Snow-covered mountain ridges reflected in a highland lake on the Nub Tshonapata trek in Bhutan.

Private high-altitude Bhutan trek · 10 days

10-Day Nub Tshonapata Trek

From monastery evenings and village kitchens to Haa’s high passes, a sacred mountain lake and three supported nights under canvas.

Begin a private conversation See the day-by-day journey

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Route: Thimphu · Punakha · Haa · Tshonapata · Paro
Style: Private & handcrafted
Best suited: Fit walkers comfortable with altitude & camp life

The journey in one thought

A sacred lake. A journey into Bhutan.

The Nub Tshonapata Trek leads into the western highlands above Haa Valley, following forest trails and yak-herder country towards Tshonapata Lake. Four demanding trekking days sit at the heart of this private Bhutan journey, with three nights in supported mountain camps.

Before the trek, share the quieter rhythms of Dodeydra Monastery and a Punakha farmhouse. Afterwards, return to Paro for Tiger’s Nest and a hot stone bath. Ten days is an active framework: Raven can add time in Haa for preparation or in Paro for a full rest day.

Who it suits

Fit walkers who enjoy consecutive mountain days, uneven trails and simple camp life. Previous multi-day hiking is helpful, together with comfort in cold, changeable conditions.

Trek profile

Four trekking days, three camp nights and approximately 65 km. The longest stage is around 22 km, with Gochhila Pass commonly quoted at about 4,350 m.

How it feels

Personal and fully supported, with early starts, long climbs, freshly cooked camp meals and quiet evenings beyond the road. Cultural days add warmth and context to the mountain journey.

The story of the journey

Five moments along the way

Monastery life, highland trails and time with local hosts give this trek its character. Each encounter follows the place, the season and your hosts’ welcome.

Two trekkers follow a snowy ridge on the Nub Tshonapata trail, with distant Himalayan peaks beyond. — **Enter the western highlands**Walk through Haa’s forests, ridges and yak-herder country towards the sacred waters of Tshonapata.

Orange trekking tents on open highland grass beneath snowy ridges at a supported Nub Tshonapata camp in Bhutan. — **Sleep beyond the road**Three supported camp nights, with tents, meals and the overnight load taken care of by the mountain team.

Dodeydra Monastery’s traditional buildings nestled among pine forests on a hillside above Thimphu, Bhutan. — **Share a monastery evening**A simple Dodeydra stay offers time for stillness and prayers when the monastery’s schedule permits.

A guest prepares potatoes beside her Bhutanese host during a farmhouse cooking experience in Punakha. — **Gather around a village table**Punakha’s farmhouse hospitality brings the cultural journey into the kitchen, with local food and conversation.

A couple shares a moment at the viewpoint overlooking Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro, Bhutan. — **Return to Tiger’s Nest**Finish in Paro with the cliffside monastery and a hot stone bath, or choose more rest after the trek.

The route, before the detail

From Haa to Tshonapata Lake.

Four mountain stages connect Kajena, Womji, Tshonapata and Tshojo before the return to Haa and Paro.

Schematic of the four-day Nub Tshonapata trek: Kajena to Womji, Tshonapata Lake, Tshojo and Haa, followed by a drive to Paro. — Route schematic, not to scale or for navigation. Distances and pass height are approximate; the local trekking team confirms the walking line, camps and conditions before departure.

Day by day

Ten days, from valley life to high country.

The four-day trek is demanding. Walking times are estimates, and camps, activities and transfers remain subject to local conditions and the mountain guide’s judgement.

Day01

Paro → Thimphu

A gentle welcome to Bhutan.

Meet your Raven guide at Paro Airport and continue to Thimphu. Let your arrival time set the afternoon: a short town walk, a visit with artists or a quiet dinner. Tamchog may be included when timing and access allow; the first priority is settling in.

Travel: Private arrival transfer
Pace: Light, arrival-dependent
Sleep: Thimphu hotel

Day02

Thimphu → Dodeydra

Leave the capital for monastery stillness.

Visit Buddha Dordenma and selected craft or market stops before walking through pine forest to Dodeydra. Keep enough daylight for the climb. Share a simple meal and, when invited, evening prayers in this living monastery. The stay is arranged subject to permission.

Walking: Uphill forest hike
Access: Monastery permission required
Sleep: Dodeydra Monastery

Day03

Dodeydra → Dochula → Punakha

From mountain prayers to a farmhouse kitchen.

