Challenging
Activity
Transfers
10 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
The Jumolhari Base Camp Trek is one of Bhutan’s most rewarding high-altitude journeys, combining remote Himalayan trekking with deep cultural immersion. Over eleven days, you’ll hike through forested valleys, alpine meadows and high mountain passes, visit ancient monasteries and dzongs and spend time in communities that still live largely as they have for generations. It’s a challenging but achievable adventure for those who want to go beyond the obvious and experience Bhutan at its wildest and most authentic.
Your journey begins in Paro, with a chance to explore Bhutan’s cultural heart including the National Museum, Paro Dzong and the unforgettable hike to the Tiger’s Nest monastery. These early days are also important for acclimatisation, with a steady hike and the chance to ease tired legs in a traditional hot stone bath before the trekking phase begins.
From the trailhead at Shana, you’ll spend several days walking deeper into the mountains, following river valleys, passing isolated farmhouses and yak herder settlements and gradually gaining height. Bask in the ever changing landscape as you climb, from forested slopes to open highland valleys and rugged alpine terrain. You’ll cross high passes, pass glacial lakes and camp in remote locations with wide, open views of the surrounding peaks.
Reaching Jangothang, the base camp below Mount Jumolhari, is a highlight. Surrounded by some of Bhutan’s most impressive mountains, it’s a place to slow down, explore and properly absorb the scale of the landscape. The route then continues over challenging but rewarding passes before descending back towards the Paro Valley.
This is a demanding trek at times and a good level of fitness is essential, but it is carefully paced and fully supported. Our experienced local guides, crew and pack animals take care of the logistics, allowing you to focus on the walking, the scenery and the experience of being in a truly remote part of the Himalaya.
All international visitors to Bhutan must pay a 'Sustainable Development Fee' (SDF) of $100 per night of their stay to the Bhutanese Government. For our 8-night tour, this means a fee of $800 which has been incorporated into our tour cost accordingly.
If you purchase any additional nights with us, the additional SDF charges of $100 are included into the add-on costs. We need to know exactly how long you plan to stay in Bhutan so we can pay the government the correct SDF charge on your behalf and arrange your time-sensitive tourist visa.
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Fly into the only international airport of the country at Paro International Airport, in the beautiful Paro Valley. As the plane takes a dramatic sweep into the valley, you will see the inner Himalayan mountainsides with traditional Bhutanese house perched in the mountains and snowcapped peaks of the Northern Himalayas towards the Tibetan border.
You will be received in Paro (elevation of 2,280 meters) by our representatives at the airport with a traditional sign of welcome, a white silk scarf with the eight lucky & auspicious signs embossed in it. Bhutanese culture revers symbolisms, so we believe that you must start your journey in Bhutan with an auspicious beginning.
Today, you will enjoy afternoon sightseeing around Paro, including a visit to the National Museum, Ta Dzong. The museum, built in 1648, showcases over 3000 works of Bhutanese art and cultural heritage and also houses Buddhist scrolls on cloth known as Thangkha Painting as early as the 12th Century. After visiting the museum, you will take a short stroll down to the Ringpung Paro Dzong (the Fortress of Jewels). Dating back to the 17th century, the fortress houses the district monastic body as well as the administrative center. Praying in that chapel is believed to bring about long-life.
In the evening, you will have time to explore the town of Paro.
Accommodation: Olathang Cottages or similar
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, you will drive towards the base of the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), the sacred and famous site of the temple built on the cliffside in 1693. Legend has it that, in the 8th century, Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the caves around which the monastery was built, after flying on a tigress’s back. The monastery hangs on a cliff at 3120 meters above sea level and although it looks very steep and almost vertical, the monastery has a mule track leading to it. The trek is very scenic, surrounded by pine trees. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria on the way.
The total hike time is about 4-5 hrs. The hike helps you acclimatize for the next days’ trek. Waiting for you on your return will be a traditional hot stone bath to help you relax and recover from the day’s trek.
Accommodation: Olathang Cottages or similar
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Today, you will start on an unforgettable Himalayan adventure trekking to the most picturesque and mesmerizing Jomolhari Base Camp. Mount Jomolhari with an elevation of over 7326 meters is one of the highest peaks in Bhutan and the source of Paro Chhu (river). Mountains in Bhutan are considered sacred and remain unscaled. Buddhists believe that the Mount Jumolhari is the abode of one of the five Tseringma sisters-female protector Goddess (Jomo) of Tibet and Bhutan.
To start the trek, you will drive to Shana Zampa (2850 meters), the starting point. The drive to this point is about 1.5-2 hrs from Paro valley depending on road conditions. The gentle climb allows for gradual acclimatisation.
The trail follows the river through a heavily forested area with a few isolated farmhouses. As you go up the valley becomes narrow, wilder and steeper. The trail winds up and down. You pass a junction en route, where another path leads over the Tremo La to Tibet. Bhutanese people formerly used this route as a trading route to Tibet. You cross several traditional wooden bridges before finally arriving Soi Thanthangka (3610 meters). Camp is in a meadow with a stone shelter. From this, you can see Mount Jomolhari for the first time if the weather permit.
