Bhutan Black Mountain Trek

Fly to Paro from Bangkok. This is one of the most spectacular flights with sightings of the beautiful views of the Himalayan ranges including Mt. Chomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake inside Bhutan. Elevation in Paro is at 7,780’. Check into your local hotel and have a stroll in the town before dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Lodging: Bhutanese style hotel

After an early breakfast, drive to Satsam Chorten where you’ll hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery as a warm-up walk for your trek. This is perhaps the most scenic monastery in all of the Himalayas. Look for silver langurs in the forest below the monastery. After lunch, drive to Wangdue (approx. 5 hours). En route, enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayan ranges from Dochu Pass, weather permitting of course.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Bhutanese style hotel

The drive from Wangdue to Trongsa takes about 6 hours. En route, visit the Wangdue Dzong and its surroundings, as well as Chendenbji Chorten. You’ll have spectacular views of Trongsa Dzong and Jo Dungshing from your hotel. Trongsa was once the seat of power and Jo Dungshing is a sacred mountain for some people of Shemgang and the Monpas. Deep in the heart of Bhutan, you can feel the sanctity of the place and the grasp of ancient traditions still in place.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Bhutanese style hotel

Drive via Shemgang to Riotala. At this point you have arrived at a place in Bhutan where few foreigners have traveled and about which very little is written. Numerous waterfalls are visible from the road. Here, you begin the trek to Nabji-Korphu. From the motor road, descend very steeply along a dusty trail for about 1,000' to the Mangdichu River. You then climb up for about 2,000' to Nimshong, which is at an elevation of 3,800’ and is a small farming village with about 58 households. This is probably the hardest hiking of the trip. Keep an eye out for the golden langur, which is endemic to Bhutan. This is also a location to look for the threatened rufous-necked hornbill. During the winter, you can see carpets of yellow flowers all around the village, surrounding the community school. Nimshong is within the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park. In the evening, the local community members may perform a cultural program as this is the customary way of entertaining visitors. Overnight in a tented camp. Enjoy your first of many delicious camp dinners alfresco or in the dining tent. Enjoy the rising moon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

Today’s trek to Nabji will take about 8 hours. The walk is very pleasant along lush green forest and there are no steep climbs or drops. There is no human settlement until you reach the village of Nabji. This is also the habitat for leopard, himalayan bear, golden langur, sambar deer and most notably, horn bills, pheasants, sunbirds and many other species of birds. There are several plants of ethno botanical interest that are used as vegetables and medicine by the local people. As you enter the village of Nabji, you are greeted by the villagers with tea and Arak, the local brew. The village is located on an alluvial flood plain. Rice is the main agricultural crop, and the landscape should be beautiful if you arrive just before the harvest of paddy.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

There are many interesting places to visit while in Nabji. You can start with a visit to the local community school and/or the Park Ranger Office. You will learn about conservation programs within Nabji and Korphu and the park ranger may join you for a meal. Visit the Nabji Lakhang, an ancient temple. The name Nabji derives from the word “Ngaa” or oath that was taken by the two warring kings in the presence of Guru Rimpoche to stop fighting. The caretaker of the Lakhang will explain the legend. After lunch you start for Korphu village, perched on a small plateau above Nabji. The name of the village derives from the word “Gorphu” which in Khengkha means “slanted rock”. There is a community in Lakhang that you will be permitted to enter. The village has a unique setting resembling a scene from a wild west movie. The view of Nabji from Korphu is spectacular, with scallops of paddy fields stacking along the river valley. There is excellent birding in this area. Camp overnight, with possible villagers welcoming you with dance.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

Today you will enter the world of the Monpas. It is believed that there are only 42 households consisting of just over 250 Monpas left in the region. The Monpas have distinct culture, tradition and language. This 7 hour walk from Nabji to Kudra is all within pristine forest and you should be alert for bird and wildlife sightings. Tropical vegetation around you feels like a different world. As you enter the village of Kudra, you see several “Nges” of the great Guru Rimpoche. He spent one night in this place and the site has been developed with basic facilities. The trail you walk is believed to have been created by Guru Rimpoche in the 8th Century. Local people may perform a cultural program for you this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

Enjoy an easy walk of approx. 4 hours. There is little human evidence en route, and you can hear the calls of rufus-necked hornbills and barking deer calling their mates. The view of the Mangdichu River along the narrow gorge is breathtaking. Your campsite at a Monastery offers a spectacular view.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

After visiting the Guru “Nge” at Phumzor, you start for Shangbi. The descent from Phumzor to Shangbi is quite steep as you walk down through lush green forests. Halfway down the path, you can see Guru Rimpoche’s phurba (ceremonial dagger) embedded into a rock, meant to subdue evil. As you approach Shangbi, climb up among chir pine forests and lemon grass. Here there is a community school, an orchid garden and a camping site. This is the last Monpas village on this route.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Camping

Today is the easiest walk on the route as your trek sadly comes to an end. It takes about 3 hours to reach the road head passing through chir pine forests. You may be greeted by a troop of golden langurs and pairs of hornbills. Your drive to Trongsa will take just 2 hours, arriving just in time for a hot lunch. After lunch, continue driving to Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Bhutanese style hotel

Enjoy the morning sightseeing in and around Punakha including visits to the Punakha Dzong, Khamsum Yosercholing Monastery and Chimi Lakhang. After lunch, drive to Thimphu (3 hours) and then onto Paro (another 1 1/2 hours). Overnight in Paro at local hotel.
**There is much to see in Thimphu which first time visitors will want to experience. To enjoy a thorough visit to Paro and Thimphu, select the optional Thimphu-Paro Cultural Extension**

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Bhutanese style hotel

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Paro Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: None