Bumdra trek in Bhutan.
Bumdra trek in Bhutan.
The details of 2 days picturesque Bumdra trek Bhutan such as itinerary, cost, altitude, difficulty & distance are given below. You can do this trek from three points but the highly recommended is from Sang Choekhor monastery in Shari. The trail passes through pine forest and the view of Paro in the valley floor below is breathtaking. The trek is romantic in the sense that hikers can soak in the beautiful sunset over the hills of Haa. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the Tiger’s nest monastery (Taktsang) and all the chapels above it. There are three sky burial sites in the area which is believed to have been blessed by Guru Rinpoche.
While in Bumdra, you have the option to hike to a sky burial site, practice archery or Khuru game (Dart) or spend the time in leisure. The photography opportunities are immense especially if you love nature and beautiful sceneries.
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Tiger’s nest monastery in Paro.
Bumdra trek in Bhutan - Trip facts:
- Trek duration: 02 days.
- Bumdra trek distance: 14 kilometers.
- Starting point: Sangchekhor monastery (2800 m).
- Trek end point: Base of the Tiger’s nest monastery.
- Best time for Bumdra trek: Oct. – Dec. & Mid Feb. – May.
- Bumdra trek altitude: 4000 m, highest point on Bumdra (Sky burial site): 4378 m.
- Bumdra trek difficulty level: moderately difficult.
Highlights of the trip:
- Picturesque landscape.
- Ancient temples, monasteries & dzongs (Forts).
- Pristine villages and farmhouse.
- Meet local people.
- Witness archery matches.
- Museums and government institutions.
Sketch itinerary:
- Day 1. Arrive Paro and sightseeing | Altitude 2280 m.
- Day 2. Trek to Bumdra monastery (Bumdra trek in Bhutan) | 7 km | 4 hours | Bumdra trek altitude / difficulty 3500 m.
- Day 3. Bumdra – Tiger’s nest – Thimphu (Bumdra trek in Bhutan) | 68 km | Drive: 1 1/2 hours | Hike: 4 hours.
- Day 4. Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 5. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing | 76 Km | Drive: 3 hours | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 6. Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang – Thimphu | 90 km | Drive: 3 hours.
- Day 7. Thimphu – Paro (Departure) | 54 km | Drive: 1 hour.
Bumdra trek cost / price:
The costs given below are inclusive of sustainable development fee (SDF) of US $ 100 per person per night and Bhutan visa fee US $ 40 per person.
Entrance fees for monuments and festivals visits to be paid separately.
The Bumdra trek costs / prices for different group sizes are below:
- Solo travel: US $ 2145.
- 2 people: US $ 1960 per person.
- 3 people or more: US $ 1780 per person.
Nature of trip: Private & guided Bhutan trip.
Detailed itinerary for Bumdra trek.
Day 1. Arrive Paro and sightseeing | Altitude: 2280 m.
Your guide from Yak Holidays will receive you at the Paro airport and drive you the short distance to the Hotel.
In the afternoon, visit Ta dzong (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 2. Trek to Bumdra monastery (Bumdra trek itinerary):
In the morning, drive to Sangchoekor Buddhist College in the Paro valley (Start of Bumdra trek altitude: 2,800 m). Walk up hill for 2 hours. We walk past Chhoe Tse lhakhang and reach near the Bumdra monastery (Cave of thousand prayers).
After lunch, visit the monastery or climb a peak nearby at around 4000 meter. We return to the camp.
Dinner and overnight in camp.
Hiking duration: 3 – 4 hours to camp, optional 2–3 hours return trek to peak, Bumdra trek difficulty level: Moderate.
Day 3. Hike from Bumdra via Tiger’s nest – Thimphu:
In the morning, return from Bumdra via the gate of Tiger’s nest monastery. Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic who brought buddhism to Bhutan flew here on the back of a tigress. We descend down and reach the base of the hill where our vehicles will pick us up. (End of Bumdra trek in Bhutan itinerary, Altitude: 2280 m).
In the afternoon, drive to the ruins of the Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Then visit Kichu lhakhang built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo. This is also one of the oldest temples in the country.
Drive to Thimphu. On the way, visit Tamchog monastery built in the 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Hiking duration: 5 – 7 hours, Bumdra trek difficulty level: Easy.
Day 4. Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude: 2334 m.
In the morning, visit the national memorial chorten (1974) and the tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters).
