Overview

Highlights : This trek of Phopjikha valley at 3,000m is one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan. It is chosen home of the rare Black Necked Cranes which migrate here in winter from the Tibetan plateau. Gangtey is one of the most beautiful places and the Gangtey Gompa is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western side of the black mountains. This moderate trek visits the villages of Gogona and Khotokha, passing through meadows, fields, forests of Juniper, magnolia and rhododendrons. Considered as one of the finest low level treks.

Paro Valley
One of the best agricultural regions of the country, Paro is also one of the most affluent. Fields cover most of the valley floor, while hamlets and isolated farms dot the countryside. The houses of Paro valley are considered to be among the most beautiful in the country. Paro is also the site of one of Bhutan's most impressive buildings – Paro Dzong. The famous monastery of Traktang and the ruins of Drukyul Dzong are nearby.
Thimphu
Thimphu lies in a wooded valley, sprawling up a hillside on the West Bank of the Thimphu Chhu [Chhu means River]. Thimphu is unlike any other world capital. Small and secluded the city is quiet and there are never the traffic jams familiar in other Asian Capitals. It is often said that Thimphu is the only world capital without traffic lights. Thimphu's main shopping street is a delight not so much for what you can buy there, but for the picturesqueness of the architecture and national costume. Beautiful weaves in wool, silk and cotton, basketwork, silver jewellery, thangkas and other traditional crafts of the Kingdom are available in various Handicraft Emporiums.
Punakha
Punakha plays a primordial role in the history of Bhutan; it was the country's winter capital for 300 years. Punakha Dzong, or Punthang Dechen Phodrang, was built in 1637. The Dzong resembles a gigantic ship exactly covering a split of land at the confluence of two rivers. The history of Punakha Dzong dates back to the year 1328 when a saint named Ngagi Rinchen built a temple there which can still be seen today opposite to the great Dzong. Shabdrung Nawang Namgyel a key figure in the history of Bhutan built Punakha Dzong and his body is preserved in one of the Dzongs temples, Machen Lhakhang. The Dzong was damaged six times by fire, once by floods and once by earthquake. The coronation of Ugyen Wangchuk, the first king of Bhutan, took place at Punakha Dzong on 17th December 1907.
Wangdue Phodrang
Wangdue Phodrang, means ‘the palace where the four directions are gathered under the power of the Shabdrung'. However the popular story has it that the Shabdrung arrived at the river and happened to see a boy building a sand castle. He asked for the boy's name, which was Wangdue, and thereupon decided to name the Dzong Wangdue Phodrang or 'Wangdue's Palace.' Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. Its position is remarkable as it completely covers the spur and commands an impressive view over both the north-south and east-west roads. The main road climbs the length of the spur and on the left, across the river, comes the first glimpse of the picturesque village of Rinchengang whose inhabitants are celebrated stonemasons.

Short Itinerary

Day 01 : Kathmandu Or Bangkok or Delhi or Kolkata or Dhaka to Paro
Day 02 : Drive to Thimphu (2hrs).  Upon arrival check into Hotel Druk or River view or similar.
Day 03 : AM visit the Painting school, National library, Royal goldsmith workshop and Handicraft centers. PM drive 3
Day 04 : AM early drive  to the Gangtey Gompa valley at an altitude of 2800 meters. The only Nyingmapa
Day 05 : Gogona to Khotokha. A gentle climb leads to Shobjula pass at 3700 meters with
Day 06 : Khotokha to Chuzomsa via Nizergang. A short ascends leads to Tashi la at 3300.
Day 07 :  AM drive 45 minutes to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong which served as an
Day 08 : Transfer to airport for departure.

Itinerary Detail

Day 01 : Kathmandu Or Bangkok or Delhi or Kolkata or Dhaka to Paro
Arrive Paro airport. Get Bhutan visa on passport upon showing visa approval letter plus 2 pp size picture. Meet/greet by our guide and drive to Hotel. The flight offers you beautiful view of mountain and landscape. Afternoon / evening time  at leisure. Overnight in Hotel. If time permits s/seeing. Evening  stroll around the market.
Day 02 : Paro-Thimphu

Drive to Thimphu (2hrs).  Upon arrival check into Hotel Druk or River view or similar. PM sightseeing - Visit the Memorial chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 15 century Changangkha monastery, Motithang mini zoo to see the rare "Takin" national animal of Bhutan and drive further down with good view of the Thimphu valley. Visit the new Drupthob nunnery temple and free time in the market.

Day 03 : Thimphu-Wangdiphodrang

AM visit the Painting school, National library, Royal goldsmith workshop and Handicraft centers. PM drive 3 hours to Wangduephodrang crossing the Dochula pass 3100 meters. On fine weather you will see the eastern Himalayan ranges including the highest mountain in Bhutan Mt.Gangar Punsum 7520 meters. The drive from the pass is all the way downhill dropping to the lower and warmer valleys of lobesa. Visit the Wangduephodrang Dzong from outside and the market area. Overnight at Wangdi Kichu Resort or similar.

