Trip Itinerary for 2011 Takin Festival at Tsharijathang (9-10 June 2011)

Route 1: Gasa to Tsharijathang
Day one: Thimphu to Gasa proper
Day two: Gasa to Koina
Day three: Koina to Laya (At least one day halt at Laya for acclimatization if needed)
Day four: Laya to Lemithang (Base of Gangchentag)
Day five: Lemithang to Tsharijathang

Route 2: Dodeyna to Tsharijathang
Day one: Dodeyna to Dolamkencho
Day two: Dolamkencho to Barshong
Day three: Barshong to Zhoduethang
Day four: Zhoduethang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi)
Day five: Chazhithang to Chebisa
Day six: Chebisa to Jagoedpassa
Day seven: Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang

Route 3: Drugyel Dzong to Tsharijathang
Day one: Thimphu to Drugyel Dzong (Some tourists may opt to travel directly from Paro)
Day two: Drugyel Dzong to Shana
Day three: Shana to Thangthangka
Day four: Thangthangka to Jangothang (At least one day halt at Jangothang for acclimatization if needed)
Day five: Jangothang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi)
Day six: Chazhithang to Chebisa
Day seven: Chebisa to Jagoedpassa
Day Eight: Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang

Route 4: Phajoding to Tsharijathang
Day one: Thimphu to Phajoding
Day two: Phajoding to Tsimkota
Day three: Tsimkota to Jhaney
Day four: Jhaney to Jimilangtsho
Day five: Jimilangtsho to Yusawongm
Day six: Yusawongm to Thangkana
Day seven: Thangkana to Walethang
Day Eight: Walethang to Jarodhingthang
Day Nine: Jarodhingthang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi)
Day Ten: Chazhithang to Chebisa
Day Eleven: Chebisa to Jagoedpassa
Day Twelve: Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang

**Include 2 days halt at Tsharijathang for the festival (9-10 June 2011).

Tour operators and tourists can chose the entry and exit routes based on which total number of travel and halt days for the entire trip can be calculated.

DETAILS OF THE ROUTES INCLUDING ATTRACTIONS

Route 1: Gasa to Tsharijathang

Thimphu to Gasa proper
No. of hours: Eight hours leisurely drive with rests on the way
Attractions: Visit to Chimilhakang, Punakha Dzong
• View of many major peaks (Mt. Gangkar Puensum, Mt. Matsangang, and Table Mountain) from Dochula Pass
• Druk Wangyel chortens (108) and temple at Dochula Pass
• Visit to Royal Botanical Park, Lamperi
• Visit to Chimi Lhakang, and Punakha Dzong
• Drive through the warm broadleaved forest and cool broadleaved forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings
• Khailo Community Forest
• Yemina Community Forest
• Visit to the Park Head Office, Damji, Gasa
• (only for return journey: Gasa tshachhu and medicinal baths)

Gasa to Koina
No. of hours: Eight hours leisurely walk
Passes to cross: Balela (3, 600 m)
Attractions:
• Visit to Gasa Dzong
• Walk through the mixed coniferous forest and rhododendrons
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Red panda and pheasants)
• (only for return journey: Gasa tshachhu and medicinal baths)

Koina to Laya
No. of hours: Eight hours leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Visit the community of Laya
• Walk through the mixed coniferous forest & spruce forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings
• View of Mt. Matsangang
• View of Rocky mountain and cliff

Laya to Lemithang
No. of hours: Six hours leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through the mixed coniferous forest & spruce forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Musk deer & Himalayan black bear)
• View of Mt. Gangchentag
Lemithang to Tsharijathang
No. of hours: Eight hours leisurely walk
Pass to cross: Shinjela (5,000 m)
Attractions:
• Walk through the alpine meadows and alpine flowers
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Blue sheep, snow leopard, takin and marmot)
• View of glacier lake at the base of Mt. Gangchentag
• Alpine flowers
• Close up view of Mt. Gangchentag
• View of yaks and yak herders’ camps
• Ruined Dzong and mineral licks

Route 2: Dodeyna to Tsharijathang

Dodeyna to Dolamkencho
No. of hours: Seven hours leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through the mixed oak and coniferous forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Tiger, Leopard, Red panda, Satyr tragopan, Monal pheasant, and Himalayan black bear)
• Visit to Chari and Tango Monastery
• View of yaks and yak herders’ camps

Dolamkencho to Barshong
No. of hours: Nine hours leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through the mixed oak and coniferous forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Red panda, Satyr tragopan, monal pheasant, blood pheasants and Himalayan black bear)
• Visit to the community of Barshong
• Ruined Barshong Dzong

Barshong to Zhoduethang
No. of hours: Nine hours leisurely walk
Attractions:
• View of Mt. Ritsabu
• Walk through Juniper and fir forest
• Visit to Zhabdrung Ney
• Overlapping habitat of Snow leopard and Tiger at Thankana

Zhoduethang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi)
No. of hours: 10 hours walk
Pass to cross: Yalila (4,942 m)
Attractions:
• Walk through alpine meadows
• Occasional sightings of snow leopard and blue sheep
• Interaction with yak herders
• View of lake Yalila Kamtsho, lake Geduetsho, and lake Gagommatsho

Chazhithang to Chebisa
No. of hours: 6 hours
Attractions:
• Visit to Mesiyul village and see medicinal plant plantations
• Visit to Lingzhi Dzong and Community School
• Visit to community of Gangyuel
• Visit to Medicinal plants drying house

