Central Bhutan · Moderate
Nabji–Korphu
A low, warm, village-to-village trek through golden langur forest. Best in winter.
- Days
- 1211 nights
- On trek
- 6 days5 nights camping
- Distance
- 56 kmon foot
- Highest
- 1,670 mKudra
- Best months
- Oct–AprOctober to April
- From
- USD 3,960per person, all fees in
Photo: Phuentsho, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
Nabji–Korphu: a winter trek in the Black Mountains
When the high passes are under snow, central Bhutan is green. The Nabji–Korphu trail crosses the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park between 703 m and 1,670 m, through broadleaf forest and rice-growing villages.
It was set up so the money stays in the villages: local guides, porters, campsites and food. Only one group walks the trail at a time. Golden langurs, one of the rarest monkeys in the world, live along the route.
Is it for you? Moderate
Fit walkers. No altitude to worry about; the challenge is steep, humid forest trail, 3 to 7 hours a day.
Highlights
- Golden langurs and rufous-necked hornbills in the forest
- Village campsites at Nimshong, Korphu, Nabji and Jangbi
- The Monpa village of Jangbi
- Warm days in winter, when the high treks are closed
“Honestly I didn't expect much from a 'low' trek, but it ended up being the highlight of our whole trip. We spotted our first golden langur before breakfast on day one and lost count after that, there were dozens of them. December was perfect too, warm enough for a t-shirt most afternoons and we basically had the trail to ourselves.”
Route
Riotala to Tongtongphey
The line follows the trail as mapped in OpenStreetMap. Dashed sections are approximate, where the trail isn't mapped. Camps are green, passes orange.
The route map needs JavaScript. The stops are listed below.
- Riotala 1,037 m
- Nimshong 1,167 m
- Korphu 1,500 m
- Nabji 1,367 m
- Kudra 1,670 m
- Jangbi 1,368 m
- Tongtongphey 1,420 m
Elevation profile
Day by day
The itinerary
Distances, times and heights are typical. Your guide adjusts the plan to the weather and the group.
Day1Arrive in Paro
Fly into Paro (2,200 m). Airport pick-up and an easy afternoon.
Night: Hotel, Paro
Day2Paro to Punakha
Drive through Thimphu and over Dochu La (3,150 m) down to the Punakha valley (1,200 m), about 4 hours. Rafting on the Mo Chhu is an option this afternoon.
Night: Hotel, Punakha
Day3Punakha to Trongsa
Over Pele La (3,400 m), the traditional border between west and central Bhutan, to Trongsa (2,200 m). About 6 hours with stops.
Night: Hotel, Trongsa
Day4Riotala to Nimshong6.5 km · 4 h
- Distance
- 6.5 km
- Walking
- 4 h
- Sleep at
- 1,167 m
Drive about 2 hours south to the trailhead at Riotala (1,037 m). Drop to a suspension bridge over the Mangde Chhu (703 m), the lowest point, then climb to the village campsite at Nimshong.
Night: Village campsite
Day5Nimshong to Korphu11.5 km · 5 h
- Distance
- 11.5 km
- Walking
- 5 h
- Sleep at
- 1,500 m
Through broadleaf forest to Korphu, a hilltop village of about 75 households. Langurs are often in the trees above the trail.
Night: Village campsite
Day6Korphu to Nabji6 km · 2.5–3 h
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 2.5–3 h
- Sleep at
- 1,367 m
A short day down to Nabji and its rice terraces. Time to sit in the village.
Night: Village campsite
Day7Nabji to Kudra13 km · 6–7 h
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 6–7 h
- Sleep at
- 1,670 m
The longest day, through subtropical forest. The region has hundreds of bird species, so walk slowly.
Night: Camp
Day8Kudra to Jangbi13 km · 6 h
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 6 h
- Sleep at
- 1,368 m
To Jangbi, home of the Monpa, one of Bhutan's oldest communities.
Night: Village campsite
Day9Jangbi to Tongtongphey, drive to Trongsa6 km · 3–4 h
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 3–4 h
A short walk out to the road at Tongtongphey and the drive back to Trongsa.
Night: Hotel, Trongsa
Day10Trongsa to Punakha
Back over Pele La to Punakha.
Night: Hotel, Punakha
Day11Punakha to Paro
Over Dochu La to Paro. A hot stone bath is a good last night.
Night: Hotel, Paro
Day12Depart
Transfer to Paro airport for your flight out.
On the trail
Dates and prices
Set departures
Groups of 2 to 8. Every departure runs with two trekkers; “Guaranteed” means it's already confirmed. Private dates are possible for any group.
| Start | End | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Wed 2 Dec 2026 | USD 3,960 | Guaranteed |
| Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Wed 23 Dec 2026 | USD 3,960 | Guaranteed |
| Sat 6 Feb 2027 | Wed 17 Feb 2027 | USD 3,960 | Open |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | Wed 17 Mar 2027 | USD 3,960 | 2 places left |
| Sat 20 Nov 2027 | Wed 1 Dec 2027 | USD 3,960 | Open |
| Sat 11 Dec 2027 | Wed 22 Dec 2027 | USD 3,960 | 3 places left |
Single room and tent: add USD 40 a night. Prices are per person, twin share.
Hold a placeAdd-ons
Make it your own
White-water rafting, Punakha
USD 90 pp
The Mo Chhu is class I to II, about two hours on the water, and needs no experience. The Pho Chhu starts with class IV rapids and eases to class III: for confident swimmers aged 14 and over (USD 120). Best March to May and September to November.
Punakha valley mountain bike ride
USD 110 pp
A half-day ride on farm tracks and quiet roads along the Mo Chhu, with the support vehicle never far away. Bike, helmet and bike guide included.
Hot stone bath in a Paro farmhouse
USD 45 pp
A wooden tub of river water heated with fire-baked stones, the traditional Bhutanese dotsho. Best on your last night, after the trek.
What's included
Everything on the mountain
Included
- A trekking guide certified by Bhutan's Department of Tourism, from arrival to departure
- Cook, kitchen crew and horsemen, with ponies (or yaks above Laya) to carry camp and bags
- All meals on trek; breakfast, lunch and dinner in town
- Two-person tents, dining and toilet tents, foam and inflatable sleeping mats
- Certified 3-star hotels in town, twin share
- Private vehicle and driver for every transfer
- Sustainable Development Fee (USD 100 a night) and your Bhutan visa (USD 40)
- National park and trekking permits, and 5% GST
- Satellite phone and full first-aid kit on every trek; portable altitude chamber on treks above 4,500 m
Not included
- International flights to and from Bhutan
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (strongly recommended)
- Sleeping bag (hire one from us)
- Tips for the crew, drinks, laundry
- Single room and tent (USD 40 a night)
Questions
About this trek
Why winter?
From October to April the trail is dry and the days are warm. In the monsoon (June to September) it's hot, wet and full of leeches.
Do we camp or stay in houses?
Mostly at community campsites with shelters, run by the villages. Our crew brings tents, the kitchen and all the food.
Is it a good family trek?
Yes, for children who like walking. It's low, short days are possible, and there's a lot to see.
More on visas, the SDF, altitude and kit in Plan your trip.
Also consider
Other treks
Ready for Nabji–Korphu?
Tell us which departure suits you, or ask for private dates. We reply within a day.