrounded by high snow capped ridges. A few yak-herding families are based in this area, and we may be lucky to pay them a visit and try some of their dried yak cheese. Camp at Jangothang (13,382') below a ruined fortress near the base of Chomolhari

Day 7 - Oct. 6: Rest day (13,382 feet) Today is a free day to rest and explore. You can take a beautiful optional hike to Tsophu (lake) for spectacular views of Chomolhari and Jichu Drakye (you can gain altitude quickly, which is good for acclimatization). Of course, you can also opt to stay at camp, take in the views, and rest for the challenging day ahead

Day 8 - Oct. 7: Tshophu Lake Camp (7 hours hiking) - Climb steeply up to 14,661 feet and head into a glacial valley with many moraines. As we near the ridge we can see the snowy peaks of Tsering Kang (22,268') and Jichu Drakye (22,924'). Continue up to the Nyile La (15,980'), about four hours from camp. From here the views of Chomolhari, Jichu Drakye, and Tsering Kang are spectacular (weather permitting!). We may also see Ganchey Ta (22,285') and Masang Gang (23,500'). Return to a camp near Tshophu.

Day 9 - Oct. 8: Soi Yaksa via Bhonte La (9.0 miles,7 hours hiking) From camp hike along the plateau to Tshopu (14,300'), one of the two trout-filled glacial lakes we will pass on the way to Bhonte La (La translates to Pass). From here, we often see blue sheep, fat marmots, and migrating Himalayan birds, as well as incredible views of Jichu Drake, a beautiful snowcapped peak alongside Chomolhari. We continue for about one hour to Bhonte La (15,900'). We’ll drop steeply about 45 minutes to one hour to our lunch spot. After lunch we continue to make a long, steep descent to the yak-herding valley of Soi Yaksa (12,450').

Day 10 - Oct. 9: Rest day- A free day at this campsite gives us a chance to relax and possibly visit a yak herders' home to try some traditional salt tea and dried yak cheese, or take a hike in the surrounding, remote mountain areas where large herds of blue sheep have been sighted

Day 11 - Oct. 10: Thombue (7.0 miles, 4-5 hours hiking) Our hike today starts uphill to the top of the eastern ridge of the Soi Yaksa valley. From here we can enjoy an incredible view of the amphitheater of mountains to the north toward Bhonte La. Little by little the very top of Chomolhari and Jichu Drake reappear on the distant horizon as we approach our lunch spot. After lunch, we cross Takhung La, a 14,800-foot pass with panoramic views of the eastern Himalaya (on a clear day, you can even see Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world), before descending to our camp at Taybu (13,700') by the mid-afternoon. This area is rich pasture land for yaks, and we'll probably see nomadic yak herders in their stone huts. (5-6 hours of hiking.)

Day 12 - Oct. 11: Thombue to Sharna. (9.0 miles, 4 to 5 hours) After a steep climb out of camp to 14, 150' , we leave the remote mountain area by following a ridge. From this vantage point we get a glimpse of the Paro Valley to the south before we start our steep descent (4,500' of elevation drop) for most of the afternoon. Drive to hotel in Paro (1.5 hours)

Day 13 - Oct. 12: Visit the sites in Paro (Paro Dzong, National Museum, Dungtse Lhakhang, Kychu Lhakhang) or take a day excursion to Haa Valley. In the evening, we will enjoy a cultural show (1 hour) as our final cultural event.

Day 14 - Oct. 13: Flight out of Bhutan

 

Explore Bhutan - A 14-Day Personal Journey

November 2-15, 2013

 

This 14-day trip takes us well beyond the typical tourist itinerary. It combines at least three superb hikes and visits to some of Bhutan's most cherished temples and monasteries. We will take day hikes in the middle Himalaya, enjoy a festival devoted to the sacred Black-Necked Crane, learn about the tremendous diversity of Bhutan's orchids from an expert, search a riverbank for the world's second-largest heron with an ornithologist, camp at a remote hot spring, and visit several Dzongs or fortified monasteries, including the spectacular Gasa Dzong. Each day allows you to experience and photograph this long-isolated country and its exceptionally friendly people without any restrictions. Your leaders are expert guides, biologists and teachers, each with prior travel experience in Bhutan, who have teamed up with one of Bhutan's most respected guides to provide you with a true "personal journey of a lifetime".

Weather & Elevation:

Temperature: Ranges from high 70's, low 30's. Temperatures will vary greatly based on our altitude and current weather.
Elevation: We will sleep between 7,000 to 9,800 feet. Hikes will vary in elevation.

 

Trip Cost:$5450 double occupancy, $400 single supplement (rate includes flight from Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan)

 

2013 ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive at Paro Airport, get settled in at the Dekhyid Resorts, explore the town of Paro, and time permitting, see the National Museum and the 17th century Paro Dzong (fortified monastery).

Day 2: After breakfast at our hotel in Paro, we will drive a few miles to a trailhead and start hiking to Taktsang, or Tiger's Nest, one of Bhutan's most sacred sites and an architectural gem. This will be a warm-up hike that will take most of the day.

