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Laya Gasa tour |
This is
one of
the
treks
that
will
always
rank as
one of
Bhutan's
finest
treks.
The
route
offers
fantastic
mountain
views at
close
range
including
Mt.
Gangchey
Ta
(tiger
mountain),
mother
of the
female
river
flowing
through
Punakha
valley.
This
offers
diverse
flora
and
fauna,
including
a good
opportunity
to spot
Blue
Sheep,
Takins
and the
Blue
Poppy
(Bhutan's
national
flower).
Numerous
isolated
dzongs
and
scattered
settlements
including
the
outlandish
village
of Laya,
a unique
culture
of its
own
provide
a great
deal of
cultural
interest.
Though
remote,
the Laya
region
is known
for its
hospitality
and your
time
here
will be
delightful.
The trek
will end
with a
dip at
the Gasa
Tshachu
(hot
spring)
relaxing
every
bone in
your
body,
and the
memories
of the
special
trek
will
stay
with you
for a
lifetime. |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
|
Fly from Kathmandu to
Paro. Arrive Paro by
Druk Air flight which
will offer you great
views of Mt. Everest,
Kanchenjunga, Chomolhari,
Tsrim gang and Jichu
Drake. The moment you
step out of the plane
you will see the
difference. Bhutan
welcomes you with cool,
clean fresh air. Peace
and quietness is just
another bonus. Our
representatives will
escort you to resort. If
time prevails visit the
National museum &
Rinpung Dzong. You stay
overnight in Paro. |
Day
02 :
|
Paro valley sightseeing.
This day is planned for
sightseeing in Paro. You
visit the old fort ruins
of the Drukgyal Dzong,
which offers a very
scenic drive of a
typical Bhutanese
landscape. The dzong was
destroyed by accidental
fire and left in ruins
as an evocative reminder
of the great victories
it was built to
commemorate. On a clear
day the Mt.
Jhomolhari(7314metres,
24000 feet),the sacred
summit, reaches skyward
beyond the Dzong.
Afterwards visit the Ta
Dzong (built in1656 and
renovated in 1968), an
ancient watchtower,
which now houses the
National Museum. This
unusual round building
is believed to be in the
shape of a conch shell.
The centerpiece of this
Museum is a complex
four-sided carving
depicting the history of
Buddhism and its
propagation. One side is
Sakyamuni and the great
teacher Atisha,
representing the Sakya
School. On the next lies
Geylup, a disciple of
Dalai Lama. Another is
Nyingma lineage, the
head is Guru Padmasanva,
and the final is Drukpa
Kagyu with the figure of
Vajra Dhara. Below the
museum is the Paro
Rimpung Dzong (literally
meaning "Heap of
Jewels"), built in 1646
by Shabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal, the centre of
civil and religious
authority in this
valley. Here you can see
finest example of
Bhutanese architecture
enroute you visit the
near by Kichu Lhakhang
built in 659 A.D by the
Tibetan king Srongsen
Gampo. This Monastery is
one of the 108
monasteries built across
the Himalayan region by
the Tibetan King to
subdue the Demons that
lay across the Himalayan
region. The rest of the
monasteries lie in other
neighboring countries.
Along with these you are
quite attracted by the
Paro's market and farm
houses. |
Day
03 :
|
Excursion to Taktsang
Monastery. To
acclimatize yourself a
hike to Taktsang
monastery meaning a
tiger's den lies at an
altitude of 3000m which
takes about 2/3 hours.
The monastery was gutted
by fire in 1998 but the
remains of the structure
still attract visitors.
The Royal Government has
taken immediate steps to
restore and re-construct
the old structure. Tea
and snacks will be
served at the cafeteria
where you can gaze at
this beautiful monument
built during the 17th
century. Stroll back to
Kichu resort. You are
free to explore the town
in evening. |
Day
04 :
|
Drive from Paro to Shana
(2,820m.). It takes
about five and half
hours. This day you
begin your trek. Your
trek to Shana starts at
Drukgyal Dzong following
the Paro River and you
pass cultivated fields
and tiny web picturesque
villages. The forests
are alive with numerous
birds and brightly
colored butterflies. You
stay overnight at camp
Shana. |
Day
05 :
|
Trek from Shana to Soi
Thangthanka (3610 m)
which takes almost seven
and half hours. 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. You pass a
junction en route, where
another path leads north
over the Tremo La to
Tibet. Camp is in a
meadow with a stone
shelter. |
Day
06 :
|
Trek from Soi
Thangthanka to
Jangothang (4,115 m) and
it takes about five and
half hours. In the
morning after passing a
small army post, 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. Lots of yaks will
be seen today before you
arrive at the Jhomolhari
base camp (4,115 m).
