Laya To Gasa Trek

Start the day with a delicious breakfast. The 2nd day of the trek is reserved for acclimatization purposes. Today we will embark on a short hike to the most popular monastery of Bhutan called Tiger’s Nest. Around two hours of walk from the hotel will take us above the Paro valley from where we will get an amazing view of Taktsang Monastery also known as Tiger’s Nest. On our way back we will have lunch at one of the tea houses. We then head to Drukgyel Dzong, a historic monument constructed in the 17th century followed by a short visit to Kyichu Lhakhang built in the 7th century. 

oday we will officially start our Laya Gasa Trek with a short downhill hike on an easy broad trail. Meander alongside beautiful fields and rice terraces as we move forward through the valley. Walk alongside a river named Pa Chhu then, ascend gradually on the uphill blanketed by rice paddies. Tread amid apple orchards and farmhouses, cross small settlements including Sangatan and Mitshi Zampa. A brief walk through the blue pine forest will take us to an army post. We will need to show our trek permits and get them stamped. We will cross Pa Chhu before climbing to Sharna Zampa. We will camp on the beautiful meadow below thousands of stars at Shana.

Follow the river and walk through a beautiful forest housing oak, spruce, and pine. The beautiful sceneries and a number of streams on our way to Singkharap will keep our spirits high. Shingkharap is a stone house perched at an altitude of 3110m. Walk briefly then cross a small bridge on the left to reach our lunch spot. After resting for a while, we will resume our journey. Soon we will be on the junction from where we will take the right route heading to the wooden bridge. Walk through the colourful rhododendron forest and cross the bridge to reach Soi Thangthangkha. Spend a blissful night amid lush meadows.

Though we will be walking only 4 to 5 hours, the trek is going to be a little daunting as we will be constantly moving to the higher altitude. Ascend until we reach an army camp. As we move upwards we can see the tree line fading away and vistas of mountains becoming more prominent. A muddy trail passing through a mani wall lead to yak herder’s camp. Here we will have a delicious lunch. Leaving the camp behind we will head to small settlements; Takethang and Soe. Tread on the plateau leading to another beautiful village, Dangochang. A brief walk from here will take us to our ultimate destination ‘Jangothang’. The place offers an amazing view of mysterious mountains; Mount Jumolhari and Jichu Drake. 

For the initial half an hour, we will be following the stream and then cross it. A tiring walk on the ridge will be awarded by a series of sparkling mountains like Tshering Gang, Jichu Drake, and Jumolhari. Tread on the levelled ground and soon another ridge appears. Climb Ngye La Pass from where we can witness the jaw-dropping vistas of mountains above and wide valleys below. Spend a few moments capturing this beauty then walk down to camp. Splurge into the view of majestic mountains then check out the ancient Lingshi Dzong. If we reach before dusk, we can stroll around the village. After a delicious dinner, we will call it a day. 

Start the trek with a pleasant walk to Lingshi Dzong nestled on the hillock. Constructed in the 17th century, the dzong is beautifully preserved. Today we will be walking on the easy trail meandering through small villages and yak pastures. On our way, we will have lunch. It will take us around 5 to 6 hours to reach Chebisa. It is a captivating small settlement embedded with cascading waterfall. Camping on the side of the soothing stream will be one heck of an experience. 

Today’s trek will take us all the way to Gogu La Pass at an elevation of 4500m. We will walk for around four-hour on the steep ridge to reach the pass. Enjoy the view of rare blue sheep then walk down the trail passing through the rhododendron forest. Have lunch then follow the hills fluctuating up and down. A brief walk from here will take us to Shakepasa. A steep climb from here will take us to Shoumuthang. Take a brief rest then explore the place.

Begin the trek with a gradual climb on the trail covered with alpine herbs. Soon we will be climbing a steep hill leading to Jari La Pass set at an elevation of 4700 m. The daunting trek will be rewarded by vistas of snowy Alps and beautiful valleys. We will walk downhill to a wide valley called Tsarijathang valley. We can see a few of herder’s homes used in summer for the Himalayan Takin. Leaving this beautiful summer hamlet behind, we will walk to a small stream and cross it a few times. Ascend until we reach Robluthang. Spend a night amid a rocky meadow. 

Get ready to navigate the highest pass of Laya Gasa Trek i.e. Shingchen La Pass at an altitude of 5005 m. Today we will start our day earlier than before. Tread on the boggy patches, cross streams a few times and see moraine as we approach the pass. Tread on the narrow path, cross a few streams and walk past a cedar forest to reach Limiting. The camp is set by the side of a beautiful river in scattered meadows with vistas of sparkling mountains.  

