Snowman Treks

The Lunana Snowman Trek is said to be one of the most difficult treks in the world! The combination of the altitude, distance, weather, and remoteness is what makes it so difficult. We suggest that our clients make sure to get emergency evacuation insurance since the only way out of Lunana if the passes are blocked by snow is by a helicopter. Less than 50% of the people who attempt this trek complete the trek due to harsh weather conditions or problems with altitude.

Best time for trek:September – October

Duration:29 days; Actual Trek: 25 days

Start:Drukgyel Dzong

Finish: Sephu

Maximum Elevation:5,320m

Difficulty: Hard

Day 1: Arrive Paro International AirportKuzuzangpola – Welcome to Bhutan!

During the flight, one will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest,Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Mount Jomolhari and Jitchu Drake in Bhutan.

On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be received and escorted to your hotel by our representatives.

Day 2: Paro – Sightseeing

Morning: Drive to Drugyel Dzong (a ruined fortress about 16 km away from Paro town).The Dzong, although in ruins, is of great historical significance. It was from this fortress that the Bhutanese repelled many Tibetan invasions. The name Drugyel means "the Victorious Bhutanese." You also have a spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari ("Mountain of Goddess") at 7,329m from the Drukgyel Dzong.

Visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse on the way back.

Day 3: Drukgyel Dzong – Sharna Zampa (Distance 17 km, 4-6 hours, Ascent 360m, Descent 80m)

Drive up to the end of the road at Drugyel Dzong (2,850m) where the trek begins. The trek starts with a 80m descent to the Paro Chhu (chhu – river). The trail follows the river gently uphill through narrowing valleys and agricultural fields. The trek takes you to the army post of Gunitsawa at 2,810m which is close to the border with Tibet. Your trek permit will be checked and endorsed here as all army personnel and civilians are required to check in here. Cross the Paro Chhu on a wooden cantiliever bridge at 2,790m and then climb to Sharna Zampa at 2,850m. Sharna Zampa is a camping site amidst meadows surrounded by trees. There is a helipad and an archery field on the opposite side of the river.

Day 4: Sharna Zampa – Thangthangka (Distance 22 km, 7-8 hours, Ascent 770m, Descent 10m)
 

This is going to be a long and hard day with the trail going up and down the river valley. The valley narrows so much that the path takes to the slopes. There is quite a lot of descending along this stretch. About 15 minutes from Sharna Zampa, you will find remnants of an old bridge with a house and a chorten on to the other side. This is the beginning of the Jigme Dorji National Park.

The trail leads you through forests of conifers, oaks, rhododendrons, ferns, birch, fir, blue pine, maple, and larch. Thangthangka (3,610m) is a beautiful meadow with the majestic Mt. Jomolhari looming at the head of the valley. There is a small stone shelter and a Bhutanese style house in a cedar grove at the edge of the meadow.

Day 5: Thangthangka – Jangothang (Distance 19 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 480m, Descent 0m)

The trek starts up the Paro Chhu. An army outpost at 3,730m which houses personnel from the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) as well as the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is crossed along the way. The valley begins to widen again. All around high mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks come into view. Yaks and yak herders' winter homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Jangothang at 4,080m is beneath a ruined fortress at the base of Mt. Jomolhari. Needless to say, you get a spectacular view of Mt. Jomolhari from here. This is where you exchange your pack horses for yaks from Soe or horses from Dangochang.

Day 6 :Jangothang – Halt for acclimatization and exploration

Trek up to Tsophu, a pair of lakes with a good supply of brown trout. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Tsophu. The views from Jangothang are amazing!

Day 7 :Jangothang – Lingzhi (Distance 18 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 840m, Descent 870m)

Trek through wide yak pastures and up and down passes. As you come down into the Lingzhi basin, you get a wonderful view of Lingzhi Dzong on a clear day. Tsarim Kang and its glaciers rise up at the north end of the valley. Night halt is a choice between a stone shelter or a tent.

Day 8 :Lingzhi – Chebisa (Distance 10 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 280m, Descent 410m)

The trail takes you past the Lingzhi Dzong (also known as Yugyel Dzong) at 4,220m sitting on top of a ridge. The Dzong was originally built to control travel over the Linzghi La, a trade route between Punakha and Gyantse (a Tibetan town). It also takes you through Lingzhi village, past village homes, the post office, and school to the spectacular Chebisa valley. Chebisa valley has a frozen waterfall at its head. The campsite is on a meadow opposite Chebisa at 3,880m.

Day 9 :Chebisa – Shomuthang (Distance 17 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 890m, Descent 540m)

The trek starts off by climbing the ridge behind Chebisa. You will find large herds of blue sheep living there. Continue climbing till you reach Gogu La at 4,440m and then descend into a side valley. Look out for bearded vultures and Himalayan griffons flying overhead. The trail takes you past a couple of yak herders’ huts. The campsite is nest to a stream at the base of the valley at Shomuthang (4,220m).

Day 10 :Shomuthang – Robluthang (Distance 18 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 700m, Descent 760m)

Start off early as you have to cross the Jhari La at 4,750m. Form the pass, walk downhill following a stream through bushes of rhododendrons along the way until you reach a meadow by Jholethang Chhu at 3,990m. Cross the Jholethang Chhu on a log bridge. You will find herds of takin by a camp near the river in the summer. The takins migrate here in the summer and stay here for about four months. Campsite is in a rocky meadow called Robulathang at 4,160m.

Day 11 :Robulathang – Limithang (Distance 19 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 850m, Descent 870m)

After crossing Shinche La at 5,005m, the trail descends to the valley beyond. On reaching Limithang (4,140m), the trail splits, with one leading to the army camp and the other following the higher ground to the west side of Laya village.

