18 Days Wild East Rodung La Trek Tour

Highlight: Visit the Essentials in Thimphu, including the Memorial Chorten, the Duddha Statue and the Thimphu Tashichho Dzong.

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 in Thimphu. The 45-kilometer drive from Paro to the Bhutanese capital takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, and once in your hotel you will have a traditional Bhutanese lunch.

After lunch, you will first visit the Memorial Chorten and then to visit Buddha Dordenma Statue, the tallest Buddha statue in the world. After that, you can take a short hike from Kuensel Phodrang to Depsi, in the south of Thimphu. The hike is a very easy walk that takes us through pine, rhododendron, and oak forests, and lasts for around an hour and a half. Along the route of the hike you will get to see the great views of Thimphu and the Wang Chhu, and can even being some prayer flags to hang between the trees, like the locals do here.

Then, you will visit the Thimphu Tashichho Dzong, the Fortress of the Glorious Religion, which is also the seat of the national government of Bhutan and the Central Monastic Body.

In the evening, you are able to take a stroll in the town or visit the Local Crafts Bazaar. The bazaar is full of hand-woven textiles, thangka paintings, masks, ceramics, etc. If you like, you can choose some gifts for your friends and relatives here.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu Tashichho Dzong

Highlights: Cross Dochu La pass and visit Punakha Dzong and Chimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, you will drive to Punakha and Wangdue. On the way, you will 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. You will also take a temporary stop at the amazing 108 chortens built by Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck (The Queen mother of Bhutan) for the safety and wellbeing of His Majesty (The king of Bhutan).

After lunch at Wangduephodrang (1,350m), you will keep driving to Punakha. In Punakha, you will visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the onflunence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. After that, you will go to visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Lhakhang. 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.

Dochu La pass

Highlights: Cross two mountain passes with scenic views and visit Chendebji Chorten.

Today, you need tol set out in the early morning after breakfast and travel to Bumthang (2700m). Covering a distance of 197 kilometers, it will take you 7 hours to get to Bumthang from Punakha. The on-the-route scenery is amazing, the bus will take you to lush forests of oaks and pine trees and you can see view changes as you ascend the mountain. Get a fantastic panoramic view from the Pele La Pass (3300 m).

Meanwhile, the open green meadows with rhododendron ridden valleys will lead you to visit Chendebji Chorten, a large Nepalese style chorten sits quietly by the side of the road. The chorten is modeled after the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu. It is said that Chendebji Chorten was built in the 19th century by Lama Zhida to cover the remains of an evil spirit who was killed at this spot.

Continue your drive to Bumthang by passing through Yotong La Pass (3400 m). The route during this section takes you to the Yathra Waving Center at Zugney village where you can witness the locals waving Yathra, a name that refers to the colorful and woolen cloth with geometric design in Bhutanese. Then the bus takes you further to Bumthang Valley.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Chendebji Chorten

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

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 TamshingLhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then, you need to cross the suspension bridge to the KurjeyLhakhang. Not far from KurjeyLhakhang sits the JambayLhakhang, a temple built by the King SongtsenGoempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit JakarDzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Tamshing Lhakhang

(Trek distance: 20km; Time: 6-7 hours; Camp Altitude: 2800m)

After breakfast in the hotel, you will go to Thangbi Village where you will meet your trekking staff and start the trek. First, you will pass the Thangbi Temple and then visit the Ngang Lhakhang, the Swan Temple after entering Ngang Yul area. After that, you will continue trekking until you reach the campsite.

Camping at Ngang Lhakhang.

Ngang Lhakhang

(Trek distance: 15km; Time: 5-6 hours; Camp Altitude: 2850m)

Today, you will climb up to the Phephe La Pass at 3353 meters above the sea level and go downhill through a forested region to the campsite at Ugyen Choling Manor.  During the trekking through the forest, you can make several stops to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the mountains and valleys in central Bhutan.

Camping at Ugyenchholin.

(Trek distance: 17km; Time: 5-6 hours; Altitude Ascent: 920m; Camp Altitude: 3680m)

Today you will trek for about 5 hours through bamboos and hemlock and finally reach to an alpine forest, which is rich in flora and fauna. After the pleasant trek, you will get to the camp located in a meadow at the head of the valley.

Camping at Phokphey.

