HighlandTreks
Gangkar Puensum, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, seen from Gophu La

Northern Bhutan · Extreme

Snowman

24 days across the roof of Bhutan, past Gangkar Puensum, out to the Dur hot springs.

Enquire about this trek Dates and prices
Days
2928 nights
On trek
24 days23 nights camping
Distance
about 350 kmon foot
Highest
5,464 mGophu La
Best months
Spring, autumnLate April to May, late September to October
From
USD 11,300per person, all fees in

Photo: Gradythebadger, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

The Snowman: Paro to Bumthang across Lunana

The Snowman is one of the hardest treks in the world. It crosses Bhutan's high north from the Paro valley to Bumthang: about 350 km, more than ten passes over 4,400 m, and weeks spent above 4,000 m.

Our route follows the Laya–Gasa trek as far as Laya, then crosses into Lunana, a cluster of villages under glaciers and glacial lakes. From Thanza it climbs to Gophu La (5,464 m) below Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m), the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, and drops to the hot springs at Dur.

Is it for you? Extreme

Expedition fitness and experience above 5,000 m. Expect cold, snow at any time, and days you'll remember as the hardest of your life. We interview every trekker before confirming a place.

Highlights

  • Gophu La (5,464 m) and the base camp below Gangkar Puensum
  • Lunana: the villages of Woche, Lhedi and Thanza under the glaciers
  • Gangla Karchung La (5,180 m), above Lunana's glacial lakes
  • The Dur hot springs, two days from the end

“Everything you've heard about the Snowman being brutal is true. Snow kept us stuck at Thanza for an extra day and I'll admit I was getting antsy, but Sonam knew exactly what he was doing, and we crossed Gophu La the next morning under clear blue skies. Hardest thing I've ever done, and I'd sign up again tomorrow.”

Daniel, United States

Route

Shana to Dur, Bumthang

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.

  1. Shana 2,850 m
  2. Soi Thangthangkha 3,610 m
  3. Jangothang 4,080 m
  4. Nyile La 4,870 m
  5. Lingshi 4,010 m
  6. Chebisa 3,880 m
  7. Gobu La 4,410 m
  8. Shomuthang 4,220 m
  9. Jare La 4,750 m
  10. Robluthang 4,160 m
  11. Sinche La 5,005 m
  12. Limithang 4,140 m
  13. Laya 3,840 m
  14. Rodophu 4,160 m
  15. Tsemo La 4,900 m
  16. Narethang 4,900 m
  17. Gangla Karchung La 5,180 m
  18. Tarina 4,000 m
  19. Woche 4,000 m
  20. Keche La 4,620 m
  21. Lhedi 3,700 m
  22. Thanza 4,150 m
  23. Tshorim 5,340 m
  24. Gophu La 5,464 m
  25. Gangkar Puensum base camp 4,970 m
  26. Menchugang 4,200 m
  27. Saga La 4,976 m
  28. Warathang 4,500 m
  29. Dur Tshachu 3,300 m
  30. Juli La 4,800 m
  31. Tshochenchen 4,450 m
  32. Dur 2,890 m

Elevation profile

Height along the route from the Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model; labels use published altitudes, and distance is scaled to the published trek length. Dashed stretches follow an approximate line, so expect the real trail to differ there. The day-by-day table below has every figure.

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, a medical and kit review with your trek leader.

Night: Hotel, Paro

Day2Acclimatisation hike at Chele La3–4 h
Walking
3–4 h

Drive to Chele La (3,988 m on the road sign) and walk the ridge for three to four hours.

Night: Hotel, Paro

Day3Shana to Soi Thangthangkha22 km · 7–8 h
Distance
22 km
Walking
7–8 h
Up
770 m
Sleep at
3,610 m

Drive to Shana (2,850 m), then walk up the Paro Chhu through forest.

Night: Camp

Day4Soi Thangthangkha to Jangothang19 km · 6–7 h
Distance
19 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
480 m
Sleep at
4,080 m

Above the treeline to Jomolhari base camp.

Night: Camp

Day5Rest day at Jangothang
Sleep at
4,080 m

Acclimatisation hike to the Tsho Phu lakes.

Night: Camp

Day6Over Nyile La to Lingshi18 km · 6–7 h
Distance
18 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
840 m
Down
870 m
Sleep at
4,010 m

Up to Nyile La (4,870 m) and down to Lingshi.

Night: Camp

Day7Lingshi to Chebisa10 km · 5–6 h
Distance
10 km
Walking
5–6 h
Sleep at
3,880 m

A short day to the village of Chebisa.

Night: Camp

Day8Over Gobu La to Shomuthang17 km · 6–7 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
890 m
Down
540 m
Sleep at
4,220 m

Gobu La (4,410 m), blue sheep on the slopes.

Night: Camp

Day9Over Jare La to Robluthang18 km · 7–8 h
Distance
18 km
Walking
7–8 h
Up
700 m
Down
760 m
Sleep at
4,160 m

Jare La (4,750 m) and down into takin country.

Night: Camp

Day10Over Sinche La to Limithang19 km · 7–8 h
Distance
19 km
Walking
7–8 h
Up
850 m
Down
870 m
Sleep at
4,140 m

Sinche La (5,005 m), your first pass over 5,000 m.

Night: Camp

Day11Limithang to Laya10 km · 4–5 h
Distance
10 km
Walking
4–5 h
Sleep at
3,840 m

Down through forest to Laya village.

Night: Camp

Day12Rest day in Laya
Sleep at
3,840 m

Rest and restock. From here, yaks take over from the ponies for the high crossings.

