Bhutan Snowman Trek

A really exciting and informative day as an introduction to this wonderful country (described in part above). The Paro valley is truly beautiful, being a location for various farming activities, including commercial quantities of asparagus, strawberries and shitake m...

It is a short drive of approx 20 minutes up the Paro valley to Drukyel Dzong, which was originally built as a fortress in 1647 to guard against Tibetans invading the Paro Valley. We continue the drive to Shana (1-1.5h drive) from where our trek commences. On this sce...

We now trekking within Jigme Dorje National Park, the largest protected area in the country (4350 sq kms.) which extends beyond Laya to Lunana in the east and all the territory to the south. Whilst it is a protected wilderness, the park management which is based at Ga...

We continue higher to the camp at the base of Jomolhari, a superb alpine setting. Jichu Drake (6794m) rises to our right, with a fine, elegant ridge running down toward the pass that we will cross on our next trekking day. We camp in the vicinity of yak herders from ...

An important day set aside for day acclimatisation. A side trip up the small valley towards Jomolhari takes us to a dramatic viewpoint towards the glacier. Alternatively we may make a scenic excursion up to Tshophu lake set adjacent to Nyile La pass, both will be wor...

From camp we commence our ascent over rolling slopes of grassland and small brush to the Nyile La (4850 metres). This stage is not unduly demanding and if this is your first Himalayan pass just take your time, particularly on the final steeper stages just below the p...

We continue to head northeastward, ascending past the Lingshi Dzong across high alpine pastures dotted with rhododendron and daphne to Chebisa. It is a picturesque valley of pastures and shingle roofed, stone houses. At its head, a short stroll from camp is a tall wat...

From Chebisa the trail contains undulating ups and downs to the Gombu La (4440 metres). The views back to Lingshi and the surrounding peaks are spectacular. Here, hill partridges have been sighted, while the lammergeier is seen soaring above the alpine pastures. The d...

Our route takes us directly upwards this morning, traversing grassy slopes and windswept hills to the Jare La. Blue sheep and lammergeirs can often be seen here. Once at the gap, marked by flags and several cairns we can look expansively across to the adjacent valle...

It will take us approximately four hours to make our ascent of Sinche La. A slow steady pace is essential to gain it comfortably and make the long descent on the other side. At the pass itself there are glimpses of peaks to our left including Gangchenta. Descending, ...

This morning we walk directly away from the mountain environment before us, descending the Zamdo Nangi Chhu valley to Laya, the largest village of the trek. The forests are thick for the several hours; and the trail winds down beside the river steeply, until we reach...

We start hiking early, as today is one of the toughest days of the trek with a lot of steep uphill. After passing the Army Camp and crossing the river we begin our ascent towards Lunana and the most remote stages of our trek. It will take us more than three days to re...

We gradually ascend the slopes of dwarf rhododendrons, and once this is achieved, trek on through another small valley of alpine pastures to a small pass, Tsemo La (4905m). We descend and traverse around some slopes to be rewarded with a line of snowy peaks, with Gan...

Today’s magnificent hike will take us into the pristine and remote Lunana District. It takes us about one and a half hours to reach our pass at the head of the valley and then we have a very long descent of approx 1200 metres to the valley of the Tang Chuu. At the pa...

Following the river, we descend the valley to see the impact of a number of large landslides. They have taken out tracts of forests and left an enormous pile of rubble in its wake. We climb over a ridge to the village of Woche at 3940m, the first village of Lunana. W...

Having made most of our ascent yesterday, we only have approx 200 metres to trek to the gap of the Keche La (4670m). There is time to relax and enjoy the views across the cirque like valley that we have just passed through. Turning towards our destination, we see dis...

Time to do washing, relax, or perhaps go for a walk up the moraine to the glacier near Table Mountain and Thanza. There is a small ridge behind the village that offers spectacular views of the neighbour of Table Mountain, Kangphu Gang (7212m). You can also snap pictu...

Two solid trekking days ahead through a region where the weather can change easily, from sun to sleet and snowstorms, and we should be well equipped for any conditions. Crossing the river first thing, we commence our steep ascent of a long rolling slope and narrow val...

Leaving our yak herder camp below the pass, we walk through a lunar landscape of rocks, lakes of incredible green hues, glaciers and snowy summits. Today we cross our highest pass, the Rinchen Zoe La (5326m) before crossing a plateau reminiscent of the Tibetan Plateau...

After crossing the river we follow the main valley, entering the forest and warmer temperatures. The scenery is pretty, both immediately around us and to the snowy peaks in the distance down valley. The trail weaves in and out of boulders in and at the side of the r...

It takes us under an hour and a half to reach the Tempe La (4665m), our last pass of the trek. From here the trek is all downhill to camp. Initially it is quite steep, winding down and past the large turquoise lake of Om Tsho, and then traversing back and forth across...

We aim get an early start for our drive from Punakha to Paro. The first stop once in town is the Paro Dzong - as with all Dzongs the fortress is the center for civil and religious activities. The Dzong lies just below the national museum and is accessible by an old ca...