What can be more beautiful than seeing a sparkling Gangchenta peak in front of your eye as soon as you wake up? Take some time to delve into this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After a quick breakfast, we will follow a stunning trail offering mesmerizing views. Walk past a beautiful forest with moss-covered trees while enjoying the birds chirping and singing. It is a long yet beautiful walk as we come across a beautiful waterfall and village with stone houses. Laya is an ancient village with people following traditional culture and lifestyle. It is a perfect spot to explore Bhutanese culture, arts, and tradition. 

Splurge on the ethnic breakfast in the morning and enjoy the serene ambience. Afterwards, we will head out to explore this lovely village. Stroll around, have a warm chat with locals, snap pictures and check out their strangely fascinating attire. Head back to the hotel for lunch and take a rest before going out. 

Laya to Koena will be one of the most scenic trails as it is teamed up with soothing streams, raging rivers, and cascading waterfalls. Start walking on the trail leading to a river. A brief walk from here will take us to an army camp. The trail from here fluctuates up and down. We will have to walk past a muddy trail quite a few times, climb the ridge then descend. Ascending to Kohi Lapcha can be a bit daunting. Moving further won’t be wise, there is no better spot for camping nearby. Thus, we will spend a night here.

We will resume our trek after a delicious breakfast. First, we will climb and then follow the downhill piercing fir forest leading to Babel pass at an elevation of 3900m. The pass has a few prayer flags and a stone cairn. Delve into the serene ambience, click pictures, breathe in the fresh mountain air then descend on the trail blanketed by lush forest. As we move forward, the valley appears wide. A few up and down from here will take us to Gasa village. We will spend the remaining day exploring this beautiful village. Stroll around, have a fleeting conversation with locals, experience Bhutanese hospitality then head to the hotel for dinner. 

Today we will head to Gasa Tsachu where we will take a dip into the hot spring to relish our tiredness. The hot spring is believed to possess multiple medicinal benefits. Moreover, it soothes aching muscles and swollen joints. We will spend the rest of the day relaxing and strolling around. Take a rest after a luscious dinner. 

A short climb above the hot springs will take us to hills that constantly fluctuate up and down. Walk past oak and pine forest, small settlements, and beautiful farms. From the above, the Gasa Dzong looks stunningly beautiful. It is a short trek thus, we will be at our destination by the afternoon. We will spend the rest of the day exploring the village, learning about local cultures, tasting ethnic food and learning new things. Take a rest after dinner. 

From Geon Damji, we will descend to the semi-tropical gorge. The gorge is covered with tropical vegetation, creepers, and banana trees. The sight of monkeys and other animals is common on this trail. We will mostly walk through the forested section to reach Tashithang. It will take us around 6 to 7 hours to reach the village. The locals plant crops like wheat, maize, and rice. Head out to explore the village and snap pictures. From here we will easily get a vehicle. Spend a night in a tented camp.  

A brief walk from the camp will take us to the motor road. We will hop into the vehicle heading to the Punakha Valley. Here we will take a brief break to explore the Punakha Dzong. The Dzong, constructed in the sixteenth century reflects Bhutan’s ancient culture, and tradition and carries great significance in Bhutan. The beautiful monument is set amid two rivers. Stroll around the place, learn its history from the guide and submerge into its beauty. Before starting our journey, we will have lunch. Thimpu is merely 77 km away from Punakha. Spend a beautiful night in a camp. Dinner and Breakfast are included.

Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan holds some of the sacred and religious sites including Pangri Zampa Monastery, Cheri Gompa Monastery, and Thadrak Goemba, a few parks and museums. We will spend our afternoon checking out some of these attractions. 

Early morning breakfast is followed by a scenic drive to Dechenchlioling. The Queen Mother’s palace is barely an hour away from Thimpu town. The palace was constructed in 1953. We will check out the palace from the outside and snap some pictures. It won’t take us more than an hour or two to explore this lovely monument. We will then head back to Thimpu. 

In the afternoon, we will stroll around the local market in Thimpu. If you are willing to buy any souvenirs, it is time. Check out local handicrafts and other items. A brief rest after lunch will fuel us with the energy to start the journey. Paro is around 65 km away from Thimpu. It will be a blissful drive on a scenic road. 

On the last day of your trek, Heaven Nepal Adventure’s representative will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to Paro airport as per your flight schedule. If you want to go for the last minute shopping, you may wander around the nearby market.