Snow Man Trek -28 Days - JJ - May-October


This is a strenuous trek crossing 11 passes, three that are over 5000m. and you have to be physically fit & mentally prepared. The trek begins from Paro/Punakha (west) and ends in Bumthang/Trongsa (Central). It is a combination of Chomolhari, Laya & Lunana trek crossing the Renchen Zoe pass alt. 5400m the highest pass in Bhutan. The trek can take 21 days or 28 days depending on which you prefer to choose. It is one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas.

Highlights: This trek leads you to the seldom-visited region of Lunana, passing some of the last virgin peaks of the Himalayas offering you great variety of trekking conditions, from picturesque farmland and forest to alpine pastureland. This trek will take you close to huge snow, ice and rock faces of the mountains where most of the Himalayan peaks towering to the north are unnamed and unclimbed. The only inhabitants are rare species such as bharal, or blue sheep, takin and the snow leopard. During the spring, summer and autumn, the alpine meadows are filled with countless varieties of flowers.


Day
01 Arrive -Paro
02 Paro -Sightseeing
03 Paro -Shana
04 Shana -Soil Thangthangkha
05 Soil Thangthangkha -Jangothang
06 Jangothang -Lingshi
07 Lingshi -Chebisa
08 Chebisa -Shomuthang
09 Shomuthang -Robluthang
10 Robluthang -Lem Thang
11 Lem Thang -Laya
12 Laya -Halt
13 Laya -Roduphu
14 Roduphu -Narithang
15 Narithang -Tarina
16 Tarina -Woche
17 Woche -Lhedi
18 Lhedi -Thanza
19 Thanza -Halt
20 Thanza -Tshochena
21 Tshochena -Jichu Dramo
22 Jichu Dramo -Chukarpo
23 Chukarpo -Tampetso
24 Tampetso -Maorothang
25 Maorothang -Nikachu Chazam
26 Nikachu Chazam -Thimphu
27 Thimphu -Sightseeing
28 Thimphu -Paro Airport


Day 01 Arrive Paro by Druk Air Flight
On this flight, one will see Mount Everest, Kanchan Junga and other Himalayan Peaks including our sacred Chomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On landing at Paro International Airport you will be welcomed by a representative of Baeyul Tours & Treks. Drive to Hotel through the Paro valley, where agriculture is the main occupation of the people, so rice fields are in plenty. After lunch a trip to the museum called Ta-Dzong, this was originally built as a watch-tower over the Rinpung Dzong below. Ta means to look (over or aftere), dzong is fortress. Overnight at Paro.

Day 02 Paro - Sightseeing
Drive northwest up the Pa Chu to Drugyel Dzong, the ruined Fort, which once defended this valley from the Tibetan invasion. This fortress, now a burned shell, was once strategic in Bhutan's defense against the Tibetan invasion. Mount Chomolhari, the sacred summit, reaches skyward beyond the Dzong. This can be viewed on a clear day. On the way back you visit a typical Bhutanese farm house. After lunch walk up the hill just above Olathang Hotel to stretch your legs for the excursion to Taktsang view point.

Day 03 Paro - Shana
Drive upto Drugyel Dzong where the road ends and the trek begins, following the river gently up the hill through a narrowing agricultural valley. Lots of homes, kids and dogs can be seen. camp is just beyond an army post. Alt. 2800m, Distance 17 Kms about 5-6 hours.

Day 04 Shana - Soi Thangthangkha
Continue uphill through the river valley. It narrows and closes in and the trail winds up and down along the drainage. There is actually considerable down on the trail. Camp is in the meadow with stone shelter.

Day 05 Soi Thangthangkha - Jangothang
On up the Pa Chu. Pass a small army post where the valley begins to widen again. Now views of high ridges and then snow-capped peaks are all around. You begin to see Yaks and Yak herders camp. Lunch will be probably at one of these camps beneath a ruined fortress at the base of Chomolhari. Alt 4040m Distance- 19Kms, about 5-6 hours.

Day 06 Jangothang-Lingshi
Wide yak pastures on the way up and down the pass, possibly still some people in their yak tents depending on the time of the year that you are there. Great views of Lingshi Dzong as you come down into the Lingshi basin if the weather is clear. Tserim Kang and its descending glaciers at the north end of the valley. Camp is in a stone shelter which has inside fire pit and you can sleep on the wood floor or in tent. Alt 4150 m . Distance 19 Kms, about 5-6 hours.

