Beautiful Laya Gasa Trek

After breakfast, tour can be begun with sightseeing world heritage sites within Kathmandu. Kathmandu is known for its rich art, culture and architecture. Malla dynasty ruled over the country from 12th to 18th century. While Pashupatinath is known to be the religious Hindu temple and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Bouddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in South Asia which is built on the ancient trade route to Tibet.

We fly from Kathmandu airport to Paro airport of Bhutan. We will witness holy peaks Jumolhari and Jichu Drake in splendid view. We will be welcomed at Paro and transferred to hotel by Pokalde Adventure tours & travel representative. Normally, we reach Paro for Lunch where we will experience Bhutanese culture and food. After lunch, we visit the Ta Dzong - National Museum, which contains the gallery embrace variety of ancient canvases, armors “arena of Buddha's”. After touring museum, we visit to the Drugyal Dzong Ruins (Bhutan Victory Fort), which was built in 1646 to commemorate Bhutan's victory over Tibetan invaders during the 1600s. In the evening you can stroll around town and experience the lifestyle of people and had dinner and sleep overnight in Paro.

The popular Destination to hike in Bhutan is Tiger’s Nest Monastery located at 10,400 feet which is magnificent and the guru perched at edge of a sharp cliff about 3,000 feet above the Paro Valley. Guru Rimpoche winged on tigress to meditate here. We will have lunch in cafeteria which is situated around middle of the peak. After Exploring tigers nest once can mediate within the left over time and lastly back to hotel and Overnight at paro.

We drive up to Drukgyel Dzong to reach trek starting point following Paro river. The trail follows the river and we gain height slowly to valley of paddy plants and many other traditional and organic farm land. Whenever we complete the trek we set camp near by army post of elevation 2800m.

The Trekking trail follows river even it is in such higher elevation. After completing today’s tiring walk, we set up camp at field in the elevation of 3400m.

We continuously ascent up to Pachu (Paro river) passing small army camp and enter in to a beautiful valley. The valley is widen up and can see the spectacular view of snow caped mountains, yaks and pasture fields High mountains overlook the camp and visible nearby are the ruins of an old fortress used to guard Bhutan against Tibetan invasions.

Explore around Jangothang and can hike around Jhomolhari glacier or to the lakes in the opposite direction. This is for rest and readiness of following day trekking.

We will have a beautiful day’s walk today with spectacular views of the Jhomolhari, Jichu Drake and the Tserim Gang. We start climbing straight away and after some 3 to 4 hours reach the Nyelela pass (4,700 m) . After the pass we descend to a circular hut just below Lingshi, where we camp. Coming down from Lingshi we obtain our first views of the truly mystical Dzong atop a high hill.

Today is delightful day that we climb to reach another beautiful village leaving behind Lingshi is Gom Yu, which is set right below a 300 m cliff. Another hours walk brings us to a beautiful small valley having a huge waterfall at one end of the Shangri La village of Chebisa, where we camp by the side of the river. The walk is very leisurely with plenty of options and ways to engaged.

Today the trek is a-bit difficult and tough that we start a stiff climb through high pastures up to the Gokula pass (4,320 m) before we drop through forests of dwarf rhododendron. We climb gradually and head down to the camp near a riverbed.

A long haul over the Jarela pass at 4,640 m where we once again get stunning views of the Himalayan mountains above us. We descend steeply down via a forest trail to the Tsarigathang valley, where herds of Takin roam, then cross a knee deep river before climbing up Robluthang where we camp.

This is one of the toughest days of the trek. We climb gradually 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. We descend down to camp by river bank side.

We 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 wear great deal of turquoise and jade jewelry with long hair. The features of the people are even more Tibetan than the Bhutanese who live in the central part of Bhutan. The rest of the day is spent at leisure or visiting village houses and mixing with the villagers.

We have a rest day at Laya and an opportunity to meet the local people.

The trail winds along the river valley offers breathtaking views of the crashing river, feeder streams and waterfalls. Over night at camp.

We 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. We then drop steeply down to the river for an hour and camp near the Hot Spring - a chance for a good, hot bath!

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. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning visit the Punakha Dzong, the ancient capital of Bhutan built in 1637. In the winter the Je Khenpo, Head Abbot of Bhutan, moves to Punakha with about 1000 monks.This Dzong is open to visitors only in summer when the monk body is in Thimphu. We pass Wangdue, one of the major towns and district headquarters of Western Bhutan where we make a short stop to view the Wangdiphodrang Dzong dramatically located on the spur of a hill at the confluence of the Tsang Chu and Dang Chu rivers and then drive to Thimphu the capital. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Thimphu sightseeing includes visit to the National Institute of Traditional Medicine; the National Library, stocked with priceless ancient Buddhist manuscripts and the Art & Craft School, where children still learn the ancient art of Buddhist painting. Other highlights include a visit National Memorial Chorten, built in honor of late King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk; Zilukha Nunnery; Folk Heritage Museum; Textile Museum; Bhutanese Handmade Paper Factory and Handicrafts Emporium, which has all types of Bhutanese handicrafts and shopping for souvenirs in the shops of Thimphu. Overnight at hotel.

We drive to Paro airport from Thimpu for international flight. You fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel and take rest.