Beautiful Laya / Lingshi Trek
21 days/20 nights
Day 1:
Arrive in Paro
Flying to Paro will give you an introduction to the spectacular beauty of
our country. In clear weather, Mt. Everest and some of the other
magnificent snow peaks of the pristine Himalayas will line your view and
finally give way to beautiful Paro valley where you will land. A Pagan
Nomads’ Partner Representative will meet you at the airport to escort you on
your tour.
Day 2: Paro
Your journey into the hidden kingdom begins with a drive in the morning to
the ruins of the Drukgyal Dzong 16 kilometers up the valley. It burned to
the ground and was left in ruins as an evocative reminder of the great
victories over the Tibetans in the 17th century. On a clear day you can
experience an unforgettable view of Mt. Jhomolhari (7314 m). Our next visit
is Kitchu Lakhang (Monastery), which was built in the 7th century, and Ta
Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below
the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the center of civil and religious
authority in this valley. A short walk takes you to the base of the dzong
and across a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge. The evening ends with
a walk through Paro's main shopping district.
Day 3: Paro
We take an excursion to view the spectacular Taktsang (Tiger's Nest)
monastery - A short drive takes us to the base of the magnificent cliff. The
trail climbs through a beautiful pine forest. An occasional grove of
fluttering prayer flags greets you on the way. At Taktsang Jakhang
(cafeteria) we can stop for an incredible view of the Tiger's Nest and pause
for some refreshment. Taktsang monastery, built in the 1600s, is an
incredible monastery, which clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that
plunges 900 meters to the valley below. Legend has it that Guru
Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, landed
here on the back of a flying tigress. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria,
followed by a short walk to Satsam Chorten before the drive back to the
hotel.
Day 4: Paro/ Shana (Start of Trek)
Our trek to Shana starts at Drukgyal Dzong following the Paro River and we
pass cultivated fields and tiny villages. The forests are alive with
numerous birds, and brightly colored butterflies. Overnight at Camp Shana.
Altitude: 2820 meters.
Day 5: Shana / Soi Thangthangka
The trail follows the river through a heavily forested area with a few
isolated farmhouses. It narrows and closes in and the trail winds up and
down along the drainage. We pass a junction along the way, where another
path leads north over the Tremo La to Tibet. We camp in a meadow with a
stone shelter. Altitude: 3610 meters.
Day 6: Thangthangka / Jangothang
The trail slowly leaves the forest line and gradually climbs into a
beautiful valley, passing Tegethang, a winter home of yak herdsmen. Lunch
will be served in one of these huts. Our base camp for the day will be
Jhomolhari base camp (4115 m). High mountains overlook the camp and visible
nearby are the ruins of an old fortress used to guard Bhutan against Tibetan
invasions. Altitude: 4115 meters.
Day 7: Jangothang (Halt)
Rest day. A chance to acclimatize and walk up to the Jhomolhari glacier or
to the lakes in the opposite direction.
Day 8: Jangothang/ Lingshi
We can get the spectacular views of the Jhomolhari, Jichu Drake and the
Tserim Gang. We start climbing straight away and after some 3 1/2 to 4 hours
reach the Nyelela pass (4,700 m) . After the pass we descend just below
Lingshi, where we camp. Coming down from Lingshi we obtain our first views
of the truly mystical Dzong atop a high hill. Altitude: 4000 meters.
Day 9: Lingshi / Chebisa
Leaving Lingshi behind we climb gently to reach another delightful village,
Gom Yu, which is set right below a 300-meter cliff. Another hour's walk
brings us to a lovely little valley with a huge waterfall at one end of the
Chebisa, where we camp by the side of the river. The walk is very leisurely
with plenty of reasons and opportunities to linger. Altitude: 3780 meters.
Day 10: Chebisa / Shomuthang
We start with quite a steep climb through high pastures up the Gokula pass
(4320 m) before we drop through forests of dwarf rhododendron. We climb
gradually and head down to the camp near a riverbed. Altitude: 3890 meters.
Day 11: Shomuthang / Robluthang
We travel over the Jarela pass at 4640 meters where we once again get
stunning views of the Himalayan Mountains above us. We drop steeply down a
forest trail to the Tsarigathang valley, where herds of Takin roam, then
cross a knee deep river before climbing up Robluthang where we camp.
Altitude: 4100 meters.
Day 12: Robluthang/ Lemithang
This is one of the hardest days of the trek. We climb slowly up to Shinchela
pass at 4870 meters and are rewarded with stunning views of the mountains,
including the spectacular Gang Chen Ta at the head of the valley. On a clear
day practically all the mountains on the northern border are visible.
Eagles, griffin vultures, blue sheep and yaks abound in this area. We
descend down to camp on a lovely spot by the riverbank. Altitude: 4040
meters.
Day 13: Lemithang / Laya
We walk along the river, one of the tributaries of the Mochu and through a
forest of rhododendron and silver fir and then enter the village of Laya.
The people of Laya are famous for their vertical stripe yak hair clothing
and strange conical bamboo hats. The women wear their hair long and with
great deal of turquoise and jade jewelry. The features of the people are
even more Tibetan/ Mongolian than the Bhutanese who live in the central
valleys The rest of the day is spent at leisure or visiting village houses
and mixing with the villagers. Good views of the Masagang and the other
peaks. Altitude: 3880 meters.
Day 14: Laya (Halt)
We have a rest day at Laya and an opportunity to meet the
local people.
Day 15: Laya / Koena
The trail winds along the river valley offers breathtaking views of the
crashing river, feeder streams and waterfalls. Overnight at camp. Altitude:
3300 meters.
Day 16: Koena/ Gasa Tsachu
We gradually climb up to Balela pass at 3740 meters and then descend to Gasa
village. The first sight of the Gasa Dzong perched on the hillside over the
village is one of the great sights of the trip. We then drop steeply down to
the river for an hour and camp near the Hot Spring - a chance for a good,
hot bath! Altitude: 2638 meters. The best spa you will ever have.
Day 17: Gasa Tsachu / Goen Damji
After the climb away from Gasa Tsachu the trail winds through rolling
hillsides with the vista of fields, villages and forests of oak and pine.
Gasa Dzong will be visible behind you glued to the valley wall, seeming to
float in space. Overnight in camp. Altitude: 2280 meters.
Day 18: Goen Damji / Punakha (End of Trek)
The trail descends from the high agricultural benches above the Mochu into a
lush semi-tropical gorge filled with banana trees, creepers and the sight of
an occasional monkey. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 19: Punakha/ Thimphu
In the morning visit the Punakha Dzong, the ancient capital of Bhutan built
in 1637. In the winter the Je Khenpo, Head Abbot of Bhutan, moves to Punakha
with about 1000 monks. This Dzong is open to visitors only in summer when
the monk body is in Thimphu. A 3-hour drive takes us to the capital, Thimphu
and our hotel. Evening at leisure.
Day 20: Thimphu/ Paro
After breakfast we visit at the Dupthop Lhakhang, one of the few surviving
nunneries in Bhutan, and the National Memorial Chorten built in honour of
our late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk and then. After lunch we stop at the
Handicrafts Emporium following which we leave for Paro.
Day 21: Departure for your Onward Flight
In the morning a Karmic representative will take you to Paro International
Airport and bid you farewell.
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