Jumolhari Laya Gasa Trek

On arrival at the Paro International Airport you meet your tour guide and driver. Check into your hotel and after a brief rest, start your magical experience of Bhutan by first visiting the impressive Rinpung Dzong/Fortress of Heaped Jewels a fine example of the ostentatious Bhutanese art and architecture. The Dzong is located in the heart of the town and a few minute walk through Nyimazam, one of the few last remaining traditional cantilever bridges in Bhutan. Dzongs serve as both monastic institutions and district administrative offices.

Located above the Dzong is the National Museum that houses various antiques and artifacts of Bhutan and provides a glimpse into Bhutan’s cultural and religious history.

Visit the 3 storied Dungtse Lhakhang/temple, built in the mid 1430’s by Thangtong Gyalpo, an iron bridge builder, to subdue a demon and the temple is believed that it is firmly chained to the ground. The three floors of the temple represent hell, heaven and earth and house some of the finest murals in Bhutan.

Overnight at your hotel in Paro

After a sumptuous breakfast, you will hike to Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest which is about 3 hours uphill and 2 hours down. Riding ponies are also available if you think the hike is a bit daunting. Located around 900 meters above the Paro valley on a precarious almost vertical mountain cliff, Taktsang Monastery is truly a wonderful and spectacular sight in terms of its location, setting and history. In the 8th Century this was one of the major sites where Guru Padmasambhava – the patron saint of Buddhism in Bhutan meditated with his consort Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal. It is believed that Guru flew on a female tigress in pursuit of a demon which he subdued at the current site of the Monastery. It is one of the holiest site in the Buddhist arena and the most important cultural icon in Bhutan.

You can have your lunch, tea/snacks at the cafeteria midway.

Before you drive back to your hotel visit the Kyichu Lhakhang/temple, one of the oldest temples built in the 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo.

In the evening, enjoy a hot stone bath in a wooden tub which is supposed to be very curative with numerous medicinal and healing properties and has been the practice since the ancient times in Bhutan.

Overnight at your hotel in Paro

• Drive to Sharna starting point of the Trek – 1 hour
• Enroute – Ruins of Drugyal Dzong / Fortress of Victory
• Rural villages and farmlands of upper Paro valley 
• 6 - 7 Hours trek -  770m ascent, 10m descent, 19 kms
• Highlights - Millet and paddy fields, small settlements, small streams and meadows, view of Mount Jomolhari
• Camp altitude 3,860m

• Walking Distance: 19km, 5 to 6 hours 
• Camp Altitude: 4,080 m
• 6  hours trek -  480m ascent
• 19 kms approx
• Mt. Jomolhari Base camp
• Highlights – Mountain peaks, rivers, yak herder’s settlements, Dangochang village (highlands), spectacular view of the Mount Jomolhari and Jichu Drake (6,989 meters) from the campsite
• Camp altitude 4,080m

• Rest and halt at Jangothang - Acclimatization
• Excursion of Mt. Jomolhari base, nearby lakes and highland communities/villages, view of Mt Jomolhari & Mt Jichu Drakey
• Overnight at your camp

• Walking Distance: 7 hours, Camp Altitude: 4,010 m
• Excursion of Mt. Jomolhari base, nearby lakes and highland communities, view of Mt Jomolhari & Mt Jichu Drakey
• Distance 15km
• 7  hours trek
• Highlights – View of Jomolhari and Jichu Drakey & Mt Tshering Gang, Nylie Pass (4,890 meters), 360 degree view, and Lingzhi Dzong / Fortress (4,370 meters)
• Camp altitude 4,010m

• Walking Distance: 10 km, 5 to6 hours Camp Altitude: 3,990 m
• Distance 10 kms
• 5 hours trek, 940m ascent, 920m descent
• Highlights – shortest walking day, Chebisa village and excursion
• Camp altitude 3,990m

• Distance 17km
• 5 – 6  hours trek
• Highlights – High land nomads/yak herders camps, Gobula Pass (4,350 m), sighting of the blue sheep, beautiful Shakapasong valley
• Camp altitude 4,260 m

• Distance 17km
• 6 – 7  hours trek
• Highlights – Jarila Pass (4,600 m), Tsharijathang valley, Takin (the national animal of Bhutan with head of a goat and body of a cow)
• Camp altitude 4,160m

• Distance 19 km
• 6 – 7 hours trek
• Highlights – Shingela Pass (4,870 m), Lingmithang nomad’s village, Gangchen Ta Mountain(4,090 m)
• Camp altitude – 4,140 m

• Distance 16 km
• 7 - 8 hours trek,
• Highlights – Spectacular view of Gangchen Ta Mountain(4,090 m), Laya, many small villages
• Camp altitude – 3,800 m

• Rest and halt at Laya  -  3,800 meters
• Excursion of Laya - the second highest settlement in the country by altitude and visit the small villages, interatct with the highlanders and experience their unique culture
• Overnight at your camp

• Distance 16 km
• 6 hours trek,
• Highlights – The female river of Punakha, streams, waterfalls and sightings of the bearm musk deer and Takin 
• Camp altitude – 3,500 m

• Distance 16 km
• 6 - 7 hours trek,
• Highlights – Belela Pass (3,740 m),
• Gasa village (2,700 m), Gasa Dzong/Fortress (17th Century),
• Gasa Hot Springs
• Overnight at your guest house

• Drive from Gasa
• Drive Duration:
•  Gasa to Thimphu - 3 hours
•  Thimphu - Paro - 2 Hours
• Check in the Hotel
• Over night stay in Paro
• Sight Seeing in Thimphu and Paro on the way

After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport where your guide and driver will bid you farewell and hope you had a pleasant holiday and hope to see you in Bhutan again.