Difficulty: moderate to challenging - 4 miles, 1650 feet elevation gain

 

Day 3: After breakfast at Paro, we will drive for about 2.5 hours to a 10,500 ft. pass called Dochula, where we will take time to photograph a set of 108 stupas, called chortens, constructed in honor of the Fourth King, and the distant peaks of the Bhutanese Himalaya. From there, weather permitting, we will hike up to a secluded mountain temple Lungchuzer Goempa at 13,000 ft.
Difficulty: moderate to challenging. If the weather is too harsh, we will take a tour of the Royal Botanical Garden on the east side of the pass. Dinner and overnight at the Dochula Resorts to view the sunset and sunrise over the Bhutan Himalayas.

 

Day 4: Weather permitting, watch the sunrise over Bhutan Himalayas then a very scenic drive (2.5 hours) down to Punakha/Wanghdi valley. Lunch at the Chimi Lakang Cafeteria, then a very scenic walk to Chimi Lakhang, the temple dedicated to Bhutan's most infamous Saint Drukpa Kinlay. Difficulty: easy.

We will spend about an hour here, then return to our van on narrow trails wedged between a series of terraced rice paddies. We will have an opportunity to meet some local farmers. From here, we drive a half hour to the north to be guided through the huge and lovely Punakha Dzong at the confluence of the Mo Chuu (Female River) and the Pho Chuu (Male River). Overnight at Punatsangchu Cottages or Bap Kesang's hotel.

 

Day 5: After breakfast we cross the Punatsang Chuu River and meet with heron researcher Tshewang Norbu, an ornithologist with the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature. Tshewang will explain the society's efforts and conservation to save the few remaining critically endangered White-Bellied Herons along the Po Chuu. We will then drive along the Po Chuu to look for these rare herons. Overnight at Punatsangchu Cottages or Bap Kesang's hotel.

 

Day 6: Drive 5 hrs. from Kuruthang almost to Gasa, then walk about an hour to our campsite at the Gasa Hot Spring. The famous Gasa Hot Spring complex was completely destroyed by a flood in 2008, and has since been reconstructed. With evening approaching we will search for animal signs along the boulder-strewn banks of the Mo Chuu River. The opposite side of the river here comprises the wintering habitat of the national animal, the Bhutan Takin. Overnight camped at Gasa Hot Spring.

 

Day 7: We leave our secluded forest campsite early for the 2-hr. hike up to the Gaza Dzong at 9,200 ft. This spectacular Dzong, the only one in Bhutan with a circular design and three watchtowers, was built by the Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal as a defense fortress in 1648. A tour of the Dzong will include a glimpse of some unusual ancient weapons used for its defense from Tibetan invaders. As a dramatic backdrop to the Dzong, we may see the 6,500m Khang Bum, one of Bhutan's few climbable peaks. Weather permitting, we will hike for about three hours along the Laya trail, heading north from Gasa, for terrific views of some 15,000 ft. peaks across the canyon of the Mo Chuu river. After retracing our steps to Gasa, we will proceed down to the hot springs for a soak, a traditional Bhutanese dinner cooked on an open fire, and a well-deserved rest. Overnight camped at Gasa Hot Spring.

 

Day 8: We drive back down the Mo Chuu canyon road to Lobesa,stopping along the way to photograph the farms and people of the Punakha valley. After lunch, we pay a visit to the college of Natural Resources of the Royal University where we will watch a presentation on the orchids of Bhutan by the botanist and senior lecturer, Dr. Dhan Badur Gurung. Overnight at Punatsangchu Cottages or Bap Kesang's hotel.

 

Day 9: Following a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we will drive five hours to the beautiful Pobjikha Valley, winter home of the endangered Black-Necked Crane, and focus of the upcoming Festival. Time permitting, we will see some cranes with spotting scopes from the Crane Information Center's viewing room, and then we'll proceed to our Hotel next to the Pobjikha Monastery. Overnight at the Thegchen guest house.

 

Day 10: After a morning stroll around Gangtey Village, we join hundreds of spectators to enjoy the Black-Necked Crane Festival, which has been in existence for only 14 years, now one of the most popular festivals in the country. This will be an opportunity to witness and photograph a wide variety of traditional (masked) and modern dances, all performed in the courtyard of the Monastery in honor of this beautiful and endangered crane. In the late afternoon we will take a walk through the village of Gangtey and meet some of the local folks. Difficulty: easy. Overnight at the Thegchen Guest House.

 

Day 11: Return to Lobesa, stay at Bap's or YT hotel.

 

Day 12: Return to Thimphu, shop, see Folk Heritage Museum, traditional paper factory and explore the streets of Thimphu. Overnight at Thimphu Hotel River View.

 

Day 13: Driving north of Thimphu valley to trailhead, we walk over a traditional cantilevered bridge and walk up a well-worn trail to the 17th century meditation site of the Shadbrung, the unifier of Bhutan. Following the temple visit, we will retrace our steps to the river bank where we will be served a picnic lunch.
Difficulty: easy to moderate, 800 foot elevation gain. After lunch, drive to Thimphu, visit textile museum and school of arts and crafts, Takin zoo, and world's largest Buddha statue, Semtokha Dzong. Overnight Thimphu Hotel River View.

 

Day 14: Early departure to Paro Airport, and morning departure on Druk Air bound for Bangkok, with connections to U.S.