Bumthang Owl Trek offers an invigorating experience of both culture and environment of the country. Where you can explore Dhur village and start the trek from Menchugang bellow Dhur village you will probably encounter no other trekkers along the way. The trail has an abundance of flora and fauna, and the panoramic views of the valleys beneath the hill tops and the Himalayas spread over a broad horizon would be an experience that one shall cherish for a life time.
Summary
A short trek in Bumthang valley that’s owes its name to the constant hooting of owls, to a number of lovely, high-altitude wildflowers and with magnificent views of the mountains.
The Trek at a Glance
Duration: 3 Days
Max Elevation: 3915m
Difficulty: Medium
Season: April to June, September to
November
Start: Menchugang
Finish: Tharpaling
Access Towns: Bumthang
Day-1: Menchugang (2,850m) to Shona (340m)
8km. 4-5 hours – (550m ascent, 0m decent)
Start the trek at Menchugang, before starting the trek you can visit the biggest village in Bumthang, called Dhur which lies at 2900m. The village consists of about 80 households with a recorded population of around 900 people. The village has three types of inhabitants the Kheps (tax payers) having cattle and farmlands, Brokpas (nomads) having yaks and the third group having either. This village has two different dialects, the usual Bumthang kha and the Brokke (nomadic dialects). Climb down to the river where the traditional water driven flour mill can be visited, it has been abandoned after the intake channel was wash away by flashflood. Continue the trek uphill through the blue pine forest and reach the camp site at Shona (3450m) in the hemlock and juniper forests. The hauling of owls through the night is quite common, hence the name the Owl trek.
(Dinner & Overnight at the Camp
Day-2: Shona(3450m)- Kitiphu (3870m)
9km. 5-6 hours (550m ascent, 40m descent.)
Trekking through the virgin forest of spruce, hemlock, fir, birch and rhododendron makes you breathe the real wilderness of Bhutan. Bamboos are the main undergrowth of this wild forest. During the months of April and May the rhododendrons are in full bloom. About two hours you will reach at the Drangela Pass 3600m. You will be walking through the ridge towards east and gradually descent down where there is yak herders camp. This yak herder’s camp makes best lunch spot, from here you will be climbing gradually through rhododendron forest of Kitiphu ridge and descent down brings you to an altitude of 3870m for the night camp. If weather favors you, have a wonderful view of the valley and the panoramic snow caped Himalayan Mountains. The highest mountain of Bhutan Gangkarpunsum (7541m) stands right in front of you when you are on the peak of Kitiphu (4000m).
Dinner & Overnight at the Camp.
Day-3: Kitiphu (3870m) – Tharpaling (3600m)
5km. 3 hours (20m ascent, 270m Descent)
The magnificent sun rise in the morning is a new experience in Bhutan. Climb down to the monasteries of Zambhala, Choedrak and Tharpaling which brings you to the religious life of monkhood, the historical Buddhist learning centre. Choedrak monastery has 100 Avoloketesharas in the form of Chukchizhey (eleven heads) that you will see nowhere else in the country. Over there in the parking your vehicle will be waiting, where you will be driven to Chamkhar valley.
(Dinner & Overnight at the Hotel)