(Trek distance: 20km; Time: 6-7 hours; Altitude Ascent: 480m, Descent 1160m; Camp Altitude: 2950m)

The first section of today’s trek is uphill gradually to Rodung La Pass (4160m). After crossing the pass, you will take a continuous downhill trek through a gorge to the campsite. You will enjoy the stunning landscapes of the mountain valleys covered in lush pine forests, and the guide will tell you some of the folk stories in this region. When you get to the camp, you can see a ruined stone building that used to be a grain storehouse during the periods of the first and the second kings.

Camping at Pemi.

(Trek distance: 21km; Time: 7-8 hours; Altitude Ascent: 350m, Descent 1340m; Camp Altitude: 2010m)

Today, you will keep trekking down to pass through several lower villages of Ungaar, Bulay, Kulaypang and Gomda. After that, you will arrive in Drula village and visit Khaine Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan.

Camping near Khaine Lhakhang.

Wild East Rodung La Trek Tour

(Trek distance: 18km; Time: 6-7 hours; Altitude Ascent: 520m, Descent 810m; Camp Altitude: 1720m)

After a simple breakfast, you will follow the trail to a basic health unit and a community school in Gorsam along the stream. Then, you will pass a Tibeten-style Umling Mani and a chorten on Zerim La (1940m). After that, you will hike to Tage La Pass at 1760 meters above the sea level. En route, you will pass through the beautiful village of Menjabi, where you can see many featured large white houses.  You will camp at the campsite near Tangmachu High School that south-east to Tage La Pass.

Camping near Tangmachu High School.

Notice: Another possibility for today is to take a car drive to Lhuentse, the capital of Lhuentse district in eastern Bhutan.

(Trek distance: 16km; Time: 4-5 hours; Altitude Ascent: 690m, Descent 620m; Camp Altitude: 1830m)

You will start your trek from the bridge below Tangmachu and then hike up through rice terraces and cornfields to Chusa. The nest section of today’s trek is through a treeless slop. Finally, you will reach to the camp (1830m) beside the Darchu Pang Lhakhang above Menji.

Camping at Menji.

(Trek distance: 20km; Time: 5-6 hours; Altitude Ascent: 620m; Camp Altitude: 2450m)

Today you will take an uphill trek to the campsite in Pemi at 2450 meters above the sea level. The trekking trail will pass through thick forests, along which you can enjoy a marvelous landscape of the mountains.

Camping at Pemi.

(Trek distance: 21km; Time: 7-8 hours; Altitude Ascent: 1450 m, Descent: 1450m; Camp Altitude: 2450m)

First, you need to trek up to Dong La Pass and then take a downhill trek through the forests until you rech the campsite in Taupang. The whole trekking route covers 21 kilometers, which may takes about 7 to 8 hours to finish.

Camping at Taupang.

(Trek distance: 24km; Time: 8-9 hours; Altitude Descent: 720m)

It will be a little bit tough to finish the longest trekking trail covering 24 kilometers. Starting in early morning, you will take a gradual descent to Trashi Yangtse. As the altitude drops, you will find that the surrounding hardwoods forest is gradually being replaced by oak trees. Finally, you will reach to the campsite in a subtropical forested region.

Camping at Trashi Yangtse. 

Meals Included

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Highlight: Visit Bomdeling Village and the School of the 13 Traditional Arts & Crafts.

In the morning, you will say goodbye to your trek staff and meet your driver who will take you to the village of Bomdeling. It is a short drive from the campsite to the village, which is one of the roosting grounds for the rare Black-necked crane.

After check-in in your hotel in Trashi Yangtse, you will visit the school of the 13 Traditional Arts and Crafts and take circumambulation of Chorten Kora beside the river brook.

Stay overnight in Trashi Yangtse.

Chorten Kora

Highlight: Visit Gomkora Temple and Trashigang Dzong.

After breakfast, you will take a drive to Trashigang. En route, you will visit the Gomkora Temple and Ney, which is the most popular site among pilgrims in eastern Bhutan. Once you arrive in Trashigang, you will visit the Trashigang Dzong that located on the rocky cliff. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the peaceful life of Trashigang town.

Stay overnight in Trashigang.

Trashigang Dzong

Highlights: A long drive from to the border town.

Today you will take a long drive, about 6 to 7 hours, from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar. En route, you will pass the village of Khaling where you can go to a local blind school and weaving center beside the highway. Finally, you will reach to the border town, Samdrup Jongkhar.

Stay overnight in Samdrup Jongkhar. 

After breakfast, you will be transfer to Guwahati Airport in India for the flight to your next destination.

Service End.

Notice:This tour can be customized. If you want to go back to Paro after the trek tour, just feel free to tell us while enquiry this tour.