Bumdra Monastery Camp
HIMALAYAN ESCAPE AND ONE-NIGHT BUMDRA MONASTERY CAMP
In this five-night package, you can enjoy complete immersion in Bhutan’s extraordinary landscape and cultural heritage. Our experienced guides lead guests through the Paro Valley on two separate day walks visiting the National Museum, Drukyel Dzong and the ancient temple of Kyichu Lhakhang. You can enjoy local monasteries and also spend a day exploring the remote Haa Valley, carpeted in flowers and pine. This is followed by a fabulous two-day overnight camping trek which encompasses a night in a magnificently located wilderness campsite high in the Himalayas as well as a new way of visiting the inimitable Taktsang Goemba, or Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Our circuit uses remote mountain paths, where few foreigners have ever set foot, to eventually approach the monastery from our campsite above the clouds. The adventure includes two picnic lunches, a camp dinner and breakfast, mineral water, ponies, the services of two experienced local guides and cooks, all tentage, kitbags for the ponies, a first-aid kit and sleeping mattresses. To get the most from this experience you should be active, reasonably fit and enjoy the great outdoors
5 Days Package
DAY 1: Arrival, check-in, show round and easy walk
Beyond the Sky Adventures’ staff will welcome you at the airport for the 10-30 minute transfer to the property. We invite you for a short guided walk in the afternoon in and around the hotel for orientation and acclimatisation purposes.
Dinner and overnight in the Hotel
DAY 2: Daywalk Zurig Dzong, Rinpung Dzong, Ta Dzong, Paro town, Kyichu Lhakhang and Drukgyel Dzong
Wind through pine forests the monastery of Zurig Dzong. Traverse across to Ta Dzong, housing Bhutan’s National Museum with magnificent views over Paro, and on down to Rinpung Dzong (Fortress on a Heap of Jewels). The trail then leads across Paro Chhu (river) via a traditional covered bridge (Nyamai Zam) and then past the main archery ground, Ugyen PelriPalace and into Paro town. Drive a few kilometres north of Paro, and we pay our respects at Kyichu Lhakhang; this is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan with its magic orange tree that bears fruit all year round. Time permitting, we drive further up the valley to Drukgyel Dzong, built in 1648 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to control the northern route to Tibet (from here, it is only a two-day hike to the border with Tibet, dominated by Mt Jhomalhari).
Dinner and overnight in the Hotel
DAY 3: Chele La Pass and hike to Kila Nunnery (optional bike descents)
Start early for the drive to Chele La Pass which, at 3,988m (12,499ft), is the highest road pass in Bhutan, snaking upwards through blue pine and rhododendron (Etho Metho) forests for 35 kilometres. On a clear day the view sweeps away to the snow-dome of Bhutan’s second highest peak, Mt Jhomolhari (7314m or 23,996ft), and down to the Haa Valley, which only opened to foreigners in 2002 due to its proximity to the border with Sikkim and Tibet. This unspoilt valley harks back to a simpler, more traditional time. Striding out along the Edelweiss-covered ridge (Edelweiss flowers during the summer months only), we pass a sky burial site. Descend for the two-hour hike through dense rhodendron forest, possibly sighting shaggy yaks, to Kila Goemba, an ancient nunnery nestled in a craggy patch on the mountainside below. Kila Goemba is a serene retreat for 32 Anim (Buddhist nuns) who lead an undisturbed life of religious studies, prayer and meditation. The nunnery is one of the seven oldest nunneries in the Kingdom. Dupthob Chhoeje Norbu and Dupthob Temba initially established it in the early ninth century as a place for meditation. After being destroyed by fire, the Lhakhang was reconstructed by the 25th Je Khenpo, Sherab Gyaltsen and in 1986, the Government officially established Kila Goemba (monastery) as an Anim Dratshang (nunnery). This sacred place has a timeless quality which is ample reward after the effort of the hike and is about as far off the beaten path as you can get. Having made our offerings and perhaps been blessed, it is time to descend further. An hour later and we are back at the road where we can saddle up on a mountain bike freewheeling down to Paro Valley. For those who would rather a leisurely sightseeing day there is the option to drive from Chele La Pass down the other side to the Haa Valley. In case Chele La Pass is not accessible during the winter months due to ice or snow, your guide will propose an alternative for this day excursion.
Dinner and overnight in the Hotel
DAY 4: Hike from Sang ChoekorBuddhist College (2,800m) to Yak pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m)
The adventure begins with an early morning drive up to the Sang Choekor to meet our ponies; while they are being loaded we may pay our respects at the College. The initial one to two-hour ascent of a ridge, which is steep at times though also in cool shade, brings us to a clearing with prayer flags and views down into both the Paro and Do Chhu Valleys. Above and ahead the Chhoe Tse Lhakhang (temple) nestles in the mountainside—a one to two-hour walk away. The trail undulates for a while before the last steep pull up to the pretty temple which boasts commanding views south over Paro and northwards to the snowcapped Himalayas. After a final 20-minute climb through ruins and fluttering prayer flags, we plunge back into ancient forest traversing for about 40 minutes then come out onto a high wide meadow dotted with sacred chortens and prayer flags. Our home for the night is tucked in under Bumdra Monastery (Cave of a Thousand Prayers) making the most of the awesome views of the Himalayan range. After lunch we can visit the monastery (if it is occupied) and also climb the peak to the north (about 4000m) for even better views, returning in time for a slap-up dinner.
Duration: 3 - 4 hours to camp 2 - 3 hours optional return trek to peak
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard - Guided with picnic lunch
Riding ponies are available at an additional charge
Overnight: Bumdra Wilderness Camp (3,800 m)
DAY 5: Hike from Yak pasture below Bumdra Monastery (3,800m) via Sangtopelri Monasteries to Taktsang Monastery (2,900m)
After a hearty breakfast, it is time to either head straight back into the valley or linger awhile soaking up the view and perhaps hang some prayer flags of our own. Eventually we have to drop back into the ancient pine and rhododendron forest on the monks’ zig-zagging trail. After one to two hours of descent we catch glimpses of the golden roofs of temples below. The path snakes across the mountainside between these monasteries before reaching the gardens of Sangtopelri (Heaven on Earth) from which you can bravely peer the over edge and straight down onto the ornate rooftops of Taktsang Monastery perched against the cliff-face far below. An hour later and we are at the gates of Taktsang looking across the gorge; a steep descent to a waterfall then up some steps and you are passing into Tiger’s Nest itself. Retracing our steps we begin the final descent of about 45 minutes to reach our vehicle and drive back to Paro—not forgetting to stop on the other side of the valley and look back at what you have achieved.
Duration: 5 - 7 hours depending on time taken in monasteries
Difficulty: Moderate - Guided with lunch
Dinner and overnight in the Hotel
Departure
Druk Air or Bhutan Airlines departs in the early morning to avoid adverse weather conditions so after breakfast, your transfer to the airport will be arranged for between 5am and 9am depending on the flight schedule and your destination.