Cholomari Trek - 11 Days
Cholomari Trek - 11 Days
Trip Facts
Trip Overview
Cholomari Trek is a lifetime walking adventure that caters the extreme alpine adventure and allows you to experience the beautiful Bhutanese culture, customs as well as brings you to the sacred highland monasteries blended so well with the landscapes dominated by lush woodlands of rhododendrons and alpine forests. Moreover, the trek also gives you firsthand experience to sight the magnificence of snow-capped summits, high ridges and deep river gorges of Bhutan’s unexplored regions.
Though the trek is a strenuous trek, it doesn’t demand any specific past experience of high altitude trek. Physically fit person able to walk 7-8 hours every day can undertake this trek. Based on fully organized camps, the trek can be one of the most beautiful treks you are looking in the off the beaten regions of Himalayas.
Highlights Of The Cholomari Trek Trek
Thimpu
The major highlight of the trip includes the Bhutanese Capital, Thimpu. The Heritage Sites and the politically important monuments of Thimpu are worthwhile exploring to know about Bhutanese culture and lifestyle. Trashichhoedzong (the summer abode of Je Khenpo), National Library, Textile and Folk Heritage Museums and Stupa of Memorial Chorten are major monuments to explore in Thimpu.
Paro
The city housing only international airport in Bhutan, Paro highlights Taktshang Monastery, the cliff hanging sacred site also known as The Tiger's Nest. Ta Dzong and Ringpun Dzong are also the major highlights at Paro.
High Passes
The trek caters the challenges of high passes like Nyele La and Yeli La Passes that also rewards trekkers with the best views of deep Paro Chhu Valley and the Himalayan peaks like Choholmari and Jichu Drake.
Mountain Views
The trek also caters the views of other Bhutanese Himalayan Peaks like Gangchenta, Tserimgang and Masagang
Flora & Fauna
The trek caters plenty of opportunities to sight rare species of birds and highland mammals.
Landscapes
The steep rocky cliffs, high cascading waterfalls, lush vegetations, gushing rivers, deep river gorges and the Himalayan peaks altogether combined cater the beautiful landscape.
Culture
The trek also highlights beautiful and authentic highland culture of Bhutan that is associated with monasteries, tribal villages and of course the ancient meditating caves.
Important Trip Notes & Activities
Pleased acknowledge that you are joining us for the adventure trip in remote Himalayan region, where weather conditions, health and fitness of the member or unexpected natural disaster can compel us to change the itinerary and if so you have to understand it but we would try our best to keep the suggested itinerary as per the original schedule.
Your safety and satisfaction of the trip is our prime concern while travelling with us and we ensure you our best team, logistics, professional services to make sure that you would have an amazing trip of lifetime with us. Also note that our trip leader deserved the final decision if the trip has to amend, change the route or cancel due to the extreme conditions for the safety precaution. However, he will try his best to ensure that the trip runs as according to the stated plan but be prepared for flexibility if necessary.
Responsible Travel
Advanced Adventures Nepal organizes treks that is responsible for society, environment, and local community. We care about our destination and peoples of the region that we visit. Advanced Adventures always provide an opportunity for locals to work on our every trek, and make sure that our every treks benefits locals as we always employee locals of the same trek region.
We also carry out several social projects for the mountain peoples that support their lifestyle to comfort living with normal awareness of health and sanitation in the areas.
Currently, Advanced Adventures is supporting local community with its social project in collaboration with Pioneer Foundation Nepal- which is the non profitable social organization working in several social issues in Nepal Mountains areas such as, supporting rural community school with library making, setting up computer class, providing scholarship to disable children, backward community kids, and working in health camps, social awareness program etc.
Advanced Adventures fund its annual 5% profit to Pioneer Foundation Nepal to carry out its social projects so we are very proud to be associated with a social project in our profession.
Detail Itinerary Expand All
Day 01 Arrival to Paro
Altitude: At Paro 2250m/ 7321ft & Thimphu 2350m / 7710 ft
Activities: 1 hour 30 minutes drive
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
The flight into Paro on Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will be brief by our guide and transferred to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. We then depart for Thimpu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1.5hours. Thimpu has a population of about 100,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening, we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium, where all types of Bhutanese handicrafts are made and sold, overnight at Hotel.
