Trek Paro Lingshi Thimphu - Trekking Tour Bhutan, Gangtok Travel, Darjeeling

The drive through Paro Valley from the airport is all that Bhutan is about. It is a wide, open, undulating valley stretching out in inviting green for miles. In the fascinating kingdom of Bhutan, Paro is unique in beauty and in history. To the north, Mount Chomolhari (mountain of the Goddess), reigns in white glory and the glacier waters from its "five sisters" peaks plunge torrentially through deep gorges, finally converging to form the Paro Chu river that nourishes lush rice fields and apple and peach orchards of the Paro valley. The day could be spent relaxing in a hotel or acclimatizing by going on a short hike to a dzong. You can go to Taksang or the Tiger's Nest Monastery, located on the "Cliff Top" and built in the eighth century.

Duration :
10 Days

Trekking Season :
Mid-March to Mid-May and September to Mid-December

Arrive Delhi and fly from Delhi to Kathmandu-Paro (Bhutan)

Day 01 :
The trek starts with a drive to the right bank of the Paro River. Drugyal Dzong (8,465 ft / 2,580m), in ruins, is at the end of the road. There the ponies are loaded up. The sacred peak of Jomolhari beckons but its vanilla cone disappears for the next few days. You ente an idyllic pastoral setting - charming little houses in the middle of green fields with the backdrop of wooded hills. The trail enter the Pine Forest after going past three chortens. Walking after two hours, you reach a Bhutanese Army camp at Sharna (9,416 ft/ 2,870m), where permits are checked.

Day 02 :
A two hour climb through a forest leads to a clearing called Shingkarap that has a small house and a farm. See Bank of the Paro Chu, and to the meadow of Thangdo Zam. A hard thirty-minute climb leads to the Thang Thanka meadow (11,910 ft/3,630m).

Day 03 :
For day third you will reach the meadow of Thankar Koncha. Another steep thirty minutes bring you to a mane wall (stone wall with inscriptions), which signals the start of the yak heders' camp at Thake Thang that overlooks the ruins of a fortress. After this you see the meadow of Jangothang (13,353 ft / 4,070m) at the base of Jomolhari.

Day 04 :
For the day fourh the ponies go back and yaks from Lingshi arrive. Go for any of these short walks: 0- A ridge walk that gives you a great view of the two glaciers and a grand close up of Jomolhari and Tserim Kang. You also get a spectacular sight of the Jichu Drake peak, if you are willing to follow the ridge for an hour. 0- Going up the valley for an hour or so will also get you great views of Jomolhari and Jichu Drake from a different angle. 0- A nearby high-altitude lake gives you the possibility of fishing. Take a guide for this walk.

Day 05 :
On fifth day the trail climbs for forty five minutes and descends to the river. Crossing the river, it climbs to Niyela La (16,044 ft/4,890m). A false hump only increases the torture as you come up to do the last one hour of the energy-sapping scree. But it's worth it. Lingshi Gompa is balanced on a hillock; to your left, Tserim Kang and Jichu Drake stradle an imposing glacier. Descending for ninety minutes through forests, you reach the camp.

Day 06 :
Take a rest or choose to limber up to see the monastery of Lingshi (13,157 ft/4,010m.) There are huge pastures up from Lingshi on the ridge towards Tserim Kang and a high-altitude lake too. This is ideal blue sheep and musk deer country.

Day 07 :
On this day eight the trail climbs down to the Mochu river. The Lingshi Dzong is behind you, farmed now in the foreground of the Kung Phu (21,000ft/6,400m). Go through noisy marmot country on the ascent to Yale La. A three-and-a-half hour ascent along the Mochu takes you to its top. The place is just above the tree line at the headwaters of the Thimpu Chu and is a good campsite.

Day 08 :
Morning time the trail leaves the open country to enter a thick cypress forest mixed with juniper and rhododendrons. The first hour is through boggy grounds. This is great pheasant country if you have time to scout. After cris crossing the Thimpu Chhu, the last one hour of a steep climb takes you to the ruins of Barshong Dzong.

Day 09 :
Begin a never-ending search for a place called Dolam Kenchu, which is Bhutanese means 'well short'. Which is just as well because as you start inching your way towards it, you will feel that you cannot reach it. The trail descends steeply through a cypress forest for the first two hours. Keep your eyes open for this is typical eastern Himalayan Bird paradise.

Day 10 :
Just a day away from Thimpu. The trail initially ascends to a small pass (11,000ft/3,353m). It ten descends steeply to the road head village of Dodina (8,400ft/2,560m) through a forest of conifers and oak. You walk through an elegant traditional wooden bridge thatched with bamboo.

Important Travel Tips

Permits
For the trekking in Bhutan facing some permits and restrictions and arrangements have to be made only. They must carry their passport and visas are given on arrival. For this they must have two passport-sized photographs.

Getting There
Paro is the only airport and there are flights by Druk Air from Bangkok, Kathmandu, Kolkata, and Delhi. By road, Paro is linked to India from the border town of Phuntsholing, and is eight hours by bus. From Paro to the road head at Drugyal Dzong is only an hour's drive.

Altitude
The trek starts from Drugyal Dzong at 8,465 ft / 2,580m. The high passes are Niyela La at 16,000 ft/4,877 m, and Yale La at 15,800 ft / 4,815 m.

Places to See
Views of peaks like Jomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserim Kang from many sections; the remote monastery at Lingshi; thick spruce and mixed rhododendron forests in the latter half of the trek.

Trekking Supports
All services like trekking equipment, cooking, and porter age are provided by us. Very few facilities are available. Be totally self-equipped from Paro or Thimpu.

Emergency
Air rescue available only under extreme cases. The climate conditions in Bhutan are unpredictable, making rescue extremely difficult. On this trek, Lingshi is the only place you can communicate from.

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