The Bumdra Trek and tour, with luxury high altitude camping, will take you around the western districts and their unique cultural highlights in just a few days. You will meet our friendly people and learn the history of this Dragon Kingdom in the finest short trek in Bhutan.
On this short trek, you will stay in a gorgeous, sacred campsite high above the Tiger’s Nest. Our Bhutan Travel Adventures staff will set up the tents and campsite in this magical place which has stunning views of the Himalayas and the deep Paro Valley. In addition, if you wish, there are excursions and short hikes above the campsite that take several hours.
So this a best short trek with a few days tour in the western part of the country.
Trip Highlights
- Sightseeing in Thimphu
- Trashichho dzong
- Taktsang Monastery (The Tiger’s Nest)
- Handicrafts emporium
- Punakha Dzong
- Drugyel Dzong victory fortress
SHORT ITINERARY
Day 01 :
Arrive Paro – Thimphu then transfer to Thimphu. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 02 :
Thimphu sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 03 :
Thimphu – Punakha. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 :
Punakha – Paro. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 05 :
Paro – Bumdra Trek (Trek Day 1). Overnight at a camp.
Day 06 :
Bumdra (Trek Day 2) – Tiger’s Nest – Paro. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 07 :
Transfer to the international airport for your final departure
Day 01: Arrive Paro – Thimphu
The Druk Air flight into Paro is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks, give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. Upon arrival at Paro, our representative from Bhutan Travel Adventures will receive you at the Airport. Drive to Thimphu for 1 hour. After checking in at the hotel you can rest for a while. After lunch Visit the Memorial Stupa which was built in the memory of our beloved 3rd King in1974. And then in the evening free stroll around the capital city to see the life of urban Bhutan. Overnight halt stay at the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 02: Thimphu sightseeing
After your breakfast drive to the Buddha Point to see one of the largest Buddha statues in the world with the panoramic view of the whole Thimphu city. Visit the Folk Heritage museum which is a replica of a medieval farm-house, and we still have this kind of house in some of our rural parts. Afterwards visit the school of Arts and Crafts which was established to preserve and promote our 13 age old arts and crafts. Visit the Takin Zoo to see our national animal. Visit our weekend Market to see how people sell their goods. Overnight stay at same the hotel in Thimphu.
Day 03: Thimphu – Punakha
After breakfast, Drive to Punakha for 2 ½ hours with short stop at Dochula pass. If the weather is clear, you could have a superb view of the Bhutan’s Himalayas. Upon your arrival in Punakha, you will be taken to your hotel for checking in. Have lunch in Punakha town and visit beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Based on the prophecy of Guru Padmasambava the dzong is situated between two famous rivers, Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). In the evening, hike for an hour to Chime Lhakhang, this temple was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, who is known as Divine Mad Man. He subdued the demons with his “Magical Thunder bolt”. The Temple is also known as “the Temple of Fertility”. It’s believed that the childless women can be conceived after they are blessed from the temple. Night halt stay at the hotel in Punakha.
Day 04: Punakha – Paro
Drive to Paro for 4 hours and have lunch in the town. After lunch, visit Kyichu monastery dating back to the 7th Century. This is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan built by Tibetan king Songtshen Gempo to pin down the ogress. Afterwards drive for 20 minutes and visit the historical Drugyel Dzong which is a ruin fortress now, built by Shabdrung in 1649 to commemorate the winning victory over the Tibetans in 1644. Thus Drugyel Dzong means the Bhutanese victorious fortress. Overnight halt stay at the hotel in Paro.
Day 05: Paro – Bumdra Trek (Trek Day 1)
After your early breakfast drive for 20 minutes to Sang Choekor Buddhist University in the Paro valley (2,800 m) and hike to a beautiful Yak pasture where we camp below Bumdra Monastery (3,800 m)
Your short and easy adventure begins from Sang Choekor to meet our ponies; while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the college. The first one to two-hour ascent of a shady, forested ridge brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and stunning views down into both the Paro and Do Chhu Valleys. Above and ahead the Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles on the mountainside a further one to two hour’s walk away. The trail undulates before the last steep section up to the pretty temple which offers commanding views south over Paro and northwards to the snowcapped Himalayas.
