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Bhutan Laya Village Trek
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OverviewThis unique trek takes you to visit a people that live very near the Tibetan border. There villages are so remote that they continue to live the way they have for centuries.Near the Tibetan border, 12,630 feet above sea level, Laya sits on the lap of 23,400 foot Masagang, one of Bhutan's 20 virgin peaks above 23,000 feet. The entire slopes are richly colored by wild flowers. This is the world where the elusive Snow Leopards roam, where the Blue sheep, Sambar, and Musk Deer graze in solitude. The winged inhabitants include the raven, wild pheasants, snow pigeons, the red billed cough, the alpine swift, and the black necked crane. The Layaps (people of Laya) call their home "Beyul," the hidden paradise. They believe that they are protected by an ancient gate leading to the main village. It was here that their guardian deities kept a Tibetan invasion at bay. It is an important annual ceremony the Layaps pay homage to the protective forces which turned all the stones and trees around the gate into soldiers to repel the invaders. As most villages in the high Himalayas, cultivation is difficult, so the Layaps rely on yak herding for a livelihood. Most of them live in thick black yak hair tents and stone-walled houses. The women of Laya keep their hair long and wear unusual conical bamboo hats and, turquoise and coral jewelry. They wear black yak hair jackets with long woolen skirt. Lives of Layaps are centered around their yaks. The yak butter, cheese and meat are exchanged for food and provisions. The yak hair is spun into the fabric for tents, ropes, clothes and blankets. The yak dung is collected to be burned for warmth and cooking. While on this trip we will also explore other cultural sites of Bhutan. |
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Details
Trip length: 18 days/17 nights |
ItineraryDay 1 - Depart Home - Depart from home to Bangkok, Thailand. Day 2 - Arrive Bangkok - Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Stay at the Bangkok Airport Amari Hotel. Day 3 - Arrive in Paro, Bhutan - Fly Druk Air to Paro. After lunch, we will make the 2 hour drive to Thimphu. Day 4 - Punakha Valley - After an early lunch, we will head eastward over the Dochula Pass (10,000 feet) to Punakha. Day 5 - Punakha Valley - After breakfast, we will visit the Phodrang Dzong, built in 1647. After the Dzong, we will enjoy an optional hike to Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Chorten (stupa). Day 6 - Punakha/Damji trek to Meadow Camp - A gentle walk of about three hours to our camp in a beautiful meadow near a small village. Distance: 6 miles; Ending elevation: 8,000’ Day 7 - Trek to Gasa - A lengthy climb past mani walls to Gasa. Distance: 7 miles; Ending elevation: 9,500’ Day 8 - Trek to Riverside Camp - The hardest day of the trek with a lengthy uphill hike to the Bari La Pass (12,226 feet). Distance: 14 miles; Ending elevation: 10,820’ Day 9 - Trek to Laya - Trek to Laya. One of the most beautiful villages in Bhutan. Distance: 9 miles; Ending elevation: 12,630’ Day 10 - Rest Day at Laya - Laya’s beauty and charm is not to be hurried through, so we pause for a full day of exploration. Day 11 - Trek to Riverside Camp - Descend back to Riverside Camp. Day 12 - Trek to Gasa Tsachu Hotsprings - Back over the other side of Bari La Pass (12,226 feet) and downhill through thick forests to Gasa Hotsprings. Distance: 13 miles; Ending elevation: 9,250’ Day 13 - Trek/Drive to Damji Village/Punakha - Return trek to our vehicles near Damji village. We then take a short drive to our hotel. Distance: 8 miles; Ending elevation: 5,500’ Day 14 - Thimphu - Return to Thimphu for rest, shopping and exploration. Day 15 - Paro - After lunch, we will return to Paro for our last two nights in the Dragon Kingdom. Day 16 - Paro - On our second day, we will conclude our visit to the Dragon Kingdom with a hike up to the magical monastery known as Taktsang (the “Tiger’s Nest). Day 17 - Fly to Bangkok - Fly to Bangkok. Day 18 - Arrive Home - Fly back to your country. Go To: previous page > bhutan laya village trek |
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