Descend from Dodeydra and cross Dochula on the drive to Punakha. The chortens and, on clear days, distant mountain views mark the change of valleys. Visit Punakha Dzong when opening hours allow, then join your local host for cooking and a relaxed evening meal.

Walking: Monastery descent
Focus: Dochula, dzong & local food
Sleep: Punakha countryside

Day04

Punakha → Haa Valley

Make space for the journey west.

Choose one morning experience in Punakha: gentle yoga, a riverside visit, rafting if conditions permit, or a Neyzergang cultural encounter. Then begin the long road journey to Haa. Avoid crowding this transfer day; settle in, review your trekking kit and rest before the trail.

Travel: Long mountain-road transfer
Morning: One activity, chosen with your guide
Sleep: Haa hotel

Day05

Kajena → Womji

Step into Haa’s highland country.

Travel to the agreed trailhead near Kajena and begin the Nub Tshonapata Trek. Forest gives way to open ground as the route climbs towards Tale La and Gochu La before reaching the Womji camp area. Start early and let trail conditions set a steady walking pace.

Trek: ~17 km · 6–7 hours
Pass: Gochu La · ~4,200 m
Sleep: Womji supported camp

Day06

Womji → Tshonapata Lake

Cross Gochhila towards the sacred lake.

This is the longest mountain stage. Climb through changing highland vegetation towards Gochhila, commonly quoted at around 4,350 metres, then continue along the route to Tshonapata. Camp in the lake area at a site chosen by the trekking team, respecting local customs and the fragile lakeshore.

Trek: ~22 km · 7–8 hours
High point: Gochhila · ~4,350 m
Sleep: Tshonapata supported camp

Day07

Tshonapata → Tshojo

A shorter stage, still in the mountains.

Leave the lake and follow the return route towards the Tshojo area, also written Tsojo. The walking may retrace the high pass before traversing towards the next camp, so this is not a guaranteed easy descent. Allow time for the terrain, weather and the final camp position.

Trek: ~8 km · allow 4–5 hours
Terrain: Return pass & mountain trails
Sleep: Tshojo-area supported camp

Day08

Tshojo → Haa roadhead → Paro

Follow the trail back to a warm shower.

Complete the final long walking stage through changing forest and highland terrain towards the Haa roadhead. Meet your driver and continue to Paro. Keep the evening free for a shower, a good meal and rest; any spa treatment can be arranged around your arrival time.

Trek: ~18 km · 6–7 hours
After walking: Road transfer to Paro
Sleep: Paro hotel

Day09

Paro · Tiger’s Nest

A cliffside monastery, at your pace.

If your legs feel ready, hike to Paro Taktsang, taking time for the forest path, viewpoints and the monastery. A traditional hot stone bath can follow. Prefer a quiet valley day if you need recovery, or add a full rest day to the journey before attempting Tiger’s Nest.

Walking: Substantial uphill monastery hike
Option: Gentle Paro day instead
Sleep: Paro hotel

Day10

Paro → Departure

Carry the highlands home.

Enjoy breakfast as your flight schedule allows, then transfer privately to Paro International Airport. Your journey ends with time shared in monasteries, village homes and mountain camps, and the quiet memory of the western highlands.

Travel: Private airport transfer
Timing: According to your flight
Stay: Journey concludes

Why Raven designed it this way

Support matters most when the road is gone.

Across three mountain nights, comfort depends on an experienced team: a trekking guide who reads the conditions, a camp kitchen preparing hot food and horsemen moving the main overnight load. You walk with the day’s essentials while camp is prepared ahead.

Preparation is personal. The cultural opening is not a substitute for an altitude plan, and an extra Haa night may be appropriate. Raven reviews your hiking experience and dates before confirming the route; the guide may change a stage or turn back when conditions require it.

Two orange trekking tents at dusk, overlooking mountain ridges and a sea of clouds in Bhutan.

Where you may stay

Monastery simplicity. Mountain camp. A warm bed.

The nine-night journey combines four hotel nights, one simple monastery stay, one farmhouse or countryside night and three mountain camps. Exact properties, monastery access and camp locations are confirmed in your private proposal.

