Private tours and treks in Bhutan

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Trekking

Snowman Trek

Twenty-four days across the roof of Bhutan, from Paro through Laya and the remote region of Lunana, over passes above 5,000 m.

Length
29 days / 28 nights
On the trail
24 days
Highest point
5,320 m, Rinchen Zoe La
Grade
Strenuous
Best months
September to October
Price
Price on request

Overview

The Snowman is often called one of the hardest long treks in the world, and the description is fair. It runs for about 348 km below the highest peaks of Bhutan, crosses pass after pass, several of them above 5,000 m, and for most of its length is several days' walk from the nearest road.

Its heart is Lunana, a remote region of a few villages below the glaciers, cut off by snow for much of the year. To walk into Thanza and out again over Rinchen Zoe La is to see a part of Bhutan that very few visitors reach.

Many who set out on this trek do not finish it. Snow can close the passes at either end of a short season, and altitude turns some parties back. We run it for experienced trekkers only, in the weeks when the odds are best.

Highlights

  • Lunana, and the village of Thanza beneath Table Mountain
  • Rinchen Zoe La, about 5,320 m, the highest pass of the route
  • Laya and the Layap herders on the way in
  • Jomolhari from Jangothang
  • More than three weeks on foot through the highest country in Bhutan

Route

  1. Paro
  2. Camp at Soi Thangthangkha
  3. Camp at Jangothang
  4. Camp at Lingshi
  5. Camp at Chebisa
  6. Camp at Shomuthang
  7. Camp at Robluthang
  8. Camp at Limithang
  9. Camp at Laya
  10. Camp at Rodophu
  11. Camp at Narethang
  12. Camp at Tarina
  13. Camp at Woche
  14. Camp at Lhedi
  15. Camp at Thanza
  16. Camp at Danji
  17. Camp at Tsho Chena
  18. Camp at Jichu Dramo
  19. Camp at Chukarpo
  20. Camp at Thampe Tsho
  21. Camp at Maurothang
  22. Punakha
  23. Paro

Day by day

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 5,500 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28
Where you sleep each night, in metres above sea level. The numbers along the foot are days of the trip.
Day 1 Arrive in Paro

Your guide meets you at the airport. The rest of the day is for settling in at 2,250 m: a visit to Rinpung Dzong and a walk through the town are enough.

Night altitude
2,250 m
Night in
Paro
Meals
L, D
Day 2 The Tiger's Nest

A first acclimatisation walk, to Taktsang at about 3,100 m and back. A full check of clothing and equipment in the evening: there is nowhere to replace anything after tomorrow.

Night altitude
2,250 m
Night in
Paro
Meals
B, L, D
Day 3 Shana to Soi Thangthangkha

A drive to the trailhead at Shana, then a long day up the forested valley of the Paro river.

Walk or drive
22 km, 7 to 8 hours
Night altitude
3,610 m
Night in
Camp at Soi Thangthangkha
Meals
B, L, D
Day 4 Soi Thangthangkha to Jangothang

Above the tree line to the meadow of Jangothang, beneath the face of Jomolhari.

Walk or drive
19 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night altitude
4,080 m
Night in
Camp at Jangothang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 5 A day at Jangothang

A rest day, with a walk towards Jichu Drake or the Tshophu lakes to help your body adjust.

Night altitude
4,080 m
Night in
Camp at Jangothang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 6 Over Nyile La to Lingshi

The first high pass, at about 4,870 m, and down into the valley of Lingshi with its hilltop dzong.

Walk or drive
17 to 18 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,000 m
Night in
Camp at Lingshi
Meals
B, L, D
Day 7 Lingshi to Chebisa

A short day by the village of Goyul to Chebisa.

Walk or drive
10 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night altitude
3,880 m
Night in
Camp at Chebisa
Meals
B, L, D
Day 8 Over Gobu La to Shomuthang

Over Gobu La and on to the camp at Shomuthang.

Walk or drive
17 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,220 m
Night in
Camp at Shomuthang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 9 Over Jare La to Robluthang

Over Jare La and through the takin valley of Tsharijathang.

Walk or drive
18 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,160 m
Night in
Camp at Robluthang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 10 Over Sinche La to Limithang

Sinche La, 5,005 m, the first pass above five thousand, and down to a camp below Gangchhenta, the Great Tiger Mountain.

Walk or drive
19 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,140 m
Night in
Camp at Limithang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 11 Limithang to Laya

Down through forest to Laya.

