ITINERARY DAY 1:  TRANSFER FROM BANGKOK OR DELHI TO PARO  Your guides will meet the flight and escort you to your hotel. Flight arrives midday. In the afternoon visit the National Museum and the Paro Dzong. Sleeping altitude 7,220 ft. DAY 2: PARO TO TIGERS NEST TO THIMPHU  Visit Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest Temple. This magical temple clings to a vertical granite cliff 2625 feet above the valley. In the afternoon, we will host a special Buddhist prayer ceremony at the beautiful 1200-year-old Kyichu Lhakhang Temple, to bring us good luck for the rest of the journey. Sleeping altitude 7,550 ft. DAY 3: THIMPHU TO BARSHONG  Today’s trail follows the Thim Chhu river through breathtakingly beautiful rhododendron forests and past cascading waterfalls. The valley path gradually ascends to the ruins of Barshong Dzong and on to our camp for the night on the riverside. Distance 9.5 miles. Elevation gain 2100 ft. / loss 950 ft. Sleeping altitude 11,485 ft. DAY 4:  BARSHONG TO SHODU   The trail continues to follow the Timphchu Chu. As we ascend, snow-capped mountain peaks in the distant horizon will come into view. After passing the junctions of Naro and Shodu valley we camp for the night. Distance 11.25 miles. Elevation gain 1640 ft. / loss 330 ft. Sleeping altitude 12,795 ft. DAY 5: SHODU TO LINGSHI  We cross the first of the many passes including Yalila Pass with an altitude of 16,043 ft. Enjoy views of Chomolhari, Tserim Gang and Masagang on a clear day. Tonight we stay in the highland village of Lingshi. Distance 12.5 miles. Elevation gain 1640 ft. / loss 330 ft. Sleeping altitude 12,795 ft. DAY 6: LINGSHI REST DAY  Today is a rest day. We will offer an optional day hike. DAY 7: LINGSHI TO GOKU LA BASE  We begin today’s shorter hike by visiting the Lingshi Dzong, built on a commanding hill by the Shabdrung in the 1600s. We will visit the dramatic village of Gangyul, surrounded by a natural amphitheater of cliffs. Tonight we camp in the tiny, windy village of Chebisa. Distance 7.5 miles. Elevation gain 1115 ft. / loss 790 ft. Sleeping altitude 12,795 ft. 63 *Luggage transfer daily. NOTE: Daily itineraries on all our guided treks are subject to change. Your guide(s) will make route decisions based on weather and terrain conditions as well as hiker's abilities. DAY 8: GOKU LA BASE TO TSHERINGYANGU  We cross over Goku La pass at 14, 272 ft. and descend into a stunning rhododendron filled valley before ascending over the Jari La pass at 15,575 ft. From the pass, it’s all the way downhill into the picturesque valley of Tsharijatha, followed by a small climb to our camp at Tsheringyangu. Distance 11 miles. Elevation gain 2790 ft. / loss 2100 ft. Sleeping altitude 13,125 ft. DAY 9: TSHERINGYANGU TO LIMITHANG  Today’s hike is strenuous trek over the Sinchey La, the highest pass on our trek at 16,420 ft. Descending to Limithang we’ll see the snow covered peak of Gangchenta 22,441 ft. and the glacially carved Gangchenta valley. Gangchenta means Great Tiger Mountain. Distance 11 miles. Elevation gain 3601 ft. / loss 3610 ft. Sleeping altitude 12,795 ft. DAY 10: LIMITHANG TO LAYA  We will be mostly hiking downhill today as we make our way along a narrow, winding river valley and through densely forested region. You will enjoy spectacular views of Mt Gangchhenta and Mt. Masagang. Tonight’s camp is in a village paddy field. Distance 6 miles. Elevation gain 330 ft. / loss 655 ft. Sleeping altitude 10,470 ft. DAY 11: LAYA REST DAY  Explore the village of Laya. We will offer an optional day hike. DAY 12: LAYA TO CHAMSA  We begin with a two-hour hike to Taktsimakhang, a small army check post. The trail from here winds up and down along the river valley of Mo Chhu, with views of the raging river, feeder streams and waterfalls. Our campsite is in Champsa just bellow Bari-la pass. Distance 12.5 miles. Elevation gain 1640 ft. / loss 3280 ft. Sleeping altitude 10,830 ft. DAY 13: CHAMPSA TO GASA TSHACHU (HOT SPRING)  After the last climb of the Laya Gasa Trek, Bari La (12,270 ft.), the trail descends all the way to Gasa village (9,088 ft.), where you will find the first restaurants since you started from Drukgyel Dzong. It’s an hour hike up to the Gasa Tsachu (hot springs), one of the most popular hot springs in Bhutan. Distance 4.5 miles. Elevation gain 1475 ft. / loss 3935 ft. Sleeping altitude 8,202 ft. DAY 14: GASA TSHACHU TO PUNAKHA  The drive today to our hotel in Punakha will be about 4 hours on a dirt road. We will visit the magnificent Punakha Dzong, which without doubt. Sleeping altitude 4,100 ft. DAY 15: PUNAKHA TO THIMPHU  Drive to the capital, Thimphu. Visit the National Memorial Chorten (monument), the Textile Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, Takin Zoo, National Library and Handicrafts Emporium. In the evening we will visit the Tashicho Dzong. DAY 16: DEPART  Thimphu to Paro International Airport. Thimphu Samba Camp Paro Thangthanka Chomolhari Jichu Drake TIBET Jangothang Base Camp Yaktsa Thongbu Simtokha Dzong Drugyel Dzong Taktsang Tiger’s Nest Monastery CHALLENGING HIKING