Every Journey is a Story
Seven nights, five of them above the tree line
Five walking days from Paro to Thimphu over lake-studded high country, camping at up to 4,100 m, with a fortress on the first ridge and the capital at the end.
The Druk Path is the classic short trek of Bhutan and still the best introduction to the country’s high country. It leaves the Paro valley by the ruined Jele Dzong, crosses a series of ridges and glacial lakes at around 4,000 m, tops out near Phume La at about 4,210 m, and drops into Thimphu five days later past the monastic complex at Phajoding. Days are moderate — four to six hours of walking — but the altitude is real, and we build in the acclimatisation to match.
Suits fit, experienced hill walkers. Five consecutive days above 3,400 m with four nights in camp; previous multi-day walking experience and a recent check with your doctor are both sensible.
Where you sleep, and for how long. Every transfer is by private vehicle with your guide.
Distances and walking times are honest estimates for an unhurried pace. Nothing here is fixed — we move days around to suit the weather, the festival calendar and how you are feeling.
Met at the airport with an easy afternoon in the valley. Kit check and briefing before dinner.
The climb to Paro Taktsang doubles as acclimatisation — around 900 m of ascent to about 3,120 m, and an honest indication of how your body is handling the height.
A steep first afternoon out of the valley to the ruined dzong on the ridge at about 3,480 m. Camp is just below it, and the whole Paro valley lies underneath you at dusk.
Along the ridge through rhododendron and dwarf juniper, with yak herders’ camps and, in clear weather, Jomolhari to the north. Camp at about 3,770 m.
A rolling day to a lake at about 3,880 m, known for its trout and for the way the cloud sits on it in the late afternoon.
Past Janetsho and a scattering of smaller lakes, over open high country to camp at about 4,110 m — the highest night of the trek.
The high point near Phume La at about 4,210 m comes early, then a long descent past Phajoding monastery through blue pine forest to the road above Thimphu. A hotel, a shower, and the capital.
The drive down the valley to Paro for your flight home.
Altitudes and walking times are approximate and vary with conditions. Festival dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar and are confirmed annually by the Department of Tourism, so festival journeys are built around the year’s published dates. Road works and weather can change a driving day; your guide will always discuss an alternative with you before anything is changed.
Yes — every journey we publish is a starting point. Add a valley, drop a dzong, move the whole thing to a festival week, or slow the whole pace down. Most itineraries go through two or three drafts before anyone books anything.
Only the people you book with. Every journey is private: your own guide, your own vehicle and your own driver, whether you are one traveller or eight.
You get a written day-by-day itinerary with hotels named and a full quotation, usually within one to two working days. Nothing is payable while we work it out.
For March–May and September–November, six to nine months ahead — the Paro flights and the better hotels fill first. Off-season, six to eight weeks is usually enough.
Written itinerary and full quotation, usually within one working day.
Every journey is private and rewritten around you — add a valley, add days in Haa, or move the whole thing to festival week.
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with a written day-by-day itinerary for The Druk Path Trek and a full quotation. No deposit, no obligation, and a real person answering.
Paro · Haa · Thimphu
Cross Chele La at 3,988 m into the valley that only opened to visitors in 2002 — barley fields, blue pine, two ancient temples and the people we grew up with.
Tailor-made
Quotation by email
Paro · Thimphu · Punakha
The three western valleys, unhurried: the capital, the pass with 108 chortens, the great fortress at the river junction, and the Tiger’s Nest to finish.
Tailor-made
Quotation by email
Paro · Festival valley · Punakha or Haa
A tshechu is not a performance for visitors — it is the year’s most important religious gathering, and the dances have been danced in that courtyard for centuries.
Tailor-made
Quotation by email
