Bhutan's Druk Path Trek

Trek - Day 1

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Mule team passes hikers. Photo, Bhutan, Asia

Quote:

The two most popular treks in Bhutan are the Druk Path and the Jhomolhari (or Cholmolhari). The first is a four day trek, and the second is eight or nine days. We took the Druk Path trek, but because two of the days are 20 km each, we split those and did the trek in six days. This makes for a very pleasant hiking experience...two additional, beautiful campsites...and time to play.Trek - Day 1:We were picked up at the hotel by our guide, Karma, and taken to the trailhead at the National Museum. This is the start for the Druk Path that, for centuries, was the main route from the Paro valley to the Thimphu valley. We felt as though we were going back in history, as we ...Read More

The two most popular treks in Bhutan are the Druk Path and the Jhomolhari (or Cholmolhari). The first is a four day trek, and the second is eight or nine days. We took the Druk Path trek, but because two of the days are 20 km each, we split those and did the trek in six days. This makes for a very pleasant hiking experience...two additional, beautiful campsites...and time to play.

Trek - Day 1:

We were picked up at the hotel by our guide, Karma, and taken to the trailhead at the National Museum. This is the start for the Druk Path that, for centuries, was the main route from the Paro valley to the Thimphu valley. We felt as though we were going back in history, as we trudged along the trail, stepping where thousands of farmers, hikers, yaks, and mules have trod. This translates to: a trail that is worn with deep ruts, rocky and difficult to negotiate!

The cook, camp assistant, and the mule driver (who arrived with six mules and one horse), packed the gear and loaded the animals. The two of us took off with our guide, starting at approximately 8,100 feet elevation. We have only our day packs...weighed down with cameras! The mules and horse, with very heavy gear passed us, enroute to the next campsite.

The trail goes up steeply (naturally), and we were exhausted by lunch time. A beautiful meadow with a prayer wall was a welcome view as we ate our hot lunch.

Mid-afternoon, we reached a yak herder’s camp, not far from Jili (or Jele) Dzong, close to our campsite. We went inside their home and visited a bit (through our translator, Karma). The homes are one-room tent structures with pine boughs, wood, and stone walls. We sit on pine boughs around a fire that keeps the place warm. After pictures of the children (we show them the picture on our digital camera) we bid them good bye. This procedure will be repeated several times throughout the trek and became a very special experience for us.

We continued on to our campsite where the crew had set up a dining/cook tent, our tent and a toilet tent. The mules and horse were at pasture. We had warm water to wash, tea and a snack and finally supper. We were VERY tired from the climbing and hiking that day! Our camp is in a meadow below Jili Dzong at approximately 11,500 feet (3480 m). Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

Trek - Day 2

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

Trek - Day 2:Today was supposed to be easier hiking. We questioned that, as we negotiated long, rocky, muddy difficult up hills and short, rocky, muddy down hills. The first order of “business” was a visit to and tour of the Jili Dzong, dating back to the 15th Century; we were fascinated by the tall statue of the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, and the monk caretaker, who taught us a dice game for determining whether our wishes would come true. We threw the dice well, so he said.Hiking along a ridge, we were in search for a good place to string up our prayer flags (we added our prayers for a safe trek, and for those people in our lives who needed special thoughts and wishes). We ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

Trek - Day 3

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Yak herder's wife and child Photo, Bhutan, Asia

Quote:

Trek - Day 3:Today’s hiking was laterally (surprise!) for a bit, then downhill to a rushing stream, the Tsaluna Chhu, a tributary of the larger Thimphu Chhu (river). We crossed a small plank bridge and came to a yak pasture. Here we found our mules grazing and all the men tossing javelins at a target! A yak herder’s boy had several hand made javelin sticks and a dart. Karma even tried throwing Sandy’s trekking poles...they stuck in the ground but never reached the target.Continuing uphill with our hiking, we found it very difficult because the rain had made the rocks slippery and the dirt turn to mud. Just when we thought we could not take another step, we reached the lake Jimilang Tsh...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

Trek - Day 4

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Making yak butter tea. Photo, Bhutan, Asia

