| When looking at the
multitude of treks available in the
Himalaya today, a select few stand alone
at the top. Our Laya & Lunana trek
is clearly in this category. This is
a 26 days trek with 18 days of very
strenuous trekking along with unmatched
cultural and wilderness experience We'll
cross a total of seven passes, four
of them well over 16,000', as we pass
through the highest and wildest corner
of Bhutan. We'll see the tallest, most
dramatic Himalayan peaks in Bhutan,
and get to meet the friendly villagers
who live in their shadows. Turquoise-tinted
lakes and high altitude wildlife like
the snow leopard and blue sheep round
out the trek's highlights. This epic
adventure begins with a drive from the
airport in Paro to Thimphu, the low-key
capital of Bhutan. We then continue
on to Punakha to begin our great adventure.'
Our trek route takes us up the Mo
Chu (River) to its very source near
Laya, at the foot of Gangchey Ta (22,290')
which forms the border with Tibet.
The people of Laya are rarely visited
by outsiders, live semi-nomadic lives
in their black yak hair tents, and
are extremely care-free and welcoming.
The women wear their hair long-unusual
in Bhutan, and wear waterproof robes
made from the wool of goats, sheep,
and yaks. After enjoying our short
visit with the Layaps, we head east
over the first series of passes to
gain access to the most inaccessible
corner of this inaccessible kingdom,
Lunana. To the north, along the Tibetan
border, the highest peaks sit majestically,
turquoise lakes at their feet in obeisance.
We now drop down into the high Lunana
Valley, sprinkled with little villages
peopled by folks as hardy and contented
as will be found anywhere. Their warmth
and hospitality will be as intense
as their surprise at seeing our arrival
in their villages. The background
for these days of revelry will be
the most dramatic mountain scenery
to be found in Bhutan, stunning snow-capped
peaks and the high, wild valleys at
their feet. With mixed emotions, we
must eventually leave this special,
other-worldly idyll, and prepare for
the journey back out, which involves
four passes, the highest of them just
under 17,000'. The days are mostly
long and hard, through pristine wilderness
dotted with crystal lakes. After nearly
a week's trek, we arrive at the roadhead
near Tongsa and drive to Paro for
our final, more sublime adventure.
Our final day is spent in ascending
to-and standing in wrapt awe before-the
one-of-a-kind Taktsang Dzong, perched
dramatically atop a 2,000' sheer cliff.
We fly out from Paro. The best time
for this trek is between the month
of September-October & March-April.
Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive Paro transfer to Thimpu
Day 2 Thimpu
Day 3 Drive to Punakha (sightseeing)
Day 4 Trek to Goendamji (via Tashithang
Day 5 Trek to Gasa
Day 6 Trek to Koena;
Day 7 Trek to Laya
Day 8 Laya halt
Day 9 Trek To Rodophu
Day 10 Trek to Narithang,
Day 11 Trek to Tarina,
Day 12 Trek to Woche,
Day 13 Trek to lhedi
Day 14 Trek to Thanza
Day 15 Thanza halt
Day 16 Trek to Tsochoma
Day 17 Jichu Dramo
Day 18 To Chukarpo
Day 19 To Tempetso
Day 20 To Maorothang,
Day 21 To Nakachu Zam (end),
Day 22 Drive to Thimpu
Day 23 Thimpu Sightseeing
Day 24 Drive to Paro, sightseeing,
Day 25 Paro-Excursion to taktsang
Day 26 Departure. |
