Druk path trek in Bhutan.
The 5 day Druk path trek itinerary in Bhutan is one of the best and scenic short treks in Bhutan. The Druk path trek cost, itinerary and other details are given below. It passes through pine forests and mountain ridges and goes to high altitude above 4000 m above the sea level. The trek route passes through some beautiful high altitude glacial lakes. You will come across diverse flora as you pass through the ridge of the mountain. One will also get to see the beautiful view of the Himalayan ranges. This trek starts from Paro near the national museum and ends at Motithang, Thimphu.
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Dochula pass in Bhutan.
The memorial chorten in Bhutan.
Druk path trek – Facts:
- Trek duration: 05 days.
- Total distance: 56 km.
- Highest elevation: 4110 m.
- Difficulty level: moderately strenuous.
- Druk path trek cost: Starts from US $ 2600.00
- Best time: March – May & mid Sep. – Dec.
- Druk path trek in December: Perfectly doable.
Highlights - Druk path trek with cultural tour:
- Most scenic landscapes.
- Diverse flora and fauna.
- Ancient temples, monasteries & dzongs.
- Pristine villages and farmhouse.
- Meet local people.
- Witness archery matches.
Druk path trek itinerary (Sketch):
The day to day Druk path trek itinerary (Sketch) is below.
- Day 01. Arrive Paro & sightseeing | Altitude: 2200 m.
- Day 02. Paro – Hike to the Tiger’s nest (Taktsang) monastery | 7 km | Hike: 4 hours
- Day 03. Paro – Jele dzong (Start of Druk path trek itinerary) | 10 Km | Hike: 4 – 5 hours | Altitude: 3560 m.
- Day 04. Jele dzong – Jangchulakha | 10 Km | Hike: 3 – 4 hours | Altitude: 3770 m.
- Day 05. Jangchulakha – Jimilangtso | 11 Km | Hike: 4 hours | Altitude: 3870 m.
- Day 06. Jimilangtso – Simkota | 11 km | Hike: 4 hours | Altitude: 4110 m.
- Day 07. Simkota – Phajoding – Thimphu (End of Druk Path trek itinerary) | 15 km | Hike: 6 – 7 hours | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 08. Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude 2334 m.
- Day 09. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing | 76 km | Drive: 2 hours | Altitude: 1242 m.
- Day 10. Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang – Thimphu | 90 km | Drive: 4 hours | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 11. Thimphu – Paro (Departure) | 54 km | Drive: 1 hour.
Druk path trek Bhutan cost:
The Druk path trek costs / prices for different group sizes are below:
- 2 people: US $ 2950 per person.
- 3 – 10 people: US $ 2600 per person.
Nature of trip: Private & guided Bhutan trip.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 01. Arrive Paro and sightseeing | Altitude: 2280 m.
Your guide and driver will receive you at the Paro airport and drive to the hotel.
Afternoon, visit to Ta dzong, an ancient watchtower built in 1656 which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
Then visit Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
In the evening, visit to a Bhutanese farmhouse.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 02. Paro – Hike to the Tiger’s nest monastery:
In the morning, hike to the Tiger’s nest (Paro Taktsang) monastery (2 hours hike till the monastery).
– Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche; the tantric mystic flew here on the back of a flying tigress. This trail is also a part of the beautiful Bumdra trek.
Afternoon, visit to Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
– Visit Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D on the same day as Jambay lhakhang in Bumthang by Srongtsen Gampo.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 03. Paro – Jele dzong (Start of Bhutan Druk path trek):
The trek begins above the national museum (Start of Bhutan Druk Path Trek Itinerary).
– Hike for 3 hours till we reach camp. If the weather is clear, you can see the view of Paro valley below.
Dinner and overnight in camp (Altitude: 3560 m).
Distance: 10 Km; walking time: 4 – 5 hours, ascent: 1090 m.
Day 04. Jele dzong – Jangchulakha:
The trek starts with a short climb and then passes through a thick alpine forest of rhododendrons.
Dinner and overnight in camp (Altitude: 3770 m).
Distance: 10 Km, walking time: 3 – 4 hours, ascent: 310 m, descent: 50 m.
Day 05. Jangchulakha – Jimilangtso:
The trail follows the ridge and on a clear day the views of the mountains and valleys are beautiful.
Our camp is close to lake Jimilangtso.
Dinner and overnight in camp (Altitude: 3870m).
Distance 11 Km, walking time: 4 hours, ascent: 330 m, descent: 230 m.
Day 06. Jimilangtso – Simkota:
The trail takes you through dwarf rhododendron trees past the lake of Janetso.
Dinner and overnight camp (Altitude: 4110 m)
Distance: 11 km, walking time: 4 – 5 hours, ascent: 820 m, descent: 400 m.
Day 07. Simkota – Phajoding – Thimphu (End of Bhutan Druk path trek Itinerary):
From here we slowly descend down to Phajoding monastery from where Thimphu town is visible at the valley floor. (The end of Druk path trek).
