A journey to Mount Jomolhari is a worthy inclusion in your Bhutan trekking tours, offering a high-altitude adventure through spectacular Himalayan trails. Beginning in Shana village in Paro Valley, this Bhutan trek traverses rhododendron forests, alpine bushes, glacial rivers, and high mountain passes beneath the sacred peak of the grand 7,326-metre Mount Jomolhari.
Along the trail, encounter traditional Bhutanese hamlets, unique Himalayan wildlife, and high pastures where nomadic yak herders still continue their centuries-old customs. Nights are spent camping beneath star-filled skies, supported by experienced local guides committed to Leave No Trace trekking practices.
Curated for adventure seekers looking for an authentic Bhutan travel experience, the Jomolhari Trek blends the reward of physical challenge, inter-cultural learning, and endless nature — making it a cornerstone of a quintessential Bhutan tour package in your Himalayan journeys.
Countries Visited
Bhutan
Places Visited
Paro, Shana, Jangothang
Suggested Duration
9 Days
Tour Type
High-Altitude Trek
Arrive at Paro International Airport and meet your Nirvana Journeys specialist guide and head trek leader. Transfer to your lodge in Paro and spend the day acclimatising and preparing for the trek ahead. Your guide walks you through the route, equipment checks, and Leave No Trace protocols that underpin all Nirvana Journeys treks. In the evening, a welcome dinner of traditional Bhutanese cuisine marks the start of a journey that will take you to the foot of one of the Himalayas' most sacred peaks.
Before the trek begins, spend a cultural morning in Paro. Hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery — a manageable but meaningful ascent through pine and rhododendron forest that serves as an ideal warm-up for the days ahead, while grounding the journey in Bhutan's spiritual landscape. Visit Rinpung Dzong in the afternoon before returning to the lodge for an early dinner and rest. This day builds both aerobic conditioning and cultural context for the wilderness days to come.
Drive to the trailhead at Shana village — the gateway to the Jomolhari wilderness — and begin the trek along the Paro Chhu river. The trail winds through blue pine and spruce forest, crossing suspension bridges above glacial torrents and passing the ancient Drugyel Dzong, a ruined fortress-monastery that once guarded Bhutan's northern border against Tibetan invasion. Camp at Shana (2,870m) beside the river, with the first high peaks visible above the treeline. Trekking distance: approximately 18km.
Today's trek is the most dramatically rewarding of the journey. The trail continues north along the Paro Chhu, rising steadily through open alpine terrain as the trees thin and the valley widens. Nomadic yak herder settlements appear on the hillsides, their black yak-hair tents contrasting against the silver-green alpine grasses. As you round the final bend, Mount Jomolhari — all 7,326 metres of it — reveals itself in full: a pyramid of ice and rock that appears almost mythologically close, rising from glaciers directly above the Jangothang campsite. Camp at Jangothang base camp (4,080m) with Jomolhari dominating the sky above. Trekking distance: approximately 19km.
Remain at Jangothang for a full acclimatisation day at 4,080 metres. The morning offers a side hike above camp for even more commanding views of Jomolhari and the adjacent peak of Jichu Drake. Your naturalist guide leads a birdwatching walk in search of blood pheasants, snow pigeons, and Himalayan griffon vultures that soar the thermals above the glacier. Spend the afternoon at camp: reading, photographing, or simply absorbing the scale of the mountain from its base. A clear evening at Jangothang offers some of the finest stargazing anywhere in Asia.
The high point of the trek — literally. Depart Jangothang and climb steeply to the Nyile La pass at 4,870 metres, the highest point of the Jomolhari route. The ascent passes glacial lakes reflecting the sky and offers views across the Bhutanese-Tibetan border range. From the pass, descend through pristine alpine meadows into the Soi Yaksa valley, where nomadic summer pastures spread across the valley floor. Camp at Soi Yaksa (3,870m). Trekking distance: approximately 18km.
Continue south from Soi Yaksa through rolling alpine terrain, crossing the Thombu La pass before descending to the Thombu Shong campsite at 3,980m. Today's trail passes through some of the most remote and pristine landscape of the entire route — wide open grasslands grazed by yak herds, inhabited by blue sheep and occasionally the elusive snow leopard. The silence is total save for wind and bird calls. Camp at Thombu Shong with views across the high-altitude bowl. Trekking distance: approximately 14km.
Descend from the alpine zone into the forested lower valleys, following the trail down to the roadhead at Dodena village. The descent passes through ancient rhododendron forest heavy with moss and lichen — a vivid contrast to the open heights above — and arrives at Dodena, where vehicles transfer you to Thimphu. Check into a comfortable hotel, shower, and enjoy a celebratory dinner with your guide in the capital. Trekking distance: approximately 15km.
Drive from Thimphu to Paro for your onward flight. The Jomolhari Trek leaves you with more than a physical achievement — it leaves you with the memory of a landscape that very few travellers ever reach, a mountain that Bhutanese people regard as a living goddess, and a week spent in the unhurried rhythms of the high Himalayas. Your Nirvana Journeys team ensures a seamless and gracious departure from the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon.
