Druk Path Trek
A classic multi-day trek connecting Paro to Thimphu through high-altitude lakes and mountain ridges.
Know before you go
Trip readiness
Best timing
March-May, September-November
Treat this as the first planning window, then verify local trail and weather conditions.
Time needed
6 days
Include acclimatization and transport buffers for mountain routes.
Permit status
Permit required
Arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. SDF applies.
Difficulty
Moderate
Paro route. Match this to fitness, altitude experience, and daily walking hours.
Live conditions
Trail weather available
Use the weather card before starting, especially during monsoon and winter windows.
The Druk Path Trek is Bhutan's most popular multi-day trek and one of the most accessible introductions to Himalayan trekking. The route follows an ancient trade path between Paro and Thimphu, crossing ridgelines above 4,000 meters and passing a series of high-altitude lakes including Jimilangtso and Janetsho. On clear days, views extend to the peaks of the eastern Himalayas. The trek passes through forests of blue pine, juniper, and rhododendron, with yak pastures at higher elevations. Camp sites are basic but scenic, and the trek is logistically straightforward since it begins and ends in Bhutan's two most accessible towns.
Help us get it right
Know Druk Path Trek better than we do?
We write from research and reporting, and the ground changes faster than we can keep up. If something here is out of date, or you have been and would tell it differently, we would rather hear it.