Bumdra Trek

Arrival Paro and acclimatisation. Upon arrival, you shall be greeted by our team from Tour Bhutan. Paro Sightseeing includes visit to Taa Dzong the only museum in bhutan followed by Paro Rinpung Dzong. By this time you should be able to acclimatise with weather.

Early morning after breakfast, drive to Sang Choekor Bhudhist College from where we will start the trek. While we prepare to trek with the backpack, pay our respects at the Sangchoekor Sedra Buddhist College.

The initial climb up from the temple through the thick alpine forest takes about 3 hours to reach the base of the old temple. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull-up to the pretty temple which boasts commanding views of southern Paro Valley including the airport.

After a final 20-minute climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, with a last glance southwards we plunge back into the 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. If time permits we can visit the monastery and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, a night halt at camp.

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 Zhangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer over the edge and straight down onto the ornate roofs of 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 the hotel not forgetting to stop on the other side of the valley and look back at what we have achieved. Overnight in Paro, altitude 2200m.

The beautiful Bumdra Trek ends here today. Our team from Tour Bhutan will assist you to the airport and seeing you off. Trashi Delek.