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Challenge the remotest trails of highland Bhutan for two weeks and discover Bhutan’s unexplored regions where only a few trekkers have hiked so far- Laya Gasa Trek
Incredibly fascinating 217km walking journey through Bhutan’s most beautiful landscapes, The Laya-Gasa Trek is probably the most scenic trek in Bhutan that also extends to some of the unspoiled regions of the country. The trek kicks off at Drukgyel in Paro and traverses through wonderful Himalayan meadows, striking elevated passes, authentic mountainous hamlets, and opaque sub-tropical woodlands before it ends at Damji in Tashithang.
The Laya-Gasa Trek chases the trail of the Jomolhari Trek for the first five days. Vegetation in the neighborhood during Laya-Gasa Trek differs from dense tropical forests to the elevated yak pastures, where the nomadic lifestyle of the herders can be seen. The sighting of floral and faunal biodiversities including Takin (the national animal of Bhutan) while trekking through Jigme Singye National Park, the breathtaking views of Mt. Jomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drake, and Mt. Tsherimgang while gaining elevation, spending few moments with the Layaps (the natives of Laya) and experiencing their unique culture for a while, rejuvenating hot springs at Lasa and probable sighting of elusive snow leopard are the major highlights of Laya-Gasa Trek among others.
Since the trek has few arduous ascents and descents and gains significant height, it is considered one of the most challenging treks in Bhutan. Laya- Ghasa Trek with 32 can be a trek of a lifetime when undertaken anytime between April-June and Mid-September-Mid-November.
Today you will enter the Land of Dragon. You have options to fly from several cities to Paro. You can fly from Bangkok, Delhi, or Kathmandu to Paro. The flight to Paro is beautiful as the aircraft comes closer to Paro, we get to see snowcapped Himalayan peaks and just after entering Paro Valley the view of Paro Dzong overlooking Paro River is great to view. On our arrival at Paro, we are cordially welcomed by our representative in Bhutan who will escort you to your hotel in Paro.
After breakfast, today we are going on a hike. A five-hour hike to and fro to a cliff-hanging monastery is probably the biggest highlight of the Short Cultural Tour of Bhutan. Taktsang Monastery is also known as Tiger’s Nest because of the myth that states the visit of Guru Rinpoche on a Tiger back nestles on a cliff that hangs 90m above Paro. We hike up to the monastery, explore around and hike back down to Paro for the lunch.
Post lunch, we visit Ta Dzong, the National Museum of the Kingdom. The monument was originally a Watch Tower. However, since 1967 it is a National Museum holding a huge collection of arts, artifacts, thangkas, and postal stamps. The final destination of the entire Short Cultural Tour of Bhutan is Ripung Dzong which also has a long significant history in Bhutan. Overnight in a hotel at Paro. Originally built as Watch Tower in 1967 it is acting as the National Museum of the country and holds a fascinating collection of art, artifacts, thangkha paintings, and Bhutan’s exquisite postage stamps. Then walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong which has a long and fascinating history. While having a sightseeing tour of Paro, we would be preparing for the trek starting tomorrow.
Overnight in a hotel at Paro.
To begin the trek, we drive to Drukyel Dzong, which is a very short drive. As the Laya-Gasa Trek kicks off from Drukyel Dzong 2575m, it winds downhill along the wide-open trail. Further, we trek up through the wonderful landscapes that have beautifully carved terraced fields of rice and millet. Savoring the scenic view of Bhutanese farmlands, we come across the pleasant apple orchard, and beyond the orchard, our trek begins to traverse through a beautiful tropical forest. Trekking through the forest, we emerge at a wide valley and soon arrive at the Army Post at Gunitsawa (2810m). This Army post lies in close proximity to the Tibetan border. We continue to trek uphill to Sharma Zampa 2900m, which caters to many ideal campsites after the first day of the Choholhari Trek. Overnight in camp.
As we begin our Laya-Gasa Trek today, first we slide down to Paro River. Then we begin to trek upstream along the river. Climbing up and sliding down quite a few times through a beautiful forest comprising pine, oak, and spruce we cross the bridge over Paro River and get to a wide space on its left bank, where we have a picnic lunch. Post lunch, we continue to trek along the trail beside the river. At a point, we climb up into the wonderful rhododendron forest to listen to the pleasing gush of the Paro River. No wonder, we again descend down to the river and cross a bridge over it to reach our campsite at Soi Thangthanka. At the end of Day 2 on the Laya-Gasa Trek, we walked almost 20km, which is a challenging accomplishment. Overnight in a camp.
