11 Day Bhutan Sagala Trek

Day 1Arrival Kathmandu

Arrive in Kathmandu or meet our representative in Kathmandu Airport – transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 2In Kathmandu - Sightseeing

Breakfast at the hotel.
Pick up from the Hotel Lobby & Depart for sightseeing tour
Sightseeing tour of Patan, Patan Durbar Square
After Lunch sightseeing tour of Boudhnath and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple).
Overnight Hotel.

Day 3 Kathmandu - Paro

After breakfast, transfer to airport & fly to Paro. Arrive Paro.
You will be received by T&T representative at Airport. Transfer to Resort/Hotel. Afternoon at Leisure or go around the Market.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 4Paro to Haa Valley (2712m) & trek to Khadey Gom (3235m)

Drive from Paro to Haa Valley (2712m) to Yatong (2735m). Trek to Khadey Gom (3235m) crossing Yatong Gompa, Talung village. The trail winds around farmlands fenced with piles of stones to protect the fields from deer & wild boars. Reach to camp after 4 to 5 hrs of walk.
Overnight in Camp.

Day 5Trek to Dongney Tsho (3200m)

Trek to Dongney Tsho (3200m) via Saga la (3720m). A gradual hike for about 1hr through meadows & coniferous forest is followed by the 2hrs climb to the Saga pass. On a clear day there is a fantastic view on both sides of the pass. The view towards Paro includes sacred Mount Jhomolhari & below in the valley the Drukgyel Dzong & the sacred Taktsang monastery. Looking to the west the peaks of Haa farming the border with Tibet can be seen. From the pass it is all downhill. A good 2hr downhill hike through mixed conifer forests & rhododendrons will bring you to the camp in an open meadow at Dongney Tsho, surrounded with tall firs. To the left is the black Choshola mountaing: a holy place from which a lake escaped. Reach to camp after 5 to 6 hrs of walk.
Overnight in Camp.

Day 6Trek to Drukgyel Dzong & drive to Paro

Trek to Drukgyel Dzong (3hr). The first part of today’s hike is steeply downhill for about 1.5hrs until you reach the Genchu Zam. The hike is through thick vegetation, & Laughing Thrushes, Magpies, Nutcrackers & Pheasants are often seen. There is a beautiful small village comprised of about eight households and a temple on the left side of the trail. Chodeypu set picturesquely at the base of the Mountain Laump Bjara (Foggy Mountain, inhabitated by mountain goats). Another 1hr from this village will take you to Balakha Chhu where the ancient Haa Planters’ Trail ends. Meet the vehicle & drive to Paro.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 7Paro - Thimpu

Day hike to Taktshang monastery (Tigers Nest).Horses can be arranged with extra cost. The hike which is all the way uphill takes about 3 to 4 hours through pine forests. The monastery clings to a huge granite cliff 800 meters high from the Paro valley.It is believed that the great saint Guru Padmasambhava came in the 07th Century on a flying tigress and mediated there for 3 Months. The demons who were trying to stop the spread of Buddhism were subdued and converted the Paro valley into Buddhism. At the end of the 17th Century, a monastery was built on the spot where the saint meditated .It is an important pilgrimage site for all Buddhist. Visit the ruined fortress of Drugyel dzong which still attracts visitors due to the strategic location of the fort. The fort defended the Paro valley from the Tibetan invasion from the north in the early 17th century. On clear weather Mount Chomolhari 7320 meters can be seen towering over the dzong. Evening drive to Thimphu.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 8Thimpu - Paro

AM: Thimphu sightseeing – visit the Memorial chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Visit Kuenselphodrang (Largest statue of sitting Buddha in the region), Visit Takin province to see rare animal ‘Takin’ the national animal of Bhutan.

PM: drive back to Paro. Proceed through the beautiful valley to the watch tower or locally known as Ta-Dzong. It was housed into the National museum in the 1960s by the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The seven floors museum highlights various aspects of Bhutanese culture and history dating back to the 7th century. A short walk downhill to the Rinpung Dzong which serves as the administrative center and school for monks.

Overnight at hotel.

NOTE: Kindly note that due to recent earthquake (18th September 2011) earth quake, Ta Dzong (Paro Museum) had been closed and shifted to exhibition hall just above the museum.

Day 9Paro – Kathmandu - Nagarkot

Transfer to airport for departure & fly back to Kathmandu.

08:05 AM – Arrive Kathmandu & our representatives will meet you at the airport then drive to Bhaktapur – sightseeing around Bhaktapur –Lunch. Afterwards, drive to Nagarkot. Overnight at Hotel.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a museum of medieval art and architecture with many examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated to different gods and goddesses which is 15 km far from Kathmandu.

Nagarkot (2170m) is a quiet and scenic hilltop about 32 km from Kathmandu, very popular as a mountain view point. One can see the panorama of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest from Nagarkot.

Day 10Nagarkot - KathmanduWatch

the early sunrise over the Himalayas. After breakfast, drive to Changunaryan – sightseeing around Changunaryan then drive to Kathmandu. PM: At leisure/Free for shopping.
Overnight at Hotel.

Changunarayan Temple was built in pagoda style around 5th century by the king Manadev. The historic temple is decorated by some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley.

Day 11Breakfast at the hotel

Last day of trip – transfer to International airport for departure.