Day 02 Drive to Druk Yel Dzong
Altitude: 2850m/9348ft & trek to Shana
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
To begin the Chohomari Trek, we drive to Druk Yel Dzong, a small temple atop a hill 2850m overlooking beautiful Paro Chhu Valley. As the trek begins, we slide down gradually to the river and traverse across few cultural villages. As the uphill trek begins we cross pass colorful terraced fields of wheat, millet & paddy. Crossing over the Paro Chhu River, we walk up through the beautiful pine woods and apple orchard to finally reach our campsite at Shana.
Day 03 Trek to Thangthangkha
Altitude: 3749m/12296ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A long trekking day comprises the walk initially beside Paro Chhu River and gradually enters the woods of conifer and rhododendron. Stopping at the ideal lunch camp, the trek once again goes through series of uphill and downhill walks through the pine forest beside Paro Chhu River. During today’s trek Mt. Choholmari comes into our sight. We will set our camps at Thangthangkha for the night.
Day 04 Trek to Jangothang
Altitude: 4023m/13195ft
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
On today’s trek, we chase the trail along the treeline just above the river. Tremendous opportunity to sight various species of birds is one of the major highlights of today’s trek. The trek obviously caters the scenic view of Mt. Chomolhari and other peaks at close proximity. Steep rock walls facing the deep valleys are amazing landscapes that feast our eyes on the day’s trek as well. After all the hardships, we come to the wide grazing land where yaks at high altitude are brought to graze. Stopping at Takethang for lunch as we begin the trek, a short walk along the trail beside a gushing river will bring us to Jangothang for the overnight camping stay.
Day 05 Rest day in Janngothang
Altitude: 4023m/13195ft
Activities: explore day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
As we have rapidly gain altitude, a day rest is very essential for proper acclimatization. However, on the rest day we shall hike up to Tsophu Lake, which is the prime highlight of Choholmari Trek.
Day 06 Trek to Lingzhi
Altitude: 3993m/13097ft Nyele La Pass 4850m/15908ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a day rest, we are yet again ready for a hard day trek. Trekking beyond Jangothang, we gradually enter the highland regions, which are normally remote with very less human settlements. On today’s trek, the outstanding view of Jichu Drake looming over the valley comes into our sights. As we cross a log bridge over a river that flows above 4000m savoring the magnificent views of snowcapped peaks we slowly enter the alpine region. Now, Nyele La Pass 4850m caters us the challenge to overcome it. Getting to the top of the pass and descending down with the views of mountains and Lingzhi Dzong is athe most beautiful walk of the day. Lingzhi Dzong once used to be a monastery fortress that protected the trade route between Bhutan and Tibet. The final part of the walk goes through pleasant rhododendron forest to our campsite in Lingzhi.
Day 07 Trek to Sodhu
Altitude: 4054m/13297ft
Activities: 8-9 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we have a long day walk. Starting early after the early breakfast, we climb uphill to a small white chorten that nestles on a ridge top that looks our campsite at Lingzhi. Climbing higher to the ridge top of Mu Chhu Valley, we eventually reach the top of Yeli La Pass, which is the highest point of our trek. From the top of Yeli La Pass take some time to savor the beautiful views of Chomolhari, Gangchenta, Tserimgang and Masagang Peaks. From the pass top, we eventually descend to a small tiny lake on the other side of the valley from where the trek course chases the river bank to yet another pristine lake at 4500m. The gentle downhill climb from the lake brings us to our camp site at Sodhu.
Day 08 Trek to Domshesa
Altitude: 3597m/11798ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Once again a day to trek, as the trek beyond Sodhu goes beneath the sheer yellow rocky cliffs with several ancient meditation caves carved into them. Trekking down the stone staircases carved through the dense rhododendron forests mixed with junipers and pines, we arrive to Barshon Dzong witnessing the most beautiful rocky cliffs and cascading waterfalls of Bhutan. Prior to reach Brashon Dzong we set our camps for the lunch as well as we climb up for a while. Descending through dense forest towards the river, we find our campsite for the night at Domshea.
Day 09 Trek to Donida
Altitude: 2621m/8596ft
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek & drive to Thimpu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The last day of Choholmari Trek, leads us to a small pass before it slides down through the dense bamboo woods to Wang Chhu. Beyond Wang Chhu we continue the trek up to Donida from where we shall be picked by a private vehicle that will escort us to Thimpu.
