Sagala Trek | 7D

[Day 1]

PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

• On arrival at the Paro International Airport you will be welcomed by your tour guide and driver. After checking into your hotel, visit the impressive Rinpung Dzong/fortress of Heaped Jewels, a fine example of the ostentatious Bhutanese art and architecture. Located above the Dzong is the National Museum showcasing various artifacts and relics of ancient Bhutan.
• In the evening visit a traditional farmhouse replete with paddy fields, vegetable garden and farm animals. Enjoy a hot stone bath in a wooden tub, get some cooking tips and help in preparing your dinner which you will eat in the traditional Bhutanese style with the whole family.

[Day 2]

TAKTSANG MONASTERY/TIGER’S NEST/ Acclimatizing Hike– The highlight of your holiday to Bhutan

• Your highlight of the tour and a day excursion to one of the most petrified sites in Bhutan, Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest which is about 3 hours uphill and 2 hours down. It is located around 900 meters above the Paro valley. In the 8th Century Guru Padmasambhava – the patron saint of Buddhism established the most sacred place in Bhutan and meditated with his consort Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal. It is believed that Guru flew on a female tigress in pursuit of a demon which he subdued at the current site of the Monastery.
• You can have your lunch, tea/snacks at the cafeteria midway.
• Before you drive back to your hotel visit the Kyichu Lhakhang/temple, one of the oldest temples built in the 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo.

If you wish you can go for a stroll through the valley or rest in hotel.

[Day 3]

PARO – HAA VALLEY (3 HRS)

• Drive on to Haa valley which is about 2 and half hours drive over the Chelela Pass at 3,988 meters (12,402 ft). From the top, the Pass also offers a spectacular view of both Haa and Paro valley on both sides. Your guide will also point out majestic Himalayan Mountains of Bhutan seen from here. The national flower of Bhutan, the Blue Poppy and other exotic highland flowers and orchids grow in the wild and are a beautiful sight in spring.
• The Kila Gomba Nunnery below the Pass is also located on a cliffside and consists of several small temples and retreat huts. The nuns here live in a self imposed isolation either in meditation or chanting and reading the holy scriptures.
• From the pass drive for an hour till you reach the picturesque and remote Haa valley. Excursion of Haa valley is truly an off the beaten path experience and has been only recently introduced into the coffers of tourism in Bhutan. Even though Haa is an exclusive destination excursion of Haa still remains on the fringes of mainstream tourism and is not much visited by tourists. Stroll through the valley, visit the few shops, interact with the locals and yet again enjoy your visit and stay at a traditional farmhouse with all modern facilities and amenities.
• OVERNIGHT AT CAMPSITE

[Day 4]

HAA – SAGALA

Walking Distance: 5 to 6 Hours, Camp Altitude: 3,600 m

• From Talung (3000m), trail ascends gradually along Halung chhu (locally known as Makhang chhu) through Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana) and Fir (Abies densa) forests onwards to Sagala. You reach to Chagdo Zampa (3180m) after crossing Hatsho Thangka (summer grazing ground of Talung village) and see a rock with twin eyes and distorted mouth. It is believed that a Tibetan saint, Thangtong Gyalpo, in the 14th century subdued Nyela Thi Ngi Tana Rinchen (demon) at Khadey Gom and got turned into this rock. Since then travelers have no fear of the demon.
• After a breathtaking climb uphill, you can stop for picnic lunch at Khadey Gom (3280m), a meadow covered with blooming Iris, Primula, Aster, etc. Then you continue uphill to Sagala camp (3600m) below Sagala pass.
• The view of Mt. Jomolhari (7326m), other mountain peaks, Haa, Paro valleys and Paro Tak Tshang is spectacular on the clear day from Sagala Pass (3700m) which takes three quarter of an hour walk from the camp.
• Sagala is ideal for bird watching in the morning and evening. There are chances to spot feeding Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejans) and Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) and the likelihood of spotting Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) along this trail.

[Day 5]

SAGALA - NYINGULA

Walking Distance: 5 to 6 hours, Camp Altitude:3,874 m

• Morning trek is mostly along the ridges. After lunch, the trail ascends and descends through rhododendron scrubs all the way to Nyingungla camp. Rhododendron lepidotum could be seen in late bloom. The trail is covered with flowers of Meconopsis simplicifolia, Iris, many species of Aster, Primula kingii, Cynanthus lobatus, many species of Bistorta, two three species of Aconitum, Thalictrum cheldonii, many species of Pedicularis, Lillium nanum etc. There may be possibility of seeing Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), Blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus), Hill Patridge (Arborophila torqueola) and Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra), Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and Goral (Nemorhaedus goral) along the trail.
• Before reaching the camp, you may come across a herder camp and cattle. Nyingungla camp is very beautiful site at 3874m, from where you can view Mt. Jomolhari, Bjichu Drake, Haa valley and Paro Taktsang.

[Day 6]

NYINGULA-CHELE LA PASS

Walking Distance: 7 to 8 hours, Accommodation: Hotel

• The trail ascends and descends along the ridges through Fir (Abies densa) and Larch (Larix griffithii) forest and Rhododendron scrubs. The trail is covered with colourful Iris, Bistorta, Primula, Meconopsis paniculata (yellow Bhutan Sagala Trek from Paropoppy), many species of Pedicularis, Corydalis spp., Rhododendrons, etc. The Kalila Pass (3770m) is also covered in blanket of flowers. This is another chance to see the view of Mt Jomolhari (7326m) and Bjichu Drake (6794m) on a clear weather.
• The trail leads through Fir forest and climbs up to Gung Karpo ridge at 4000m and follows the ridge before descending down to Chelela Pass through Rhododendron scrubs. The view of snow-clad peaks and mountain ranges are spectacular. All along the trail, you can find colourful flowers of Rhododendrons, many species of Pedicularis, Blue, Yellow Poppy, Iris, Bistorta, Berberis, Buddleja colveilei, many species of Asters, red Primula, Primula gracilipes, Primula capitata var capitata, Primula sikkimensis and Edel weiss. Chelela is also ideal for bird watching where you may have chance to spot Satyr Tragopan (Tragopan satyra), Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus), Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos), Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis), Rock Pigeon (Columba iivia), Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalaynsis), Eurasian Sparrow Hawk ( Accipiter nisus), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Black face Laughing Thrush (Garrulax affinis); Spotted Laughing Thrush (Garrulax ocellatus) and other ground thrushes and many small birds. Trek time from Gung Karpo to Chelela road head is about four to five hours.
• Your driver and tour vehicle awaits you for pick up towards hotel
• Overnight in Paro

[Day 7]

DEPARTURE

• After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport where your guide and driver will bid you farewell and hope you had a pleasant holiday and hope to see you in Bhutan again.

TASHI DELEK