Chomolhari Trek

Bhutan's classic trekking route cuts through dense, lush forests and ascends into the lofty realm above tree line, home of yak herds grazing under the watchful eyes of their shepherds. We'll trace a loop starting and ending at Drugyal Dzong, built in the 17th century to commemorate a military victory over the Tibetans, and now in standing in evocative ruin. Prayer flags flutter alongside the trail, sending blessings skyward in a land where farmers and herders eke a tenuous living from the highlands.

Our route passes through a national park area, where we keep our eyes peeled for blue sheep, musk deer, snow leopard, black bear, and Bhutan's national animal, the takin. We skirt the Bhutanese-Tibetan border near the foot of sacred Chomolhari and attain the high point of the trek at 15,600 feet. Both the spring and autumn itineraries introduce you to Bhutanese life in the merry atmosphere of Buddhist dance festivals, lively social and spiritual events that epitomize the carefully maintained traditional culture of this distinctive Himalayan kingdom. We start and end the trip in Paro.