What level of fitness is required?

Substantial. Five days at altitude with six-to-seven-hour walking days; cumulative ascent above 5,000 metres; one pass crossing at 4,890. Trekkers should be comfortable with multi-day high-altitude walking and previous exposure to 4,000m+ recommended. The trek team monitors altitude response daily; we route a client off the high camp if the response is wrong.

Can the peaks be climbed?

No. Chomolhari (7,326m) and Jichu Drake (6,989m) are sacred mountains and closed to summit attempts by the 1994 Bhutanese mountaineering moratorium (extended in 2003). The trek goes to base camps; the rewards are at base.

When else is the trek possible?

The clear-weather windows are October–early November and April–early May. May has the rhododendron bloom and slightly warmer nights; October has the clearest skies. The monsoon (June–September) closes the route; the winter (late November to March) is technically possible but very cold and snow on the passes is unpredictable.

What about the Sustainable Development Fee?

Included in the per-night basis — USD 100 per night per international visitor — across the full fourteen nights. The fee funds Bhutan's environmental conservation, free citizen healthcare, and free citizen education.

Two weeks at altitude under the country's sacred peak

The Chomolhari Base Camp trek, paced for the autumn window.

Fourteen nights — five at altitude, the rest in the lodges — taking the classic Bhutanese trek to the 4,080-metre meadow under Chomolhari and Jichu Drake, with the clear October light that the country's photographers wait the whole year for.

Journeys begin at USD 22,000 per traveller.

14 nights · signature tier

Begin your proposal Speak with us first

Why October, and why this trek

The Chomolhari Trek to Jangothang base camp at 4,080 metres is the classic Bhutanese trek — five days at altitude, two of the country's sacred peaks (Chomolhari at 7,326m and Jichu Drake at 6,989m) immediately above you at high camp, and the only window when the weather supports the route is October's clear-sky autumn. We pace the trek across fourteen nights: three at the lodges in Paro and Thimphu to acclimatise, five at altitude with the trekking team, three at the lodges coming down, three for the descent back to the country's principal sites and the flight home.

The mountain people, the route, the team

From Drugyel ruins at the head of the Paro valley, the route climbs the Pa Chhu for two days to Jangothang at 4,080 — the meadow camp under the south face of Chomolhari. A high-camp day for acclimatisation; the optional Nyile La crossing at 4,890; the descent via Lingshi, the small dzong at 4,000m where the path back toward Thimphu begins. The trek team — a head guide, an assistant guide, a cook, two camp staff, the horsemen and their pack horses — is one to two clients per crew member. Substantial overstaffing by international trek standards; the Bhutanese pattern.

What goes right, what to be ready for

Five thousand metres of cumulative ascent in the high-altitude section; the cold at high camp (nights below freezing through October); the wind on the Nyile La crossing on a bad day; the substantial joy of the peaks at first light from Jangothang. The peaks themselves cannot be climbed — Bhutan's 1994 moratorium keeps the 6,000m+ summits closed, by design and by the religious tradition of the sacred mountains. We are at base, looking up. That is the point.

A sample shape of the week

Day 1
Arrival in Paro
Met in the arrivals hall, twenty minutes to the lodge, a slow afternoon and an early supper.
Day 2
Paro valley acclimatisation
A short walk up to Drugyel ruins and the head of the valley; gear check; a kit shakedown with the trek team in the afternoon.
Day 3
Tiger's Nest — the warm-up climb
The Taktsang pilgrimage, slowly, with the trek guide watching for altitude response; back to the lodge for the long sleep.
Day 4
Trek day 1 — Sharna camp (2,890m)
Drive to the Drugyel trailhead, the long valley climb through pine forest, six hours' walk to Sharna.
Day 5
Trek day 2 — Soi Thangthangkha (3,610m)
The long valley day; first views of Chomolhari; six to seven hours' walking.
Day 6
Trek day 3 — Jangothang (4,080m)
Three to four hours up to the base camp meadow; afternoon to acclimatise; the south face of Chomolhari directly above.
Day 7
Jangothang rest day
An optional acclimatisation walk to the high lake; the meadow camp through the afternoon; alpenglow on Jichu Drake at sunset.
Day 8
Trek day 5 — over Nyile La to Lingshi
The 4,890m pass crossing; six to seven hours of substantial trekking; the descent into the Lingshi valley.
Day 9
Trek day 6 — Lingshi to Shodu
Down the Mo Chhu valley through alpine pastures; substantial elevation loss; five hours' walking.
Day 10
Trek day 7 — Shodu to Barshong, finish at Dolam Kencho
The last full trek day; six hours; the road head reached in the late afternoon.
Day 11
Back to Paro — recovery day
Drive back to Paro, hot stone bath, the long slow dinner the trekking team has earned.
Day 12
Thimphu day — the cultural
Across to the capital; the Memorial Chorten, the Folk Heritage Museum, Centenary Farmers' Market.
Day 13
Back to Paro — the last day
Kyichu Lhakhang in the afternoon; an early supper; bags packed for the dawn flight.
Day 14
Departure from Paro
Breakfast at the lodge; the guide walks you back to the terminal; the team writes a fortnight later.

