DAY 01 : DRUGYEL DZONG - SHARNA
ZAMPA 17KMS 5-6HRS :

The
trek starts from Drugyel Dzong at 2580m with a short down hill walk on a
wide trail. The trail climbs very gently, travelling through
well-maintained rice terraces and fields of millet. Soon the valley
widens and you reach the army post of Gunyitsawa. Just below the shop at
Gunyitsawa the trial crosses the Paro chu to river right on a wooden
cantilever bridge. It then climbs a little to the village of Sharna
Zampa at 2870m, just beyond Sharna Zampa, are several good camping
places in meadows surrounded by trees.
DAY 02 : SHARNA ZAMPA - THANGTHANGKHA 22KMS 6-7HRS :
The trail continues its gradual climb through conifers and
rhododendrons. About 2 hrs from camp is Shing Karap, a stone house and
clearing at 3110m. lunch can be served here. Tree species along the
trail are blue pine, maple and larch. Finally there is a bridge back to
river right of Paro chu at 3560m. A short walk from the bridge is a
lovely meadow with Jhomolhari looming at the head of the valley. This is
Thangthangkha, elevation 3630m. Camp here.
DAY 03 : THANTHANGKHA -
JANGOTHANG 19KMS 5-6HRS :
This is not a long day, but there is a 450m elevation gain, and you
will be comfortably worn out when you reach camp. At 3770m, about an
hour from camp, the trail turns sharply at a white-washed maniwall you
are now entering yak country and you will see these huge beasts
numbering across the hill site and lazing about in meadows alongside the
trail, it is slow going uphill beside a side stream to the camp at
Jangothang, 4090m and a spectacular view of Jomolhari.
DAY 04 : JANGOTHANG - HALT :
This is a very good place for views and there are lots of day hikes
that you can make or you can go on a fishing expedition to Tshophu, a
high altitude lake.
DAY 05 : JANGOTHANG - LINGSHI 18KMS 5-6HRS :
The remainder of this trek crosses two high passes. At 4470m the trail
traverses under big rocks and leads to the left and enters a large
east-west glacial valley with numerous moraines. The trees have been
left far behind, only a few gentians, but otherwise its just grass,
tundra and small juniper bushes. As the trail approaches the bridge you
can see the snow peak of Tserim kang, elevation 678m, to the north. The
camp is at 4010m, near a large stone community hall used by both
Bhutanese travellers and trekking groups.
DAY 06 : LINGSHI - SHODU 22KMS 8-9HRS :
Today is a day to start early because this daylong and tiring. The
trail stays on the West Side of the largely treeless valley, climbing
steadily a short distance above the Mo chu. It then crosses the river,
which is now only a stream, and climbs steeply for 2 hours to Yeli
La(4820m). From here you can see on clear day, Jhomolhari, Gangchhenta,
Tserim Gang and Masang Gang, Descend alongside a stream to a shelter,
then further downstream to a camp at Shodu(4110m), a meadow with a
chorten.
DAY 07 : SHODU - BARSHONG 16KMS 5-6HRS :
The trail winds up and down gently, along the Thimphu Chu through a
steep walled canyon with cliffs to the north and a cypress forest to the
south. It makes a gradual climb for one hour to Barshong, where there is
a community hall and the ruins of a small dzong. The camp is at 3680m.
DAY 08 : BARSHONG 0 DOLAM KENCHO 15KMS 5-6HRS :
The trail descends gently through a dense forest of rhododendron, birch
and conifers, then drops steeply to meet the Thimphu chu. It stays on
river left climbing over ridges and descending to side streams. It
traverses steep cliffs to Dolam Kencho, a camp among pasture land at
3430m.
DAY 09 : DOLAM KENCHO - THIMPHU 8KMS 3HRS :
The trail goes in and out of side valleys above the Thimphu Chu, making
a long ascent through a forest of conifers and high altitude broadleaf
species to a pass at 3510m. The trail then drops steeply to the river
and follows it southward to the road head at Dodina, elevation 2600m,
just opposite the bridge that leads to Goemba.