13 Days Trekking Tour of The Royal Trek Bhutan
Trip Overview
‘The Royal Trek’ was first named by Bhutan Excursions and gradually other companies started adopting the same name. The trek takes you through the ancient route which was used by the Royal family of Bhutan while moving from the winter palace (Trongsa) to the summer palace (Bumthang) during the monarchy’s early days. Gradually the route was abandoned and now it is covered in complete wilderness making it an ideal trail for trekkers and hikers to enjoy the pristine beauty of Bhutan’s landscapes.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Paro
Once you arrive at the Paro International airport and complete all the required formalities, you’ll be received by a representative of Bhutan Excursions who will drop you to your hotel. The evening can be used for strolling in the beautiful city of Paro and you can also indulge in some souvenir shopping.
Day 2 Tiger’s Nest Hike
The next morning you’ll hike up to the Taktsang or the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ monastery. The trail to the monastery which is built on a sheer cliff face takes you through forests and offers spectacular views of the surroundings. After visiting the famous pilgrimage site of this country, you’ll continue treading up to the top where there are some temples. The view from the top is simply amazing and the entire atmosphere is calm and peaceful.
While coming down, a different route will be taken through forests of rhododendron, oaks and Spanish mosses.
Day 3 Paro to Thimphu
On the 3rd day, you’ll be taken to Thimphu by car for sightseeing. The sightseeing will start with a visit to the Institute of Traditional Medicine where you’ll get the opportunity to have a peek into how traditional medicines are being prepared from the earth, plants and also animals. Next up will be a visit to the School of Traditional Arts & Crafts. See the students working meticulously and gain an in-depth understanding of the techniques used in traditional arts which includes woodcarving, secular paintings, traditional mask making and clay sculpture. You can also purchase some of these works of art at a much cheaper price from here. The next destination will be the Folk Heritage Museum which was set up in the year 2001. A walk through the museum will let you know more about the rural tradition, skills and habits and what it was like in the past.
Day 4 Thimphu to Punakha
The morning will be reserved for a visit to the National Library. If you are an enthusiast of ancient manuscripts then this visit would be something you will cherish for sure. Post lunch, you will be taken to Punakha passing through the Dochu La Pass at an elevation of 3050 m. Savor on the views of the mighty Himalayas, provided the sky is clear. It takes around 3 hours to reach Punakha from Thimphu.
Day 5 Punakha to Tongsa
Once you complete breakfast, you’ll be driven to Wangduephodrang. Located at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Dzong is a must-visit from where you can get impressive views of the vast valley. From here, you’ll be driven up to a winding road which will take you to Tongsa. On the way, you’ll come across the Pele-la pass which is located at an altitude of 3300m.
Day 6 Tongsa to Kuenga Rapten
Get up refreshed and visit Tongsa Dzong, a Bhutanese architecture masterpiece. The unique thing about the architecture of the Dzong is that in the past every traveler had to pass through the courtyard irrespective of the direction he was coming from. After the visit, you’ll be driven to Kuenga Rapten. The drive to this place is beautiful, taking you through vast expanses of rice fields and small villages. You’ll also get the opportunity to visit the Kuenga Rapten Palace. A further one hour drive from here will take you to the banks of Mangdechu River where if you are lucky, you can spot the Golden Langur. You’ll stay overnight at camp in Kuenga Rapten.
Day 7 Beginning of the Royal Trek: Kuenga Rapten to Zangrongpang
This is the first day of the trek where the ascent is a bit strenuous. You’ll walk through Samchiling and reach a meadow on the village outskirts. Once you cross the meadow, the vegetation thickens and continuing on the trail you reach Zangrongpang. This is also the place where the royals camped during their 3-day trip. You’ll stay overnight in a camp at Zangrongpang.
Day 8 Zangrongpang to Tonge La
The trek starts with a steep short climb to a ridge above the camp from where the Kuenga Rapten can be viewed. You will continue walking on a flat trail but will come across stone steps laid path quite frequently. Once the flat path is over, you move to another ridge and continue ascending through forests of hemlock, spruce, bamboo, fir, birch and more. The trail continues till Tonge Las pass from where the views are extraordinary. You will camp for the night in Tonge La.
Day 9 Tonge La to Jakar
Today’s trek will be an easy one as you have to walk for about three hours downhill to reach Chumey. It is a wide path and goes through patches of meadows and occasional forests. You stay here for the night at Jakar in a hotel.
Day 10 Jakar
The morning trek will begin with a visit to the sacred place of Kurje Lhakhang where Guru Rinpoche meditated. From here, you will visit Jambey Lhakhang. Post lunch, you will pay a visit to Tamshing Lhakhang where you can witness amazing Buddhist wall paintings. You will spend the night at a hotel in Jakar.
Day 11 Jakar to Gangtey
On the 11th day, you will head back to Gangtey which would involve a full day’s ride. The place is regarded as the only site of Nyingmapa monastery which is located on the Black Mountain’s western side. The village is home to the lay monks and you’ll find a lot of paintings on the outside of the gompa. Located at a short distance from the gompa is the Phobjika Sanctuary where you can find the endangered and rare black-necked cranes locally known as Trung-Trung. It is being estimated that only 1600 of them are alive in the wild.
Day 12 Gangtey to Paro
On the 12th day, you’ll continue the drive to Paro. You’ll pass the Punakha Valley, climb back to Dochu La to have magnificent views of the snow-clad Himalayas. After lunch, the drive will continue towards Paro and in the afternoon you’ll visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. You’ll stay overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 13 Departure
After completing your breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport accompanied by a representative of Bhutan Excursions. You’ll bid adieu to this amazing land and fly back home.