The day-by-day above is illustrative. The proposal you receive is built around your dates, your pace, and your interests — not this template.

Frequently asked

What level of fitness is required?: Substantial. Five days at altitude with six-to-seven-hour walking days; cumulative ascent above 5,000 metres; one pass crossing at 4,890. Trekkers should be comfortable with multi-day high-altitude walking and previous exposure to 4,000m+ recommended. The trek team monitors altitude response daily; we route a client off the high camp if the response is wrong.
Can the peaks be climbed?: No. Chomolhari (7,326m) and Jichu Drake (6,989m) are sacred mountains and closed to summit attempts by the 1994 Bhutanese mountaineering moratorium (extended in 2003). The trek goes to base camps; the rewards are at base.
When else is the trek possible?: The clear-weather windows are October–early November and April–early May. May has the rhododendron bloom and slightly warmer nights; October has the clearest skies. The monsoon (June–September) closes the route; the winter (late November to March) is technically possible but very cold and snow on the passes is unpredictable.
What about the Sustainable Development Fee?: Included in the per-night basis — USD 100 per night per international visitor — across the full fourteen nights. The fee funds Bhutan's environmental conservation, free citizen healthcare, and free citizen education.

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Begin when you're ready.

Five questions, or a conversation in your own words — a bespoke draft either way.

Begin your proposal Speak with us

Preparing

Why October, and why this trek

The mountain people, the route, the team

What goes right, what to be ready for

Why October, and why this trek

The mountain people, the route, the team

What goes right, what to be ready for

Arrival in Paro

Paro valley acclimatisation

Tiger's Nest — the warm-up climb

Trek day 1 — Sharna camp (2,890m)

Trek day 2 — Soi Thangthangkha (3,610m)

Trek day 3 — Jangothang (4,080m)

Jangothang rest day

Trek day 5 — over Nyile La to Lingshi

Trek day 6 — Lingshi to Shodu

Trek day 7 — Shodu to Barshong, finish at Dolam Kencho

Back to Paro — recovery day

Thimphu day — the cultural

Back to Paro — the last day

Departure from Paro

Fourteen nights from Paro to Guwahati — the country as a single arc.

How long to give Bhutan — five nights, seven, or longer.

Thirteen nights across western and central Bhutan, with time to slow down.

Begin when you're ready.

Why October, and why this trek

The mountain people, the route, the team

What goes right, what to be ready for

Arrival in Paro

Paro valley acclimatisation

Tiger's Nest — the warm-up climb

Trek day 1 — Sharna camp (2,890m)

Trek day 2 — Soi Thangthangkha (3,610m)

Trek day 3 — Jangothang (4,080m)

Jangothang rest day

Trek day 5 — over Nyile La to Lingshi

Trek day 6 — Lingshi to Shodu

Trek day 7 — Shodu to Barshong, finish at Dolam Kencho

Back to Paro — recovery day

Thimphu day — the cultural

Back to Paro — the last day

Departure from Paro

Fourteen nights from Paro to Guwahati — the country as a single arc.

How long to give Bhutan — five nights, seven, or longer.

Thirteen nights across western and central Bhutan, with time to slow down.

Begin when you're ready.