Arrive in Paro

Local guides will meet you at Paro airport and transfer you to your pre - trek hotel . Later in the afternoon there is the option to join a tour of the city . Once a watchtower, built to defend Rinpung Dzong during inter - valley wars of the 17 th century, Ta Dzong was inaugurated as Bhutan's National Museum in 1968 . It holds a fascinating collection of art, relics, religious thangkha paintings and Bhutan's exquisite postage stamps . The museum’s circular shape augments its varied collection which is displayed over several floors . Afterwards, we will take a walk down a hillside trail to visit Rinpung Dzong , which has a long and very interesting history . Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal , the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan, the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office of the Dzongda (district administrative head) and Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district . The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge called Nemi Zam , which offers a good view of the architectural wonder of the Dzong as well as life around it . Later you will attend a pre - trek briefing with your Lead Guide to prepare you for the journey ahead.

Visa approval formalities should be straightforward. Please make sure you have the visa confirmation we email to you in your hand luggage, as you will need to show this at Immigration. When you collect your bags you need to make sure you have your airline baggage tags handy as they check these off against the flight tags on your luggage before you can leave. You will be given a baggage declaration form to complete, this is to ensure that you re - export all items that have arrived with you. Once you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, make your way to the main doors. Your guide will be outside these doors, holding sign.

PARO TO JANGCHULAKA

Elevation: 2250m to 3770m, Distance: 13km, Time: 5 - 7 hours

Today our trek begins with a short climb up to Jele Dzong on a trail that ascends gradually up to the camp . If the weather is clear the Paro valley can be seen, with snow - capped mountains rising behind . Above the camp is the Jele - La Pass ( 3 , 540 m) and Jele Dzong (mostly in ruins) . There is also a lhakhang containing a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni . Women who come to the monastery to seek blessings of children get hit on the head by the presiding Lama with a 10 inch ivory, wood and bone phallus, so be careful! After lunch we continue with a 1 ½ hour climb onto a ridge which affords dramatic views of the valleys on both sides and the Himalaya to the north . The trail takes us through thick alpine forests and rhododendrons . Weather permitting, we will have beautiful views of Chomolhari and other snow - capped peaks . Monsal pheasants can be heard calling during the day and we may see yak herders moving along the trails .

LAKE JIMGELANG TSHO TO SIMKOTA

Elevation: 3870m to 4110m, Distance: 14km, Time: 4 - 6 hours

We leave the campsite and the trail takes us through dwarf rhododendron trees as we follow a succession of ridges to reach the second lake, Janatsho . We may come across a yak herder’s camp and will spend some time seeing how they live . A final climb will bring us to our campsite, close to Simkota Lake, with the possibility of catching a lake trout for dinner.

DRIVE THIMPHU TO PUNAKHA

Elevation: 2350m to 3088m to 1310m, Distance: 75km, Time: 3 - 4 hours

We start this morning in Bhutan’s capital city with a visit to the National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts . We will also visit the nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum , an Arts & Crafts School where we may see the students being taught the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan . We will follow on to the Textile Museum, providing a fascinating insight into Bhutanese material culture and way of life, followed by a visit to Simply Bhutan, a living Museum and Studio encapsulating the cultural heritage of the Bhutanese people . (Please note both the National Library and the Institute for Zorig Chusum are closed at weekends and public holidays, and the Textile Museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays) . After lunch we will leave Thimphu and drive up a series of zigzags to Dochu - La Pass ( 3 , 088 m) stopping briefly here to take in the view and admire the chorten , mani wall, and prayer flags which decorate the highest point on the road . Magnificent vistas are all around including the following 7000 m peaks : Masagang , Tsendagang , Terigang , Jejegangphugang , Kangphugang , Zongphugang , and finally Gangkar Puensum, the highest peak in Bhutan at 7 , 570 m . After crossing the pass, the road descends into the Punakha Valley, where we will spend the night in a hotel.

DEPARTURE FROM PARO

We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Paro Airport for your flight.