Chomolhari Trek 15 Days

Destinations: Paro, Thimphu, Shana, Soi Thangthangkha, Jangothang, Lingshi, Shodu, Barshong, Dolam Kencho.
Trip Grade: Easy to Strenuous
Best Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November)

Itinerary: Chomolhari Trek 15 Days.
Day 1 Arrive Paro
On your arrival at the Paro airport, you will be received by your tour guide and escorted to your hotel. After a brief rest and some refreshment at the hotel, visit the National Museum and the Paro Rinpung Dzong.

Day 2 Paro Tour including hike to Taktsang Monastery
After an early breakfast, drive to Drugyal dzong 16kms away from your hotel. Although in ruins, this Dzong is historically very important for Bhutan because the Bhutanese won many wars with then invading Tibetan armies from this dzong in the old days.

Drive down to Satsam Chorten and hike to Taktsang Monastery which takes about 4 hours for the round trip hike. The word Taktsang means "Tiger's Nest", the monastery is situated on a rocky ledge with a sheer drop of more than 1000m. It is said that Guru Rimpoche, known as the second Buddha in Bhutan alighted here on the back of a Tigress during the 6th century and meditated on the same spot where the monastery is situated today for over 3 months to subdue the Demons in this region. Later he ordered a Monastery to be built on the same spot. Lunch at the Taktsang cafeteria and hike back to Satsam Chorten, where your transport is waiting.

On the way back, visit the Kichu Monastery. Built sometime in 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo to spread Buddhism in this region; it is the oldest temple in Bhutan. Also, visit the national Museum.
Overnight at Hotel Olathang or Gangtey Palace.

Day 3 Paro to Shana Trek
(Distance 17Kms, about 5-6 hours journey, and camp at Shana 2800m).
Drive up to Drugyal Dzong, where the road ends and begin the trek. The trail follows the river gently uphill through the narrowing valley and agricultural fields. The overnight camp is just beyond an army outpost.

Day 4 Shana to Soi Thangthangkha
(Distance 21Kms, about 7-8 hours journey and camp at Soi Thangthangkha 2950m).
The trail continues through the river valley. The valley gradually narrows so much that the path takes to the slopes. There is quite a lot of descending along this stretch. Campsite is in a meadow.

Day 5 Soi Thangthangkha to Jangothang
(Distance 19Kms, about 5-6 hours journey and at Jangothang 4040m).
The trek starts up the Pa Chu (Paro river). An army outpost is crossed along the way. The valley begins to widen again. You will begin to see snow capped peaks on the high mountains all around you. Yaks and Yak herder's winter homes become a regular feature of the landscape. The overnight camp is beneath a ruined fortress at the base of the Mount Chomolhari.

Day 6 Jangothang to Halt
You can either trek up to Tsophu lake which takes about 1-2 hours journey and do some trout fishing in the lake or hike up to Mt. Jomolhari to take a closer look of the mountain as well as other famous mountains such as Mt. Jichu Drake to the North and Mt. Tserim Gang and other peaks.

Day 7 Jangothang to Lingshi
(Distance 19 Kms, about 5 - 6 hours journey, and camp at Lingshi 4150m).
Trek through wide Yak pastures and up and down the passes. As you come down into the Lingshi basin, you get a wonderful view of the Lingshi Dzong; on a clear day, Mt. Tserim Gang and its glaciers rise up at the north end of the valley. Night Camp is a choice between a ready made stone shelter or the tent.

Day 8 Lingshi Halt
A day Excursion to Tshokha Lake, which is at the base of Mt. Jichu Drake can be done and will be very interesting. You can see plenty of Blue sheep and musk deers along the trail. The round trip trek will take about 3-4 hours.

Day 9 Lingshi to Shodu
Distance 22 Kms, about 7 - 8 hours journey, and camp at Shodu 3960m).
The trail climbs up to the Yalila pass at an altitude of 4820m. From the pass, you can get an excellent view of the Mt. Chomolhari, Mt. Tserim Gang and Mt. Massa Gang on a clear day. The trek from the pass to the camp site at Shodu is steep down hill. Camp in a ready made stone shelter or the tent.

