A comprehensive 15-day botanical holiday to this last Shangri-la with 9-day trek beneath the great peak of Jhomolhari.

Bhutan is as individual as a country can be; it is a land of boundless and beautiful forests. If the natural history of this small mountain kingdom is as yet little known, we do know that its unspoiled forests and valleys hold the best of the great variety of flowers and birds for which the eastern Himalaya is famous. This holiday focuses on Bhutan’s fabulous flora with most time spending on a nine-day trek below the great peak of Jhomolhari. To enjoy seeing the best of Bhutan’s flora, one has to schedule the trip coinciding with the beginning of the monsoon, the peak flowering season for temperate and alpine Himalayan plants. Otherwise, if you come in spring there will be particularly the flowering rhododendrons, magnolias, and other spring flowers and shrubs. Our chosen itinerary (and trek) is ideal for botanists because it covers as much ground as possible, ranges in altitude from 200 to 5000 meters, and takes us to a wide variety of habitats, particularly the alpine meadows.

After a flight from Delhi to Bagdogra or even after having a short trip to Darjeeling and Sikkim, you can come to the border to take a long but scenic day’s drive northwards to Paro, into the heart of Bhutan and the starting point of our trek. We have two days to explore this beautiful valley - botanizing or preparing for the rigors of the trek with day hikes. Our trek lasts for nine days including two days of rest to explore the best of the alpine meadows for more plants, a day each at the Jhomolhari Base Camp and at Lingshi. It is quite strenuous, averaging seventeen to eighteen kilometers a day with two passes to cross which are almost about 5000 meters but it’s so rewarding to the naturalist that our pace should drop to that of a snail! Our schedule is sufficiently relaxed to allow diversions and excursions to look at the area’s nature in more detail.

 

Trekkers from Alpine Garden Society

Day 1: Bagdogra / Phuentsholing

Bhutan Wilderness Travels representative will meet you on arrival at Phuentsholing the border town which is known more as the gateway to Bhutan. This town is a thriving commercial center on the northern edge of the Indian plains, situated directly at the base of the Himalayan foothills.

After the visa formalities are completed, we will take a walk along the street and see its temple known as Zangdhopelri. This small temple in the center of town represents the heaven of Guru Rinpoche. It consists of statues of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche and paintings depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha.
Overnight – hotel in Phuentsholing

Day 2: Phuentsholing / Paro
Today, we will proceed to Paro along the National Highway taking about 8 hours with some stops in route to see the plant life mainly or may be stop for sceneries and monasteries as well. Our first stop will be after a short drive up the road to visit Kharbandi Gonpa. This beautiful monastery situated in a garden of tropical plants and flowers at an altitude of 400m above the town, was founded in 1967 by the Royal Grandmother, Ashi Phuntsho Choden. The monastery has paintings depicting scenes from the life of Buddha, and the statues of Guru Rinpoche and Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. From here, there is a superb view of the Indian plains with their tea gardens beyond.
Overnight – hotel in Paro

Day 3: Day Hike to Taktsang
This morning, we will take a short drive to the trail head to start our hike to Taktsang Monastery. This is one of the Buddhist world’s most venerated pilgrimage sites and is known as the Tiger’s Lair. It is said that the Guru Rinpoche came to Taktsang on the back of a tigress and, whilst meditating in a cave, converted the Paro valley to Buddhism. A number of temples have now been built on the site, and these occupy precarious positions, clinging to a black cliff high above the Paro valley. The visit involves a two-hour climb on a steep footpath through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. The views are well worth the effort. After spending some time at the monastery, we descend back to the road and to our hotel.

Day 4: Chelela Ridge Hike
Today, we will take a drive to Chelela (3750m), the highest pass in the country accessible by road to south-west of Paro and have a wonderful day whilst we hike along its ridge looking for the alpine flowers. The route that we walk along use to be the ancient trade route for the people in south for going to Tibet, and it use to be busy with the traffic of mules and people being the beast of burden in the same way not long time ago. After having a late picnic lunch in the meadow, we will head back to Paro spending some time in the typical mixed coniferous woodland with a wonderful roadside flora.
Overnight – hotel in Paro.