Distance: 15 Km, walking time: 6 – 7 hours, ascent: 130 m, descent: 1820 m.
After lunch, rest in the hotel.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 08. Thimphu sightseeing:
In the morning, visit to:
– National memorial chorten (1974) built in honor of the third king, Late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
– Tallest statue of sitting Buddha (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.
– Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu valley built in the 13th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
– Takin preserve center, a mini zoo that houses the national animal of Bhutan, Takin. Bhutanese believe that this animal is created by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (The divine madman of Bhutan).
– Sangay gang view point from where you can see the view of Thimphu city below.
– Dupthop lhakhang, one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant.
– Visit to the painting school, the school of 13 arts and crafts.
In the evening, visit to the Tashichho dzong, the royal secretariat.
Then free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 09. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing | Altitude 1242 m | 76 Km | Drive: 3 hours
In the Morning, drive to the beautiful Punakha valley.
On the way, visit Dochula pass (3140 m) with its 108 stupas and enjoy the view of majestic Himalayas. The annual Druk Wangyel festival is held here on 13th December.
Then visit Chimi lhakhang, also called “The Temple of Fertility” built in 1499 to honor Lama Drukpa Kuenley. He is also popularly known as “The divine madman”. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as Yogi using songs and humor to spread his teachings of salvation through sex.
Afternoon, visit Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je Khenpo (chief abbot of Bhutan) and the monk body.
In the evening, hike to the imperial Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choling monastery.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 10. Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang – Thimphu | 90 Km | Drive: 4 hours.
In the morning, walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan across Pho chu river (160 m). Drive to Thimphu via Wangdue Phodrang and view the dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Afternoon – visit to postal museum where you can make personalized stamps. Then witness the archery match at Changlimithang stadium.
In the evening, free to stroll in the town for shopping and photography.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 11. Thimphu – Paro (Departure – End of Bhutan Druk path trek tour):
After breakfast, drive to the Paro airport and farewell (End of Bhutan Druk path trek tour).
Included / Excluded in the cost
What to pack for a trek
Included / Excluded in the cost
Trip cost Includes (On Tour):
- All meals [breakfast / lunch / dinner and evening tea / coffee].
- Accommodation [twin / double sharing basis]. Single room / tent supplement is extra.
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
- Sustainable development fee and government taxes.
- Entrance fees for museums / monuments and festival visits.
- Bhutan visa fee.
- English speaking local guide.
- Sightseeing.
- Bottled water on tour.
Trip Cost Excludes:
- Drukair / Bhutan Airlines fares.
- Insurance premiums.
- Payments for service provided on a personal basis.
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”.
- Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, soft drinks, camera charges, incidentals, portage, bellboy charges, tips or any other services.
Druk Path Trek Cost Includes:
- Nature recreation and ecotourism division fee (NRED) Nu.1000
- One trekking guide.
- Trekking cook.
- Helpers.
- Ponies and yaks.
- Tents (Sleeping tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and shower tent etc.).
- 3 meals a days + evening tea / coffee.
- Mattresses and all other trekking accessories.
Note: For trekking, a load of 25 kg is allowed.
What to pack for a trek
Personal clothing: strong normal clothing (according to season). Preferably cotton, even for summer, woolen clothing for the evening and winter.
- Strong comfortable trekking boots – water-resistant for the rainy period-June-August.
- Sunscreen.
- Flash light.
- Rain coat (especially for rainy period –June – August).
- Head gear / hat / cap; sun and rain protection.
- Water pills – for extra caution in purifying stream; (boiled water is provided at all times during the trek).
- Aspirin – incase of altitude sickness.
- Lots of socks.
- Warm clothes.
Optional items to bring:
- Sunglasses.
- Head gear.
- Folding umbrella (only for wet months — July and August).
- One towel.
- Pillow case.
- Wet – packed tissue paper.
- Pillow.
Druk path trek in Bhutan.
Drugyel dzong in Bhutan.
FAQs.
Yes, you can do Druk path trek in reverse direction starting from Motithang in Thimphu and ending at Damchen in upper Paro valley. However, the trail from Motithang to Phajoding on the first day is steep uphill and quite strenuous.
No, the riding pony is not included in the Druk path trek cost mentioned in the itinerary.
The best time for Druk path trek is from mid-March to end of May. Rhododendrons and other wild flowers will bloom during this time of the year. The weather will be warm, perfect for hiking with clear blue sky and mountains will be still covered with snow.
Yes, Druk path trek route is the most popular short trekking trail in Bhutan because of the scenic landscapes, rhododendron forests, high altitude lakes from where the trail passes through.
No, fishing is not allowed in the lakes along the Druk path trek trail.
Yes, you can stay for a night at Phajoding monastery. This monastery has a guesthouse that caters to the travelers.
Yes, you can meditate at Phajoding monastery during the Druk path trek. This is on the last day of this trek.