Quote:

Trek - Day 4:This morning was a beautiful sunny day with a few puffy clouds in the sky. We ate breakfast outside (the usual procedure for our group), and were watched by the children of the yak herder (sitting on chairs at a table, eating eggs and sausage, is pretty bizarre for them).Up hill we headed, rock hopping for a good part of the day. We had beautiful views of several Himalayan peaks and took many opportunities for photos. The clouds did not cooperate, however, and clung to the mountain tops.Lunch was at a lake, Simkotra Tsho. Karma and Sonam tried their luck at fishing, actually going around the entire lake, casting as they went. Fish were jumping, but not biting....Read More

Trek - Day 4:

This morning was a beautiful sunny day with a few puffy clouds in the sky. We ate breakfast outside (the usual procedure for our group), and were watched by the children of the yak herder (sitting on chairs at a table, eating eggs and sausage, is pretty bizarre for them).

Up hill we headed, rock hopping for a good part of the day. We had beautiful views of several Himalayan peaks and took many opportunities for photos. The clouds did not cooperate, however, and clung to the mountain tops.

Lunch was at a lake, Simkotra Tsho. Karma and Sonam tried their luck at fishing, actually going around the entire lake, casting as they went. Fish were jumping, but not biting.

All throughout the trek, we have been seeing beautiful flowers. Rhododendrons of many colors are in bloom. Other wildflowers, growing in profusion, are a pleasant sight and provide a good opportunity for a photo stop! Karma often stopped to tell us about the flowers and herbs and was most informative about medicinal plants. Did we see the famous and illusive blue poppy? It was not in bloom...but we did see the stalks of last year’s plants.

This part of the trek has the highest elevations, and of course, gorgeous views. Each high point brought new sights and a continuation of the trail. Enroute, the hillsides are covered with rhododendrons. At this high altitude, these are not in bloom until mid-June. Finally, we made a climb to the last and highest pass (of the day) at almost 14,000 feet (4210 m) and looked down on the camp at Labana La. What a welcome sight!

As we had tea, we watched Dan (the cook) and Karma prepare supper. We have been having typical Bhutanese dishes...without the chilis. (The absence of chilis was our request - they will add them for anyone who wishes to have them!) The crew have the same menu as we, but they jazz it up with chilis...very spicy hot chilis! Tonight’s fare was pork dumplings, beef and potato balls, and fried egg plant. Then they served enchiladas. Bhutanese food with additions...something for everyone.

Following the dinner, there is always butter tea, made with boiled water, tea herbs, and a pat of yak butter, mixed with a hand whittled egg beater. It tastes bland to us, which is a surprise, since their food is usually so spicy! Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

Trek - Day 5

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Thimphu from rock outcropping. Photo, Bhutan, Asia

Quote:

Trek - Day 5:Our campsite at Labana is near some water, but also next to a dry lake bed. It is at 13,600 feet (4110 m). We head off in the morning, up hill. At this point, we are fairly acclimatized and are not huffing and puffing with each step. As a result, this was a fairly easy day, even though we were still going up and down, hiking on a rocky trail.Again, the views were awesome, each pass bringing another terrific view. We passed through a a herd of yaks, taking pictures of the little ones...and keeping our distance!We arrived at Phume La Pass at 13,500 feet (4080 m), just in time for morning tea. We hung our second set of prayer flags to send prayers over the wind to the...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

Trek - Day 6

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Crew at end of the trek Photo, Bhutan, Asia

Quote:

Trek - Day 6:The first order of “business” today after breakfast, was to gather our crew together and give them small gifts and their tips. We thanked them for an incredible experience! They had been so attentive and watchful for our health and well-being. It is always hard to say goodbye, when you have spent so much time with a group of folks...in such a beautiful area. We took a group picture, gave hugs all around and headed off.This is a short day, only about 5 to 6 km. Most trekkers continue down the mountain to the youth center at Motithang in Thimphu. We took a more gradual path along a ridge and down to the radio tower. This trail was shaded, with trees dripping with Spanish mos...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 4, 2007

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Bhutan Journals

Upload Photos