Bumthang Cultural Trek
(altitude 2600m to 4000m) 10 nights 11 days
This trek passes through several villages on its meandering route
through Bumthang countryside, which gives an opportunity to the
trekker to have contact with Bhutanese rural life.
Jhomolhari Trek (altitude
2580m to 4820m): 12 nights 13 days
Odyssey to the snow
capped mount “Jhomolhari” known as the Goddess of the Divine
Mountain offers a taste of great variety of Bhutanese landscapes.
Starting at Drukgyel Dzong, Paro, we pass through the scattered
hamlets and farmland, into a deep and richly forested valley, which
leads to a high alpine pastureland where yak herders graze their
animals. Our highest camp, beside a clear lake, beneath the 10000
ft. high east face of Jhomolhari, is in as magnificent a location as
you could ever wish to find.
Gangtey Trek (altitude 2800m
to 3400m) 7 nights 8 days
The Phobjikha valley, at
3000m is one of the few glacial valleys in Bhutan and is also the home
of the black-necked crane in winter, which migrates from Central Asiatic
Plateau. The valley of Gangtey is one of the most beautiful places in
Bhutan and Gangtey Gompa is the only Nyingmapa monastery on the western
side of the Black Mountains. This trek leads you through the villages of
Gogona and Khotokha, passing through meadows and fields and also the
forests full of juniper, magnolia and rhododendrons. Its one of the
finest low levels treks in Bhutan.
Laya Gasa Trek (altitude 2,580m
to 4,900m): 17 nights 18 days
This is the long
established route from Jhomolhari across to laya known as one of the
Bhutan’s finest treks. This route offers a great variety of trekking
conditions, from picturesque farmland and forests to alpine pastureland
and high passes. Campsite beneath the Bhutan’s most impressive peaks, of
which the most remarkable are Jhomolhari and Jichu Drake, are also a
feature of this trekking route. In this trek one can also see the
isolated dzongs and scattered settlements, including the outlandish
village of laya, which provides a great deal of cultural interest.
Lunana/Snowman Trek (altitude
1600m to 5230m). 26 nights 27 day
One of the most exciting
and tiring journeys considered as one of the toughest trek in Bhutan or
may be in the world. The spectrum of the journey makes it difficult for
the individual some times yet its immaculate and imperial beauty of the
himalaya ranges, gives a hope to the trekker to reach on the top. Across
the north of the Kingdom from Laya, one enters the seldom visited region
known as Lunana, passing some of the last virgin peaks of the Himalayas,
Lunana offers a breath-taking landscape. Starting from Punakha, the
steep gorge climbs uphill leading to Laya, before crossing the mighty
Karakachu La to enter Lunana. After a long walk through the wonderland
of the kingdom, the route crosses the Gophu La to explore the valleys
south of Gangkar Puensum, which remains the highest unclimbed peak on
earth. After seven days of trekking it reaches to the wide-open valleys
of Bumthang.
Druk Path: Altitude (2400m to
3500m) 10 nights 11 days
This trek leads from
Paro to Thimphu or vice versa, crossing the chain of mountains that
separates the two valleys. Although there is little settlement on this
route, there are wonderful lakes teeming with fish and the area is known
for its spectacular rhododendron forests, which bloom in may. In the
clear weather of late autumn and winter there are splendid views across
the Himalayas.
Nabji Trail (Black mountain trek) 13 nights - 14 days
The
Nabji Trail is an ideal post-harvest/winter trekking open from October
up to the end of March. The trail is set out in Jigme Singye Wangchuck
National Park, a park with an ecological rich environment. The park,
located in central Bhutan, is also home to several cultural rich
agricultural
villages. The trail is a six-day low-altitude trek (between 693m/23100ft
and 1,636m/5453ft) through six different villages located inside the
park. Starting point Riotala (1060m/3533ft) and final destination
Tongtongphey (1061m/3537ft) are two small villages along the Trongsa-Zhemgang road, situated in the buffer area of the park at the east side
of the Mangde Chhu (river).
On this trek, you will possibly see the Golden Langur (Trachypithecus
geei), one of the rarest
primates, which can only be found in Bhutan and neighbouring Assam.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck
National Park is also home to the endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros
nepalensis). More
so, the trail is a superb place for birding (common mynas, blue-fronted
redstarts, long-tailed
shrikes and Eurasian sparrows, to name just a few common species, but
spotted are also serpent
eagle, golden-throated barbet, and the yellow-bellied flowerpecker) and
has a wide variety of
plants and flowers found in this Himalayan area (from Chir Pine,
broad-leaved trees and Bamboo,
to Rhododendrons and wild Orchids). Besides the natural beauty of the
area, the area also contains cultural history, witnessed among others by
the presence of a commemorative pillar in the temple of Nabji. The
pillar symbolises the occasion that peace was negotiated between the two
kings (King Nauche from India and King Sindu from Bhutan) intermediated
by Guru Rimpoche in the eight century. Along the six day trail more
traces of Guru Rimpoche’s presence during those days can be found.
The last two days of the trek will go through the homeland of the Monpa
people. The small
traditional villages of the Monpa community are scattered on the slope
overlooking Mangde
Chhu. The Monpas are thought to be the first settlers in Bhutan, the
Mangde Chhu valley
representing one of the earliest areas of settlement in Bhutan. The
Monpas practice a mix of
animistic shamanism and Buddhism. Monpa refers to “the people of
darkness” referring to their
isolated position in the past. In general term Mon refers to people
without religion that symbolizes
period before the advent of Buddhism in Bhutan. They were originally
hunters and food gatherers
and their culture, tradition and practices are intrinsically linked to
the forest around them. They
are traditionally cane weavers and bamboo crafters, using their skills
for house construction,
making baskets and other household items.
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