Bhutan Cultural Tour with 3 Days Chelela Trek

You will be welcomed by an amazing view of The Himalayas as you approach Bhutan. At the airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya. Once you have settled in our hotel, you will embark on your journey to Paro. In Paro, you will visit places such as the Dungste Lhakang, a 15th-century temple with the Ugyen Perli Palace visible through its fence, the Rinpung Dzong, a fortress-monastery, the national museum, and Kichu Lhakhang, the oldest Bhutanese temple. Overnight in Paro.

After breakfast, you will take a scenic hike for about 4-5 hours to Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest), the most sacred monastery in Bhutan, built on steep cliff, offering you enchanting views of the Paro valley. Guru Padmasambhava who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, is said to have meditated there for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century. Lunch will be served at the restaurant located halfway up the mountain. You will then hike back down the valley and drive to Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.

In the morning we drive to Haa valley, a steep north-south valley with a narrow floor, and is the second least populated district in Bhutan. We drive across Chele La pass at 3810m, one of the highest vantage points in Bhutan, from which you can marvel at beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains and valleys, while the Himalayan yaks graze in the horizon. You will be able to feel the temperature drop as you gain altitude over the course of your two-hour drive from Paro. During winter, you will come across waterfalls, frozen rivers, alpine flowers, and snow on the way to the pass. From Haa valley, we take the trail on the right of the village and climb up gradually through the yak herder’s camp. From there, we take the trail on the right to make the final climb towards our camp at Sagala (3,150m). (The trail on the left that heads to the summer yak herding camp and to the border of China is to be avoided). Overnight camping at Sagala pass.

From our camp at Sagala (3,150m), we climb for 30 minutes to the Sagala pass (3550m). On a clear day, you will be able to spot the sacred mountains, Jomolhari (Mountain Goddess) and Jichu Drake. Sagala is also ideal for bird watching in the morning and evening. There are chances to spot feeding Himalayan Monals, Blood Pheasants, and Musk Deer along this trail. From the pass, we take the right trail, through rhododendron forests and meadows, to the ridge at the peak which provides spectacular views of Haa Valley. We then trek through Hemlock and Juniper forests, herder camps, and cattle, to our camp at Ningula. It is a very beautiful site at 3874m. Overnight camping at Ningula.

We trek through fir forests to the Gung Karpo ridge at 4000m, and follow the ridge before descending down to Chelela Pass at 3990m, through Rhododendron scrubs. The view of snow-clad peaks and mountain ranges are spectacular, with colourful flowers such as pedicularis, blue and yellow poppy, and iris, along the trail. We then drive back to Thimphu. Overnight in Thimphu.

After breakfast, we drive to Dochula pass (3,100 meters), a mountain pass on the road from Thimpu to Punakha where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” have been built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. To the east of the pass, the snow clad mountain peaks of the Himalayas are seen prominently and among them is the Mt. Masanggang at 7,158 metres (23,484 ft), which is the highest peak in Bhutan. The pass was part of ancient trails or tracks between Thimphu and Punakha, and offers panoramic views of the Bhutan Himalayas and a rhododendron garden. Hike back to Dochu La Pass. After lunch, drive downhill through the rhododendron, fir and hemlock forests. On the way, we stop at Metshina Village and take a 20-minute walk through the rice fields to Chimi Lhakhang, which is a fertility temple dedicated to the Divine Madman or Lama Drukpa Kuenley. Overnight in Punakha.

After breakfast, we visit the Punakha Dzong, situated between the male and female rivers like an anchored ship. Next, we drive to Paro via the Dochu La pass. There, we will visit the new Druk Wangyal Monastery. With elaborate paintings depicting the lineage of the present monarchy and their visionary works, the Druk Wangyal Monastery is the only one of its kind in the country. We then continue our drive with a stop in Thimphu for lunch. Overnight in Paro.

After an early breakfast, we leave to Paro airport (approx. 1 hour). Druk Air generally departs early in the mornings to avoid adverse weather conditions.