Night: Camp

Day13Laya to Rodophu19 km · 6–8 h
Distance
19 km
Walking
6–8 h
Down
400 m
Sleep at
4,160 m

Up the Rodo Chhu valley through rhododendron to a camp below the glaciers.

Night: Camp

Day14Over Tsemo La to Narethang17 km · 6–7 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
740 m
Sleep at
4,900 m

Onto the high plateau over Tsemo La (4,900 m) to a cold camp at the same height.

Night: Camp

Day15Over Gangla Karchung La to Tarina17 km · 5–6 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
5–6 h
Up
270 m
Down
1,000 m
Sleep at
4,000 m

Gangla Karchung La (5,180 m) looks over the glaciers and turquoise glacial lakes of Lunana. A steep descent to Tarina.

Night: Camp

Day16Tarina to Woche16 km · 6–7 h
Distance
16 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
270 m
Down
120 m
Sleep at
4,000 m

Down the Pho Chhu valley to Woche, the first village of Lunana.

Night: Camp

Day17Over Keche La to Lhedi17 km · 6–7 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
490 m
Down
900 m
Sleep at
3,700 m

Over Keche La (4,620 m) and down to Lhedi on the river.

Night: Camp

Day18Lhedi to Thanza17 km · 6–7 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
420 m
Sleep at
4,150 m

Along the river past the edge of the glaciers to Thanza, under Zongophu Kang (Table Mountain).

Night: Camp

Day19Rest day at Thanza
Sleep at
4,150 m

Rest, and a weather decision. If snow closes the passes ahead, we turn back west rather than push on.

Night: Camp

Day20Thanza to Tshorim19 km · 7–8 h
Distance
19 km
Walking
7–8 h
Up
1,150 m

The biggest climb of the trek: 1,150 m up to camp beside Tshorim lake.

Night: Camp

Day21Over Gophu La to Gangkar Puensum base camp16 km · 5–6 h
Distance
16 km
Walking
5–6 h
Up
200 m
Down
500 m
Sleep at
4,970 m

Gophu La (5,464 m), the high point of the trek, then down to camp below Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m).

Night: Camp

Day22Down to Menchugang15 km · 5 h
Distance
15 km
Walking
5 h
Down
730 m
Sleep at
4,200 m

A long descent along the Mangde Chhu headwaters to Menchugang.

Night: Camp

Day23Three passes to Warathang17 km · 6–7 h
Distance
17 km
Walking
6–7 h
Up
760 m
Down
440 m
Sleep at
4,500 m

Phorang La (4,800 m), Saga La (4,976 m) and Mephu La (4,786 m) in one day.

Night: Camp

Day24Warathang to Dur Tshachu10 km · 5–6 h
Distance
10 km
Walking
5–6 h
Sleep at
3,300 m

Over Nephu La (4,603 m) and down to the Dur hot springs. Soak.

Night: Camp

Day25Dur Tshachu to Tshochenchen16 km · 7–8 h
Distance
16 km
Walking
7–8 h

A hard climb over Gotong La (4,441 m) and Juli La (4,800 m) to camp by Tshochenchen lake.

Night: Camp

Day26Tshochenchen to Dur, drive to Jakar23 km · 7–9 h
Distance
23 km
Walking
7–9 h
Down
1,200 m

The last day: 1,200 m down to Dur village and the road. Thirty minutes to a hotel in Jakar, Bumthang.

Night: Hotel, Jakar

Day27Jakar to Punakha

Drive west over Yotong La (3,425 m) and Pele La (3,400 m) to Punakha (1,200 m). A long day, mostly asleep.

Night: Hotel, Punakha

Day28Punakha to Paro

Over Dochu La to Paro. Farewell dinner with your crew.

Night: Hotel, Paro

Day29Depart

Transfer to Paro airport for your flight out.

Glaciers and glacial lakes of the Bhutan Himalaya, photographed by NASA.
Glaciers and glacial lakes of the Bhutan Himalaya, photographed by NASA. Photo: NASA, Public domain
Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m) from the road between Jakar and Ura.
Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m) from the road between Jakar and Ura. Photo: Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Noble rhubarb between Robluthang and Limithang, on the way to Laya.
Noble rhubarb between Robluthang and Limithang, on the way to Laya. Photo: Heidi Zimmer, CC BY 4.0

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.

StartEndPrice
Sat 24 Apr 2027 Sat 22 May 2027 USD 11,300 Guaranteed
Sat 25 Sep 2027 Sat 23 Oct 2027 USD 11,300 Open
Sat 29 Apr 2028 Sat 27 May 2028 USD 11,300 Open

Single room and tent: add USD 40 a night. Prices are per person, twin share.

Hold a place

Add-ons

Make it your own

  • 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.

  • Sleeping bag hire

    USD 40 per trip

    A four-season down bag rated to -20 °C, cleaned between trips, with a cotton liner.

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

How many people finish?

Fewer than start. Weather closes the high passes some years, and altitude stops others. We'd rather turn around than take risks, so read the itinerary as the plan, not a promise.

Why is it more expensive per night?

A bigger crew, yak teams that change at Laya and in Lunana, extra food drops, a satellite phone and a portable altitude chamber, and a second guide on every departure.

Do you take beginners?

No. We ask for previous treks above 5,000 m and talk to every trekker before confirming a place.

More on visas, the SDF, altitude and kit in Plan your trip.

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Ready for Snowman?

Tell us which departure suits you, or ask for private dates. We reply within a day.

Enquire