High mountains overlook
the camp and visible
nearby are the ruins of
an old fortress used to
guard Bhutan against
Tibetan invasions. |
Day
07 :
|
Rest day at Jangothang.
This is a rest day. It
grants you a chance to
acclimatize and walk up
to the Jhomolhari
glacier or to the lakes
in the opposite
direction. |
Day
08 :
|
Trek from Jangothang to
Lingshi (4000m) and it
takes about six and half
hours.
Today you walk with
spectacular views of the
Jhomolhari, Jichu Drake
and the Tserim Gang. You
start climbing straight
away and after some 3 to
4 hours reach the
Nyelela pass (4,700 m).
After the pass you
descend to a circular
hut just below Lingshi,
where you camp. Coming
down from Lingshi you
obtain our first views
of the truly mystical
Dzong atop a high hill. |
Day
09 :
|
Halt at Lingshi. |
Day 10 :
|
Trek from Lingshi to
Shodu. |
Day
11 :
|
Trek from Robluthang to
Lemithang (4,040m) and
it takes about six and
half hours. This is one
of the hardest days of
the trek. You climb
slowly up to Shinchela
pass at 4,870 m. and are
rewarded with stunning
views of 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. You descend down
to camp on a lovely spot
by the riverbank. |
Day
12 :
|
Trek from Lemithang to
Laya (3,880m.) which
takes about four and
half hours. You 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 their
strange conical bamboo
hats. The women keep
their hair long and
adorn themselves 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 can be
enjoyed. |
Day 13 :
|
Rest day at Laya. You
can explore the small
Layap community of
slightly more than 800
people who live in the
northern borders of the
country. This area has
been isolated and
untouched by modern
civilization for
decades. The yak is an
important source of
income for the Layaps.
Yaks are used to plow
the fields, and they are
a source of meat, diary
products, and hair for
mattresses, blankets and
other items. The main
means of support for the
Layaps is trade, though
cash trade has now
replaced the barter
system. The Layaps
aquire goods from China
such as blankets, rugs,
plates/cups, thermoses,
shoes, and clothes- and
sell them in Punakha.
They also sell homemade
butter and cheese. |
Day 14 :
|
Trek from Laya to Koena
(3,300m.) and it takes
about six and half
hours. The rail winds
along the river valley
offers breathtaking
views of the crashing
river, feeder streams
and waterfalls. You stay
over night at camp. |
Day
15 :
|
Trek from Koena to Gasa
Tsachu (Hot Spring)
(2,638m.) which takes
about six and half
hours. You gradually
climb up to Balela pass
at 3,740 m and then
descend to Gasa village.
The first sight of the
Gasa Dzong perched on
the hillside over the
village is one of the
sights of the trip. You
then drop steeply down
to the river for an hour
and camp near the Hot
Spring. There is a
chance for a good, hot
bath! |
Day
16 :
|
Trek from Gasa Tsachu to
Geon 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 afloat in space.
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. |
Day 17 :
|
Trek from Geon Damji to
Tashithang - Trek ends.
Onwards drive to Thimphu.
The trail makes a long
descent to the river,
and you may see monkeys
along this portion of
the trail. The hike will
take you through lush
subtropical vegetation,
including banana trees,
creepers, and orchids.
The trail ends at the
road in Tashithang. |
Day
18 :
|
Thimphu Sightseeing.
Evening drive to Paro. |
Day 19 :
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Drive to Airport for
departure. |
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Services
Included
* A Guide
* All meals
* Lodging in
standard hotels
* Ground
Transportation
within Bhutan
* Pack animal in
trekking
* Entry fees
into monuments
Services
Excluded
* Flight from
Kathmandu to
Paro
* Personal
nature expenses
and unforeseen
events
* Airport Tax
* Travel
Insurance
* Bhutan visa
fee which is US$
20 per person.
Please note no
foreign office
abroad grants.
* Bhutanese
visa. It has to
be obtained
through us. We
need at least 5
working days to obtain visa for you.
Note
1. The flight
from Kathmandu
to Paro leaves
on every Monday,
Thursday and
Saturday only.
2. The flight
form Paro to
Kathmandu leaves
on every
Wednesdays,
Friday,
and Sunday only.
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