Starting from the scenic and remote Chorten Nyingpo Temple, the 5-hours Rainforest Hike will take you to a magnificent, peaceful and huge mountain lake called Hoka Tsho in Punakha valley. The trail leads through a dense rain forest of gigantic trees with very less or zero human presence or interference. This is a moderately strenuous Hike and the trail leads through mud-caked pathways, gentle ascend and descends through small villages, along an irrigation canal and dense vegetation till you reach the magnificent Hoka Tsho/lake.

This trail is only used by the locals to visit the Lake and hence is very peaceful and quiet apart from the sounds of nature, chirping of the birds and weird but harmonious insect sounds. Lakes in Bhutan are considered very sacred and holy and thus also a pilgrimage site for the devout Buddhists. One particular trait of Buddhism is circumambulating stupas, monasteries, temples and even lakes! In the winter it takes about one hour to make one circumambulation around the lake, however it is not possible in the summer.

Enjoy the view of the serene lake and head back to one of the farmhouses for a picnic lunch and onto to Chorten Nyingpo where you will be picked by your car.

Along the Trail and nearby the lake you can see interesting plants like the Colocaciaspp, Neprolephsiscardifolia (fishbone fern) a survival food whose roots are like berries and quenches your thirst and fills your stomach at the same time, Assamese apple ((Docyniaindica), Edible ferns, Elatostimaplatyphyllum (locally known as Dambru) and many more. Birds and animals like Blue-throated barbet, Asian emerald Cuckoo, Fly catchers, Swifts, Common leopard, Himalayan black bear and Barking deer can be seen along the Trail.

This hike is recommended during the winter, spring and autumn and not in the monsoon as the trail will be infested with leeches of all sizes!