Jomolhari Yaksa Trek

Overview

The grandeur of Jumolhari has played with peoples imaginations for centuries. Romanticised eternally in traditional folk songs, Jumolhari at 7326 m. is also considered to be the abode of the mountain goddess Chomo.

This trek goes all the way to Jangothang from where Jumolhari looks close enough that you can touch it. And instead of back tracing the trail, you trek east, into the beautiful region of Yaksa, meaning the Land of Yaks.

This trek is well suited for people who would like to experience trekking in the Bhutanese Himalayas but do not have the luxury of time to go on the longer Laya Lingshi trek.

Besides trekking in the mountains, you will also be visiting the main cultural centres of western Bhutan. Western Bhutan is comparatively more developed than the rest of the country. Thimphu, the capital, has all the important government offices, including the King’s Secretariat. Paro has the only airport and Punakha is the ancient capital of Bhutan.

Details Itinerary

Day 1| Arrival in Paro

Your flight to Paro will offer you a beautiful mountain views. On this flight the views of the Everest, Kanchen Junga and other Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Jumolhari and Jichu Drakey in Bhutan are awesome. On arrival in Paro our guide will receive you and check you into your hotel. After lunch we will see the rich history of Bhutan exhibited in the 17th century National Museum. The Paro Dzong, a massive fortress built in the 17th century now houses the monastic body. A tour of this beautiful Dzong will introduce us to the unique aspects of the Bhutanese Buddhism. A lovely stroll downhill from the Dzong over an old cantilever bridge wraps up an eventful first day in this magical kingdom.
Overnight in Paro | Altitude: 2200m

Day 2| Paro sightseeing

Taktsang or the tiger’s nest temple is the most revered temple to the Buddhist. This magical temple clings to a vertical granite cliff 800m above the valley. Legend has it that in the 8th century, Guru Rimpochey, a tantric master flew here on the back of a tigress and meditated in a cave around which the temple is built. A hike to this temple will take up most of our morning. In the afternoon, we will host a special Buddhist prayer ceremony at the beautiful 1200 year old Kyichu Lhakhang Temple, to bring us good luck for the rest of the journey.
Overnight in Paro | Altitude: 2200m

Day 3| Start of the Jumolhari Trek
Paro to Shana,
Distance: 15k
Walking time: 6h
Sleeping altitude: 2800m

The Drugyal Dzong was built in 1654 by the Shabdrung to commemorate one of the many war victories against the Tibetans. Over the centuries, it guarded the trail from Tibet into the Paro valley. We will be met at this historic site by our trekking crew for the start of our trek. Follow the Paro Chu upstream through the village of Tshento on a dirt road for about an hour. We will have lunch in a friend’s house on the trail. Just before reaching our camp, we will have to pass through an army check post, where your guide will produce your trekking permit.

Day 4| Shana to Thangthangkha
Distance: 21k
Walking time: 8h
Sleeping altitude: 3630m

The trail from Shana to Thangthangkha is a very rocky series of small ups and downs along the Paro Chu and can be very muddy if it rains. About 2 ½ hours into the trek, you will come at a junction where a trail branches to go to Tibet. Don’t go to Tibet!

Day 5| Thangthangkha to Jangothang
Distance: 16k
Walking time: 6h
Sleeping altitude: 4090m

Today you will come across small sparse settlements, and herds of yaks. You will also be crossing the tree line (4000m). Our camp at Jangothang will bring us face to face with the majestic Jumolhari. Jangothang means the land of ruins; you will see ruins of some old settlements, which no one seems to know much about.

Day 6| Jangothang Halt

Acclimatization and rest day. A good optional hike is to climb to the Tshophu Lake at 4300m, which is about 2h from Jangothang.

Day 7| Jangothang to Yaksa
Distance: 17k
Walking time: 7h
Pass to cross: Bongtey La, 4820m
Sleeping altitude: 3800m

2 hours from Jangothang is the Tshophu Lake, which you probably visited yesterday. From the lake, it’s another 2 hours to the pass. Climbing up to the pass, we will be rewarded with stunning views of the Jumolhari and Jichu Drakey. From the pass, it’s all the way downhill until our camp at Yaksa.

Day 8| Yaksa to Thombu
Distance: 14k
Walking time: 5h
Pass to cross: Thombu La, 4550m
Sleeping altitude: 4150m

Climbing out of Yaksa, you will see the few houses that make up the Yaksa village across the valley, and the pass you came over yesterday. About 2 hours of gradual climbing and you will cross the tree line, entering another valley. The pass is 1 hours climb from here. From the pass, you can see the yak herders grazing grounds of Thombu, our camp. On a clear day, you can even see some houses in Tibet.

Day 9| Thombu to Gunitsawa
Distance: 17k
Walking time: 6h
Sleeping altitude: 2600m

A short steep climb will take us out of the Thombu basin, traversing along a trail cut into a rocky cliff with a dizzying drop. 4 hours of steep and dusty descent (1 ½ k of vertical descent) will bring us to the army check post that we crossed on the first day of our trek. Our camp is a further 2 hours downstream from the army camp.

Day 10| Gunitsawa to Paro, Thimphu
Distance: 10k
Walking time: 4h

Last day of our trek. We are back tracing the trail now. Very soon Drugyal Dzong will come into view where our transport will be waiting. Bid farewell to your trekking staffs and drive for paro and lunch in the hotel. After lunch relax at our hotel and evening explore the charming Paro town.
Overnight in Paro

Day 11| Departure

Transfer to airport for your departure flight. Our tour staff will bid you farewell at the airport.