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Trekking Program
Undiscovered
Merak and
Sakteng
Rainbow Tours and Treks
Email: rainbow@druknet.bt
karmartt@druknet.bt
Thimphu : Bhutan

RAINBOW TOURS AND TREKS
THIMPHU : BHUTAN
Trekking to
Merak and Sakteng
8 days/7 nights
Until recently, in an effort to preserve their culture and environment, Merak and
Sakteng were closed to tourism. The Royal Government of Bhutan has now decided
to allow a very limited number of foreign visitors into the area.
designated a wildlife sanctuary in April 2003. Recent
surveys of the area by the Department of Forests has
identified 18 species of mammals and 119 species of
birds. Some of the prominent mammals found in the
sanctuary are red pandas, goral, serow, Asiatic black
bear, capped langur, Himalayan yellow throated
marten, common leopard, Himalayan palm civet,
forest pika, Moupin’s pika, barking deer, Himalayan
stripped squirrel and the Assamese macaque.
Special Yak dance in Sakteng
Merak and Sakteng are two valleys located in the far north eastern part of Bhutan.
The natives of these valleys came from Tibet to settle in Merak and Sakteng some
centuries ago and are known as the Brokpas. They are a semi–nomadic community
dependent on yak and sheep herding for their livelihood and, in comparision to peoples
in the higher altitude zones, practice very
little agrarian living. The Brokpas speak
a different dialect known as ‘Brokey’ and
have their own unique dress that is made
of yak hair and sheep wool.
The Brokpas of Merak and Sakteng migrate
annually with their cattle to the lower
valleys of Rhadi, Phongmey and Khaling
during extreme winter cold and return to their
highland homes in the summer. During their
migrations they barter yak and sheep products,
like cheese, butter, wool and Yeidpa, a special
fermented cheese, with the people of the lower
valleys, taking rice, corn and textiles in exchange.
The Brokpa people are a carefree and fun-loving peoples known for their hospitality
and love for their own age-old culture and traditions. One of the most popular stories
in Sakteng is about the Mirgoi or Yeti locally called Drei. Their most important local
deity is the Goddess Aum Jomo.
The natural landscape of Merak and Sakteng comprises immense stretches of alpine
as well as warm broadleaf forests interspersed with meadows and mountain streams.
The area is also known for its abundance of medicinal herbs. Merak and Sakteng were
Program1
day
Trekking
Trashigang to Chaling (Alt: 7011 ft/2137 m) to
Chuthabthab (Alt: 9985 ft/3043 m)
Time: 4 - 5 hrs.
Distance: 6.2 mi/10 km
Altitude gain: 2791 ft/851 m
Altitude loss: 0 ft/0 m
After breakfast, drive about half an hour to Ranjung where you can see a few well set
up shops, the high school and the Woeselcholing monastery owned by Garab Rinpoche.
In Rangjung you can visit a farm house to see raw silk being woven into local fabrics.
From Rangjung drive 1 1/2 hours through corn fields
and past farm houses on a rough road to Chaling.
Your trek begins above Chaling school at 7,011
feet/2,137 metres. The trail from Chaling to
Chuthabthab is up hill through open hills overlooking
the view of Galing, Bidung and Bartsam village in the
opposite direction. On this route you will see ancient
mani walls and a chorten beside the trail. After
trekking for one hour you reach Tsahey phu meadow, a rest place, then continue trekking
uphill through the open pastures. This pasture land belongs to villages of Chaling and
Radhi and is used for grazing their cows. Further along the trail
to the campsite you
will see cow huts
near Sheytimi. From
Sheytimi it is a one hour
climb to Chuthabthab
C a m p s i t e i n a
b e a u t i f u l h i l l t o p
meadow at 9,985 feet
/3,043 metres.

Program2
day
Trekking
Chuthabthab to Monlaptsey (Alt: 10976 ft
/3345 m) to Merak Camp(Alt: 11612 ft/3539 m)
Time: 5 – 6 hrs.
Distance: 8 mi/13 km
Altitude: gain: 1626 ft/496 m
Altitude: loss: 0
After a hot and delicious
breakfast you start your
trek to Merak. From
Chuthabthab the trail
gradually accents to
Monlaptsey Pass for one
hour. Upon crossing the
pass the trail goes downhill
to Dama Zhung Teng, a
beautiful open meadow
where the the ancient black
stupa Chorten Nakpo is
seen. It is believed that
Prince Kuentulekpa built
this Stupa to celebrate the victory over the dreadfull evil Hacham. Then, passing the
stupa, the trail follows the Nyera Ama
Chu river along the left side for three
hours and then finally, after a short
climb from the river you reach Gengu
village in Merak. Visit 15 th century
Gengu temple which is dedicated to
Buchung Kewa Zangpo, heart son of
Dubthob Thangthong Gyelpo. In the
evening, stroll through the small quaint
cluster village of Merak.
Overnight: Camp above Merak
village.
Program3
day
Trekking
Merak to Nakchung La Pass (Alt: 13596 ft/4144 m) to
Meaktserteng (Alt: 10010 ft/ 3051 m)
Time: 7 hrs.
Distance: 9.15 mi/ 15k m
Altitude gain: 1990.45 ft /605 m
Altitude loss: 3585 ft/1093 m
After a hearty breakfast you start the trek up into the Nakchungla pass, the highest
pass between Merak and Sakteng village. The trail leads uphill from Merak village
and takes about 3 hours of strenuous walking to get to the highest point in the pass.
You can pause at the pass and enjoy the panoramic view of mountains around Merak
and Sakteng, including the highest peak in Bhutan,
Gangkhar Punsum located in the north of central
Bhutan. A box lunch and tea will be served at the pass.
From the pass the trail descends down the hill over a
rocky trail, through a forest of fir and rhododendron,
passing many yak huts along the trail before arriving
at Meaktserteng.
Overnight: Camp in an open meadow.

