Chele La Nature Trek

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River and continue drive to Patan Durbar Square to take in ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour after a lunch. Then, you will visit the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for the flight to Paro. After completing the visa formalities at the Paro airport you will be received by our Bhutan’s representative and transferred to the hotel. While driving through the picturesque Paro valley with its quaint clusters of hamlets amid terraced paddy fields you will see by the sight of white-domed peak of the sacred Mt. Jhomolhari that looms overhead. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the town of Paro and its markets. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive you to the trail head to commence a climb through beautiful pine forest. We will stop for light refreshments at the Taktsang cafeteria before walking on to the famous, Taktsang monastery or Tiger’s Nest. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 m into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 747 AD, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo from Kurtoe Singye Dzong in the east.
After lunch, we will visit Drugyal Dzong (a ruined fortress), 16 km away from Paro. Although it is now in ruins, this Dzong has great historical importance for the people of Bhutan. It was a place where the Bhutanese finally defeated the Tibetan invasion. On a clear day one can view sacred Mt. Jhomolhari (Mountain of Goddess). We will also visit Ta Dzong (built in1656 and renovated in 1968), an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Rinpung Dzong (literally meaning “Heap of Jewels”), the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley, built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Paro.

Today we start the trek from Olathang 1.5 km from Paro town. Most of today’s walk is a gradual climb through the pine forests. Along the trail, you will pass by some beautiful farmhouses built in typical Bhutanese architectural style. The view of the Paro valley from the trail looks fantastic Dinner and overnight camp at Chonana.

Today’s trekking route is very beautiful. You trek uphill most of the day with plenty of rests on the way to the Chelela pass at an altitude of 3700 m. The trail takes you through forest filled with primula, rhododendron and many other species of plants and trees. After crossing the pass, the trail goes along the ridge of Chelela offering great views of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Dinner and overnight camp at Jebkarpo .

Today we will wake up early. The early morning view of Mt. Jumolhari, Tserim Gang and famous mountain Jichu Drake from the campsite is absolutely breathtaking. The trail follows the ridge above the Haa valley. Dinner and overnight camp at Lower Mingula in the Haa valley.

This day also we will enjoy excellent views of the mountains and valleys along the trails. Sometime we will come across yak herders’ camp. You can visit one of the camps and observe their way of living. As tradition you will be offered butter tea or chang (local wine). Overnight at camp.

After a short descent through pine and rhododendron forest the trek ends near at the ruined fortress – Drukgyal Dzong which once defended the valley from Tibetan invasion during the 17th century. Our private transport will be at the trek ending point to pick up you and transfer to Paro. Lunch will be served at Paro and after lunch you will be free to stay on your own. Overnight at hotel in Paro.

After breakfast we will drive to Thimphu through well maintained road. Upon arrival check into Hotel. After lunch we will visit the Memorial Chorten (Stupa) of His Late Majesty the 3rd King of Bhutan. Visit the Memorial Chorten built in the memory of the late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 15th century old Changangkha Monastery, Motithang mini zoo to see the rare ‘Takin’, national animal of Bhutan and enjoy free time in the market.

After breakfast we go sightseeing tour of other popular sites of tourist interest such as the Nunnery, National Library, Painting School and Handicraft Emporium and then drive back to hotel for lunch. After lunch we continue our sightseeing visiting Simthokha Dzong, the first fort built by Shabdrung who unified the kingdom in the 17th century, now it is turned to school for study of National Language – Dzongkha. Then, we further drive 45 minutes to Punakha and visit the Punakha Dzong which served as an old capital of Bhutan. This remarkable fortress is built between two rivers. In the late evening we will drive back to Paro. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

After the spectacular flight back to Kathmandu the rest of the day you are free to relax in Kathmandu or to go shopping.