This is a less walked route, owing to its high difficult rating. With specials permission, it might be possible to extend this trek to the base camp of Gangkhar Puensum itself, although the trail is rough and often remains closed. Its possible to vary either the upward or return route and travel via the mangde chhu valley to meet a gravel road leading west from Trongsa.
Snow covers the route during the winter so the trek is usually open from the march to April and from the September to early November .It’s starting point, Duer village, is an hour(15km) of rough, driving from the Tuku Zampa. The trek includes a day at tsachhu(hot spring).
DAY 1: DUER YO GORSUM
18km/ 6 HOURS /350M ASCENT
Starting out of Duer, the route goes north , following the valley of the Yoleng Chhu (also known as Garzam Chhu), Which is famous for its trout population. En route , you will cross the Lurawa Goemba. The campsite for the day is at Gorsum at 3120m; for those who want to push ahead, there’s an alternate site about two hours ahead.A
DAY 2: GORSUM TO LUNSUM
12km / 5 HOURS / 40M ASCENT
The route travels through a forest of cypress, juniper, spruce, hemlock and maple. The trailsis muddy and climbs gradually to the camp at Lungsum(3160). On the way, you might cross the paths with Bhutanese wild dogs. Keep yor camera ready.
DAY 3:LUNGSUM TO TSOCHENCHEN
15km/5 HOURS / 620M ASCENT
Today’s trek remains more or less the same as yesterday’s, passing through similar terrain
OWL TREK
Keen to sample some ‘nightlife’ out in the mountains? Well, you could always consider walking the owl trek, a new route in the bumthang region that owes its name to the constant hooting of owl, which can be heard at campsites through the night. A three day intinery, the owl trek starts at Menchung village and ends at Jakar Dzong.
After an early pit-stop at Duer village, the trek passes through ageless forest of birch, fir and spruce, climbing to the 3870m Kitiphu ridges magnificent views of the mountains. The after passing the remote monasteries of Thapaling and Choedrak (Where Guru Rinpchoe is said to have meditated), the trek courses the ridge of the 3915m kiki La, before heading towards Jakar, Chalked out in 2008, popularity, possibly at the expenses of the classic Bumthang Cultural trek.
and flora. Along the way, you will come across a bifurcation; from here, the trail to the right leads to Gangkhar Puensum via Thole La. The left trail leads to the springs. Towards the end of today’s the end of today’s hike, the vegetation begins to thin out, before camp in reached at Tsochenchen, above the tree line at 3780m.
DAY 4: TSHOCHENCHEN TO DUER HOT SPRINGS
18KM / 8.9 HOURS / 1340 ASCENT, 1530 DESCENT
The day starts with a long climb to a small lake and on to Juli L (4700m), a rocky saddle with a few prayer flags and a good view of the surrounding mountains. After crossing the pass, the trail goes all the way dwon to a lake at 4220m, before climbing again to Gokthang La (4640m). Finally, it switchbacks steeply down through jungle to a camp near Duer got spring at 3590m. It may be possible to see musk deer, Himalayan bears and blue sheep through the day’s trek.
DAY 5: A DAY AT DUER HOT SPRINGS
Take a rest day to relax in the tsachhu, there are several wooden tubs into ground inside a rough wooden shelter for you to soak in.
DAY 6-8:DUER HOT SPRINGS TO DUER
Return via the same route from the hot spring to Duer.