7 Days Bumdra Trek

Touch down at Paro International Airport and be warmly greeted by your guide upon arrival. Today is all about relaxing and acclimatising to Bhutan’s altitude. Enjoy a scenic drive to Thimphu, the capital city, and check into your hotel. Savour your first taste of authentic Bhutanese cuisine before heading out for some light sightseeing if time permits.

Highlights:

• Motithang Takin Preserve: Meet Bhutan’s national animal, the unique Takin.

• National Memorial Chorten: A revered monument built in honour of the Third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

• Thimphu Town: Stroll along the charming Thimphu town to experience the local culture.

Spend the day exploring the capital’s blend of tradition and modernity through its museums, dzongs, and craft centres.

Highlights:

• Simply Bhutan: A highly interactive “living museum” that offers an immersive introduction to traditional Bhutanese life.

• Royal Textile Museum: Witness the intricate art of weaving, one of Bhutan’s finest crafts.

• Thimphu Dzong (Tashichho Dzong): The largest fortress in Bhutan, serving as the seat of government and home to the King’s office.

• Paper Making Factory: Learn the ancient process of producing traditional Bhutanese paper.

• Simtokha Dzong: The oldest fortress in the Kingdom, perched on a ridge just outside Thimphu.

After breakfast, drive towards Punakha, crossing the stunning Dochula Pass (3,100m). On a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Himalayan range.

Highlights:

• Dochula Pass: Home to 108 memorial chortens built by the Queen Mother to commemorate Bhutan’s victory over insurgents and honour fallen soldiers.

• Punakha Dzong: Built in 1637, this majestic fortress lies at the confluence of two rivers and remains the winter residence of Bhutan’s monastic body. A masterpiece of traditional architecture and craftsmanship.

• Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten: Commissioned by the Queen Mother, this striking stupa symbolises peace and harmony, offering panoramic views of the Punakha Valley.

Drive back to Paro, a serene valley steeped in history and spirituality. The region is home to ancient temples and Bhutan’s only international airport, framed by Mount Jomolhari (7,300m).

Highlights:

• Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong): A 15th-century fortress that serves as both a religious and administrative centre.

• Ta Dzong (National Museum): Once a watchtower, now housing Bhutan’s cultural treasures—Thangka paintings, armour, textiles, and ancient artefacts.

Hike from Sang Choekor Buddhist College (2,800m) to the Yak Pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m)

The adventure begins with an early morning drive to Sang Choekor Buddhist College, where we meet our ponies. While they are being loaded, we may take a moment to pay our respects at the college. The initial 1–2 hour ascent up the ridge can be steep at times but remains pleasantly shaded. We’ll soon reach a clearing adorned with fluttering prayer flags and enjoy a breathtaking view of both the Paro and Do Chhu valleys.

About 1–2 hours further along, we’ll arrive at Chhoe Chhoe Tse Lhakhang, a temple nestled along the mountainside. The trail continues upwards, and as we approach the final steep stretch, we’ll be rewarded with views of Paro Airport and the distant snow-capped Himalayas. After another 20 minutes of climbing past ancient ruins and prayer flags, the path leads us into an old-growth forest. A gentle 40-minute walk through these serene woods brings us to a wide meadow scattered with sacred chortens and colourful prayer flags.

We’ll spend the night at Bumdra Monastery, also known as the Cave of a Thousand Prayers, which offers a magnificent view of the Himalayan range. After lunch, you may visit the monastery (if unoccupied) or continue with an optional climb towards the northern peak (around 4,000m) for an even more stunning panorama before returning for dinner.

Duration: 3-4 hours to camp, 2-3 hours optional return trek to peak

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

After a hearty breakfast amid the jaw-dropping Himalayan landscape, it’s time to either head straight back into the valley or linger a little longer—soaking up the view and perhaps hanging some prayer flags of your own. Eventually, we descend into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest, following the monks’ zigzagging trail. After about one to two hours, glimpses of golden temple roofs begin to appear through the trees, marking our gradual return from the wilds.

The path winds gracefully along the mountainside, weaving between monasteries and temples before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth), where you can peer boldly over the edge to see the ornate roofs of Taktsang Monastery clinging to the cliff far below. An hour later, you’ll stand at the gates of this legendary site—after a steep descent to a waterfall and a final climb of stone steps—ready to step into the sacred sanctuary itself.

Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest) is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Bhutan. Perched dramatically on a sheer cliff more than 10,000 feet above sea level, it is accessible only by foot. The trail, lined with fluttering prayer flags, is said to ward off evil spirits and guide travellers safely to the top. 

Built around the caves where Guru Padmasambhava—the eighth-century founder of Buddhism in Bhutan—meditated for three years, the monastery is believed to have been consecrated after he flew here on the back of a tigress. Revered as one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites, Taktsang rewards every determined hiker with a sense of serenity and views that truly take the breath away.

Bid farewell to this enchanting Himalayan kingdom as you transfer to Paro International Airport for your flight home. We hope you leave with lasting memories, new friendships, and the peace of Bhutan in your heart.

Tashi Delek — and see you again for another unforgettable adventure in the Land of the Thunder Dragon!