Chebisa to Jagoedpassa
No. of hours: 8 hours
Pass to cross: Gugula (4,443 m)
Attractions:
• Visit to the community Chebisa village
• Visit to Jagoed Dzong
• Walk through the alpine meadows and juniper and fir forest
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Himalayan Griffon and large herds of blue sheep, occasional sighting of snow leopard)
• View of Mt. Nyelila, Mt. Jhomolhari, Mt. Tsherimgang, and Mt. Jichudrakey

Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang
No. of hours: 8 hours
Pass to cross: Jarila (4,700 m)
Attractions:
• Walk through the alpine meadows
• Bird watching and mammal sightings (Himalayan Griffon and large herds of blue sheep, occasional sighting of snow leopard, Himalayan marmot)
• Alpine flowers
• View of Mt. Shinjela, Mt. Gangphu, and Mt. Ganchentag
• View of yak herder camps
• View of Tsharijathang mud flat

Route 3: Drugyel Dzong to Tsharijathang

Thimphu to Drugyel Dzong
No. of hours: Three hours leisurely drive with sight seeing
Attractions:
• Visit to Paro Rinpung Dzong, National Museum, and Drugyel Dzong ruin
• Visit to Paro Town, Kichhu Lhakang and Tachog Lhakang
• Camp behind Drugyel Dzong

Drugyel Dzong to Shana
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Visit the Park Range Office at Soe Mitsizam
• Walk along the unpaved road for an hour
• Walk along the serene, cultivated valley of Tsentog geog and blue pine forest
• Camp at Shana camp site (2,745 m)

Shana to Thangthangka
No. of hours: Eight hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through the thick forest of oak, bamboo thickets, and mixed conifer forest. Patches of Betula and Larix along the Patchu River can also be seen.
• Walk along the serene, cultivated valley of Tsentog geog and blue pine forest
• Camp at Thangthanka camp site (3,575 m)

Thangthangka to Jangothang
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through fir forest.
• View of alpine meadows where yaks graze in harmony with blue sheep.
• View of the full glory of Mt. Jhomolhari, Mt. Jichudrakey, and Mt. Tsherimgang.
• Visit the communities of Soe Geog, under Thimphu Dzongkhag
• Camp at Jangothang camp site (4,268 m)

Jangothang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi)
No. of hours: Eight hours walk
Pass to cross: Nyelila (4,890 m)
Attractions:
• Walk through alpine meadows, with gentle ascend to Nyelila pass
• View of the full glory of Mt. Jhomolhari, Mt. Jichudrakey, and Mt. Tsherimgang.
• Alpine flowers & mammals (Himalayan marmot)
• Camp at Chazhithang camp site (4,200 m)

Chazhithang to Chebisa (refer to Route no. 2)
Chebisa to Jagoedpassa (refer to Route no. 2)
Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang(refer to Route no. 2)

Route 4: Phajoding to Tsharijathang (Trek of many alpine lakes)

Thimphu to Phajoding
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through blue pine forest
• Bird’s eye view of Thimphu town
• Visit to Phajoding monastery
• Bird watching and mammal sighting
• Rhododendrons and other flowers

Phajoding to Tsimkota
No. of hours: Seven hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through stunted alpine rhododendrons and alpine meadows
• View of Thujidrag monastery
• Bird watching (monal pheasants and blood pheasants)

Tsimkota to Jhaney
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through stunted alpine rhododendrons and alpine meadows
• View of lake Tsimkotatsho
• Bird watching (monal pheasants and blood pheasants)

Jhaney to Jimilangtsho
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through stunted alpine rhododendrons and alpine meadows
• View of lake Jimilantsho, lake Jhaneytsho and lake Labatsho
• Bird watching (monal pheasants and blood pheasants)

Jimilangtsho to Yutsawongm
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Pass to cross: Yusala
Attractions:
• Walk through stunted alpine rhododendrons and alpine meadows
• View of lake Tshotsumthoe and lake Rokhishisatsho
• Bird watching (monal pheasants, blood pheasants, and Tibetan snow cock)
Yutsawongm to Thangkana
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Pass to cross: Shakimla
Attractions:
• Walk through juniper forest
• View of alpine flowers (Meconopsis horridula)

Thangkana to Walethang
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Attractions:
• Walk through sub alpine forest and alpine meadows
• View of alpine flowers (Aconitum arocryseum, Rheum nobile & Picorrhiza kurroa)
• View of lake Gunglayumtsho (turquoise lake)

Walethang to Jarodhingthang
No. of hours: Six hours of leisurely walk
Pass to cross: Leydeila
Attractions:
• Walk through sub alpine forest and alpine meadows
• Possibility of seeing Snow leopard, blue sheep, and Himalayan marmot

Jarodhingthang to Chazhithang (Lingzhi) – same as Zhoduethang to Chazhithang on Route no. 2
Chazhithang to Chebisa – (ref. Route no. 2)
Chebisa to Jagoedpassa – (ref. Route no. 2)
Jagoedpassa to Tsharijathang – (ref. Route no. 2)

June 9-10, 2011: Festival at Tsharijathang
Attractions:
• Witness the largest congregation of takins at Tsharijathang, the summer habitat and breeding habitat.
• Witness the courtship, mating, and social behavior of the takin
• Firsthand experiences and witness of the lifestyles, livelihood, and cultures of yak herders in the uplands.
• Information on conservation significance of Jigme Dorji National Park, and overall information on Bhutan’s conservation policy and overall GNH philosophy of development.
• Yak and horse riding experiences
• Hot stone baths
• Sleeping in yak-hair tents
• Participate in traditional dances and sports of yak herders
• Taste and buy traditional herbal medicines, including Chinese caterpillar (Cordyceps)
• Taste yak herders’ cuisines
• Smell and buy upland aromatic incense