10 Days Samtengang Winter Trek

Highlight: Visit Paro landmarks including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang.

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.

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the 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. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

In the later afternoon, we will drive to Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours.

Stay overnight in Thimphu. 

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlight: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

Today, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour around Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlight: Explore celebrated Punakha Dzong and Chhimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, we will leave Thimphu for Punakha. The drive will take about 2 hours, following the steep road through lush forests. On the way, you can stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas. 

Upon arrival, we will tour around the ancient capital city of Bhutan, Punakha. You will first visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. It is also the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move together to this warm location from Thimphu.

Later in the afternoon, you will also visit the Chhimi Lhakhang, also known as Devine Madman’s Monastery. Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Chimi Lhakhang

(Trek distance: 12km; Time: 4 hours; Altitude: 1242m to 1980m; Ascent: 880m)

The exciting Samtengang trek starts today. After passing majestic Punakha Dzong you cross a footbridge over the Pho Chhu and walk up to Shengana. This is the longest bridge in Bhutan. Then climb gradually through the forest until you reach Limukha (1980m). Make sure you are carrying enough water as you won’t find any on the way to Limukha.

Camping at Limukha.

Punakha Dzong

(Trek distance: 14km; Time: 5 hours; Altitude: 1980m to 1550m; Descent: 430m)

On the second day of the trekking, you will follow a path that leads through rhododendron and oak forests to Chhungsakha (1550m). Chungsakha is a small village of about 10 houses. You’ll find a holy stone and an impressive Cyprus tree here that are reminders of Drukpa Kuenley, the “divine madman”.

Camping at Chungsakha.

Chungsakha

(Trek distance: 13km; Time: 5 hours; Altitude: 1550m to 1830m; Ascent: 650m, descent: 270m)

Today, you will walk downhill until you cross Pe Chhu before climbing again through the village of Sha on your way to Samtengang (1830m). Near the school in Samtengang you will see a small lake where we will camp next to it.

Camping at Samtengang.

Camping at Samtengang

(Trek distance: 4km; Time: 2 hours; Altitude: 1830m to 1555m; Descent: 730m)

Following the trail to descend steeply through terraced fields into the valley of Dangchu river. The trek will end at Tika Zam (1555m) after about 2 hours of trek (3-4km). Then your transport will meet you there and drive you to Gangtey. Take a good rest in your hotel after the trekking.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlight: Visit the ancient Simtokha Dzong and magnificent Paro Rinpung Dzong.

Today, you will get up early and say farewell to the charming Gangtey valley. About a 5-hour drive will bring you back to Paro. You will encounter the Simtokha Dzong en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to visit the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong

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

Today, we will leave for Paro to 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.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

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