The total distance covered today will be 22 KM with an estimated trekking time of 7-8 hours for the average trekker. The elevation gain today will be about 760 meters from Shana Zampa.
Accommodation: Soi Thangthangka campsite
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
Boutique Hotel
Today’s trek takes travellers through open highland valleys and yak herder settlements. The tree line gradually fades, giving way to alpine shrubs and rugged mountain terrain. You will cross an army checkpoint along the way and enjoy a spectacular view of high mountain ridges and snowcapped peaks. In this area yak and their herder’s homes become a regular feature of the landscape. Passing the villages Soe, Takethang and Dangochang is another asset on this day. By late afternoon, trekkers arrive at Jangothang, the Jomolhari Base Camp (4080 meters), surrounded by snow-capped peaks including Jomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserim Kang.
The total distance covered today will be 19 KM with an estimated trekking time of 5-6 hours for the average trekker. The elevation gain today will be about 470 meters.
Accommodation: Jangothang Basecamp
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
This day is reserved for rest and exploration at the base camp. A rest day to allow for acclimatization following the altitude gains of the last two days. There are a number of good side trips from camp or you can recline in your tent and enjoy superb views from there.
Accommodation: Jangothang Basecamp
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
A long but exciting day crossing our highest pass, the Bhonte La (4890m).
You start steeply to reach the first of two-trout filled glacial lakes. In this remote setting you may catch a glimpse of blue sheep, marmots in the rocks and Himalayan birds frequenting their highest habitats. From there, encounter a second lake before descending into a hidden valley ahead of embarking on a steep climb towards the Bonte La pass. From the pass, there are stunning views of Jichu Drake and the skyline of the Bhutan Himalayas perched along the Tibetan border. You make steep descent into the Soi Yaksa Valley where the incumbent yak herding families have a reputation for producing quality yak wool cloth. It is a lovely setting for our camp (3,740m).
Your camp site at Soi Yaksa Valley (3740 meters) is a beautiful site with impressive rock cliffs, waterfalls, deep side valleys and snow covered peaks.
The total distance covered today will be 16 KM with an estimated trekking time of 7-8 hours for the average trekker. Today, you will ascend 810 meters, and then descend 1090 meters, finally camping at 3740 meters.
Accommodation: Soi Yaksa campsite
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Camping
A steady uphill trek leads out of the valley. As you climb the view gradually widens until the summits of Chomolhari and Jichu Drake reappear on the distant horizon surrounded by their Himalayan acolytes. More great views as you cross the Takhung La (4550m) pass where on a clear day Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world can be spotted. You make your way down into a peaceful valley dotted with the huts of nomadic yak herders, offering an authentic glimpse into mountain life. Pause to embrace the stillness and reflect on the remarkable experiences this journey has given you.
The total distance covered today will be 11KM with an estimated trekking time of 4-5 hours for the average trekker. Today, you will ascend 720 meters, and then descend 340 meters, finally camping at 4180 meters.
Accommodation: Campsite Thombu
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
You climb out of the valley today and begin the return to civilisation. From your last high point on the ridge, you can see the Paro Valley in the distance before beginning your 1000+ metre descent to finally reach Shana Zampa, where your trek began. You hike back down the valley to the road head at Gunitsawa, where you say farewell to your trekking team. The transport waits for the short drive to Paro, and then to Thimphu. The drive to Gunitsawa to Thimphu will be about 2 hrs.
The total distance covered today will be 13 KM with an estimated trekking time of 4-5 hours for the average trekker. Today, you will ascend 200 meters, and then descend 1650 meters.
Accommodation: Kisa Villa, Eutsholing Boutique or similar
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Today, you will spend the day exploring Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Thimphu with a population of over 100,000 people is the largest city in Bhutan. Even though Thimphu is considered as the country’s most modern city, it has retained the unique character of a Bhutanese town.
In the morning, you will visit the Memorial Chorten (Stupa) at the center of the capital, dedicated in memory of His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The stupa attracts many elderly Bhutanese daily for prayers, and is a window into the daily lives of Buddhist Bhutanese. You will then head to the Folk Heritage Museum. The museum gives you a glimpse of the traditional Bhutanese lifestyle, in addition to artifacts from rural households; it also displays an impressive collection of typical household objects, tools and equipment. The museum also organizes regular demonstrations of rural traditions, skills, habits and customs as well as hosting educational programs for children. A typical Bhutanese lunch will be served at the Museum restaurant.
You will visit the Buddha Dordenma Statue, the largest seated Buddha statue in the world with a height of 51.5 meters, made of bronze and gilded in gold. The statue itself is the home for over 100,000 smaller statues of Buddha. You will be in awe at the size of the statue, as well as the artistry that it took to create it. In the evening, you will visit the Tashichhodzong (the Fortress of Auspicious Doctrine). The fortress has been the seat of the Royal Government of Bhutan since 1952, and houses the Throne Room as well as the offices of the King and other government offices, it is also the summer residence of the Monk Body.
