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In this five-night package, experience complete immersion in Bhutan’s extraordinary landscape and cultural heritage. Using Uma Paro as your comfortable base – accommodation is included on a full-board basis, excluding beverages – our experienced guides lead guests through the Paro valley on two separate day walks, to encompass the National Museum, Drukyel Dzong and a visit to the ancient temple of Kyichu Lhakhang. Guests may enjoy morning puja, or worship, in a local monastery and also spend a day exploring the remote Haa valley, carpeted in flowers and pine, where the Bhutanese continue their age-old rural existences beneath dramatic, changing skies. Our local guides at Uma Paro have researched a fabulous two day overnight camping trek which encompasses a night in a magnificently located wilderness campsite high the Himalaya and whole new way of visiting the inimitable Taktsang Goemba – the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Our pilgrimage describes a circuit using remote mountain paths, where very few foreigners have ever set foot, to eventually approach the Tiger’s Nest from our campsite above the clouds near Bumdra Monastery via several other remote and spectacularly perched monasteries and temples. The two day adventure includes two picnic lunches, a camp dinner and breakfast, mineral water, ponies, the services of two experienced local Uma guides and cooks, all tentage, kitbag for packing all personal kit on the ponies, first-aid kit and sleeping mattresses. To get the most from this experience you should be active, reasonably fit and enjoy the great outdoors.
DAY 1
Arrival, check-in, show round & easy walk Uma Paro staff will welcome you at the airport for the 10 minutetransfer to the property. We invite you for a short guided walk in the afternoon in and around Uma Paro for orientation and acclimatisation purposes.
DAY 2
Daywalk Zurig Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong, Paro Town & Kyichu Lhakhang Wind through pine forestshigh above Uma Paro to the pretty grounds of the fortress-like monastery of Zuri Dzong. Traverse across to Ta Dzong, housing Bhutan’s National Museum (open Tuesday-Saturday) with magnificent views over Paro, and on down to visit Rinpung Dzong – ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’. The trail then leads across Paro Chhu (river) via a traditional covered bridge (Nyamai Zam) and then past the main archery ground, Ugyen Pelri Palace and into Paro town. A few kilometers north of Paro, we pay our respects at Kyichu Lhakhang one of the oldest temples in Bhutan with its magic orange tree which bears fruit all year round.
Duration: 5 - 7 hours (depending on time spent in National Museum and Paro)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Guided with picnic
DAY 3
A Day Out in the Haa Valley Day (optional bike descents) Start early for the drive to Haa via Chele La (pass)which at 3810m is the highest road pass in Bhutan, snaking upwards through blue pine and rhododendron (Etho Metho) forests for 35km. On a clear day the view sweeps away to snow-dome of Bhutan’s highest peak Mt Jhomolhari (7314m). After a bracing walk along the prayer flag bedecked ridge it is down into Haa (by bike if you prefer) – the whole drive should take no more than 2.5 hours. Wangchulo Dzong is presently occupied by the Indian Army, however this makes for a quirky experience. Having visited the bazaar it is a short walk (or bike ride) along the Haa Chhu (river) to a picnic spot. At Lhakhang Karpo (the White Temple), many young monks await to offer a warm, noisy welcome and may accompany us to the nearby Lhakhang Nagpo (the Black Temple). The Haa valley only opened to foreigners in 2002 due to its proximity to the border with Sikkim and Tibet. This unspoilt valley harks back to a simpler more traditional time. Once back (by vehicle or bike) in the Paro Valley, time permitting, a 20 minute walk out to the dramatically positioned Dzongdrakha Goemba complex is recommended.
Duration: 7 – 9 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Guided with picnic, KONA Cinder Cone mountain bike, helmet, gloves
DAY 4
Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m) The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies and while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. The initial 1–2 hour ascent of a ridge, which is steep at times though also in cool shade, brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and view down into both the Paro and Do Chhu valleys. Above and ahead the Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles in the mountainside 1-2 hours walk away. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull up to the pretty temple which boasts commanding views south over Paro airport and from its own hot stone bath northwards to the snow capped Himalaya. After a final 20 minutes climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, with a last glance southwards we plunge back into ancient forest traversing for about 40 minutes then come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred chortens and prayer flags. Our home for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (cave of a thousand prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range. After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is occupied) and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, returning in time for a slap up dinner.
Duration: 3 - 4 hours to camp 2-3 hours optional return trek to peak
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard - Guided with mineral water
Riding ponies are available at an additional charge
Overnight: Bumdra Wilderness Camp
DAY 5
Hike from Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m) via Sangtopelri Monasteries to Taktsang  Monastery (2,900m) After a hearty breakfast in the jaw dropping landscape, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig zagging trail. After 1-2 hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below and soon come upon the first of many on our way back from the wilds. The path snakes across the mountainside between the monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs Taktsang in the cliff far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge a steep descent to a waterfall then ascent on steps and you are passing into the Tiger’s Nest itself. Retracing our steps we begin the final descent of about 45 minutes to reach our vehicle and drive back to Uma Paro … not forgetting to stop on the other side of the valley and look back at what you have achieved. Drive further up the valley to Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1644 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to control northern route to Tibet. The route is picturesque, and the site of dzong magnificent (from here, only two-day hike to the border with Tibet, dominated by Mt Jhomalhari).
Duration: 5 - 7 hours depending on time taken in monasteries
Difficulty: Moderate - Guided with mineral water
DAY 6
Depart Druk Air departs in the early morning to avoid adverse weather conditions so after breakfast, your transfer to the airport will be arranged for between 5am and 9am depending on the flight schedule and your destination.
Packing Essentials: warm jacket; good leather or waterproof fabric boots or shoes with good soles; waterproof
jacket; sunglasses; warm hat; sunhat; sunscreen; 4 season sleeping bag (Uma has a stock for rent); torch; backpack;
towel; thermal underwear.
Packing Recommended: trekking pole; gloves; tracksuit or thermal underwear; lip balm; a sufficient supply of any
medication you are taking.
NB. Camera film is a rarity in Bhutan so bring your own supply which should be in your carry-on luggage.
Please Note
This itinerary is intended as a guide only. Local conditions and weather may necessitate variations to the program and can affect the availability of views and panoramas described. Be aware that all times stated are approximate, and may vary with individual and group fitness.
Uma Paro provides complimentary drinking water for all guided itineraries. If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. Where stated, trips include lunchtime picnics prepared by Uma Paro’s chefs. Please place your picnic order the day before departure via your Guide or the Activity Desk on extension 3308.
Throughout your stay you have the option to participate in a range of extra Outdoor Activities at an additional charge.
01 Mar- 31May & 01Sep – 30 Nov 2010
Room type |
Double, sharing p.p. |
Superior Room |
USD2,803 |
Deluxe Room |
3,043 |
One Bedroom Suite |
3,403 |
One Bedroom Villa |
4,123 |
Two Bedroom Villa** |
3,673 |
** Two Bedroom Villa is based on four people sharing
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