10 Days Soi Yaktsu Trek – Tour Overview
This tour is going to be exciting and worth remembering, offers you kaleidoscope of profound sceneries, natural wonders, some of Bhutan’s most revered pilgrimage sites and valuable heritages, jaw dropping landscapes and experience so much than you expected. The Soi Yaktsha trek is hard and demanding one. But it is truly rewarding and worth doing it. This trek will take you to the beautiful landscapes of Bhutan, unique and traditionally rich villages, passing through the nomadic yak herder’s campsites, the fantastic views of the Himalayan Mountains, memorable camping at the base of mountain Jhomolhari – the goddess of mountains.
This trek is considered one of the best and beautiful treks of Bhutan especially for nature lovers, which offers stunning views of peaks and alpine pastureland. You will be in the wilderness and also you can see blue sheep and other animals. You will get full leisure to capture and recreate authenticity of its beauty and melt yourself in it.
Itinerary
- Meet our guide and driver at Paro International Airport.
- See the Tiger’s Nest from a viewpoint from a road point.
- Visit Paro National Museum. It holds fascinating collections of art, relics, religious Thangka paintings and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps).
- Lunch at Paro.
- Visit to Paro Dzong.
- Stroll around Paro.
- Dinner and overnight stay at Paro Hotel.
(Stay at Paro Hotel)
- Breakfast at Hotel.
- Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery – (It is the most important and religious significance to Bhutanese people as well as to Buddhism world. It is the most visited and photographed of all the monuments in Bhutan)
- Visit to Kyichu Lhakhang (It is one of the two most sacred and the oldest temples in Bhutan, built in 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo)
- Leisure at Town
- Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel
- (Stay at Hotel)
- Breakfast at Hotel.
- At around 630am to 7am, we will start our journey to Sharna Zampa, where our trekking staff will be waiting for us.
- At Gunitsawa Army post, our Army permit will be checked and endorsed.
- We will have breakfast at Sharna Zampa, where our trekking cook will prepare for us.
- After breakfast, we will start our trek. Today’s trek will be a long day trek with lots of small ups and downs.
- After going uphill through the river valley, which finally narrows, gradually to a mere path, which descends to a meadow where a camp will be set up. From here, if weather permits, we will have the first great view of Mt. Jomolhari.
- Accommodation: Camping, Altitude: 3610m. Distance: 22km. Time: 7-8hrs
- Breakfast at camp.
- Today’s trek continues up the Paro Chhu, which widens into patches of alpine meadow and scanty growths of forest.
- We will cross an army checkpoint along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks. In this area yaks and their herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape.
- Passing the villages Soe, Takethang and Dangochang is another asset on this day.
- After reaching Jangothang, one of the most beautiful campsites of the Himalayas, we will have a spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari.
- Accommodation: Camping, Altitude: 4080m. Distance: 19km. Time: 5-6 hrs.
(Stay at Camp – Jangothang)
- Breakfast at Camp.
- We will have a day rest here. It provides plenty of possibilities for day hikes with great views of lakes and snowcapped mountains such as Jomolhari and Jichu Drake.
- There are good chances to spot some blue sheep on the upper slopes of the valley.
- Jangothang is a perfect environment for your acclimatization. We will trek up to Tshophu Lake.
(Stay at Camp – Jangothang)
- B/fast at hotel.
- En-route you will see the view of Jhomolhari,Jitchu Drake and the valley to Jhomolhari camp site.
- You will also come across the several yak harder’s tents, Tsho Phu lakes and normally see a flock of Himalayan blue Sheep high up on the rocky slopes.
- If you are lucky enough you may see the footprint of Snow Leopard at the Bonte La pass. Then the trail winds up till Bonte La (16,040 ft/4890m) and is also highest pass of this trek.
- Take a time to enjoy the scenery, have a snack or put up some prayer flags. From here you can see Basingthang Peaks (5500m), Chatarake (Djo Drake, Jo Darkey (5570m) and Kanchenjunga,the third highest mountain in the world.
- The trail drops through a steep, narrow gully with gravel and loose rocks till you reached Dhmxo. The Soi yaksey Valley is a beautiful site with impressive rock cliffs, waterfalls, deep side valleys, and snow- covered peaks.
- Overnight at the camp.
- Altitude 3800 m; Distance 16 Km; Time 5-6 hours.
(Stay at Camp – Dhumzo Chhu).
- B/fast at camp
- Start our trek by climbing from the camp through rhododendron, birch, oak forest draped in moss brings you to a meadow with huge Juniper tree and then lead s to Dhunge La (15,410ft/4700m) then to Tagulun La (14,880ft/4540m.
- You can also get a better view of Jhomolhari, Jitchu Drake and Teri Kang, and in the distance Kanchenjunga (28160ft/85840m) and even Makalu (27,760ft/8463m)blocking the view to Mount Everest.
- The Thangbue valley which has several stone huts-is busy in spring and autumn with number of families and hundreds of yaks, horses, dogs and goats. Thongbue camp is the second highest camp for the trek.
- Altitude 4120mm; Distance 11 Km; Time 5- 6hours.
(Stay at Camp – Thongbue)
- B/fast at Camp.
- Today you will cross the valley through a swampy area to a clear trail through rhododendron bushes climbing steeply to Thombu La (14,005ft/4270m).
- You can also see the several mountain peaks view from the pass.
- The ridge walk from the pass is one of the best parts of the trek: very high above the valleys on a good trail with a beautiful view.
- The trail descends steeply for 2 to 3 hours till you reach to shana.
- At Shana, we will bid farewell to our trekking crewmembers and drive to Thimphu.
- Dinner and over night stay at ThimphuHotel
- (Stay at Thimphu – Hotel)
- B/fast at Hotel.
- Visit Drupthop Dewachen Nunnery (The Thangtong Dewachen nunnery was founded in 1976 by Rikey Jadrel, who is considered an emanation of Thangtong Gyalpo).
- Visit Takin Mini-zoo (To see the National Animal of Bhutan, Takin).
- Lunch at Town.
- Visit Paper Factory (to see traditional methods to produce the authentic Bhutanese paper known as Deh-sho).
- Craft Bazar (A spectacle of traditional bamboo huts, aligned neatly below Norzin Lam, opposite to Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre, showcase wide range of authentic Bhutan-made art and craft products).
- Stroll around Town.
- Dinner at Hotel.
- (Stay at Thimphu- Hotel)
- B/fast at Hotel.
- Drive to Airport, Flight for onward destinations.
- TREKKING : There will be hard skilled Bhutanese licensed trek guide, a well experienced cook and helper accompanying you throughout your journey and at least one horse man to carry all provisions and belongings. The tour operator will arrange every possible trekking requirement such as sleeping tents, sleeping bags and hot water bag.