Day 10 Early morning drive to Paro 75 minutes drive hike to Taktshang Monastery
Altitude: 3120m/ 10233ft
Activities: 4-5 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, we will drive early in the morning to Paro, which is a scenic 75 minutes drive. On arriving Paro, we will be transferred to our hotel. After a short rest, we then drive beyond Satsam Chorten to hike up (or horse ride) to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). At the view point, you will enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. We then walk back to the road point and visit Kyichu Lhahang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, overnight at hotel.
Day 11 Depart Paro
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we transfer you to airport for taking a flight to your onward destination.
“End of our services”
What's Included?
- All pick and drop trasnfer in Paro airport by private vehicle
- 10 Nights/ 11 Days Full Board Trek & Tour to Bhutan with full of of Meals, B.L.D., tea and snacks
- Accommodation in Cities at deluxe 3 star hotels, trekking in tented camps
- Bhutan Visa Fee and Bhutan Travel Permit & Trek Permit/s
- English Speaking Tour Guide in Bhutan, his entire expenses, Trek Cook, trek porters and donkeys as needed for carrying trekking gears such as, tents, pots, food etc. - all the payment, insurance
- Cost of sightseeing entrance fees and monuments while on visit in cities
- Tour Drive by private vehicle- air conditioned as per group size
- All required Gov and Local Taxes
What's Not Included ?
- Flight to Bhutan(You could fly in from Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok)
- Entire cold beverage & bar bills in Bhutan trip
- Expenses of personal nature
- Travel Insurance
- Cost of Laundry, phone calls etc
- Tips to the guide & Porters
- All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
The given cost is per person and excludes international flights. Below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable, please contact us, and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.
| Start Date | Group Joining | Trip Price | Action |
|---|
Trip Overview
Cholomari Trek is a lifetime walking adventure that caters the extreme alpine adventure and allows you to experience the beautiful Bhutanese culture, customs as well as brings you to the sacred highland monasteries blended so well with the landscapes dominated by lush woodlands of rhododendrons and alpine forests. Moreover, the trek also gives you firsthand experience to sight the magnificence of snow-capped summits, high ridges and deep river gorges of Bhutan’s unexplored regions.
Though the trek is a strenuous trek, it doesn’t demand any specific past experience of high altitude trek. Physically fit person able to walk 7-8 hours every day can undertake this trek. Based on fully organized camps, the trek can be one of the most beautiful treks you are looking in the off the beaten regions of Himalayas.
Highlights Of The Cholomari Trek Trek
Thimpu
The major highlight of the trip includes the Bhutanese Capital, Thimpu. The Heritage Sites and the politically important monuments of Thimpu are worthwhile exploring to know about Bhutanese culture and lifestyle. Trashichhoedzong (the summer abode of Je Khenpo), National Library, Textile and Folk Heritage Museums and Stupa of Memorial Chorten are major monuments to explore in Thimpu.
Paro
The city housing only international airport in Bhutan, Paro highlights Taktshang Monastery, the cliff hanging sacred site also known as The Tiger's Nest. Ta Dzong and Ringpun Dzong are also the major highlights at Paro.
High Passes
The trek caters the challenges of high passes like Nyele La and Yeli La Passes that also rewards trekkers with the best views of deep Paro Chhu Valley and the Himalayan peaks like Choholmari and Jichu Drake.
Mountain Views
The trek also caters the views of other Bhutanese Himalayan Peaks like Gangchenta, Tserimgang and Masagang
Flora & Fauna
The trek caters plenty of opportunities to sight rare species of birds and highland mammals.
Landscapes
The steep rocky cliffs, high cascading waterfalls, lush vegetations, gushing rivers, deep river gorges and the Himalayan peaks altogether combined cater the beautiful landscape.
Culture
The trek also highlights beautiful and authentic highland culture of Bhutan that is associated with monasteries, tribal villages and of course the ancient meditating caves.
Important Trip Notes & Activities
Pleased acknowledge that you are joining us for the adventure trip in remote Himalayan region, where weather conditions, health and fitness of the member or unexpected natural disaster can compel us to change the itinerary and if so you have to understand it but we would try our best to keep the suggested itinerary as per the original schedule.