Walk or drive
10 km, 4 to 5 hours
Night altitude
3,840 m
Night in
Camp at Laya
Meals
B, L, D
Day 12 A day in Laya

A rest day in the village, the last settlement of any size for more than a week. This is also the point of decision: anyone who has not adjusted well leaves by the trail to Gasa.

Night altitude
3,840 m
Night in
Camp at Laya
Meals
B, L, D
Day 13 Laya to Rodophu

The route leaves the Gasa trail and climbs to the camp at Rodophu.

Walk or drive
19 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,160 m
Night in
Camp at Rodophu
Meals
B, L, D
Day 14 Rodophu to Narethang

A long climb to a high, bare camp beneath the peak of Gangla Karchung.

Walk or drive
16 km, 8 to 9 hours
Night altitude
4,900 m
Night in
Camp at Narethang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 15 Narethang to Tarina

Over a pass a little above 5,000 m, then a very long descent to the valley of Tarina.

Walk or drive
18 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night altitude
4,020 m
Night in
Camp at Tarina
Meals
B, L, D
Day 16 Tarina to Woche

Down the valley through conifer forest, then up to Woche, the first village of Lunana.

Walk or drive
15 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night altitude
3,940 m
Night in
Camp at Woche
Meals
B, L, D
Day 17 Woche to Lhedi

Over a pass and down to the Pho Chhu, which the trail now follows upstream.

Walk or drive
19 km, 7 to 8 hours
Night altitude
3,600 m
Night in
Camp at Lhedi
Meals
B, L, D
Day 18 Lhedi to Thanza

Along the river past the village of Chozo to Thanza, the main settlement of Lunana, under the long wall of Table Mountain.

Walk or drive
19 km, 6 to 7 hours
Night altitude
4,080 m
Night in
Camp at Thanza
Meals
B, L, D
Day 19 A day in Thanza

A rest day. It is also when the pack animals are usually changed for the second half of the route.

Night altitude
4,080 m
Night in
Camp at Thanza
Meals
B, L, D
Day 20 Thanza to Danji

The route turns south and climbs out of the valley to a camp among yak pastures.

Walk or drive
8 km, about 4 hours
Night altitude
4,600 m
Night in
Camp at Danji
Meals
B, L, D
Day 21 Danji to Tsho Chena

Over Jaze La, about 5,050 m, to a camp beside the lake of Tsho Chena.

Walk or drive
12 km, about 5 hours
Night altitude
4,800 m
Night in
Camp at Tsho Chena
Meals
B, L, D
Day 22 Tsho Chena to Jichu Dramo

A shorter day that stays high throughout.

Walk or drive
14 km, 4 to 5 hours
Night altitude
4,880 m
Night in
Camp at Jichu Dramo
Meals
B, L, D
Day 23 Over Rinchen Zoe La to Chukarpo

The highest point of the whole trek: Rinchen Zoe La, about 5,320 m, with Gangkar Puensum to the east on a clear day.

Walk or drive
18 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night in
Camp at Chukarpo
Meals
B, L, D
Day 24 Chukarpo to Thampe Tsho

Down beside the river, then up to a camp on the shore of a lake below the last pass.

Walk or drive
18 km, 5 to 6 hours
Night altitude
4,200 m
Night in
Camp at Thampe Tsho
Meals
B, L, D
Day 25 Thampe Tsho to Maurothang

Over the last pass of the trek and a long descent to a camp among trees.

Walk or drive
14 km, about 5 hours
Night altitude
3,550 m
Night in
Camp at Maurothang
Meals
B, L, D
Day 26 Maurothang to Nikka Chu, and the road

The last day, down through forest and pasture to the road at Nikka Chu, where the vehicle is waiting. A hotel that evening.

Walk or drive
23 km, 7 to 8 hours on foot
Night altitude
1,242 m
Night in
Punakha
Meals
B, L, D
Day 27 To Paro

Over Dochu La and back to Paro.

Walk or drive
128 km, 3 to 3.5 hours
Night altitude
2,250 m
Night in
Paro
Meals
B, L, D
Day 28 Paro

A spare day. On a trek this long the weather or a blocked pass can cost a day, and this is the margin. If it is not needed, it is a day to rest.

Night altitude
2,250 m
Night in
Paro
Meals
B, L, D
Day 29 Depart from Paro

Transfer to the airport for your flight.