Included
- Visa fees
- Accommodation for all days (twin sharing basis)
- Meals for the entire trip
- Transportation cost
- Taxes
Excluded
- Air-fare
- Personal Expenses
- Laundry Charges
- Tips
Good to Know
Cancellation Charges
With 30 days of the beginning of the program – 30%
Within 21 days – 50%
After arrival – 100%
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Paro
Once you arrive at the Paro International airport and complete all the required formalities, you’ll be received by a representative of Bhutan Excursions who will drop you to your hotel. The evening can be used for strolling in the beautiful city of Paro and you can also indulge in some souvenir shopping.
Day 2 Tiger’s Nest Hike
The next morning you’ll hike up to the Taktsang or the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ monastery. The trail to the monastery which is built on a sheer cliff face takes you through forests and offers spectacular views of the surroundings. After visiting the famous pilgrimage site of this country, you’ll continue treading up to the top where there are some temples. The view from the top is simply amazing and the entire atmosphere is calm and peaceful.
While coming down, a different route will be taken through forests of rhododendron, oaks and Spanish mosses.
Day 3 Paro to Thimphu
On the 3rd day, you’ll be taken to Thimphu by car for sightseeing. The sightseeing will start with a visit to the Institute of Traditional Medicine where you’ll get the opportunity to have a peek into how traditional medicines are being prepared from the earth, plants and also animals. Next up will be a visit to the School of Traditional Arts & Crafts. See the students working meticulously and gain an in-depth understanding of the techniques used in traditional arts which includes woodcarving, secular paintings, traditional mask making and clay sculpture. You can also purchase some of these works of art at a much cheaper price from here. The next destination will be the Folk Heritage Museum which was set up in the year 2001. A walk through the museum will let you know more about the rural tradition, skills and habits and what it was like in the past.
Day 4 Thimphu to Punakha
The morning will be reserved for a visit to the National Library. If you are an enthusiast of ancient manuscripts then this visit would be something you will cherish for sure. Post lunch, you will be taken to Punakha passing through the Dochu La Pass at an elevation of 3050 m. Savor on the views of the mighty Himalayas, provided the sky is clear. It takes around 3 hours to reach Punakha from Thimphu.
Day 5 Punakha to Tongsa
Once you complete breakfast, you’ll be driven to Wangduephodrang. Located at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Dzong is a must-visit from where you can get impressive views of the vast valley. From here, you’ll be driven up to a winding road which will take you to Tongsa. On the way, you’ll come across the Pele-la pass which is located at an altitude of 3300m.
Day 6 Tongsa to Kuenga Rapten
Get up refreshed and visit Tongsa Dzong, a Bhutanese architecture masterpiece. The unique thing about the architecture of the Dzong is that in the past every traveler had to pass through the courtyard irrespective of the direction he was coming from. After the visit, you’ll be driven to Kuenga Rapten. The drive to this place is beautiful, taking you through vast expanses of rice fields and small villages. You’ll also get the opportunity to visit the Kuenga Rapten Palace. A further one hour drive from here will take you to the banks of Mangdechu River where if you are lucky, you can spot the Golden Langur. You’ll stay overnight at camp in Kuenga Rapten.
Day 7 Beginning of the Royal Trek: Kuenga Rapten to Zangrongpang
This is the first day of the trek where the ascent is a bit strenuous. You’ll walk through Samchiling and reach a meadow on the village outskirts. Once you cross the meadow, the vegetation thickens and continuing on the trail you reach Zangrongpang. This is also the place where the royals camped during their 3-day trip. You’ll stay overnight in a camp at Zangrongpang.
Day 8 Zangrongpang to Tonge La
The trek starts with a steep short climb to a ridge above the camp from where the Kuenga Rapten can be viewed. You will continue walking on a flat trail but will come across stone steps laid path quite frequently. Once the flat path is over, you move to another ridge and continue ascending through forests of hemlock, spruce, bamboo, fir, birch and more. The trail continues till Tonge Las pass from where the views are extraordinary. You will camp for the night in Tonge La.
Day 9 Tonge La to Jakar
Today’s trek will be an easy one as you have to walk for about three hours downhill to reach Chumey. It is a wide path and goes through patches of meadows and occasional forests. You stay here for the night at Jakar in a hotel.
Day 10 Jakar
The morning trek will begin with a visit to the sacred place of Kurje Lhakhang where Guru Rinpoche meditated. From here, you will visit Jambey Lhakhang. Post lunch, you will pay a visit to Tamshing Lhakhang where you can witness amazing Buddhist wall paintings. You will spend the night at a hotel in Jakar.
Day 11 Jakar to Gangtey
On the 11th day, you will head back to Gangtey which would involve a full day’s ride. The place is regarded as the only site of Nyingmapa monastery which is located on the Black Mountain’s western side. The village is home to the lay monks and you’ll find a lot of paintings on the outside of the gompa. Located at a short distance from the gompa is the Phobjika Sanctuary where you can find the endangered and rare black-necked cranes locally known as Trung-Trung. It is being estimated that only 1600 of them are alive in the wild.
Day 12 Gangtey to Paro
On the 12th day, you’ll continue the drive to Paro. You’ll pass the Punakha Valley, climb back to Dochu La to have magnificent views of the snow-clad Himalayas. After lunch, the drive will continue towards Paro and in the afternoon you’ll visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan. You’ll stay overnight at a hotel in Paro.
Day 13 Departure
After completing your breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport accompanied by a representative of Bhutan Excursions. You’ll bid adieu to this amazing land and fly back home.
Included
- Visa fees
- Accommodation for all days (twin sharing basis)
- Meals for the entire trip
- Transportation cost
- Taxes
Excluded
- Air-fare
- Personal Expenses
- Laundry Charges
- Tips
Good to Know
Cancellation Charges
With 30 days of the beginning of the program – 30%
Within 21 days – 50%
After arrival – 100%