14 Days Merak-Sakteng Trek in Bhutan

Highlight: Visit Paro National Museum and stroll around the town after arriving in Paro by flight.

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city.

In the afternoon, we will head to visit to Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlight: Take a quick flight to Bumthang from Paro.

Today, you will take the flight to Bumthang from Paro. Operated by Drukair, the domestic flight from Paro to Bumthang departs 5 time per week. It will cut short your traveling time from 12 hours flight to just 35 minutes flight.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Bumthang like Tamshing Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Jakar Dzong.

Today, you will enjoy a sightseeing in Bumthang. Deep in the central regions of the country, Bumthang valley is broad and presents a different landscape you may not see in west Bhutan. You will first visit Tamshing Lhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then crossing the suspension bridge to the Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit Jakar Dzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Kurjey Lhakhang

Highlight: Transfer to Trashigang and enjoy the natural beauty of the undisturbed environment.

After breakfast, you will get transferred from Bumthang to Trashigang. On this long drive, you will enjoy the natural beauty of the undisturbed environment and take pics of some breathtaking scenery like the Namling Bra (cliff) waterfall which falls down the deepest cliff in Eastern Bhutan.

Trashigang is one of the biggest eastern districts in Bhutan. The 1st modern education system was established in this district. Trashigang also houses the semi-normadic people. The Merak & Sakteng are the popular places which is inhabited by semi-normadic people. Bhutan adhere significance in protecting the wellbeing of this rare population.

Stay overnight in Trashigang.

Trashigang Dzong

(Trek distance: 8km; Time: 4-5 hours; Altitude: 2148m to 3124m; Ascent: 1544m, descent: 230m)

The trek to Merak will start from Chaling. We will first drive to Chaling passing through Radhi village. Your trekking crew and pack animals will be waiting here for you. Trek starts with gradual climb towards Shaktimi meadow. You will see yaks and sheep grazing with yak herder’s huts dotted on the hills side. Climb further to reach Mendula Pass at 3354m. From this pass, you will descend through rhododendron forests till Donmong Chu at 3124m.

Camping at Donmong Chu.

Merak Sakteng Trek

(Trek distance: 20km; Time: 4-5 hours; Altitude: 3124m to 3500m; Ascent: 480m, descent: -m)

The trail from Domong Chu to Merak follows a paved road. Before reach Gangu village, you will have a gentle climb. After another 45 minutes’ walk from this village, you will arrive at Merak located at an altitude of 3520m. The campsite located before the village has spectacular views of nearby mountains and village. Visit the local village and meet with the people.

Camping at Merak.

(Trek distance: 14km; Time: 6 hours; Altitude: 3500m to 4153m; Ascent: 633m, descent: 1074m)

The trek from Merak to Miksa Teng is of medium difficulty. It will be a challenging journey to the highest Nachungla pass at 4153m. From the campsite climb gradually to the first pass at 3900m from where you can make last glimpse of Merak valley. Continue to trek along the tree line of juniper and rhododendron forests and conquer the Nachungla pass. Then descend to Miksateng at 3079m. 

Camping at Miksa Teng.

(Trek distance: 14km; Time: 5 hours; Altitude: 3079m to 2950m; Ascent: 81m, descent: 310m)

After breakfast, you will first descend to the river, cross it and then follow the river bank for few hours. Then climb gradually to a hill adorned by small Chorten (Stupa) overlooking the Sakten valley. If you are lucky, you can spot red panda among the trees. Drop down from the ridge and camp on the outskirts of the Sakten village at 2950m.

Camping at Sakteng.

Highlights: Visit Sakten village and explore the lifestyle and unique culture of this ethnic group.

It’s worth spending an extra day in Sakteng to explore. Sakteng had about 60 houses in the past and the village has grown a little over time. The inhabitants are very religious and north and east of Sakteng -in India – are many important Buddhist temples.

Camping at Sakteng.

(Trek distance: 20km; Time: 4-5 hours; Altitude: 3079m to 1981m; Ascent: 74m, descent: 1291m)

In the morning, we will first trek to Thakthi for 4-5 hours. It will be a long journey and so you will start early from camp. The trek starts with short climb to the small hill towards the west end of the village. Then descend to the river and walk alongside it through the broad leaf forests. Upon arrival at Thakthi, you will meet your transport and get transferred to Trashigang.

Stay overnight in Trashigang.

Highlight: Enjoy the Scenery along the route from Trashigang to Bumthang.

It will a long drive back to Bumthang. Have a nice rest in your vehicle while enjoying the scenery along the way.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Highlight: Travel from Bumthang to Paro either by flight or road.

From Bumthang you can choose to take a direct flight to Paro or take the road transportation. The flight takes about 35 minutes only. Upon arrival, you can have a good rest in your hotel or stroll around to explore the nearby.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Thimphu Tashichho Dzong

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest.

Today, we will enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination. Tour service end.