Meals
B

What is included

Included

  • The Sustainable Development Fee, US$100 a night for each adult at the current rate
  • Visa fee of US$40 and the visa application made for you
  • 5 nights in hotels and 23 nights in camp
  • All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 29
  • A licensed trekking guide, a cook and camp crew, and pack animals for the baggage
  • Sleeping tents, mats, a dining tent, a kitchen tent and a toilet tent
  • A private vehicle and driver for all road travel

Not included

  • Flights to and from Paro
  • Travel insurance. Cover for emergency evacuation is strongly advised on any trek
  • A sleeping bag
  • Entry fees at monuments
  • Drinks, tips and personal spending

Practical details

Accommodation

Hotels in Paro and Punakha, and twenty-three nights in two-person tents on the trail.

Meals

Cooked meals on the trek, prepared by the camp cook, with tea brought to your tent in the morning. Boiled water is provided for your bottles.

Transport

A private vehicle with a driver between the airport, the hotels and the two ends of the trail.

Guide and trek crew

A licensed trekking guide walks with you. The cook, helpers and horsemen go ahead to set up camp. Treks in Bhutan may only be undertaken with an accredited guide or operator.

Equipment we supply

Tents, sleeping mats, dining, kitchen and toilet tents, and all cooking gear. Your main bag is carried by the pack animals; you carry a day pack.

Visa and permits

This route needs an army permit and a national-park permit as well as your visa. We apply for all three; allow extra time when booking.

Fitness and preparation

The Snowman is for strong, experienced high-altitude trekkers and nobody else. You must have completed a trek of two weeks or more above 4,000 m and been well on it. Expect twenty-four days of walking, most of them long, with several nights above 4,500 m and stretches where evacuation is possible only by helicopter and only in good weather. Insurance covering helicopter rescue is a condition of joining. We discuss your experience with you before accepting a booking, and your guide's decision on the trail, including the decision to turn back, is final.

What to bring

  • Walking boots that are already broken in
  • A sleeping bag rated to about minus 20°C
  • Warm layers, a down or synthetic jacket, hat and gloves
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • A head torch and spare batteries
  • Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Two water bottles of one litre each
  • Walking poles, if you use them
  • A day pack of 25 to 30 litres
  • Any medicines you take, and a small first-aid kit

Questions about this trip

Is altitude a problem in Bhutan?

On a cultural tour, rarely. Paro and Thimphu are at 2,200 to 2,350 m, where most visitors notice only shortness of breath on stairs for a day or two. The road passes are higher, at 3,100 to almost 4,000 m, but you cross them by vehicle and do not stay.

Treks are different. Camps on the Druk Path are above 3,500 m and the northern treks cross passes near 5,000 m. Our trek itineraries build in days to adjust, and your guide will take you down if you show signs of altitude sickness. If you have a heart or lung condition, speak to your doctor before booking any trip to Bhutan.

How fit do I need to be for a trek?

It depends on the trek. For Bumdra and Gangtey, anyone who walks regularly will manage. The Druk Path and the Dagala Thousand Lakes trek ask for five or six hours a day at up to 4,300 m.

The Jomolhari trek means seven or eight hours a day, with passes close to 5,000 m. Laya–Gasa and the Snowman are for people who have already trekked at altitude, and we ask about your experience before taking a booking. Each trek page says what it needs under "Fitness and preparation".

What is provided on a trek, and what do I bring?

We provide the tents, sleeping mats, a dining tent, a kitchen tent and a toilet tent, and all the cooking gear, with a guide, a cook and helpers. Pack animals carry the baggage, so you walk with a day pack.

You bring your own boots, clothing and sleeping bag. Each trek page has a packing list.

Do I need travel insurance?

It has not been compulsory since 23 April 2024, but the Department of Tourism strongly recommends it and so do we. Make sure it covers medical treatment and evacuation.

For a trek, check that the policy covers the altitude you will reach and rescue by helicopter.

Places on this trip

More treks

  • Trekking

    Laya–Gasa Trek

    Twelve days across the northern highlands, past Jomolhari and over Sinche La at 5,005 m to the yak-herding village of Laya.

    • 17 days
    • 5,005 m
    • Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Price on request

  • Trekking

    Jomolhari Trek

    Seven days on foot to the base of Jomolhari and over two passes close to 5,000 m, coming down a different valley to Thimphu.

    • 12 days
    • 4,930 m
    • Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Price on request

  • Trekking

    Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek

    Five days through high yak pasture south of Thimphu, among the small lakes that give the trek its name.

    • 10 days
    • 4,300 m
    • Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Price on request

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