Then visit Changangkha lhakhang, Takin preserve center, Sangaygang view point and Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum restaurant.
Afternoon – Visit to 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 5. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing |76 Km | Drive: 3 hours | Altitude: 1242 m.
In the morning, drive to Punakha. On the way, visit Dochu La pass with its 108 stupas.
Then visit Chimi lhakhang built in 1499 to honor Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine Madman”. This temple is also called “the temple of fertility”.
Afternoon – visit Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and is the winter residence of Je Khenpo.
In the evening, drive to Yabesa village and hike to the imperial Khamsum Yuelley monastery.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 6. Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang – Thimphu | 90 Km | Drive: 3 hours.
In the morning, walk across the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan (160 m). The Punakha suspension bridge is considered the longest of its kind in Bhutan.
Drive to Thimphu via Wangdue Phodrang. On the way, view the Wangdue Phodrang dzong built in 1638 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Lunch at Dochula cafeteria and drive to Thimphu.
In the 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 7. Thimphu – Paro (Departure) | 54 Km | Drive: 1 hour.
After breakfast, drive to the airport and farewell (End of Bumdra trek in Bhutan with tour).
Included / Excluded in the cost
Flight Connections & Fares
What to pack for a trek
Included / Excluded in the cost
Trip Cost Includes:
- All meals [breakfast / lunch / dinner and evening tea / coffee].
- Accommodation [twin / double sharing basis]. Single room supplement is extra.
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
- Sustainable development fee.
- Bhutan visa fee.
- English speaking local guide.
- Sightseeing.
- Bottled water during the tour.
Trip Cost Excludes:
- Entrance fees for museums / monuments and festival visits.
- Drukair / Bhutan Airlines fares.
- Trip 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.
Trek Cost Includes:
Nature recreation and ecotourism division (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.
- Mattresses and all other trekking accessories.
- Note: For trekking a load of 25 kg is allowed.
Flight Connections & Fares
Singapore – Paro – Singapore (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 1100.96.
- Business Class: US $ 1792.50.
Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 951.
- Business Class: US $ 1290.
Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu. (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 462.
- Business Class: US $ 710.
Delhi – Paro – Delhi (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 594.
- Business Class: US $ 1033.
Kolkata – Paro – Kolkata (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 456.
- Business Class: US $ 706.
Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Paro – Dhaka (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 458.
- Business Class: US $ 766.
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 for Bumdra trek:
- Sunglasses.
- Head gear.
- Folding umbrella (only for wet months — July and August).
- One towel.
- Pillow case.
- Wet – packed tissue paper.
- Pillow.
Rinpung dzong in Bhutan.
Punakha dzong in Bhutan.
FAQs - Bumdra trek.
1. Is the riding pony included in the Bumdra trek cost ?
You have to pay separately for riding pony @ US $ 10 and is not included in the Bumdra trek cost mentioned above.
2. What is the Bumdra trek altitude at the sky burial site ?
The Bumdra trek altitude at the sky burial site is 4378 m and that of the camp site is 4000 m.
3. what is the Bumdra trek difficulty level ?
For a seasoned trekker or hiker, it is a relatively easy trek. For those who are not fit and used to high altitude terrain, it is a fairly difficult trek with steep climb and altitude gain.
4. Are the hikers susceptible to altitude sickness during Bumdra trek ?
Yes, the first time hikers and those not used to the high altitudes are susceptible to altitude sickness during Bumdra trek. It is advisable to bring along medicines for headaches and other related pills.
5. Is the helicopter evacuation service available in case of emergency during Bumdra trek in Bhutan ?
Yes, helicopter evacuation service is available in case of any emergency situation in Bumdra trek.
6. Can we get discount on Bumdra trek cost ?
The discount on Bumdra trek cost depends on the number of people in the group. Please contact us for more details.
7. Is it possible to do Bumdra trek itinerary in a day ?
Yes, if you are a seasoned trekker / hiker, you can do this Bumdra trek itinerary in a day and many people have done it. You have to be fit and should have a good stamina to complete in a day. This is a short trek in Bhutan with high altitude gains in a day.
8. Can I do Bumdra trek Bhutan in reverse direction starting from the base of the Tiger's nest monastery ?
Yes, you can do Bumdra trek Bhutan in reverse direction starting from the base of the Tiger’s nest monastery and ending at Sangchoekhor monastery (2800 m). However, the walking distance will be more on the first day if you do in the reverse direction.