Lingzhi-Laya-GasaTrek
12-day trek to the remotest corners of the little kingdom & cultural highlights.
This fascinating 12-day trek takes you along the remote northern border with Tibet. It remains rarely travelled and unspoilt compared to other trekking routes in the Himalayas. One of the highlights of this trek is local people that you will meet en route – both the semi-nomadic yak herders that camp in tents made of yak hair, often seen with solar panels stuck outside, and the inhabitants of the remote small stone villages that you will pass. Most likely you will be invited for a cup of butter tea by these very hospitable people.
The mountain scenery is magnificent – most of the peaks being unclimbed. You will pass underneath the second highest peak in Bhutan, Jhomolhari with 7,314m, first climbed by Spencer Chapman in 1937 and now a forbidden peak on religious grounds. There are many passes to cross, offering tantalising panoramas of distant ranges and the opportunity to spot Blue Sheep. Flora and fauna are diverse and abundant at every stage of the journey.
Before you embark on your trekking adventure there will be sufficient time for proper acclimatisation combined with visiting some cultural highlights such as Taktsang monastery perched on a cliff in Paro.
Villages on the way: Soe, Lingzhi, Chebisa, Gongyul, Laya and Gasa
DAY 1: Arrival at Paro
Reception at airport, light sightseeing and relaxing evening.
DAY 2: Paro to Haa
Via Chele la (pass), hike to Kila nunnery
DAY 3: Haa
Hike to hermitage and local sightseeing
DAY 4: Haa to Paro
Via detour and hike to local gonpa
DAY 5: Hike to Taktsang
Hike to Tigernest and later Paro town visit
DAY 6: Start of trek: Shana to Soe Thangtangkha (1)
Trekking approx. 5-6 hours / distance 15 km / ascent 880 m / camp at 3’610 m
DAY 7: Soe Thangthangkha to Jangothang (2)
Trekking approx. 5-6 hours / distance 14 km / ascent 550 m, descent 100 m / camp at 4’080 m
DAY 8: Jangothang (3)
Rest and hike in the area
DAY 9: Jangothang to Lingzhi (4)
Trekking approx. 7-8 hours / distance 16 km / ascent 970 m, descent 1’060 m / campt at 4’010 m
DAY 10: Lingzhi to Chebisa (5)
Trekking approx. 5 hours / distance 12.5 km / ascent 600 m, descent 720 m / campt at 3’880 m
DAY 11: Chebisa to Shomuthang (6)
Trekking approx. 5-6 hours / 10 km / ascent 780 m, descent 650 m / camp at 4’220 m
DAY 12: Shomuthang to Robluthang (7)
Trekking approx. 6-7 hours / distance 12 km / ascent 920 m, descent 940 m / camp at 4’160 m
DAY 13: Robluthang to Lemithang (8)
Trekking approx. 8-9 hours / distance 16 km / ascent 1’130 m, descent 930 m / camp at 4’140 m
DAY 14: Lemithang to Laya (9)
Trekking approx. 4-5 hours/ 11.5 km / ascent 270 m, descent 540 m / camp at 3’840 m
DAY 15: Laya halt (10)
Rest and hike in the area
DAY 16: Laya to Koina, Tongshingdrak (11)
Trekking approx. 4-5 hours/ distance 12 km / ascent 130 m, descent 650 m / camp at 3’217m
DAY 17: Tongshingdrak to Gasa & Punakha (12)
One hour hike to road point, 2 hours drive to Gasa and approx 3-4 hours drive to Punakha
DAY 18: Punakha to Thimphu
Punakha Dzong in the morning and later drive to Thimphu via Dochu la (pass)
DAY 19: Thimphu to Paro
Thimphu sightseeing and later return to Paro
DAY 20: Departure
Transfer to airport