Laya–Gasa Trek

The trail runs roughly parallel to the river Paro Chhu, and sometimes crosses it via wooden bridges. You walk among beautiful trees, including rhododendrons, ferns, oaks, larches, blue pines, maples, birches, firs and cedars. In spring, the rhododendrons are ablaze with vibrant pink blooms.

 One of the busiest of all Himalayan campsites in fact! It's a popular acclimatisation stopover and base from which to explore the surrounding area.

Today you leave Paro Chhu valley and climb up into a glacial valley filled with moraines. The landscape changes and moves from lush valleys to spare ones of tundra. You should see blue sheep (or 
bharal
) on the mountain slopes. Also look for takins (or gnu goats), the national animal of Bhutan.

To start today's trek you cross a wooden bridge and hike up the opposite side of the valley. You soon pass close to Lingzhi Dzong (also known as Yugyel Dzong), which can be visited via a small diversion in the trail if you wish. You then pass through the farming village of Lingzhi, which has fields of wheat and barley on the slope above it. Interestingly, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine of Thimphu collects and dries herbs here as the area is rich in medicinal herbs.

You must ascend and descend a couple of steep valleys today, so expect to work those legs! You also cross the mountain pass Gogu La and, again, keep you eyes peeled for bharal herds!

There's plenty of forest walking today too, but at the end of the trek you end up in a lovely alpine meadow. We overnight at the campsite Shomuthang, which sits alongside a stream.

You will crisscross the river as you head up valley, enjoying the blankets of edelweiss that appear if you're hiking in spring. To the southeast you can also see the peak of Mt Kang Bum (6,526 m).

The trail then ascends into more barren territory as it leads you towards Jhari La (or Jare La). After descending the pass, you may get to see herds of takins, as they migrate to the valley in summer. This area is actually a takin reserve, so your guides will lead you in a route so as not to disturb them.

The path today continues in its northeasterly direction, but after you cross Sinche La, the highest point on the trek, you veer eastwards to reach the meadow campsite of Limithang.

Laya is a farming town and the biggest settlement that you'll have seen for days. There's a school, shop, hospital and an archery field (remember, archery is Bhutan's national sport). The townsfolk grow wheat and barley, raise yaks, and farm turnips and mustard.

To leave Laya, you walk through an arched chorten and descend to the river on the valley floor. Crossing the river, you climb to some stone army buildings. You now spend the rest of the day walking down the Mo Chhu valley, crisscrossing the river as necessary. The valley tightens into a canyon at one point, and so you must also climb up and over ridges in places. Expect to deal with mud and sludge along the trail.