Beautiful Laya-Gasa Trek
Trip length: 19 Days
Level: Moderate / DifficultS
Maximum altitude: 5000m
Suitable month: April to June & September to Mid -November
Day 1: Paro
Aboard on flight to Paro, the sight of Mt. Everest and Mt. Jomolhari and Jichu Drake is a welcoming note for you. Upon landing, you will be received and transferred to the Hotel by representative. After lunch, visit the Paro Dzong built in 1646 housing the monastic body and administrative machinery. Later, you visit Kyichhu Lhakhang one of the oldest lhakhangs in the country built in the 7th century. Proceed further to Drukgyal Dzong, the fort of victorious Bhutan built after the victory over Tibetan invasion in the year 1649. Under a clear sky, you can see Mt. Jomolhari at 7, 329m from here. In the evening, walk freely in the town! Overnight hotel will be in Paro.
Day 2: Hike to Taktshang
After breakfast, start the day’s excursion to Taktshang, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched on a vertical granite rock, 900m above the Paro Valley floor. It is said that Guru Rinpochhe came to the site of the Monastery on the back of a Tigress to meditate. Have the spectacular view of Paro Valley from the temple. Descend for the lunch at Taktshang Cafeteria. Overnight at paro.
Day 3: Paro to Shingkharab (13-14 km, 5-6 hours) Trek starts
After breakfast at the hotel, drive about an hour to Zangkey pang (2700masl), meet with trekking crews, and start your trek. First few hours, walk on the road where you will pass by the army checkpoint. Gradually after some time, we will cross the bridge and walk into trekking trails. About 5kms, we will reach to camp at 3100masl.
Note: Today’s trek is mainly for acclimatization, so we go slow.
Day 4: Shingkhrab – Sio Thangkha (13-14 km, 5-6 hours)
The trek follows Pa Chhu, climbing and descending through pine, oak, and spruce forests. After crossing the bridge, the team stops for a hot lunch. After lunch, we climb along the river bank through the rhododendron forest. We cross the river again and that will take us to the campsite at 3,650 masl.
Day 5: Thangthangkha – Jangothang
Continue the trail along the Pachhu and the valley opens again after crossing a small army outpost. Trekking through the open valley affords view of high ridges and the snow-capped mountains with yaks and Yak herder’s camp on the valley floor. Trekking 15km of trek within 5 to 6 hours will find us near the ruined fortress at the base of Mt. Jomolhari at 4040m. Camp here for the night!
Day 6: Jangothang to halt.
After two long days trek, you will have a good chance to relax under the sun just infront of the Jomo lhari. But if you are interested you may go furthere from the base camp and climb to tsho Phu 4300m. night at camp.
Day 7: Jangothang – Lingshi
Climb gradually toward the pass through a wide pastureland. On your way, depending on the season you are trekking, you will find some yak herder’s in their camps. Descending from the pass to Lingshi, you will have a beautiful view of Lingshi Dzong, the Valley, Tserim Kang (Mountain), and its glaciers. At 4150 m, camp in a stone shelter with built-in-fire pit or in the tent! By then, we will have covered 19km of trail within 5 to 6 hours of trek.
Day 8: Lingshi – Chebisa
Today is the shortest of all days on our trip. Upon reaching Chebisa at 3, 850 m, having trekked for 3 to 4 hours covering 12km of trail, camp alongside the village settlement. You can visit the village houses and feel the Bhutanese rural life experiences.
Day 9: Chebisa – Shomuthang
Trekking through a wide pastureland will lead up to Gobu La Pass. Along the way, you find some Yak herder’s. Conquering Gobu La Pass at 4, 305 m, descend down to the valley. The campsite will be above a river bank, a tributary of a Mochhu River at the elevation of 4, 260m. By then we will have trekked 17km in 5 to 6 hours of time.
Day 10: Shomuthang – Robluthang
We start early for the trek is little strenuous. Upon crossing the Jerela Pass at 4, 600m, descend to Tsharijathang Valley, where you can see the herds of Takin, the National Animal of Bhutan. Camp at Tsharijathang at 4, 390m after having trekked from 15km for 6 to 7 hours!
Day 11: Robluthang – Lingmithang
Cross the Shingela Pass at 4, 900m, you take a downhill trek following the valley. Lingmithang, a beautiful village under Laya County offers an opportunity to see people dressed in typical Laya costume with long bamboo hats on their head. Camp at Lingmithang at the elevation of 4, 140m after a day long trek of 6 to 7 hours covering 19 km of the trail! A day halt exploring the valley and meeting the people of unique costume and habit will be of unique experience.
Day 12: Lingmithang – Laya
The trek for the day is downhill walk along the narrow winding river valley. The trail leads you to the west side of the Laya Village. At the elevation of 3, 850m, campsite is on a high flat bench above the village. The trek stretches for about 10 km requiring 3 to 4 hours of normal trekking.
Day 13: Laya Halt
A day halt at Laya will give us a time to go around and explore the Laya Village to the fullest.
Day 14: Laya –Gasa
After breakfast, Decent down till army chck point and possibilities, our car will pick us upo and drive to gasa for overnight at farm house. In the evening, after the trek, we deserve a very good and relaxing of our muscles, so we will go to famous Gasa Hot Spring. Overnight at farm house.
Day 15: Gasa – Punakha
After breakfast, visit Gasa Dzong, one of the most important Dzongs in Bhutan, then will ride through the high agricultural benches above the Mochhu into a lush semi-tropical gorge filled with banana trees, creepers and tropical vegetation until Trashithang. Continue driving to Punakha for the overnight in the Hotel.
Day 16: Punakha with excursion to Wangdue
Drive for half an hour to reach Wangdue, a fast growing town and well stocked shops. Visit the 17th century Wangdue Dzong. Although brought to the ground by the fire, reconstruction is under and Dzong is enriched with rich history. Proceed to Rinchengang Village on the opposite side of the river with unique cluster of houses made up of red mud. By the dusk, drive back to Punakha! Overnight in the Hotel!
Day 17: Punakha – Thimphu
Drive back to Thimphu with a stop at Dochhula for tea. Visit the new Druk Wangyal Monastery, the only of its kind in the country with elaborate paintings depicting the lineage of the Wangchuck Dynasty and their contribution in Nation Building. Continue to drive to Thimphu for the night will be in the Hotel.
Day 18: Thimphu Sightseeing
Your tour of the capital will begin with the visit to Memorial Chorten, s huge stupa built in memory of the Third King of Bhutan. Visit the National Library, the custodian of ancient manuscripts. Proceed to woodcraft and Painting school where traditional arts and crafts are still kept alive. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium for Bhutanese textiles and other arts are displayed and can be purchased. Visit Trashichho Dzong, the throne room, and the summer residence of the Chief Abbot and the Central Monastic Body. Drive towards the East, and visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest Dzong in the Country built in the year 1629. Overnight at the hotel in Thimphu!
Day 19: Thimphu – Paro
In the morning, hike to Tango Monastery, the 15th Century Monastery. Apart from getting to see monks in their daily religious practices, from the monastery one can have a panoramic view of Thimphu Valley. Descend to Thimphu and in the afternoon, drive to Paro. Overnight hotel at Paro!
Day 20: Paro (Departure)
After breakfast, our representative will drive you to the Airport and bid goodbye to you from Bhutan!