Day 5: Drukgyel Dzong / Shana (4-5 hours)
The two days of gentle acclimatization is over now; it is time to bite the bullet and start walking.Drive up to Drukgyel Dzong (2,580m) where the road ends and the trek begin. With a gradual climb the trail follows the Pachu (Paro river) passing beautiful meadows, paddy fields and impressive farm houses. After about four hours you will reach the army post at Gunitsawa village. At the army check point your trek permit (provided by your tour operator) will be checked and endorsed. The campsite is on the opposite side of the river, not far from Gunitsawa.
Camp – Shana (2850m)

Day 6: Shana / Thangthangka (7-8 hours)
On this long day, the trail continues with lots of small ups and downs. After going uphill through the river valley, you enter the Jigme Dorji National Park. The valley finally narrows gradually to a mere path which ascends to a meadow where a camp will be set up. From here, if weather permits, you will have the first great view of Mount Jhomolhari.
Camp – Thangthangka (3610m)

Day 7: Thangthangka / Jhomolhari Base Camp (4-5 hours)
If you did not see Mount Jhomolhari last evening, you will have a great chance to get a great view this early morning. This morning, the trek continues up the Pachu valley which widens into patches of alpine meadow and meager growths of forest. Cross an army outpost along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. Yaks and the herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Passing the villages Soe, Takethang and Jangothang is another asset on this day. Reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, you will again have a spectacular view of Mount Jhomolhari.
Camp – Base Camp (4080m)

Day 8: Day to explore around
A day at Jhomolhari Base Camp provides plenty of possibilities for day hikes with great views of lakes and snow capped mountains such as Jhomolhari and Jichu Drake. There are good chances to spot some blue sheep on the upper slopes of the valley. Jangothang is a perfect environment for your acclimatization. Trek up to Tsophu or hike around the area to see more alpine flowers. There are good short hiking trails in three directions. Jhomolhari and its subsidiary mountain chains lay directly west, Jichu Drake to the north and a number of unclimbed peaks to the east.

Day 9: Jhomolhari Base Camp / Lingshi (6-7 hours)
After a short walk from the camp the trail climbs rapidly for about half an hour and then becomes a gradual ascend to the Nyilila pass at 4,870m. While on the climb enjoy the surrounding. You might see herds of blue sheep grazing on the slopes of the mountains. From the pass you will have spectacular views of Mt. Jhomolhari, Jichu Drake and Tsherimgang, all of them rising above 7,000m. On the way down to the camp you will pass by some of the yak herder’s tent, made from yak wool, where the herders take shelter while on the move to various pastures for their yaks. As you come down into the Lingshi basin, you get a wonderful view of Lingshi Dzong on a clear day. Tserimgang and its glaciers rise up at the north end of the valley. The campsite is next to a stone hut you reach just before Lingshi Dzong.
Camp – Lingshi (4010m)

Day 10: Rest Day at Lingshi
We will spend a relaxing day at Lingshi, catching up on sleep, drying clothes and giving our tired limbs a rest or if not indulge in a little plant-hunting on the slopes below Lingshi Dzong. A rustic building in comparison to the large Dzongs in other places in south with road accessibility, it is neverthetheless imposing, its whitewashed walls and towers perched high on a ridge.

Day 11: Lingshi / Shodu (8-9 hours)
This morning, we will have to brace ourselves for another demanding day – a 22 km trek up to the second of the two high passes on our route, the Yeli La at 4930m, followed by a long descent to the next camp site at Shodu.From the pass, on a clear day you will get an excellent view of Jhomolhari, Tserimgang and Masanggang.
Camp – Shodu (4080m)

Day 12: Shodu / Barshong (5-6 hours)
The trail follows the Thimphu Chu (river) through fir and hemlock forests, past beautiful waterfalls along the way. The valley narrows till the path takes to the slopes and gradually ascends to the ruins of Barshong Dzong.
Camp – Barshong (3710m)

Day 13: Barshong / Dodena (7-8 hours)
The trail descends down to the Thimphu Chu (river) valley, through dense forests of rhododendron, birch, conifer, maples and bamboos and then ascends to pasture lands. From here, the trail continues through forested areas winding up and down and if luck favors us, we may see some monkeys and finally reach at the road head which is next to an impressive Bhutanese cantilever bridge where our car will be waiting for us to drive to Thimphu the capital city for about half an hour.
Overnight: hotel in Thimphu.

Day 14: Thimphu / Paro
An early morning drive then takes us to the Dochu La, a high pass clothed in virgin oak and hemlock forest, where we will enjoy a peaceful morning’s botanizing before descending back to Thimphu valley. In the evening, we will take a drive to Paro which is about 2 hours to spend the last night of your Bhutan trip. Tonight we will have a celebratory or farewell dinner.
Overnight – hotel in Paro

Day 15: Paro Depart
After breakfast in the hotel, drive to the airport in time to catch up your onward flight. Your escort from Bhutan wilderness Travels will bid you farewell and soon the remote and legendary Dragon Kingdom disappears again behind its guardian mountains.

[Click Here] to see the Plant list on Jhomolari Trek in the month of July