Day 10 Shodu to Barshong
(Distance 13 Kms, about 3 - 4 hours journey, and camp at Barshong 3785m).
The trail follows the Thim Chu (Thimphu river) through the forests of Rhododendron. Beautiful water falls can be seen along the way. The valley narrows gradually till the path takes to the slopes and you ascend gradually to reach the ruins of Barshong Dzong. Camp in a ready made stone shelter or the tent.

Day 11 Barshong to Dolam Kencho
(Distance 11 Kms, about 3 - 4 hours journey, and Dolam Kencho 3628m).
The trail descends through the thick forest of Rhododendron to meet the Thim Chu (Thimphu river) and then ascends to the pasture lands. Camp site is in a meadow.

Day 12 Dolam Kencho to Thimphu
(Distance 14 Kms, and about 4 - 5 hours trek).
The trail continues through the forest winding up and down and through a small pass. You can see Golden Langur along the way sometimes. You reach Tango or Cheri after 4 - 5 hours of walk and from there, you drive up to Thimphu, which takes about 45 minutes. Afternoon, visit the Memorial Chorten, a huge Stupa built in memory of the Third King of Bhutan. In the evening, visit the Tashichhodzong, the main secretariat building which houses the office of the King and the Jhe Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan. It also houses many holy and important monasteries.

Day 13 Full day Thimphu Sightseeing
Morning, visit the Thimphu weekly market, where local merchants come together to sell farm products, textile and handicrafts. Visit the National Textile Museum and The Folk heritage museum, then, drive to Sangye gang view point from where you can view the entire Thimphu valley beautifully. On the way, back, visit the Takin sanctuary (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan). Visit the Zilukha Nunnery Monastery, the only monastery for nuns in Thimphu and also visit the Changgangkha Monastery, a 16th century temple.

Day 14 Thimphu and Paro
Morning, Institute of Arts and Crafts, where young
students are taught the traditional arts and crafts in order to keep this tradition alive, visit the National Library, which has a vast collection of ancient manuscripts. After lunch, drive to Paro. Overnight at Hotel Olathang in Paro.

Day 15 Depart Paro
Early breakfast at the hotel, and drive to Paro International Airport to connect your flight to onward destination.

Package price valid until June 2008 Chomolhari Trek 14 Nights / 15 Days High Season: (March, April, May, September, October and November) TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$3150
3-6 persons	US$3038
7-15 persons	US$2940
16+1 persons	US$2940 (One tour leader free of charge)

Low Season : (January, February, June, July, August, and December) Chomolhari Trek 14 Nights / 15 Days TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS :
GROUP SIZE:	TOUR COST:
1-2 persons	US$2842
3-10 persons	US$2744
11-15 persons	US$2632
16+1 persons	US$2632 (One tour leader free of charge)

Single Supplement: US$35 per night per person.
Festival Surcharge: US$30 per night per person based on festival days.

Tour Cost Includes :
Fourteen nights accommodation in quality hotels in Bhutan and tented camps based on twin sharing (during trekking, a two person tent is provided),
full-board meal plan (3 meals a day),
tour activities as mentioned in the program,
entrance fees to monasteries and monuments visited,
English speaking local tour guide,
all ground transportation including on arrival and departure,

Tour Cost Excludes:
Visa fees, international airfares, airport departure tax, personal clothing, personal insurance, alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, civil unrest, and emergency rescue costs.

The prices are same for cultural tours, treks or any other special interest tours. Visa Fee: US$20 + US$10 as Tourism Development fee payable directly on arrival in Bhutan with 3 passport photos.
Visa Processing Time: Two weeks

High Season : (March, April, May, September, October and November)
Full particulars of all participants should be provided at least 60 days in advance in order to hold all services on confirmed basis. These months are peak seasons and flight seats and other related services are very difficult to confirm.
Low Season : (January, February, June, July, August, and December)

The minimum daily package prices include the following services:
Accommodations on twin sharing basis, all transfers and sightseeing within Bhutan, services of accompanied guide, all meals, royalty and taxes to the government, riding ponies and pack animals on treks, fees to temples and monuments.