Mountain camps: three supported nights at Womji, near Tshonapata Lake and in the Tshojo area, with sleeping, dining and toilet arrangements.
Valley hotels: one hotel night each in Thimphu and Haa, followed by two nights in Paro after the trek.
Local stays: a simple Dodeydra overnight, subject to permission, and a Punakha farmhouse or countryside stay.

Camps may move with water availability, snow, grazing activity and trail conditions. A monastery is a living religious community; facilities and participation in prayers depend on the hosts.

Read Raven’s approach to stays

Practical clarity

What Raven takes care of

Your proposal sets out accommodation, permits, camp equipment, meals, luggage allowance and all charges, including the applicable Sustainable Development Fee.

Included in the journey

Private journey design, visa assistance and trekking permits, with visa and SDF charges itemised in your proposal
Private airport transfers and road transport before and after the trek
Certified Raven guide plus an experienced trekking guide
Trekking chef, camp helpers, horsemen, pack horses and main luggage movement
Three supported camp nights, with sleeping tents, warm bedding, dining, kitchen and toilet arrangements
Fresh trekking meals, hot drinks, snacks and filtered drinking water
Four hotel nights, a Dodeydra monastery night and a Punakha farmhouse or countryside night, as confirmed
Meals, cultural visits, Tiger’s Nest guiding and the specific experiences listed in your confirmed itinerary

Not normally included

International flights unless stated in the confirmed proposal
Travel insurance and emergency medical evacuation costs
Personal trekking boots, technical clothing, daypack and medication
Alcohol, shopping and personal purchases
Laundry during the trekking section
Personal porter or riding-horse services
Tips, gratuities and payment-processing fees
Unlisted activities and costs caused by major weather, trail or travel disruption

A guest enjoys a quiet moment overlooking the river and terraced fields of Paro Valley, Bhutan.

Optional extensions

Give the mountains more time.

Add a night in Haa before the trek for gentler preparation, a further mountain night where conditions and logistics allow, or a full Paro rest day before Tiger’s Nest. Raven can also shape a longer wellness stay around your preferred pace.

Questions before you travel

Mountain questions. Clear answers.

Practical answers for planning a private Nub Tshonapata Trek in Bhutan, from the best travel window to daily walking and camp support.

How difficult is the Nub Tshonapata Trek?

This is a demanding trek despite its four-day duration: approximately 65 km, several long walking days and high passes. The 22 km stage to Tshonapata is the longest. It suits fit, confident hikers; snow, weather and trail conditions can increase the effort. It is not a gentle lake walk.

When is the best time to trek to Tshonapata Lake?

Raven’s usual planning windows are late April to June and late September to November. Spring and autumn offer different landscapes, but snow can linger on passes and rain can affect trails. Your departure date should follow current local conditions rather than a fixed calendar promise.

How high is the trek, and can we add preparation time?

Gochhila Pass is commonly quoted at approximately 4,350 m. Camp elevations and route descriptions vary between sources, so Raven confirms the final mountain plan locally. An extra Haa night may help create a more gradual schedule; time in lower Punakha does not by itself establish readiness for the high passes.

What does fully supported camping include?

The confirmed trek includes a guide, chef and camp team, horsemen and pack horses, sleeping and dining arrangements, meals and drinking water. Your main overnight luggage travels with the support team; you carry your daypack. Raven confirms equipment, bedding and baggage limits before you travel.

Is the day after Tshonapata Lake an easy descent?

It is shorter in distance, but should still be treated as mountain walking. Published route descriptions include retracing a high pass before continuing towards Tshojo. Allow roughly 4–5 hours as an initial estimate for the approximately 8 km stage; your guide confirms the camp and walking time.

Are the monastery stay and Tiger’s Nest guaranteed?

Dodeydra is a working monastery: the overnight and prayers depend on permission and its schedule. Tiger’s Nest is a substantial hike planned for the day after the trek ends. Choose a gentler Paro day if you need rest, or extend the journey to keep a full recovery day before the hike.

What should I pack for the Nub Tshonapata Trek?

Bring broken-in hiking boots, waterproof layers, warm clothing, sun protection and a comfortable daypack. Keep essential personal items with you on the trail. Raven provides a detailed kit list and confirms supplied camp equipment once your season and route are agreed.

Your journey starts with a conversation

Tell us how you walk in the mountains.

Share your walking experience, previous time at altitude, preferred comfort and travel dates. Raven will shape the Nub Tshonapata journey around your party, with the right mountain preparation and room to recover.

Begin a private conversation