This is the most difficult and the longest trek and it requires not only excellent health but also high spirit of adventure. The attributes that makes it a tough trek are :- Distance, high altitudes, weather, remoteness and above all the price at US$ 200 per day. Not many of the people who attempt this trek actually finish it, either because of problems with altitude, or sudden change of weather that brings heavy snowfall on the high passes, or rain that carries away bridges in remote regions. If you get into the remotes of Lunana, and snowfall blocks the passes, the only way out is by helicopter rescue, which makes the trek even more expensive to complete. Hence, it is a must to have emergency evacuation insurance for this trek.

Best time :- end of September - October

Itinerary at a glance :-

Day 01 Bangkok/Delhi - Paro. Drive to Thimphu. Alt. 2300m.

Day 02 Thimphu - Thimphu. Full day in and around Thimphu.

Day 03 Thimphu - Punakha. AM drive to Punakha, visit the dzong and drive to Tashithang. O/N in camps at 1840 meters.

Day 04 Tashithang - Damji(12 kms/6-7 hrs). Alt. 2280m at the camp.

Day 05 Damji - Gasa. (18 kms/7-8 hrs). Camp in a field near the town at 2750m.

Day 06 Gasa - Koena (Chamsa)(12 kms/6-7 hrs).Camp site at Chamsa 3300m.

Day 07 Koena - Laya (21 kms/ 8-9 hrs). Alt. 3850m at the camp.

Day 08 Laya - Halt. Visit farm house/ cultural show in the evening.

Day 09 Laya - Rodophu (20 kms/ 9 hrs). AM back to the army camp and further down to the trail junction and take the small indistinct turn off to Rodophu. This is very difficult to spotas it is only a small path among the trees. Continue past the traditional camping place at Rodophu further up below Tsome La. Alt. 4350m at the camp.

Day 10 Rodophu - Tarina (18 kms/ 10 hrs). Start at the first hint of daylight, climbing the first pass, the Tsimola La (4700m) to the little summit which offers superb views towards Lunana and across to Chomolhari and Jitchu Drake, then, short but steep climb to the second pass Karakachu La at 5100m. Views from this pass is stunning. A whole range of mountains including Masagang (7200m), the Tsendeygang brothers, Teri Gang (7100m) and other peaks, all vergin and unclimbed offers one of the finest mountain panoramas in Bhutan. Descend to the camp site by the river at a place called Tarina at 4000m.

Day 11 Tarina - Tarina (Halt). Hike to the head of the valley to, to two huge glacial lakes – stunning scenery, and perhaps never visited by tourists!

Day 12 Tarina - Woche (17 kms/6 hrs). Today is much easier day, following the river down –valley and climb to Woche village at 3900m. Here you have entered Lunana, a region hardly visited by foreigners. Camp at Woche.

Day 13 Woche - Lhedi (17 kms/7 hrs). AM walk through forests at first and then climb to Kechela Pass (4580m) for superb views of the virgin,unclimbed mountain Jeje Khangphu and Khangphu Gang both 7200m above. Descend to Thega village and finally to the camp at Lhedi village (3700m).

Day 14 Lhedi - Thanza (17 kms/6 hrs). The trail climbs gradually following the main source of the Phochu river to Chozo village. There is a small but very old Dzong called Chotse dzong managed by lay monks. Above Chozo the valley widens as you approach Thanza village, at the base of Zongophu Gang (7100m) also known as table mountains. Alt. 4000m at the camp.

Day 15 Thanza - Halt at Thanza A day rest at Thanza, visiting village houses or hike up to the lakes above Thanza, below the enomous Table mountains. This is also the place where we switch over to Lunana Yaks to carry our equipments.

Day 16 Thanza - Tshorim (17 kms/6-7 hrs). The initial climb out of Thanza is steep, but there is a fine view back across the valley to Table Mountain and other distant peaks in Tibet. Enroute we cross Dandrey (yak herders hut) and a small pass to Tsorim, alt 5100m.

Day 17 Tshorim - Gangkhar Puensum Base camp (19 kms/7 hrs). In the morning after about about 1.5 hours climb, we cross the highest pass on this trek, the Gophu La (5250m). Enroute we get our first glimpses of Gangkhar Punsum, the highest unclimbed peak in the world. As you approach the pass the scenary is once again quite unlike anything previously encountered on the trek. Two enormous turquoise lakes, a circque of snowy peaks and the promise of reaching Gangkhar Puensum, makes this yet another great day’s trekking. We follow the path in an ablation valley to the left of the glacier and turn a corner to enter the upper part of Sasha Chhu valley, and camp beneath the gigantic Southwest Face of the Gangkhar Puensum.

Day 18 Halt at Gangkhar Puensum base camp A day of exploration around the camp site. If you climb the two hills to the northwest behind the campsite, you can have spectacular views not only of Gangkhar Puensum, but also across a wild landscape with many small lakes and other high mountains in central Bhutan and in Tibet.

Day 19 Base camp - Geshe Woma (18 kms/6 hrs). Leave the big mountains and follow the Sasha Chhu on a long and gradual descent past few yak herder’s huts at Geshe Woma. We camp further below Geshe Woma at 4200m.

Day 20 Geshe Woma - Warathang (18 kms/ 8-9 hrs). The trail continues down the Sasha Chhu for two hours till the tree line and take a steep trail to cross three passes including Saka La (4750m) and the Warthang La (4600m). Scenary enroute is exceptional with small lakes, peaks in the north and thick forests in the south. Camp at Warthang at 4000m.

Day 21 Warthang - Dur Tshachu (16kms/5-6 hrs). In the morning climb the Uli La Pass (4400m) which is just above the camp site and then, descend through thick forests of rhododendron, juniper and conifer and maple trees to Mangde Chhu river. Camp at dur Tsachu (hot spring). You can dip in one of the many pools all at pleasant temperatures.

Day 22 Dur Tshachu - Tshochenchen (18 kms/ 7 hrs). In the morning climb to Gothong La, then, descend to a lake and then a steep climb to Jule La (4700m). Then, descend to the wide valley of Tshochenchen at 3800m.

Day 23 Tshochenchen -Gorsum/ Dur valley/Jakar ( 35kms/ 10 hrs). Trek all way downhill following the Yoleng Chhu river and through thick forests of Cyprus, juniper, spruce, hemlock and maple, climb again to Gorsum, then steep descend to Dur valley and drive to Jakar. O/N in a lodge Alt. 2650m.

Day 24 Jakar -Jakar Full day in Jakar visiting the cultural centers of Bhutan.

Day 25 Jakar - Trongsa AM excursion to Ura valley. Return to Jakar and drive to Trongsa. O/N in a lodge.

Day 26 Trongsa - Gantey Gomba/Wangdue. AM visit Trongsa Dzong, then, drive to Gantey Gomba and then to Wangduephordang. 150 kms/8 hrs. Alt. 1350m.

Day 27 Wangdue - Paro AM visit Wangdue dzong and Chimi Lhakhang (temple), then, continue to Paro. 135 kms/6 hrs drive. Alt. 2200m.

Day 28 Paro - Paro Full day in Paro including hike to Taktshang monastery.

Day 29 -Delhi/Bangkok

The above sketch outlines are only intended to give you an idea of where we will trek and camp with basic details. For detailed informations, please feel free to write or visit us at :-

Thoesam Tours and Trekking
Trashi Khangsar House, near Forest institute, Taba,
P.O.Box-629, Thimphu
Tel : +975-2-365101/365127 (fax 365073)
Email: thoesam@druknet.bt