The third day of the Laya-Gasa Trek in Bhutan is yet another long day. Today we trek 19km. Starting the trek with the ascending uphill climb that extends for a couple of hours takes us to the Army Camp. Beyond the Army Camp, the walk is very pleasant. We chase the trail on the river bank, which has a beautiful treeline right above it. The striking views of the Himalayas including Mt. Choholmari come into our sight. We will enjoy our lunch in a well-located yak herder’s camp. After lunch, a wonderful hike through the wide valleys brings us to our campsite in Jangothang. The views of Mt. Jichu Drake and Mt. Choholmari are stunningly impressive from the campsite. Overnight in camp.
Jangothang is also known as Choholmari Base Camp. We rest at the camp for acclimatization. Acclimatization is required because next, we are getting as high as 4700m to the top of Nye-le La Pass. We can explore Tshophu Lake, and see around the yak herder’s camp in close proximity. Ask your guide for the best-suited option on this day.
After the rest day at our camp in Jangothang, we resume the Laya-Gasa Trek towards Lingshi. An 18km walk today is going to be fun. Beginning the trek, we hike along the trail at the bank of a gentle stream for almost thirty minutes to a bridge. We cross the bridge and get to the other bank of the stream. Crossing the stream an uphill climb on the ridge awaits us. We savor the magnificent views of Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserimgang while ascending over the ridge. After the strenuous ascent, we come across a leveled valley. Trekking along the valley floor, we gradually begin to gain altitude to the top of Nyele-La Pass 4700m. From the top of the pass we see the wonderful view of the valley we trekked to a few hours ago, mountains seem equally beautiful and the view of Lingshi Dzong is simply superb. We descend down from the pass to our campsite in Lingshi. Overnight in a camp
Relatively, the Laya-Gasa trek today is easier. Yesterday’s endurance to scale the elevation high up to the Lingshi Dzong, where we settled our camps savoring the magnificence of nature has granted us an easier trek day. Trek to Chebisa is wonderful to hike traversing through the villages and a few yak herder’s camps. We will enjoy our lunch in an open pasture and post lunch a short walk will bring us to Chebisa. We will set our camps on the bank of the small stream.
After breakfast, the trek begins. Today, we kick off trekking on a steep uphill climb over the ridge to Gombu La Pass 4,400m. The trek from Chebisa to the top of Gombu La Pass is a wonderfully challenging four hours hike. We will stop at the pass for a short breather and descend down through the rhododendron bushes to the stopover point, where we have our lunch. Post lunch, we traverse along the typical trekking trail in Bhutan. It goes up and down, crosses the river, follows the jungle trail and frequently emerges into yak herders’ camp all the way to Somuthang. On this part of trek, we may sight the herds of blue sheep down the pass. Overnight in a camp at Somuthang.
Today the Laya- Gasa Trek comes to the top of Jhari La Pass 4,700m and trekkers don’t have to wait long for that. We begin the trek today with the uphill climb that takes us to the top of the Pass. Let us have a short breather at the Pass and begin to descend down to Tsheri Jathang Valley. During the summer, the valley is an ideal home for Takin (Bhutanese National Animal). Beyond the valley, we cross the small stream that most of the time doesn’t have a bridge over it and begin to slide up on the left trail all the way to our campsite at Robluthang.
The first part of today’s trek is a tiring long uphill climb to the top of Sinche La Pass 5000m. The views of the mountains from the past are excellent. Beyond the pass, while descending down to Limithang, the trails at places are so narrow that you need to be extra careful. Do not forget to wet your feet while crossing the streams as in these regions the streams do not have bridges over them. Hiking very close to Limithang, we get to see the magnificent view of Mt. Gangchey Ta. Overnight in camp at Liminthang.
