8 Days Sichula Winter Trek in Bhutan

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. 

Bhutan National 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.

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

(Trek distance: 12km; Time: 7-8 hours; Max Altitude: 3400m)

After breakfast in the hotel, you will first drive along the Thimphu Chuu River to visit Dechencholing Palace, which is the residence of the royal family. Then you will get to Chamina village after passing through an unsealed road.

From Chamina Village, the start point of the Sichula Winter Trek, you will take an uphill trek to Sinchula Pass (3,400m), from where you can enjoy a great view of the Phajoding monastery located above Thimphu city in a clear day.

Taking another trek 2kms trek, you will arrive in Thinleygang Village, where you can see the Talo Monastery and the motor highway towards Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan.

The final trekking route in today to the campsite at Dopshing Pang (2700m) is a gradual descend after crossing the pass.

Camping at Dopshing Pang.

Dechencholing Palace

(Trek distance: 11km; Time: 7-8 hours; Altitude: 3400m)

Today, you will first trek through thick forests, where you may see lower altitude Rhododendrons and kinds of birds, such as Grey Backed Shrike, Yellow Billed Blue Magpie, and Green backed Tit.

Once you cross a bridge over the Kabji Chuu River, you will pass through the villages and fields of Dophukha. You can see the local farmers live in peaceful villages.

Taking another 45 minutes trek from Dophukha, you will reach the campsite near Chorten Ningpo.

Camping at Chorten Ningpo (2700m).

Sichula Winter Trek in Bhutan

Highlights: End your trek and drive to Punakha to visit the Punakha Dzong and Chhimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, you will visit the Chorten Nyebu Temple, the oldest temple in the region with about 350 years’ history. The highlight of this temple is the statue of the furture Buddha, which is considered similar to that of the Jow statue in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet. Every year, on  the 10^th day of the eight month of the Bhutanese calendar, the local Bhutanese will gather here to spend a Tsechu festival  in the honor of the Buddha and the Guru Rimpochey.

The temple is also the end port of your trek. After farewell to your trekking staff, you will move to Punakha by car. Upon arrival, 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.

Chhimi Lhakhang

Highlight: Visit Kyichu Temple and ruins of Drukgyel Dzong.

Today we will leave for Paro through Dochula Pass (3100m).  

Then you will continue your land journey to Tacho Gang, where you will explore the Tachogang Lhakhang after crossing a traditional iron chain bride. Then you will reach Paro and have your lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will head to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Kyichu Lhakhang

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.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

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