Stage 5 of the Druk Path Trek covers 7.2 km from Simkota Tsho to Phajoding, with 253 m of ascent and 706 m of descent. The highest point is 4,214 m. Allow about 3 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Camping at the Phajoding monastery complex (about 3,640 m), which welcomes trekkers to pitch tents. Some groups skip this camp and walk on down to Thimphu the same day.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed" are campsites named in tour operator itineraries and on OpenStreetMap; the Department of Tourism does not publish their positions online. On the trek you sleep in tents at designated campsites; there are no lodges, huts or shops. Your licensed tour operator brings the tents, cook and food, and the Sustainable Development Fee is due for every night.
Emergency: call 112 (ambulance), 113 (police). Your guide carries the group radio or phone. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.