Camp site is on a flat piece of land overlooking the east end of Laya.

Day 12 :Limithang – Laya (Distance 10 km, 4-5 hours, Ascent 60m, Descent 340m)

The trail takes you across a river that you cross on a wooden cantilever bridge through the uninhabited valley and past a waterfall that you also cross until you see the stone houses and wheat fields of Laya. At 3,700m Laya is one of the highest and remotest villages in Bhutan. The Layaps have their own language and customs and also a distinct style of dressing.

Day 13 :Laya Halt for Rest and Acclimatization

Visit the village houses and take short hikes around the area.

Day 14 :Laya – Rodophu (Distance 10 km, 4-5 hours, Ascent 60m, Descent 340m)

You can get good views of the Mo Chhu and Rhodu Chhu on the way. You will also get a good view of a huge glacier on Tsenda Kang (7,100m). The Rodophu camp (4,160m) is beyond a wooden bridge across the Rhodu Chhu.

Day 15 :Rodophu – Narethang (Distance 17 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 720m, Descent 0m)

The trail takes you past the Tsomo La at 4,900m, which offers very good views of Mount Jomolhari. The campsite at Narethang (4,900m) is below the peak of Gangla Karchung (6,395m).

Day 16 :Narethang – Tarina (Distance 18 km, 7-8 hours, Ascent 270m, Descent 1200m)

The trek crosses the Gangla Karchung La at 5,120m. You can see a massive glacier descending from Teri Gang (north of Gangla Karchung La) to two deep turquoise lakes, about one kilometer from you. Campsite at Tarina.

Day 17 :Tarina – Woche (Distance 17 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 275m, Descent 330m)

The trail leads you through conifers and past some beautiful waterfalls. Woche is the first village in the Lunana region and is made up of about five houses. On arrival at camp, visit a village house.

Day 18 :Woche – Lhedi (Distance 17 km, 6-7 hours, Ascent 980m, Descent 950m)

The trail crosses the Keche La at 4,650m past a clear lake. Stop at Thaga village (4,050m) en route and continue on to Lhedi at 3,700m. Lhedi has a Basic Health Unit (BHU), schoo, and a wireless station but like anywhere else in the Lunana district, there are no shops here.

Day 19 :Lhedi – Thanza (Distance 17 km, 4-5 hours, Ascent 400m, Descent 0m)

The trail takes you past the Chozo village. Visit the Chozo Dzong on the way and continue on to Thanza.

Day 20 :Thanza halt

Spend the day visiting village houses, meeting the local people, and visiting the glacial lakes.

Day 21 :Thanza – Danji (Distance 8 km, 3-4 hours, Ascent 80m, Descent 0m)

Danji is a yak meadow with some yak herders’ huts. There are usually blue sheep grazing above the camp and they occasionally walk into camp.

Day 22 :Danji – Tshochena (Distance 12km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 490m, Descent 240m)

The trail crosses Jaze La Pass at 5,150m offering views of mountains in all directions and past several small lakes. The camp is near the shore of Tshochena at 4,970m.

Day 23 :Tshochena – Jitchu Dramo (Distance 14 km, 4-5 hours, Ascent 230m, Descent 140m)

The trail takes you past Loju La at 5,140m and across a small saddle at 5,100m into a wide glacial valley, and then down to the camp at Jitchu Dramo at 5,050m.

Day 24 :Jichu Dramo – Chukarpo (Distance 18 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 320m, Descent 730m)

The trail crosses Rinchen Zoe La at 5,320m. You can see the Rinchen Zoe peak (5,650m) and Gangkar Puensum from the pass. Camp at Chukarpo (4,600m).

Day 25 :Chukarpo – Thampe Tsho (Distance 18 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 400m, Descent 640m)

The trail crosses Thampe La at 4,550m. Camp is at the far end of the Thampe Tsho.

Day 26 :Thampe Tsho – Maurothang (Distance 14 km, 5 hours, Ascent 280m, Descent 1,020m)

The trek is mostly all downhill through stunted rhododendron trees. You pass the Om Tsho, a sacred site where Terton Pema Lingpa is said to have found a number of sacred texts and artifacts (terma). Maurothang (3,610m) is a large clearing by the river.

Day 27 :Maurothang – Sephu (Distance 18 km, 5-6 hours, Ascent 0m, Descent 990m)

The trail descends alongside the Nikka Chhu and then gradually through forests and pastures into a grassy area overlooking the Sephu village. Continue on to the main road at Sephu next to the Nikka Chhu Bridge at 2,600m.

Meet your car here and drive to Thimphu.

Day 28 :Thimphu – Sightseeing

Visit the magnificent Tashichhodzong, the main Secretariat Building. It is from here that the King and other prominent civil servants run the country. The Je Khenpo (Head Abbot) and the Central Monastic Body also reside here during the summer.Wander through the town, visit shops and the Handicrafts Emporium, where Bhutanese textiles and other handicrafts are available. Visit the workshop where the handicrafts are made.

Visit the painting and woodcrafts schools where traditional painting and other arts are kept alive.

Visit the National Library and see the ancient manuscripts preserved there.Visit the Semtokha Dzong (~6 km from Thimphu), the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1629. The Semtokha Dzong houses the largest monastic school in the country.

Day 29: Thimphu – Paro International Airport

Drive to Paro International Airport where our representative will bid you Bon Voyage!

Our package includes:

1. Accommodation in the best standard hotels available on twin sharing basis

2. All meals and evening tea

3. All transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary (itinerary is flexible)

4. Full time English speaking Guide

5. All museum fees

6. Car and driver

7. Camping equipment such as tents, camping chairs, etc. provided. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags, trekking shoes, rain gear, etc.

NOTE: We can also make arrangements for you to see/participate in a traditional archery match.