Merek Sakten Trek

Merek and Sakten are two villages in eastern Bhutan. Merek Sakten was closed to tourists for decades until recently. People of Merek and Sakten lead a nomadic life mostly depending on their livestock. Yaks are their main source of income and their food. Their dairy products are mostly sold or bartered for food in the neighboring villages. People of Merak are called as Brokpas. Today Merek has an elementary school and a health clinic. Merek sakten trek is one beautiful trek leading to these villages.

DURATION OF TREK: 6Nights/7Days.
DURATION INBHUTAN: 12Nights/13Days.
SEASON: April, May, September and October.

DAY 01: Guwahati – Samdrup Jongkhar

Your Bhutanese guide will be waiting there at the Guwahati Airport (India, which is 3hours drive from Samdrup Jongkhar-border town to India. Your transportation till Samdrup Jongkhar will be by Indian Car. Drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. The drive will take about 3hours. Dinner and overnight stay at Samdrup Jongkhar/Hotel

DAY 02: Samdrup Jongkhar – Rangjung

After our breakfast, we will drive to Rangjung. The drive will take about 7hours 30minutes. Lunch will be served as hot pack lunch. Continue our journey. On reaching Rangjung, we will check in the hotel and dinner and overnight stay at Rangjung/Hotel.

DAY 03: Rangjung – Shetimi (Merek Sakten Trek Starts)

Our car will drop us till the road point at Chaling, where our horses and cooks will be waiting there for us. Today the trek is short. It will take about 4hours to reach to our camp. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

DAY 04: Shetimi – Merek

After our breakfast, we will start our trek to Merak. Lunch we will take hot pack lunch. Continue our trek to Merak, were the houses are crowed up at a hillside at an altitude of 3400m. In the late afternoon, after reaching the camp, we will explore the Merak village. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

DAY 05: Merek – Meserting

Today we have to cross the Nyakchungla, which is 4300m. From the pass, we have to descend till we reach to our camp at Meserteng. The trek will take about 5-6hours. Lunch will be hot pack lunch. Continue our journey to the camp. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp, Meserteng/Rinagpo.

DAY 06: Meserteng – Sakten

Today’s trek is very short and easy. The trek will take about 3-4hours. Lunch we will reach at the camp, Sakteng. After lunch, we will explore the Manirong, Tengma and Pusa village. Evening, we will organize the dance program by the local people. There are chances that the local people may come to see us. This is called ‘Tshogchang’, where they will bring the local alcohol, “Ara”. Dinner and overnight stay at Camp, sakten.

DAY 07: Sakten Halt

Today we will explore the Sakteng village and Brongmang village. We will also visit Borangtse and Kushu Guru Lhakhang. Lunch will be served at the Camp or one of the farm houses in the Sakteng.

DAY 08: Sakteng – Takthi

Today we will trek to Takthi. The trek will take about 5-6hours. Lunch will be served as hot pack lunch. Continue our trek to the camp. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp, Takthi.

DAY 09: Takthi – Joenkhar

Today’s trek will take about 5hours. Lunch we will take hot pack lunch. Continue our trek till Joenkhar. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Camp, Joenkhar.

DAY 10: Joenkhar – Phonmey – Rangjung (End of Trek)

Trek to Phongmey. The trek is about 3-4hours. Our trek will end at Phongmey. Our car and driver will be waiting here for us. We will bid goodbye to our trekking staff, horse men and other members. Lunch-hot pack lunch at Phongmey. Drive to Rangjung or Trashigang. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

DAY 11: Rangjung – Trashi Yangtshi (Day Excursion)

Today there will be Thongdrel Ceremony at the Trashigang Festival. Tongdrel (Liberation at sight). We will see the Thongdrel Ceremony and then we will drive to Trashi Yangtshi. On our way to Trashi Yangtshi, we will visit Gomphu Kora Lhakhang, Trashi Yangtshi old dzong. At Trashi Yangtshi, we will see the Chorten Kora and Trashi Yangtshi town. Lunch, we will have hot pack lunch. Drive back to Trashigang. Dinner and overnight stay at Trashigang, hotel.

DAY 12: Rangjung – Samdrup Jongkhar

Drive to Samdrup Jongkhar. At Khaling, we will visit the Khaling weaving center. Here we will see the young girls learning how to weave and also the natural dyes, which they use in their textiles. Lunch-hot pack lunch. Continue our journey to S/Jongkhar. In the evening, we will meet with our Indian driver, who will take you to Guwahati Airport. Dinner and overnight stay at S/Jongkhar. Your Bhutanese guide and driver will bid you farewell during the dinner time. Or they may do in the next morning. We wish you a very safe journey and we hope to see you again in Bhutan some day.

DAY 13: Samdrupjongkhar – Guwahati

See off from airport.