Beautiful Laya/Gasa Trek

This route takes one upstream along the Paro Chu and the ancient caravan route to Tibet, Through the Seo Valley deep into the shadows of Mt. Chomolari 7314m, Mt. Jitchu Drake 7000m and over Nele La Pass 4250m into Lingshi Valley. The inhabitants of these tow valleys are nomads subsisting almost entirely on the produce and products of sheep and yaks. The many lakes in Seo Valley are every angler’s wildest dream come true. At Lingshi is picturesque remnant of a once migltly border fortress is now the residences of the valley administrator. From his hill a day's trek is all it takes to cross over the plateau of Tibet.

Heading East over the 3 high passes of Gobuala 4650m, jarila 4600m and Shinjela 4900m lays the valley of Laya. Herds of the rare Tarkin can be seen enroute to Tashi Jathang valley. Laya lies in the Masakhang mountain region which is the source of the Mo Chu flowing through Punakha. The inhabitants of Laya, an ethnic group are quite different form the rest of the Bhutanese people. Like the people so Seo and Lingshi they too are nomads. Along the way to Punakha, the old capital lays historic Gasa fort and the famous popular hot spring in Gasa.

Trip Informaton

Activities:

Trekking

Departure:

Any day during season

Max Altitudes:

7570m

Trip Duration:

16 days

Trip Grade:

Moderate

Accommodation:

Hotel in city

Meals:

Full board on trek, breakfast in city

Transportation:

Private jeep

Best Season:

September-November & March-May

Walking hours:

4-6hrs per day

Day 01

Arrival Paro and trek to Shana, camp

Day 02

Trek to Soi Thangthangkha

Day 03

Trek to Jangothang, camp

Day 04

Trek to Lingshi, camp

Day 05

Trek to Chebisa, camp

Day 06

Trek to Shomuthang, camp

Day 07

Trek to Robluthang, camp

Day 08

Trek to Robluthang, camp

Day 09

Trek to Laya, camp

Day 10

Laya - Excursion, camp

Day 11

Trek to Koena, camp

Day 12

Trek to Gasa, camp

Day 13

Trek to Gasa Tsachu, camp

Day 14

Trek to Geon Damji, camp

Day 15

Trek to Tashithang and drive to Thimpu, hotel

Day 16

Transfer to airport for final departure

Service Includes:

• Twin sharing room in the best available accommodation mode (hotel or tourist cottage)
• All meals, overland transportation within Bhutan (Japanese vehicles)
• Sight seeing as per itinerary with English speaking guide
• Necessary airport/hotel/airport transfers, cultural shows.
• In TREKS, accommodation in the best available tents (MOSS), with all meals, air pillows, sheets, hot water bottles, dinning tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents backed by our skillfull and experienced crew.

Service Excludes:

• Airfare, air port taxes,
• BHUTAN VISA fee (USD 20 payable at airport upon arrival)
• NEPAL re-entry visa fee, drinks at hotels, lodges and expenses of personal nature such as laundry, tips, insurance, etc.

VISA

Foreign travellers must possess a visa for Bhutan which is granted initially for 14 days. While the actual visa is stamped on arrival in Bhutan upon payment of US $20, visitors need to obtain visa clearance from the Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) in advance. The visa can be extended in Thimpu for up to six months. The operator making your travel arrangements will handle the official formalities.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

Druk Air, Bhutan's airline, operates flights to Paro from Bangkok, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu and New Delhi. The overland entry/exit point is from the Indian state of West Bengal into Phuntsholing in southwest Bhutan. Phuntsholing is four hours’ drive from Bagdogra, the nearest Indian airport, and seven hours' drive from both Gangtok (Sikkim) and Darjeeling. The drive from Phuntsholing to Thimpu takes six hours.

Transport within the country is provided by tour operators who have their own fleet of luxury buses. All major places of interest are connected by paved roads.

GENERAL INFO

Bhutan has a strip of plain in the south, a network of valleys in the central parts and over 7,000-m high mountains in the north.

Tariff: The Department of Tourism has set minimum tariffs which are different for the high and low seasons. Individuals and groups of less than four persons must pay a surcharge. The rates are the same for both cultural tours and treks.

Season: March-May and September-November are the high season months, while June, July and December-February comprise the low season. Bring cotton or light woolen wear in summer (maximum temperature 30 degrees Celsius) and heavy woolens and down jacket in winter (minimum 1.1 degrees Celsius).

Adventure: Trekking and mountaineering.

Accommodation: Modern hotels are available in Thimpu. The outlying areas have comfortable resorts and lodges.

Religion/Culture

The State religion is Drukpa Kagyupa a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. It has been institutionalized in the Dratshang (Central Monk Body), headed by the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who is chosen from among the most learned Lamas and enjoys an equal rank with the King. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have adopted Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric form as its official religion. The Buddhist faith has played and continues to play a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical and sociological development of Bhutan and its people. It permeates all strands of secular life.

Climate

Summer (June-August) is pleasant but wet due to the monsoons .Winter (December-February) is cold with temperatures dropping below zero. The daytime is pleasant with clear blue skies. Spring (March-May) is the best time of the year-pleasant weather with plenty of greenery, Autumn (September-November) is similar to spring but warmer.

People

Bhutanese are of a Mongolian decent who originally migrated to the country in the 7th Century. A nomadic and pastoral society at first, they gradually turned to agriculture in the fertile valleys. There are three main ethnic groups - the Ngalongs in the western and central regions are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from the 9th century. The Sharchops who live in the east of the country, are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan. The third group is known as Lhotshampas. They represent the Nepali speaking ethnic group. The total population of Bhutan is about 600,000.

Dzongs:

These massive fortress-monasteries decorate most hill-tops and valleys. They serve as the administrative headquarters and are the focus of secular and religious authority in each district.

Trekking in Bhutan

Laya/Gasa Trek

Laya/Gasa Trek

This route takes one upstream along the Paro Chu and the ancient caravan route to Tibet, Through the Seo Valley deep into the shadows of Mt. Chomolari 7314m, Mt. Jitchu Drake 7000m and over Nele La Pass 4250m into Lingshi Valley. ..

DURATION: 16 Days
DESTINATION: Bhutan
GRADE: Moderate
MAX. ALTITUDE: 7570m

Chomolhari Trek

Chomolhari Trek

This trek offers you with a great variety of Bhutanese landscapes and is without doubt one of the most beautiful and unspoilt trekking areas in the entire Himalaya...

DURATION: 11 Days
DESTINATION: Bhutan
GRADE: Moderate
MAX. ALTITUDE: 7570m

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