After a final 20-minute climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, we plunge back into ancient forest, and, after traversing for about 40 minutes, we come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred Chortens and prayer flags. Your camp for the night is tucked away just under Bumdra Monastery (Cave of a Thousand Prayers) and offers unimpeded views of the Himalayan ranges. After lunch we can visit the monastery and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000 m) for even better views, returning in time for a very good dinner at your camp and take rest in your luxurious camp.
Day 06: Bumdra (Trek Day 2) – Tiger’s Nest – Paro
Hike downhill from Bumdra Monastery camp via Zangto Pelri Monastery and Taktsang Monastery.
After a hearty breakfast, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or spend a little extra time enjoying the view. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zigzagging trail.
After one to two hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below. The path snakes across the mountainside between these monasteries before reaching the gardens of Zangto Pelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can, if you are brave, peer over the edge, straight down onto the ornate rooftops of Taktsang Monastery perched against the cliff-face far below.
An hour later and we are across the gorge from Taktsang Monastery. Follow a steep descent to a waterfall then go up for 10 minutes and you’ll reach the Tiger’s Nest. Retracing our steps we begin the final descent of about 45 minutes to Paro Valley floor to reach our vehicle from where you will be transferred by road to your overnight stay at the hotel in Paro.
Day 07: Paro – International Flight Departure
Our guide and driver will drop you at the airport and bid you good bye for your flight departure out of Bhutan.
Tashi Delek and have a pleasant flight back home!
An Advance Payment USD 300 each with full airfare must be deposited for confirming the trip. And the remaining payment must be paid two months prior to your trip. So after which we can apply your Bhutan Visa, and send it to you in advance.
The minimum daily package for a group of 2 persons is as follows:
- Peak Season Cost: March, April, May, September, October & November
Staring Cost: USD 255 per night person. - Regular Season Cost: June, July & August
Staring Cost: USD 210 per night per person - The Daily Cost is less if you have a group of 3 people and above
The minimum daily package covers the following services:
- A minimum of 3 star accommodation (4 & 5 star may require an additional premium).
- All meals
- A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay
- All internal transport (excluding internal flights)
- Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
- All internal taxes and charges
- A sustainable tourism Royalty of USD $65. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure.
1. What is the cost for the trip and what type of accommodation do you provide? And what does the cost includes?
Ans; The Daily Cost for such regular season is USD 210 per person per night only. And we provide minimum very good 3 Star Hotels and above. The cost includes; Government’s Sustainable Development Fee $65 per night per person and taxes, 3 star hotels, 3 meals a day, good guide, private car & driver and entry fees.
2. Do you apply our Bhutan Visa, and what documents are required for the Visa? And what is the Visa fee?
Ans; Certainly, we will apply/issue your Bhutan Visa upon receiving the full payment from you. And we just need your clear passport copy only for the Visa. The Bhutan Visa Fee is US $40 per entry only.
3. Do you book our flight? If so, which cities outside Bhutan we can fly to and from Paro and which is the most convenient as for flying to/from Bhutan?
Ans; We have flights to and from cities like Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Singapore, Guwahati and Bagdogra. Yet, the most convenient flights is via Bangkok as we have several flights in a day.
4. What is the procedure for this trek/trip booking?
Ans; You will have book this trek at least two months ahead with your confirmed flight booking. And then must deposit US $400 an Advance Payment with full airfare for your flight to/from Paro, Bhutan only.
5. Will the trip be an independent for us only?
Ans; Yes this will be an independent trip for you only.
6. Do we need to bring our own sleeping bag for the trekking part?
Ans; No, you don’t have to bring sleeping bag for the Bumdra Trek, as you will sleep inside cottage type tent set-up with beds, mattress and blanks as it’s a pretty luxury camping facilities.