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Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)

Meadow camp at the foot of 7,326 m Jomolhari, days up the Paro Chhu

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Best time to visit Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May and October
  • Shoulder: March, June, September and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to August and December to February

Planning a specific month? AprilMayOctober

Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang) season by season

Winter December to February Do not go

Avoid Dec to Feb: snow on the trail and passes, nights far below freezing at 4,000 m, and few operators run the trek.

Summer March to May Prime time

Apr and May are prime: rhododendron forest lower down, yaks grazing at Jangothang and mostly clear mornings.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jul and Aug bring rain, leeches and cloud hiding the peak; Jun and Sep can work, but expect mud below Soe.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct is the best month for clear Jomolhari views and the mountain festival at Dangochang; Nov is colder but still crisp and clear.

What Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang) is actually like

Tented camps with a cook and pony crew, yak herders' stone huts and a few small trekking groups at the campsite.

Things to do in Jomolhari Base Camp

The local places worth your time in and around Jomolhari Base Camp, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Jomolhari

    Viewpoint · 9 km out

    The 7,326 m sacred peak on the Tibet border rising straight above the camp, lit gold at sunrise.

  • Tsophu Lakes

    Lake · 3 km out

    High twin lakes above Jangothang on the climb towards Nyile La, a popular acclimatisation hike.

  • Jichu Drake

    Viewpoint · 7 km out

    Sharp sacred peak north of camp, seen best from the moraine walk above Jangothang.

  • Lingshi Dzong

    Fort · 12 km out

    Remote hilltop dzong over Lingshi village, reached across the high Nyile La on the longer Jomolhari loop.

  • Shana

    Village · 21 km out

    Road head on the Paro Chhu where most Jomolhari treks start.

Getting to Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)

Drive from Paro past Drukgyel Dzong to the Shana trailhead, then 2 to 3 days on foot. Licensed guide, route permit

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
6 days
Budget
Splurge
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
4088 m
Country
Bhutan
Coordinates
27.7813, 89.3417

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)?

April to May and October is peak season in Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang). March, June, September and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to August and December to February. Apr and May are prime: rhododendron forest lower down, yaks grazing at Jangothang and mostly clear mornings.

How many days do you need in Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)?

6 days is the usual stay. Tented camps with a cook and pony crew, yak herders' stone huts and a few small trekking groups at the campsite.

How do you get to Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)?

Drive from Paro past Drukgyel Dzong to the Shana trailhead, then 2 to 3 days on foot. Licensed guide, route permit. Practical ways in: road.

Is Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Splurge by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Jomolhari Base Camp (Jangothang)?

Jomolhari Mountain Festival (Oct). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Jomolhari Base Camp?

Jomolhari, Tsophu Lakes, Jichu Drake, Lingshi Dzong and Shana. The 7,326 m sacred peak on the Tibet border rising straight above the camp, lit gold at sunrise.

Nearby, and where to go next

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