Accept the greeting of Gangchey Ta Peak, as you wake up in the morning, it sprawls right before your eyes. Enjoy breakfast, in the beautiful highlands of Bhutan and begin the trek. Today’s trek to Laya is incredibly wonderful. The trail most of the time winds through dense forest comprising moss and colorful singing birds. The views in the vicinity are exceptionally breathtaking and the walk itself is great fun. After 5 hours of pleasant walking, we arrive to Laya, which has the human settlement at the second-highest altitude in Bhutan. We will set our camps in an ideal location at Laya.
A free day in Laya is one of the prime highlights of Laya-Gasa Trek. We will explore the village and the vicinity. While exploring the cultural aspects of the village, you would be amazed to see the wonderful hats that the women of Laya wear. It is a conical bamboo hat adorned with different types of local ornaments. Ever smiling and hospitable people of Laya would definitely offer you the local beverage, which is pretty much effective to get high. In the evening, we would enjoy the traditional dances around the campfire with the local alcohol Ara and Chang. Enjoy the free day in Laya.
The latter half of Laya Gasa Trek continuously descends down. Today, we traverse the trail along the river valley. We trek up and down through the pleasant forest that has cascading waterfalls, gushing streams, a wide diversity of birds, and musk deer all the way down to Koina. It is a flat surface of land ideal for camping. Overnight in the camps at Koina.
We are almost at the end of Laya- Gasa Trek. Today, the second last day of the trek goes up to the top of Bari La Pass 3850m. From the Pass, the trail drops down continuously till trekkers arrive at the beautiful village of Gasa. Explore around the old Dzong in Gasa, grab a beer that has been available for weeks, and enjoy setting your camps in the open soccer field in Gasa. Then continue to slide down for one more hour to Gasa Tsachu, which has refreshing hot springs. Let all the trek exhaustion go during the hot spring bath and trek up to the camps.
The last day of the Laya-Gasa Trek continues to descend and ascend through the dense woodlands comprising wild orchids, and other beautiful flora species. Since the trek, today goes through the rainforest beware of leeches and keep your eyes open. We will trek up to Damji, from where we will be picked up in a comfortable vehicle and driven to Punakha. Overnight in a hotel at Punakha.
After breakfast, we set out to explore the city. Visit 17th century strategically built Punakha Dzong which survived several fires and earthquakes. The Dzong at the confluence of the Pho and Chhu Rivers is now absolutely restored. Explore the Dzong which holds significant history in this part of Bhutan. After a thorough exploration of the city, we drive to Thimpu, which is a 75 km drive across Dochu La Pass 3100m. On our arrival at Thimpu, we drive into our hotel in the city.
In Thimpu, we visit Trashichhoedzong, the beautiful medieval time fortress/monastery, which is now the Bhutanese government’s integral building holding many government offices and King’s throne. Trashichhoedzong is also the summer home of Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot in Bhutan. The cultural tour of Thimpu continues to the National Library which holds a wide array of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts. Explore Arts and Crafts School to witness the fantastic ongoing workshops of Thanka Paintings and encounter the living traditions of Bhutan at Textile and Folk Heritage Museums before lunch.
Post lunch, the sightseeing tour of Thimpu, takes you to the Handicrafts Emporium followed by a visit to Stupa of Memorial Chorten (monument built in the memory of Father of Modern Bhutan- the third king of Bhutan). After a thorough exploration of the Bhutanese capital, we drive to Paro, which is 75 minutes scenic drive. Overnight in the hotel in Paro.
Our representative will drive you to Paro International Airport on time so that you board a plane to your onward destination on time. Have a safe flight home and travel with Access Nepal.
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It is the best way to explore a country as naturally and culturally diverse as Nepal. Aside from immersing in the wonders of nature, you get to meet people who are known for their friendliness and hospitality. The adventurous walk cuts through rhododendron forests (even at lower altitude), streams and rivers, interesting villages, monasteries and monuments and also climbs over glaciers and high altitude viewpoints.
If you are physically fit and guided by a sense of adventure, you would love trekking! The mountains and hills of Nepal have trails that match all abilities. The remotest trails that are mostly unexplored to well-marked trails with ample facilities, Nepal has it all.
The prime challenges trekkers face in the trekking regions are language barrier and navigation. A major section of the trekking regions are uninhabited and in the remaining sections that are, the locals hardly understand English or other foreign languages. Weather conditions and other unanticipated challenges can make it difficult to plan the day’s trek, meals and shelter options. A wrong turn could push you off the trail into harm’s way.