Accommodation: Kisa Villa, Eutsholing Boutique or similar
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
In the morning, you will visit the Motithang Takin Preserve, located in the Motithang district of Thimphu, Bhutan, is a wildlife reserve area for Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. Legend has it that the takin was created in Bhutan in the 15th century by Lama Drukpa Kunley, popularly called “The Divine Madman.” Drukpa Kunley, was requested by the people of Bhutan to conjure a miracle. After consuming a whole cow and goat, he joined the head of the goat to the skeleton of the cow, creating the Takin.
Then, you will drive from Thimphu to Paro. On the way, you will also stop to see Tamchog Lakhang iron bridge, a private small temple built in the 15th century.
In the afternoon, you may try a game of archery, the national sport of Bhutan. During the session you will experience trying to shoot with traditional bamboo bow on shorter distance. You will also be given a thorough explanation of the Bhutan archery game rules.
In the evening, you will have time to explore the town of Paro
Accommodation: Olathang Cottages or similar
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast today, you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure flight, reinvigorated by the culture and landscape of beautiful Bhutan.
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.
We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is not available to book for part of the trip where it would have been possible.
If your flight schedules do not align with our group transfers (please refer to the essential info page for more information), you will need to arrange private transfers. Note that these transfers are one-way, so if you require them for both arrival and departure, please select two. After booking, you will be prompted to complete a travel information form where you can provide us with your exact flight times and details. This will enable us to organise your private transfers accordingly. Please note that private transfers may be subject to availability.
If your flight schedules do not align with our group transfers (please refer to the essential info page for more information), you will need to arrange private transfers. Note that these transfers are one-way, so if you require them for both arrival and departure, please select two. After booking, you will be prompted to complete a travel information form where you can provide us with your exact flight times and details. This will enable us to organise your private transfers accordingly. Please note that private transfers may be subject to availability.
Price includes hotel (full board), guide (compulsory in Bhutan), transfer, and daily tourist tax.
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure is comfortable and welcoming hotel accommodation offering rooms with ensuite facilities. We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip.
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels, guest houses or camps. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
Supporting you on your holiday will be a local, English-speaking, qualified guide who knows the area like the back of their hand, as well as the history & heritage of the area!
We work jointly with our Bhutanese Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of reliable and suitably qualified local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 fellow travellers. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you. Our links with in-country travel experts often mean that we can assist you in developing a personalised itinerary.
You are visiting the Himalayas, walking at altitude between 3000 and 5000m.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you therefore need to be a regular walker and in good physical condition. You do not need to be experienced in trekking, however. Any hiking is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops.
You will be carrying just a day pack, with water, layers and other basics.
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
Clients are advised to get into a regular walking pattern before the trip as convenient.
If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip itself.
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport where you will be met and taken to your hotel either by your guide, or a driver.
We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you.
We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
All group specific, final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure.
You will need a passport and visa to enter and exit Bhutan. Your visa is included in your adventure cost and we take care of all necessary arrangements for you before your adventure begins.
We kindly request that you provide us with your insurance documents, with your name clearly stated, along with a scanned copy of your passport. Once your application is processed, you will receive a convenient PDF copy of your visa. Simply print it out or display it on your tablet or phone upon arrival and departure in Bhutan.
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
Antonella
I felt so confortable and safe with…
I felt so confortable and safe with YellowWood Adventures. Bhutan is such an enchanting place, and they make sure you see, learn and enjoy every second of it! The guides were very welcoming the same as every single person who received us and made us feel so welcomed and special. Everything was perfectly planned and according to the itinerary. I can’t wait to make another trip with YellowWood. I am so glad I finally found an agency who’s there for you in anything you need. Thank you YellowWood!!!
Antonella ❤️
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail October 2024
CHB
YellowWood tour in Bhutan
Just back from a YellowWood tour in Bhutan- everything was fabulous- the organisation before we went and then the local Bhutan partners and cannot more highly recommend our guide and driver- they were knowledgeable and caring and responsive to our wishes and interests.
A great trip to a fascinating country and cannot recommend it more highly
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail October 2023
Ellie
A wonderful tour of Bhutan
Had a fantastic time in Bhutan with YellowWood Adventures. It was a small group so we could be flexible with the itinerary. The local partner, guide and driver were wonderful and really went out of their way to make it a great experience. We walked some of the beautiful Trans Bhutan Trail and visited some amazing cultural sites. Our guide was really knowledgeable and gave us a great insight into the country and its culture. We stayed in really good accommodation. All in all I would thoroughly recommend it.
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail October 2023
Please take into consideration the time of year when you are travelling before making your final packing decisions.
Please bring a full first aid kit and any prescription medication with you. Consult your doctor regarding advice around inoculations and the prevention of disease contraction.
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All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
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Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail & Black-necked Crane Festival
Bhutan - Hiking
World-class hiking along a revived network of ancient Himalayan trade routes. Pass through forest-studded valleys, past snow-dusted peaks, stopping at Bhutan’s cultural sights and encountering local characters along the way.
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You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
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