The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked nation located in the eastern Himalayas. Tibet (China) is located to its north and northwest and the Indian States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal are to its east, west and south. Bhutan’s physical geography of high mountain passes and deep valleys provides trekkers with remote and picturesque wilderness trails, to include the Druk Path Trek. This trek also offers many cultural surprises along the way such as colourful prayer flags strung across remote mountain passes and isolated mountain-top dzongs (monasteries).
The Druk Path Trek
The Druk Path is a moderately strenuous 55km trek that crosses a chain of mountains separating the Paro and Thimphu valleys. The trek can be undertaken over 4-6 days depending on time available to trekkers and their level of fitness. Those who are moderately fit should be able to complete the trek comfortably in four or five days. The Druk Path can be started from either Paro of Thimphu.
What follows is an account of the Druk Path Trek completed over four days in mid-October under the competent guidance of Yeoong Travels. Other tour operators might offer slightly different itineraries but the overall route would remain much the same.
Day 1
Setting off from Paro’s National Museum (2470m), the Druk Path begins as an easy ascent along a farm road. Trekkers pass farm houses, apple orchards and crops of turnip, chilli and maize before the road gradually narrows and steepens to become little more than a livestock trail. With over 70% of Bhutan’s 38,400 square kilometres forested, trekkers soon enter areas of cypress, fir and spruce, many covered in delicate lichen, ferns and mosses. The forest’s vast green palette is striking in the sun as is the glint of mica on the ground.
After a 4-5 hour ascent of over 1000m, trekkers are rewarded by the sight of the 15th-century Jili Dzong (3540m). This monastery’s isolated position on Jili La (a mountain pass) is heralded by lengths of wind-tattered but colourful prayer flags strung across the ridge. Jili Dzong is the home for meditation and worship of 5-6 monks and also receives pilgrims who make the 10km trek from Paro. Those taking 5-6 days to complete the Druk Path Trek might camp at a meadow just below this monastery.
Trekkers leave the 360-degree views from Jili Dzong and make their way along a mountain ridge flanked by rhododendron, alpine shrubs and grasses. The red, orange and yellow autumn colours, interspersed with purple and white wildflowers, make a striking floral show. The trail passes through a final forested area with some ascent and descent before bringing trekkers to Tshokam campsite (3770m), having walked for 7-8 hours. Another popular campsite in the area is the yak herder’s camp of Rabana, less boggy than Tshokam, but a further 30-minute trek away.
Day 2
It is a short but steep ascent out of Tshokam campsite along yak and pony trails to the Langye Ja La (4070m). The real triumph of this day is to reach the next mountain pass (after another short but tough ascent) where, weather permitting, trekkers will have views north to the snow-capped summit of Jhomolhari, considered Bhutan’s Everest at 7314m. As with many of the high Himalayan peaks, hopes of sighting them can be dashed by cloud cover.
What follows is a long ridge walk with far-reaching views south to Paro Valley and north and west to the higher Himalayan ranges. Also, if trekkers look across the valley to the east they will see Janye Tsho (3880m), a glacial lake resting like a slate-grey plate in the mountainside. The trail trekkers must take to reach this lake can also be seen winding round the mountain.
But first there is a steep, stony and therefore slippery, 30-minute descent, past stone ruins of a yak herder’s camp, to Jimilang Tsho (3885m), a lakeside campsite. The lakes in this area are famous for their giant trout.
After a short, steep ascent out of the valley cradling Jimilang Tsho it is a series of easy ascents and descents to reach the picturesque lakeside camp at Janye Tsho. Trekkers will have walked for 6-7 hours.
Day 3
Trekkers leave Janye Tsho by ascending a steep, rocky watercourse. The rhododendron forests in this area are vast, extending well up the sides of the surrounding mountains. The spectacle of colour offered by these flowering plants in May would be fair pay-off for the greater rainfall typically expected at that time of year in Bhutan.
At the next ridge trekkers have views down to further stone ruins and to Simkotra Tsho (4150m), another popular lakeside camp. It is a long ascent from Simkotra Tsho past three false summits before descending to Labana (another campsite), and then ascending again to Labana La (4235m). This is the highest point of the Druk Path Trek. Weather permitting, trekkers will have further views of Jhomolhari.
The trail descends to a final pass (4090m) marked by a large chorten (stone Buddhist monument) and hundreds of Bhutan’s signature prayer flags. From here, trekkers see Thimphu Valley for the first time. Those who have struggled with the ascents might take comfort in knowing the trek is now all downhill. However, the descent is steep, stony and slippery in parts so those with problem knees could find it tough going.
Trekkers make their way down to Phajoding through rhododendron and juniper forests. Just before reaching Phajoding, a short side trip can be made to Thuji Drak (3950m), a remote meditation centre built into a precipitous cliff face. Trekkers descend further to their campsite at Jampa Lhakhang (3640m), an 18th-century temple which forms part of the extensive Phajoding Goemba (monastic complex), having walked for 6-7 hours.
As Bhutan’s capital of Thimphu lights up in the valley below, trekkers might feel the lure of the wilderness competing with the prospect of a hot shower and comfortable bed in civilisation tomorrow.
Day 4
The final day of the Druk Path Trek is a short but steep 2-hour descent through shady pine forests to Motithang (2360m). Here trekkers farewell their trekking support crew and are taken by their driver to nearby Thimphu or on to other destinations.
For advice on equipment required to undertake this and other treks in Bhutan, visit here.
Sally Piper - Sally Piper is a published writer whose fiction and non-fiction has appeared in Australia and the UK.
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