Program4
day
Trekking
Meaktserteng to Sakteng village (Alt: 9742 ft/2969 m)
to Kushu Gompa Camp (Alt: 10730 ft /3271 m)
Time: 4 hrs.
Distance: 4 mi/8 km
Altitude gain: 990 ft/302 m
Altitude loss: 268 ft/82 m
From the camp trek down
to the Bamugpachu river, cross the river towards the right
and then follow the trail along the river for about one hour.
After leaving the river the trail leads up hill for one hour to
the Khremola Pass, where you can get a beautiful view of
Sakteng village. From the pass walk down to Sakteng River
and the cluster village of Sakteng. Lunch in the village.
After lunch and interaction with villagers, you hike one hour
to the Kushu Gompa where you will spend the night. This
historic temple belongs to the family of Aum Sonam, owner
of Rainbow Tours and Treks of Bhutan and Nak Sel
Boutique Resort. Aum Sonam
spent her childhood in this beautiful location
overlooking the Sakteng valley and it is
mostly due to the respect of her
Kushu Guru Temple
Program5
day
Trekking
family heritage that you are treated so warmly by the Brokpa
people.
Overnight: Family house of
Aum Sonam or camp.
Sakteng – Sakteng
Halt day in Sakteng. Today is a rest day where you
can meet with the Brokpa people who will come to
greet you with plenty of ara, the local wine. You will
enjoy an interesting cultural program performed
by Sakteng village men and women including the
area’s very unique yak dance. Lunch with Brokpa
people.
Overnight: Family
house of Aum Sonam
or camp.
Program6
day
Trekking
Sakteng –
Sakteng
E x p l o r e t h e
Sakteng village
surroundings, visit Brokpa farmhouses, and
see the lifestyle of the Brokpa community.
Most of the women in Sakteng do a lot of
weaving and making of local wine, besides tending to family chores and herding
the yaks. People in Sakteng do love to drink their local wine and they
graciously offer it to most visitors.
Overnight: Family house of Aum Sonam or camp

Program7
day
Trekking
Sakteng to Thakthrue to Joenkhar Teng (Alt:
5820 ft/1774 m)
Time: 6 – 7 hrs.
Distance: 9 mi/15 km
Altitude gain: 0
Altitude loss: 4910 ft/1497 m
S t a r t t r e k k i n g d o w n t o J o e n k h a r .
The trail from Sakteng to Joenkhar is mostly
downhill, passing through the small Brokpa
village of Thakthrue. From Thakthrue the trail
is downhill passing streams and waterfalls
through mixed deciduous forest to the
“We are the Sakteng and Merak experts,
with centuries of family ties in the area.”
Zampachilu, a suspension bridge over the
Sakteng river. After the bridge it is another
one and half hour to
Joenkhar Teng.
Campsite near the
Sakteng River.
“Be one of the first foreign visitors to
interact with these gentle nomads.”
Program8
day
Trekking
Joenkhar Teng to Phongmey
(Alt: 6055 ft/1846 m)
Time: 5 hrs.
Distance: 6.2 mi/10 km
Altitude gain: 236 ft/72 m
Altitude loss: 0
Today is an easy downhill trek to Phongme, where you will see subtropical forest with
beautiful tree orchids and plenty of walnut trees along the way. Enroute you will pass
by the Joenkhar community school and village. After Joenkhar the trail descents
to the Morbizam suspension bridge over the Morbi river, then you climb up a hill to
Shokangtoe, a small hillock between Sakteng and Phongme from where you can get a
view of Phongme village. From this point the trail decends down to Shokhang drang,
yet another stream. After crossing the small suspension
bridge you trek uphill for half an hour above Phongme
school where you reach the unpaved roads and end the trek.
Lunch at Phongmey.
After lunch, transfer to Trashigang via Radhi and Rangjung
village.
Overnight: Guest house

Trekking Program
Undiscovered
Merak and
Sakteng
About
Rainbow Tours
and Treks
Established in 1998, Rainbow
Tours and Treks is a licensed
tour operator company. Over
time, it has built an integrated
and closely knit team of 25 fulltime
staff members, comprised of
highly experienced and professional tour managers, specialized tour guides and support personnel.
Additionally, there are over 60 freelance guides on its roster.
Rainbow Tours and Treks boasts an unrivalled
reputation in offering personalized, quality service
and a guarantee of client satisfaction. Rainbow
Tours and Treks is listed as the 6th highest revenue
generating tour company in Bhutan.
Note: Rainbow Tours and Treks was one
of the first tour companies to take tourists
to Merak and Sakteng after its opening
in September 2009. Within the first two
years they had already hosted 10 groups into this newly
opened region. The Governer in Sakteng is very happy
with Rainbow Tours and Treks for helping the Brokpa
community open to tourism.
For more information on this amazing trek, please contact:
Rainbow Tours and Treks
Email: rainbow@druknet.bt or karmartt@druknet.bt
Office Location: Dhendup, Lam, Towards Swiss Bakery road
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 641, Thimphu, Bhutan
Telephone: 00975-2-323270/ 322965/324228