The road to Thrumshing La isn't an easy one
Thrumshing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.752m (12,309ft) above the sea level, located in the Lhuntse District of Bhutan. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.
The road to the summit, also known as Thrumshingla Pass and Donga Pass, is asphalted in very bad conditions (even gravel sections) and pretty steep, with hundreds of turns. It lies completely within the Thrumshing La National Park. The downhill to the east is unbelievable: 3.150m the road drops. Especially the last 40km are very spectacular where the road goes through dense forrest with monkeys and lots of other exotic voices.
The road is very narrow. It’s called Bumthang-Ura Highway. It was built in the 1990’s. The pass separates Bumthang and Lhuentse Districts and forms the watershed between Raidāk and Manas River systems. The journey offers superb views. It’s definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed!
The wind is usually quite strong at mountain areas. High winds blow here all year long. Protect yourself from heavy cold with warm clothes, cap and glouse. Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. The pass is often closed during winter for a day or two due to heavy snowfall. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. Notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. A major hazard of altitude is the sickness that can indiscriminately affect anyone regardless of age or fitness. Climbing too high, too fast increases the risk of altitude sickness.