Day 04 : Trekking/Camp

AM early drive  to the Gangtey Gompa valley at an altitude of 2800 meters. The only Nyingmapa monastery in western Bhutan is located here. This beautiful valley is also home to the rare Black Necked Cranes migrating from the Tibetan plateau to escape the harsh winter. Currently there are 200 to 300 cranes residing in this valley and the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) is taking every measures to ensure the safety of the Cranes. While the cranes reside in the winter valley for 4/5 months the village folks are not allowed to make loud noises or fish in the river that runs through the valley. The trekking staff will be waiting for your arrival and start hike to Gogona. A moderate trail winds through meadows and fields then ascends to the Tselela pass. You will be walking through forest of juniper, bamboo, magnolia and  rhododendron. The people of Gogona are nomads and have their own dialect. Camp at 3200 meters. Walking time 5/6 hours.

Day 05 : Trekking/Camp

Gogona to Khotokha. A gentle climb leads to Shobjula pass at 3700 meters with
views of the wide open valley. Then descend  gradually to camp at 3100 meters. Walking
time 5/6 hours.

Day 06 : Khotakha to Wangdiphodrang

Khotokha to Chuzomsa via Nizergang. A short ascends leads to Tashi la at 3300. Be sure to fill your water bottles shortly after crossing the pass as the descend is very dry. Walk down through ever changing vegetation into the drainage of the Dangchu river at 1400 meters. Walking time 6/7 hours. Overnight at Wangdi Kichu Resort or similar.

Day 07 :  Wangdiphodrang-Paro

AM drive 45 minutes to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong which served as an old capital of Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers and has survived many glacial floods and fire. Every year during the month of February a procession known as the Punakha Serda takes place to commemorate the victory over the Tibetans. Proceed to Thimphu. PM drive back to Paro. Overnight Kichu resort or similar. 

Day 08 : Transfer to airport for departure.

Date And Cost

AVAILABILITY OPTIONS

Cost Includes

1. Arrival/Departure transfers
2. accommodation in standard A class hotels
3. daily breakfast-Lunch-Dinner
4. twin share room
5. all entrance fees
6. all land transportation as per itinerary
7. Tented camp
8. English speaking local tourist guide
9. Bhutan travel permit.

Cost Excludes

1. Airport taxes
2. travel & health insurance
3. emergency expenses
4. flight ticket to/from Bhutan
5. Entrance/visa fee Usd 40
6. Sleeping bag etc

Equipment List

1. Good walking shoes
2. Sunglasses
3. Sunscreen (highest possible)
4. Headgear for sunny days
5. Bug repellent
6. Cotton clothing for summer days, light woolen clothes for evenings. Heavy woolens for winter.
7. Shorts for hiking and walking around town are fine. Out of respect, please don't wear shorts in public buildings or monasteries. Have a pair of long pants or longer skirt for these locations. 
8. Plugs/converters for electrical equipment (Standard Indian round pin socket suitable for Voltage and cycles 230v, 50cycles AC.
9. Ear plugs (many barking dogs!)
For trekkers, be sure to bring the following:
1. Sturdy and "broken-in" trekking/hiking boots
2. Sunglasses
3. Sunscreen (highest possible)
4. Headgear
5. Raincoat
6. Medium to heavy sleeping bag (or can be rented - bag and mat for $5 per night)
7. Torch (Flashlight)
8. Insect repellent
9. Day pack and water bottle
10. An extra duffel bag with lock
 Maximum recommended load for trekking is 25Kgs (55lbs.), or 1/5th of body weight.

Altitude Sickness

Preventing Acute Altitude Sickness
• Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills or narcotics. They may decrease ventilation, intensify hypoxemia and make symptoms worse.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Avoid heavy exercise; mild exercise is okay.
• Diamox® (acetazolamide) 125 mg. tablets taken twice a day is F.D.A. approved for prevention and treatment of A.M.S. Although it originally was released as a diuretic (water pill), it also helps you breath deeper and faster. This allows you to get more oxygen. Diamox is especially helpful with the sleeping prob-lems and other symp-toms of A.M.S.
• Home oxygen will relieve symptoms. Home oxygen is safe, cheap and easy to use. It can be used at night when symptoms are worse and off and on during the day as symptoms dictate.
• If nothing else works, you can return to lower altitude. Going down to Denver will always relieve the symptoms of A.M.S.
Acute mountain sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen when traveling to higher elevations. This usually occurs in individuals exposed to an altitude over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) who have not had a chance to acclimate to the altitude before engaging in physical activities. (rare below 12,000 feet) Mountain climbers, trekkers, skiers, and travelers to the Andes or Himalayas are at greatest risk. While individual tolerance varies, symptoms usually appear in several hours, with those in poor physical condition being most susceptible. Headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and poor appetite occur initially. Inability to sleep is also frequently reported. In more severe cases thinking and judgment may become impaired. An uncommon but potentially fatal complication called high altitude pulmonary edema, caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, can also occur.
The symptoms of acute mountain sickness can be prevented or minimized by gradually ascending (less than 500 meters/day) over several days to give your body a chance to acclimate to the higher altitude. Taking the prescription medication Diamox (acetazolamide) 250 mg three times a day has been shown to speed up the acclimatization process and can be taken shortly before and during the ascent. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to sulfa drugs. This medication is a mild diuretic and may work by changing the body's acid-base balance and stimulating breathing. Dexamethasone 8 mg once a day has also been shown to be effective. However, this steroid medication may have more adverse effects. Once symptoms occur, they usually improve over several days without treatment. However, if they become severe, they can be relieved with the administration of oxygen or descent to a lower altitude.