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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