Snowman Trek in Bhutan
The 24 days Snowman trek in Bhutan is an extension of Laya Gasa trek. Trek duration 24 days, one of the top 10 toughest treks in the world. The trek starts from Paro and ends at Nikachu near Trongsa. Walking distance 348 Km and the highest elevation is 5320 m.
The Snowman trek route passes through yak herders’ camp at 3980 m, grazing ground of Blue Sheep, remote village of Laya and Thanza and crossing over many passes namely Nyeli La (4890 m), Jhari La (4747 m), Shingela (5005 m), Jaze La (5050 m), camping near Tsho Chena lake (4800 m) and Thampe Tsho at 4200 m. You can view Mt. Jomolhari (7314 m), Masagang (7165 m), Table mountain (7100 m) and Gangla Karchung (6395 m).
Trip facts:
- One of the top 10 toughest treks in the world.
- Trek duration: 24 days.
- Difficulty level: Very difficult.
- Highest elevation: 5320 m.
- Best time for trek: March – May & Sep. – November.
Snowman trek in Bhutan – Highlights:
- Scenic landscapes.
- Meet the people of remote Himalayas.
- Visit remote Bhutanese villages and farmhouses.
- Visit dzongs (Forts), ancient temples and monasteries.
- Witness archery matches.
Sketch Itinerary
Inclusions and Exclusions in the Pricing
Flight Connections & Fares
What to pack for a trek
Sketch Itinerary
Sketch Itinerary:
- Day 1. Arrive Paro and sightseeing | Altitude: 2200 m.
- Day 2. Hike to Taktsang monastery (Paro Taktsang) | 7 km | Hike: 4 hours.
- Day 3. Sharna to Thang Thangka (Start of snowman trek in Bhutan) | Hike: 22 Km | Time: 7 – 8 hours | Altitude: 3610 m | Ascent: 770 m | Descent: 10 m.
- Day 4. Thang Thanka – Jangothang | 19 Km | Altitude: 4080 m | Hike: 5 – 6 hours | Ascent 480 m.
- Day 5. Rest day in Jangothang – Acclimatization for Snowman trek in Bhutan.
- Day 6. Jangothang to Lingshi | 17 Km | Altitude: 4000 m | Hike: 6 – 7 hours.
- Day 7. Lingshi to Chebisa | 10 Km | Altitude: 3880 m | Hike: 5 – 6 hours | Ascent: 280 m | Descent: 410 m.
- Day 8. Chebisa to Shomuthang | 17 Km | Altitude: 4220 m | Hike: 6-7 hours | Ascent: 890 m | Descent: 540 m.
- Day 9. Shomuthang – Robluthang | 18 Km | Altitude: 4,160 m | Hike: 6 – 7 hours | Ascent: 700 m | Descent: 760 m.
- Day 10. Robluthang – Limithang | 19 Km | Altitude 4,140 m | Hike: 6-7 hours | Ascent: 850 m | Descent: 870 m.
- Day 11. Limithang – Laya | 10 Km | Altitude: 3840 m | Hike: 4 – 5 hours | Ascent: 60 m | Descent: 340 m.
- Day 12. Rest day in Laya – Acclimatization for Snowman trek.
- Day 13. Laya – Rodufu | 19 Km | Hike: 6 to 7 hours | Altitude: 4160 m.
- Day 14. Rodufu – Narethang | 16 Km | Hike: 8 to 9 hours | Altitude: 4900 m.
- Day 15. Narethang – Tarina | 18 Km | Hike: 5 to 6 hours | Altitude: 4020 m.
- Day 16. Tarina – Woche | 15 Km | Hike: 5 to 6 hours | Altitude: 3940 m.
Day 17. Woche – Lhedi | 19 Km | Hike: 7 to 8 hours | Altitude: 3600 m.
Day 18. Lhedi – Thanza | 19 km | Hike: 6 to 7 hours | Altitude: 4080 m.
- Day 19. Rest day in Thanza | Altitude: 4080 m (13,300 ft.) – Acclimatization for Snowman trek in Bhutan.
- Day 20. Thanza – Danji | 8 Km | Hike: 4 hours | Altitude: 4600 m.
- Day 21. Danji – Tsho Chena | 12 km | Hike: 5 hours | Altitude: 4800 m.
- Day 22. Tsho Chena – Jichu dramo | 14 Km | Hike: 4 to 5 hours | Altitude: 4880 m.
- Day 23. Jichu Dramo – Chukarpo | 18 Km | Hike: 5 to 6 hours | Altitude: 4950 m.
- Day 24. Chukarpo – Thampe Tsho | 18 km | Hike: 5 to 6 hours | Altitude: 4200 m.
- Day 25. Thampe Tsho – Maurothang | 14 Km | Hike: 5 hours | Altitude: 3550 m.
- Day 26. Maurothang – Nikachu Chazam – Punakha | 23 Km | Hike: 7 to 8 hours (End of Snowman trek in Bhutan)
- Day 27. Punakha sightseeing – Thimphu sightseeing | 76 km | Drive: 3 hours | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 28. Thimphu sightseeing – Paro | 54 km | Drive: 1 hour | Altitude: 2200 m.
- Day 29. Paro – Departure (End of Snowman trek in Bhutan itinerary).
Inclusions and Exclusions in the Pricing
Trip Cost Includes:
- All Meals [Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner and evening tea].
- Accommodation [twin /double sharing basis]. Single room supplement is extra.
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
- Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).
- Bhutan visa fee.
- English speaking local guide.
- Sightseeing.
- Bottled water.
Trip Cost Excludes:
- Drukair / Bhutan Airlines fares.
- Entrance fees for museums and monuments.
- Travel insurance premiums.
- Payments for service provided on a personal basis.
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”.
- Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, soft drinks, camera charges, incidentals, portage, bellboy charges tips or any other services.
Trek Cost Includes:
Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Division (NRED) Nu.1000
- One guide.
- Cook.
- Helpers.
- Ponies and yaks.
- Tents (sleeping tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and shower tent).
- 3 meals a days + evening Tea.
- Mattresses and all other trekking accessories.
Note: For trekking a load of 25 kg is allowed.
Flight Connections & Fares
Singapore – Paro – Singapore (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 1040.
- Business Class: US $ 1680.
Bangkok – Paro – Bangkok (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 906.
- Business Class: US $ 1290.
Kathmandu – Paro – Kathmandu. (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 468.
- Business Class: US $ 710.
Delhi – Paro – Delhi (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 606.
- Business Class: US $ 1033.
Kolkata – Paro – Kolkata (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 447.
- Business Class: US $ 706.
Dhaka (Bangladesh) – Paro – Dhaka (Round Fares):
- Economy Class: US $ 466.
- Business Class: US $ 766.
What to pack for a trek
Personal clothing: strong normal clothing (according to season). Preferably cotton, even for summer, woolen clothing for the evening and winter.
- Strong comfortable trekking boots – water-resistant for the rainy period-June-August.
- Sunscreen.
- Flash light.
- Rain coat (especially for rainy period –June-August).
- Head gear/hat/cap; sun and rain protection.
- Water pills – for extra caution in purifying stream; (boiled water is provided at all times during the trek).
- Aspirin – incase of altitude sickness.
- Lots of socks.
- Warm clothes.
Optional Items To Bring:
- Sunglasses.
- Head gear.
- Folding umbrella (only for wet months — July and August).
- One towel.
- Pillow case.
- Wet-packed tissue paper.
- Pillow.