A guide on the other hand, eases things for you, enriches your experience and ensures safety. Guidance that comes from experience and deep local knowledge lets you to enjoy and make the most out of your trip while you leave the arrangements and planning to your guide who becomes an important part of your team.
There is no specific age limit. Trekkers as young as 6 and as old as 75 have trekked in the Himalayas. However, trekkers under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a guardian. Younger trekkers should only be brought along if they can be appropriately cared for and can properly communicate any problems to their guardian.
Trekking in the Himalayas can be moderately challenging to difficult based on the terrain, number of trekking days, time of the year and current weather conditions. It also depends on previous trekking experience and skill of the trekker.
It is preferable, but not necessary. However, physical fitness and the ability to cope with strenuous conditions in high altitudes is necessary to make the experience a pleasant one. It is therefore recommended that you begin physical training, involving cardiovascular workout and stamina enhancement months ahead of the trek.
Although the destinations in lower altitude can be trekked throughout the year, Spring (February to May) and Autumn (October to December) are the best times to trek in high altitude. Nepal receives monsoon rain from June through September, which is not a great time to trek. However, the rain shadow areas of Upper Mustang, Dolpo and Nar-Phu offer a great escape during the season. Winter is very cold in the upper mountains with heavy snowfall which cause obstructions in the trekking routes.
A Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card is necessary for most trekking regions. An entrance permit is required for protected areas such as the Annapurna Conservation Area, Sagarmatha National Park and others. Upon confirmation of your booking, we acquire all necessary permits on your behalf.
Most of our treks range from one to four weeks.
The average trekking hours is around six hours. It can range from four to eight hours a day depending upon trail conditions, day of the itinerary, and weather conditions.
All treks with an exception of a camping trek include accommodation in a mountain lodge or guest house for overnight stays and meals.
Teahouse trekking is a popular trekking option wherein trekkers stay at cozy local tea houses in the mountainous regions on a full-board basis. This trekking style is preferred by most trekkers who do not want to carry the additional burden of tent, food supplies and other daily necessities.
Camping trek involves spending the night in designated outdoor campsites at the end of each trekking day. The team caters to all your meals and you sleep in tents. We have a team of professional cook and support staff in addition to guides and porters.
During the trek, we provide as much chlorinated water as you need. You may also refill your bottles at refreshment stops or at the hotel if you happen to carry chlorine tablets or other water purification options. You can also buy bottled water along the trail on most treks. A liter of bottled water ranges from USD 1 in shops and teahouses at lower elevation up to USD 4 in high altitude teahouses.
Most trekking trips involve eating at teahouses or lodges along the trail. These facilities have existed for quite some time at key places and have been serving trekkers and travelers with hygienic food and shelter. Most lodges source the ingredients from their own organic kitchen garden.
You can find common continental and oriental dishes on the menu while the staple dal-bhat-tarkari (lentil soup-rice-vegetable or meat curry) is the specialty almost everywhere. It is recommended that you stick to vegetarian dishes while on trek as the meat available is not refrigerated and therefore unsafe to consume. Although the menu gets limited as you ascend higher, it is common to find dal-bhat and noodles with soup almost anywhere. You may be surprised to find good bakeries in high altitude villages in the Everest and Annapurna region though.
The nationwide expansion of mobile network has made it possible to enjoy 4G and 3G network in most parts of the trek up to moderate altitude. A simcard for NCell and NTC, the leading mobile telecommunications providers can easily be availed. Uninterrupted connection however is greatly affected by weather conditions and terrain. More high altitude remote areas like the Everest base camp require satellite phones.
A good level of overall fitness, sound health and stamina is necessary to go on and enjoy the trek. If you have any chronic or acute health condition, we recommend that you consult your physician before signing up for the trip.
It is a known fact that oxygen levels at higher altitudes are significantly lower than the level that we are used to and the body needs to adjust to this change in atmosphere. The best way to aid acclimation is to climb slowly. We have prepared our itinerary to allow enough time for acclimation and not put too much of strain on the body. Adequate acclimation days, a combination of rest and a short hike have been arranged to further support the process. Minor symptoms of altitude sickness include severe, persistent headache, coughing, pressure in the chest, shortness of breath even while at rest, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and others. It is vital you constantly monitor your health condition and report any signs of sickness to your team leader.
