Juniper Trial is the exclusive wilderness trek founded by Bhutan Wilderness Travels and we reserves the sole access to this wonderful short trek. In this trial, trekkers are assured a personalized adventurous trek where one  could expect total communication with nature and experience her capacity to capture your attention and  mesmerize you with her awesome beauty that no other experience could equal.Juniper trail is a three day trek, assuring you a life time experience with nature with her bare, virgin beauty.  Knowing and experiencing this trial is experiencing a total connection with nature and a homing self experience is guaranteed. The only requirement that we ask of our trekkers before we begin the trial is keep yourselves open to all possibilities with nature and her capacity to communicate. 

The trial follows the ancient yak herder’s route taking you in and out of the tree line, along the ridge that divides Paro and Haa valley - overlooking both the valleys, ending at the highest motorable pass in the country, the Chelela pass.

Besides all the wonderful personal experiences that the Juniper trial offers, it also offers breathtaking views of the himalayan peaks, particularly that of the border with Tibet including Kanchenjunga the world’s third highest mountain and of the valleys underneath. In summer it is a botanist’s paradise with many species of alpine flowers in blossom, and not to forget different species of pheasants, including the protected monal pheasants and yaks.

We can guarantee that no other treks in Bhutan will gift the trekkers with such lasting experiences. We are definitely promoting this short trek very aggressively to provide our guest an enriching experience and a never satiating desire to visit again.

DAY 01: ARRIVE PARO
Flying in to the country’s only airport, in the beautiful Paro valley, the clear mountain air, forested ridges, imposing monasteries and welcoming Bhutanese people in their striking national dress, provides a breath-taking first impression.
Your guide who is going to be with you throughout your trip from Bhutan Wilderness Travels will meet you at the airport. A fifteen minute drive follows the narrow winding road to our hotel which is a traditional Bhutanese building with attractive gardens and an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere. In the afternoon, we will visit the Ta-Dzong which was built in 1651 as a watch tower for the Rinpung Dzong. Since 1967, the watch tower has served as the home of the National Museum and holds a fascinating collection of art, ancient relics and religious artifacts. Next in line is Rinpung Dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro and its district administration. If there is time, we will walk along the small main street of Paro in the evening with its typically Bhutanese shops and small lodges. Altitude at Paro – 2250 meters.

Overnight – Hotel in Paro.

DAY O2: TAKTSANG EXCURSION
 Today as the part of acclimatization trip, we will hike up to the famous 17th century temple called Taktsang or the Tigers nest perched on a rock face 900 meters above Paro valley. In 8th century, Guru Rinpoche; the great Indian saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, is believed to have arrived here flying on the back of a tigress and have meditated here for about three months. It is revered as one of the most sacred places, where every Bhutanese wish to visit this place at least once in their lifetime. To get there, it takes about two hours of uphill walk. The trail to the monastery climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. We will have lunch at the cafeteria on our way back from the monastery, and then continue our hike down to the bottom.

Overnight-Hotel in Paro.

DAY 03: CHUZOMTOE / TSENDULA (5-6 Hours)
This morning, before we start our trek we will have to take a drive for about a little less than two hours down the valley to Chunzom and then up along the windy and small road to the Juniper Trail head at Chunzomtoe. Altitude: 3310m.
The trail runs gradually up along the ridge for over two hours till the base of treeless peak, occasionally passing by beautiful meadows that are being used by the yak herders to keep their yaks in winter. The trail then traverses for sometime before you make your way up through the thick alpine forest of firs, rhododendrons and junipers to Tsendula a beautiful meadow on top of the ridge with breath taking views, be it of mountains or of valleys underneath.

Overnight: Camp at Tsendula (3775m)

DAY 04: TSENDULA / PANGKALA (4-5 Hours)
 It is worth rising up early in the morning to see the sun rise over the eastern Himalayan mountains, and then to see the monal pheasants around or to experience the solitude of this heaven like place on earth.
After the late breakfast, we will trek down the hill till we get to Donglela pass (3565m) which is marked by an old two legged Chorten. This pass is along the forsaken ancient trade route between Paro and Ha valley which is not long time ago use to be like the present day highway with the traffic of mules and people being the beast of burden in the same way. From here, the trail goes gradually up through the alpine forest till you get above the tree line in the vicinity of huge meadow of Pangkala.

Overnight: Camp at Pangkala (4150m)

DAY 05: PANGKALA / CHELELA (5-6 Hours)
For our groups who come to see the plants, a day to explore around here is a must.
This morning, after enjoying the peace and serenity of this place to the fullest, we will start the last day of our trek sliding down slowly along the wide and well used yaks trail for a short while till the trail gets level on the ridge. Along the ridge, we will come across some yak herder’s camps and then we have a short climb before we make our way down to yet another forsaken Pass known as Dzonglela (3565m) through thick forest of rhododendrons. From here, the path gets more of level traversing along one side of the rocky ridge till you get to the finishing point of your trek at highest motor able pass in the country which is marked with grove of fluttering prayer flags known as Chelela (3750m).

The drive from Chelela to Paro takes about a little over one and half hour. Tonight, before we have our farewell dinner, we will have traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath; a long soak in a hot stone bath will be so good after the trek.

Overnight – Hotel in Paro.

DAY 06: 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.