| The Chomolhari trek
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This six-day return trek offers a taste of the great variety of Bhutanese
landscapes. Starting at Drugyel Dzong, we pass through scattered hamlets
and farmland, into a deep and richly forested valley, which leads to a
high alpine pastureland where yak herders graze their animals. Our
highest camp, beside a clear lake, beneath the 10,000ft high East Face of
Chomolhari, is in as magnificent a location as you could ever wish to find.
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| The Laya/Gasa trek
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Despite the opening up of a number of new trekking possibilities in
Bhutan, the long-extablished route from Chomolhari across to Laya will
always rank as one of Bhutan's finest treks. The reasons for this are
not hard to find. This route offers a great variety of trekking
conditions, from picturesque farmland and forest to alpine pastureland
and high passes. Spectacular campsites, beneath some of Bhutan's most
impressive peaks, of which the most notable are Chomolhari and Jitchu
Drake, are also a feature of this trekking route. Numerous isolated
dzongs and scattered settlements, including the outlandish village of
Laya, provide a great deal of cultural interest en route. The memories
of this special trek will stay with you for a lifetime.
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| The Lunana trek
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Continuing across the north of the kingdom from Laya, one enters the
seldom-visited region known as Lunana. Passing some of the last virgin
peaks of the Himalayas, Lunana offers a breath-taking landscape that has
previously seen only a handful of foreign visitors. Starting out at
Punakha, this unique and challenging itinerary spends three days climbing
the steep gorge leading to Laya, before crossing the mighty Karakachu La
to enter Lunana proper. After spending seven days walking through this
"paradise on earth," the route crosses the Gophu La to explore the
valleys south of Gangkar Puensum, which remains the highest unclimbed
peak on earth. Seven long days' trekking remain to reach the wide-open,
fertile valleys of Bumthang. Probably one of the most challenging treks
in the Himalayas.
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