Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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Our trek to majestic Chomolhari (23,977')
and the unique villages of Laya and Lingshi
is one of the great journeys of the Himalaya.
You’ll cross breathtaking passes to reach
superbly isolated Laya and follow remote
paths to Lingshi, with its ethereal clifftop
monastery. Sharing the trails with yak
herders, you’ll be surrounded by some of
the most pristine and biodiverse landscapes
in Bhutan, with a chance to see bharal
(Himalayan blue sheep) and Bhutan’s
national animal, the sturdy takin. Arriving
at Chomolhari, sacred abode of the goddess
Chomo and forbidden to climbers, feast your
eyes on a picture-perfect panorama from
the amphitheater setting of Jangothang
(13,340'), the mountain’s spectacularly located
base camp.
Days 1-3 Paro / Thimphu / Punakha Arrive
in Paro, explore Thimphu, Bhutan’s diminutive
capital city, then travel to the subtropical valley
of Punakha, where we hike to charming hilltop
monasteries and visit imposing 17th century
Punakha Dzong, set at the confluence of two
rushing rivers.
Days 4-12 Laya / Chebisa / Lingshi Setting off
on trek, our trail winds through rolling hillsides,
then climbs up through bamboo, juniper, and
rhododendron forests. Reaching Laya (12,610'),
one of the highest settlements in Bhutan, we
meet its yak-herding residents. With their own
language and distinctive clothing, including conical
bamboo hats with a center spike, they are a
fascinating traditional people. We cross a high
pass to reach remote Lingshi (13,156'), whose
500-year-old hilltop dzong (temple) is home to
a dozen monks. A descent through high pastures
where shaggy yaks graze brings us to the dramatic
Chebisa Valley, with its huge waterfall and
idyllic village.
Days 13-19 Jangothang / Paro We cross a
16,000-foot pass with soaring views of three
massive ice peaks (Chomolhari, Jichu Drake,
and Tsering Kang) en route to our base
camp at Jangothang (13,340'). Enjoy an
Exploration Day here to savor the Himalayan
grandeur. The vision of Soi Dzong, a ruined
fortress built to guard Bhutan against invasion
from Tibet, adds to the mystique of the
setting, and we may be able to spot wildlife
including musk deer, Himalayan blue sheep,
and many species of birds. At trek’s end,
return to Paro, with a day hike to Taktsang
Monastery, the Tiger’s Nest, before departing
on Day 19.
FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR ASIA TRIPS, VISIT 97
Sacred Chomolhari, home of the mother goddess Chomo, rises like a pyramid on the Bhutan-Tibet border. PHOTO: LINCOLN POTTER
HASHMAT SINGH
HIGHLIGHTS
• Experience Bhutan, the “Kingdom of
Happiness,” and hike in its pristine
Himalayan ecosystem
• Hike to Chomolhari, Bhutan’s holy
mountain, with an Exploration Day at
spectacular Jangothang base camp
• Meet the villagers of remote Laya and
Lingshi, learn about Buddhist tradition
and mythology
• Enjoy comfortable full-service camping
with our Bhutanese staff
DETAILS
• 19-day trip begins and ends in Paro
• 13 nights camping, 3 nights deluxe hotels,
2 nights rustic lodges
• All meals included
DATES
Apr 4-22, 2017
Oct 10-28
TRIP COST
$7895 (4-15 members)
Single supplement: $2295
Internal airfare: $720 (subject to change)
Chiang Mai extension: from $470
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
13-day trek on steep trails, 5-8 hours a
day, altitudes between 7,300-16,400 feet