Your safety and satisfaction of the trip is our prime concern while travelling with us and we ensure you our best team, logistics, professional services to make sure that you would have an amazing trip of lifetime with us. Also note that our trip leader deserved the final decision if the trip has to amend, change the route or cancel due to the extreme conditions for the safety precaution. However, he will try his best to ensure that the trip runs as according to the stated plan but be prepared for flexibility if necessary.
Responsible Travel
Advanced Adventures Nepal organizes treks that is responsible for society, environment, and local community. We care about our destination and peoples of the region that we visit. Advanced Adventures always provide an opportunity for locals to work on our every trek, and make sure that our every treks benefits locals as we always employee locals of the same trek region.
We also carry out several social projects for the mountain peoples that support their lifestyle to comfort living with normal awareness of health and sanitation in the areas.
Currently, Advanced Adventures is supporting local community with its social project in collaboration with Pioneer Foundation Nepal- which is the non profitable social organization working in several social issues in Nepal Mountains areas such as, supporting rural community school with library making, setting up computer class, providing scholarship to disable children, backward community kids, and working in health camps, social awareness program etc.
Advanced Adventures fund its annual 5% profit to Pioneer Foundation Nepal to carry out its social projects so we are very proud to be associated with a social project in our profession.
Detail Itinerary Expand All
Day 01 Arrival to Paro
Altitude: At Paro 2250m/ 7321ft & Thimphu 2350m / 7710 ft
Activities: 1 hour 30 minutes drive
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
The flight into Paro on Bhutan’s national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. First gift from Bhutan will be the cool, clean fresh air as you step out of the plane. After clearing customs and visa control you will be brief by our guide and transferred to Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. We then depart for Thimpu, the modern capital of Bhutan. The drive will take around 1.5hours. Thimpu has a population of about 100,000. The town is made up of just three lines of shops and is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. In the evening, we will visit the Handicrafts Emporium, where all types of Bhutanese handicrafts are made and sold, overnight at Hotel.
Day 02 Drive to Druk Yel Dzong
Altitude: 2850m/9348ft & trek to Shana
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
To begin the Chohomari Trek, we drive to Druk Yel Dzong, a small temple atop a hill 2850m overlooking beautiful Paro Chhu Valley. As the trek begins, we slide down gradually to the river and traverse across few cultural villages. As the uphill trek begins we cross pass colorful terraced fields of wheat, millet & paddy. Crossing over the Paro Chhu River, we walk up through the beautiful pine woods and apple orchard to finally reach our campsite at Shana.
Day 03 Trek to Thangthangkha
Altitude: 3749m/12296ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A long trekking day comprises the walk initially beside Paro Chhu River and gradually enters the woods of conifer and rhododendron. Stopping at the ideal lunch camp, the trek once again goes through series of uphill and downhill walks through the pine forest beside Paro Chhu River. During today’s trek Mt. Choholmari comes into our sight. We will set our camps at Thangthangkha for the night.
Day 04 Trek to Jangothang
Altitude: 4023m/13195ft
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
On today’s trek, we chase the trail along the treeline just above the river. Tremendous opportunity to sight various species of birds is one of the major highlights of today’s trek. The trek obviously caters the scenic view of Mt. Chomolhari and other peaks at close proximity. Steep rock walls facing the deep valleys are amazing landscapes that feast our eyes on the day’s trek as well. After all the hardships, we come to the wide grazing land where yaks at high altitude are brought to graze. Stopping at Takethang for lunch as we begin the trek, a short walk along the trail beside a gushing river will bring us to Jangothang for the overnight camping stay.
Day 05 Rest day in Janngothang
Altitude: 4023m/13195ft
Activities: explore day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
As we have rapidly gain altitude, a day rest is very essential for proper acclimatization. However, on the rest day we shall hike up to Tsophu Lake, which is the prime highlight of Choholmari Trek.