Day 07 Lingshi-Chebisa
Today is the shortest walking day and you can really take it easy. On reaching camp at Chebisa village you can visit the village houses. Alt. 3850 m. Distance 19 Kms, about 5-6 hours.

Day 08 Chebisa-Shomuthang
The walk is through wild high pastures with few people and few yaks. Cross Gobula(la means pass) Alt. 4350m, Distance 17Kms about 6 hours.

Day 09 Shomuthang-Robluthang
Today is a day to start a little early. After croxxing Jarela pass Alt 4600m you drop to Tsharithang. The valley where herds of Takins are normally seen. Overnight in camp. Alt 14400 ft, Distance 15kms about 5 hours.

Day 10 Robluthang-Lemi Thang
After crossing Shingela pass alt. 4900m you drop down again and then follow the valley camp at Lemithang beneath Gangche Ta(Great Tiger Mountain). If you have time it would be worthwhile to rest and explore a day there. Overnight at camp Alt. 13567ft. Distance 19 Kms about 7/8 hours.

Day 11 Lemi Thang-Layat
.Today the way is all down hill along the winding river valley with quite a steep path. The trail splits into two with one going through the valley while the other stays high and brings you into the west side of Laya village. You can camp on a high flat bench above the east end of Laya village. Overnight at camp Alt. 12,068ft. Distance 10 Kms about 3/4 hours.

Day 12 Laya-Halt
Visit the village houses or hike in and around the camp.

Day 13 Laya-Roduphu
Distance-19 Kms about 6-7 hours. Alt. 13645ft/4160m. Overnight in camp.

Day 14 Roduphu-Narithang
Distance-17 Kms about 6-7 hours. All cross Tsimola pass 4220m. Overnight in camp.

Day 15 Narithang-Tarina
Distance-18 Kms about 6-7 hours. Cross Gangla Karchung 16720 ft/5100 m. Overnight in camp. 16

Day 16 Tarina-Woche
Distance-15 Kms about 5 hours. On arrival at camp visit a village house of woche. From herethe Lunana area begins. Overnight in Camp.

Day 17 Woche-Lhedi
Distance 19 Kms 6-7 hours. Cross Kachela pass 4550m. Stop at Thega village enroute. Overnight in camp.

Day 18 Lhedi-Thanza
Distance 19 Kms about 5-6 hours. Alt. 4050m. Enroute visit Chezo Dzong. Overnight in camp.

Day 19 Thanza-Halt
Visit village houses and mix with the people of Thanza or hike in and around the camp. Overnight in camp.

Day 20 Thanza-Tsochena
Distance 18 Kms about 6-7 hours. Alt 4800m. Cross Jazela pass alt 5050m. Overnight in camp.

Day 21 Tsochena-Jichu Dramo
Distance 14 Kms about 4-5 hours. Alt. 4880m. Cross Lojula pass alt. 4940m. Overnight in camp.

Day 22 Jichu Dramo-Chukarpo
Distance 15 Kms about 3-6 hours. Alt. 14731 ft. Cross Rinchenzoe pass alt. 5140m. Overnight in camp.

Day 23 Chukarpo-Tampetso
Distance-20 Kms about 7-8 hours. Alt. 13895ft. Cross Tampela pass alt. 4550m. Pass the Umtso lake on which religious treasures were found by Terton Pemalingpa. Overnight in camp.

Day 24 Tampetso-Maorothang
Today the trek goes all the way down hill through the Rhododendron bushes till you reach the camp. The camp is near the Nikka Chu river. Overnight in camp. Alt. 11844ft. Distance 14 Kms about 5 hours.

Day 25 Maorothang-Nikachu Chazam
Distance 23 Kms about 6-7 hours. Alt. 2650m. Today is your last day of walking. The trail passes through the fields and villages of Sephu. Overnight in camp.

Day 26 Nikachu Chazam-Thimphu
Early morning drive to Thimphu. Lunch at Wangdi Tourist Lodge. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 27 Thimphu - Sightseeing
A full day of sightseeing and shopping in Thimphu. Wander in the town, visit the handicrafts emporium. Visit the workshop where all the crafts are produced if you like. Afternoon visit the Tashichho-Dzong. Then drive out for Motithang Hotel, take a walk up the hill behind the Hotel and visit the Takin penned up there. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 28 Thimphu - Paro Airport
Drive to international Airport at Paro for onward flight.