The power and
beauty of the mountains is more impressive on foot than from any
vehicle. Whether you take a two-night trek around the Bumthang
valley, or walk for three days from Thimphu to Paro, or take an
eight-day trek to the base of Mount Jhomolhari, the views, villages,
people, and experience will be unparalleled. Awakening at dawn to
the sound of the cockerel and a warming mug of tea, trekkers at
higher altitudes are invariably greeted by a breathtaking
mountainscape. Few sites on earth can equal the first sunlight
hitting a Himalayan mountain. Trekking during April and May in the
Himalayas brings the deep reds and oranges of the rhododendron
blossom. Earlier in the year the light is sharper but the nights
are very cold. In autumn, after the rainy season, the skies clear
and the leaves begin to turn.
Treks vary from
short three-day walks across relatively low altitudes to the
three-week Snowman trek that covers 356 kilometers and climbs three
of the kingdom's highest passes. The trek from Thimphu to Paro (or
vice-versa) is recommended for less experienced trekkers. Called
the Druk Path, it winds across the chain of mountains separating the
two valleys, passing crystal lakes and offering views across the
Himalayan Mountains.
More difficult treks
in northern villages will pass yak herdsmen who spend of most of the
year tending to their herds high above the villages.
The northern paths
climb as high as 5500 meters and should only be attempted by strong,
experienced hikers.
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