Day 06 Trek to Lingzhi
Altitude: 3993m/13097ft Nyele La Pass 4850m/15908ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After a day rest, we are yet again ready for a hard day trek. Trekking beyond Jangothang, we gradually enter the highland regions, which are normally remote with very less human settlements. On today’s trek, the outstanding view of Jichu Drake looming over the valley comes into our sights. As we cross a log bridge over a river that flows above 4000m savoring the magnificent views of snowcapped peaks we slowly enter the alpine region. Now, Nyele La Pass 4850m caters us the challenge to overcome it. Getting to the top of the pass and descending down with the views of mountains and Lingzhi Dzong is athe most beautiful walk of the day. Lingzhi Dzong once used to be a monastery fortress that protected the trade route between Bhutan and Tibet. The final part of the walk goes through pleasant rhododendron forest to our campsite in Lingzhi.
Day 07 Trek to Sodhu
Altitude: 4054m/13297ft
Activities: 8-9 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we have a long day walk. Starting early after the early breakfast, we climb uphill to a small white chorten that nestles on a ridge top that looks our campsite at Lingzhi. Climbing higher to the ridge top of Mu Chhu Valley, we eventually reach the top of Yeli La Pass, which is the highest point of our trek. From the top of Yeli La Pass take some time to savor the beautiful views of Chomolhari, Gangchenta, Tserimgang and Masagang Peaks. From the pass top, we eventually descend to a small tiny lake on the other side of the valley from where the trek course chases the river bank to yet another pristine lake at 4500m. The gentle downhill climb from the lake brings us to our camp site at Sodhu.
Day 08 Trek to Domshesa
Altitude: 3597m/11798ft
Activities: 7-8 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Once again a day to trek, as the trek beyond Sodhu goes beneath the sheer yellow rocky cliffs with several ancient meditation caves carved into them. Trekking down the stone staircases carved through the dense rhododendron forests mixed with junipers and pines, we arrive to Barshon Dzong witnessing the most beautiful rocky cliffs and cascading waterfalls of Bhutan. Prior to reach Brashon Dzong we set our camps for the lunch as well as we climb up for a while. Descending through dense forest towards the river, we find our campsite for the night at Domshea.
Day 09 Trek to Donida
Altitude: 2621m/8596ft
Activities: 5-6 hrs trek & drive to Thimpu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The last day of Choholmari Trek, leads us to a small pass before it slides down through the dense bamboo woods to Wang Chhu. Beyond Wang Chhu we continue the trek up to Donida from where we shall be picked by a private vehicle that will escort us to Thimpu.
Day 10 Early morning drive to Paro 75 minutes drive hike to Taktshang Monastery
Altitude: 3120m/ 10233ft
Activities: 4-5 hrs trek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, we will drive early in the morning to Paro, which is a scenic 75 minutes drive. On arriving Paro, we will be transferred to our hotel. After a short rest, we then drive beyond Satsam Chorten to hike up (or horse ride) to the Taktsang monastery (Tiger’s nest). At the view point, you will enjoy the stunning view of the monastery, where Guru Padmasambhava landed on the back of a tigress in the 8th century. We then walk back to the road point and visit Kyichu Lhahang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, overnight at hotel.
Day 11 Depart Paro
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we transfer you to airport for taking a flight to your onward destination.
“End of our services”
What's Included?
- All pick and drop trasnfer in Paro airport by private vehicle
- 10 Nights/ 11 Days Full Board Trek & Tour to Bhutan with full of of Meals, B.L.D., tea and snacks
- Accommodation in Cities at deluxe 3 star hotels, trekking in tented camps
- Bhutan Visa Fee and Bhutan Travel Permit & Trek Permit/s
- English Speaking Tour Guide in Bhutan, his entire expenses, Trek Cook, trek porters and donkeys as needed for carrying trekking gears such as, tents, pots, food etc. - all the payment, insurance
- Cost of sightseeing entrance fees and monuments while on visit in cities
- Tour Drive by private vehicle- air conditioned as per group size
- All required Gov and Local Taxes
What's Not Included ?
- Flight to Bhutan(You could fly in from Kathmandu, Delhi or Bangkok)
- Entire cold beverage & bar bills in Bhutan trip
- Expenses of personal nature
- Travel Insurance
- Cost of Laundry, phone calls etc
- Tips to the guide & Porters
- All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Departure Dates And Price
The given cost is per person and excludes international flights. Below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable, please contact us, and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.
| Start Date | Group Joining | Trip Price | Action |
|---|