With gradual ascent of altitude, prolonged exposure to increased solar radiation can harm our skin and eyes. Fresh snow in high altitudes reflect hazardous levels of UV rays that can cause much damage, especially to the eyes. It is thus vital to adequately protect them. Use of hats, long-sleeved clothing, sunblock lotion with adequate SPF and goggles are strongly recommended.
If you fall sick or get injured despite precautions, our first-aid trained guides would be your first help. Depending upon the nature of sickness or injury, you would either be immediately taken to a lower altitude (in case of altitude sickness) or evacuated by a rescue helicopter for medical attention. We would require your insurance details to arrange for a rescue helicopter if you are injured in a remote area and in no condition to trek further.
Safety of all our guests is our utmost priority. Nepal has been well-known as a safe destination and the Nepalese as friendly and welcoming people. We generally trek in small groups in constant care and company of our experienced and expert guides. The places that we frequently utilize as our stops have been known to be reliable and safe over the years that we have been served. As such the safety of all travelers is ensured.
Your insurance is mandatory and should cover emergency air ambulance and/or helicopter rescue services and all related medical expenses for injury, death, loss of baggage, theft and trip cancellation. Please ensure that all activities and destinations in the itinerary are included in your policy, specifically mountaineering or alpinism. You are required to send in you insurance details while booking the trip. For more information, please refer to Useful trek info.
Please refer to our detailed packing list for guidance. It is important that you consider your trekking route and the season you would be trekking in to pack adequately and properly. You would neither want to be underprepared for the freezing high mountains nor burdened with extra clothing and gears you would hardly use. Broadly speaking, a good quality backpack, down jacket (rated up to -10ºC), a warm fleece jacket, moisture-wicking top, trekking pants and shorts, thermal underwear, a pair of comfortable boots, woolen socks with extras, woolen caps, hat, scarves, UV protection goggles, trekking poles, water bottle and a good quality sleeping bag are the essentials. If you happen to miss out any items, you can easily purchase or rent any gears or supplies in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
The maximum weight of baggage per person on a mountain flight is 15 kg including hand carry, so please make sure you do not carry any extra items that you would hardly use on trek. This is also to strictly ensure that our porters are not overburdened. Any additional baggage that you bring along would be subject to additional cost from the airlines company and for hiring of an extra porter.
A sturdy yet comfortable pair of walking boots with ankle support is recommended for trekking. Always pick a broken-in pair of boots over new ones to prevent blisters and other inconveniences while on trek. The soles must be thick enough to protect your feet from sharp rocks and have a good tread for grip. If possible, opt for water-resistant boots that help keep your feet dry. Use woolen socks to keep your feet warm and do not forget to pack in extra pairs. A pair of crampons makes walking on ice easy.
A porter carries 10 to 12 kg per person of your baggage depending upon the trekking route, altitude and weather conditions. We allocate one porter for every two trekkers. A camping porter carries more.
Tipping your guide and porter is not obligatory, but it has become a standard practice to tip your guide and porter in Nepal in appreciation of their care and service. Most of the guides and locals belong to communities in the trekking regions and even a small support can help them look after their families better. Although the tip amount depends upon your satisfaction and financial conditions, trekkers normally tip around 15% of the trip cost.
Our trip costs include all expenses during the trip. It covers your transportation to and from the trek start and end destinations, accommodations, meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), permit and fees. You may require some pocket money for your personal expenses. It can be used to cover bottled water, snacks, extra coffee and tea, souvenirs, voluntary tips and donations.
We do not specifically have extra charges for solo travelers. However, a solo traveler who asks for a private room is required to bear single supplement charges (around … per day) which is subject to availability on trek, as our accommodation cost is on twin-share basis. Also, if you choose to trek solo without joining a trek group, you are required to pay an extra USD 15 a day for a porter.
If at all, the trek is not completed due to health and other reasons or completed before the designated date mentioned on the itinerary, no refund can be offered. Please be informed that we are not in a position to offer any refund as we are obliged to pay for our guides’ and porters’ efforts and time, booked services and cover our administrative expenses.
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