![Pur. Himalayan valley in northern Bhutan on the Laya Trek](https://images.followalice.com/4rIW3hSW2TYZJMdqG1AWV/8d92468177da1241cbc2141815a9111d/Pur._Himalayan_valley_in_northern_Bhutan_on_the_Laya_Trek.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=1200&h=1200)
Bhutan's Laya trek route
The Laya trek (also known as the Jomolhari–Laya–Gasa trek) is a challenging multiday adventure in Bhutan's gorgeous and super remote western Himalayas. We discuss what to expect each day to prepare you for this incredible trek of a lifetime!
Laya trek quick facts
Type: High-altitude guided trek Duration: 10 days Difficulty: Hard Best seasons: Spring and autumn Start point: Sharna Zampa, Paro District (2,810 m / 9,219 ft) End point: Koina, Gasa District (3,278 m / 10,755 ft) Highest elevation: 5,005 m (16,421 ft) Accommodation: Camping
![Cloouds above Laya village, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/6KxaSQAmmyQpK9mbdND6MZ/e91550f36efd651a6bd189bf4c7c3a7d/Ours._S._Laya_village__clouds__Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Highlights of the trek include the spectacular mountain views, visiting remote Laya village, and possibly seeing takins, blue sheep and blue poppies.
Location of the trek
![Bhutan map](https://images.followalice.com/6qBerosJnS9Gh7uYK11jEO/3dc916c4e9dbe3016508449de0de7363/Bhutan_Map-1024x724.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=566)
The Laya trek is an extension of the Jomolhari trek, and thus is sometimes also called the Jomolhari Laya trek.
Trek overview
![Img by Mark Horrel, attrib required, camping ground in Laya, Laya trek, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/5nvIkDBcgHkyEPGic11eul/cd9977fdb21fc14ecafe62a2378b3a3f/Img_by_Mark_Horrel__attrib_required__camping_ground_in_Laya__Laya_trek__Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
It's a difficult trek
On many days you're trekking for six to seven hours. Further, the ever-increasing altitude makes every step that bit more taxing. You must navigate some muddy and rocky paths. You climb up and down steep, scree-strewn mountain passes. There's the extreme cold to manage, as well as the possibility of snow.
![Jangothang Camp, Bhutan, by graham, attrib. required https://www.flickr.com/photos/grahamking/1463920848/](https://images.followalice.com/1B8Jx6y4kh0Vgq0JJJZ2HO/3a4ffc700c823dc4fd3479ff8a643d7a/Jangothang_Camp__Bhutan__by_graham__attrib._required.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Laya trek itinerary
Day 1 – Trek to Thangthangka
Distance: 15 km / 9 mi Duration: 6 hr Ascent: 770 m / 2,526 ft Descent: 10 m / 32 ft Thangthangka elevation: 3,610 m / 11,844 ft
![First bridge at the start of Jomolhari trek, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/73p0Wht6SFVoY9jBOidaDt/a491c4fb66fe7698af4f9c813001575b/Ours._First_bridge_at_the_start_of_Jomolhari_trek__Bhutan__1_.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=776)
![Pur. Ruin in Jigme Jorji NP, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/29u3gSekQEE3aHTqIMe5k2/8217a91f961fc4fb10ed574de78d4e99/Pur._Ruin_in_Jigme_Jorji_NP__Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
There's a great view of Mt Jomolhari from the campsite on night one. 😀
Day 2 – Trek to Jangothang
Distance: 13 km / 8 mi Duration: 5 hr Ascent: 450 m / 1,476 ft Jangothang elevation: 4,080 m / 13,386 ft
![Snow-covered Jomolhari mountain viewed from the Jangothang Base Camp in early morning. Jigme Dorji National Park, Paro District, Bhutan.](https://images.followalice.com/4kngDNveL4qf1vQTCMmr23/da24ff37288d29fc2868c687a21accef/Ours._Snow_covered_Jumolhari_mountain_viewed_from_the_Jangothang_Base_Camp_in_early_morning._Jigme_Dorji_National_Park__Paro.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
![Jangothang Base Camp in spring, near Mt Jomolhari, as seen from from above, Himalayas in Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/f27bV508O4xMZB57P0D5N/d20def83c3bc891bdd4f81e3fccd8ccc/Ours._Jomolhari_Base_Camp_from_above__Himalayas_in_Bhutan__1___1_.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
The Govt of Bhutan forbids climbing Mt Jomolhari as it's a sacred place.
Day 3 – Acclimatisation and exploration
![Pur. Mt Jichu Drake, Jitchu Drakye, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/71HMUyyVmOm7FUzBXt6bBR/cd7457ea1c0b0191d95ac22e47fc4bed/Pur._Mt_Jichu_Drake__Jitchu_Drakye__Bhutan__1___1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Jangothang means 'land of ruins', as the remains of a small fortress can be found nearby.
![Ruin of an old fort above Jomolhari Base Camp in springtime](https://images.followalice.com/3Kti1F3qqNnyVU9GzRkl5A/4a54da78ac8cd3b4813cff805bcbe4e0/OUrs._Ruin_of_an_old_fort_at_Jomolhari_Base_Camp__1___1_.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=571)
Day 4 – Trek to Chha She Thang
Distance: 18 km / 11 mi Duration: 6-7 hr Ascent: 840 m / 2,756 ft Descent: 870 m / 2,854 ft Chha She Thang elevation: 4,010 m / 13,156 ft Nyile La elevation: 4,870 m / 15,978 ft
![Prayer flags flutter above Nyeli La, a high-altitude pass in Bhutan along the Jomolhari and Laya treks](https://images.followalice.com/1MjZVL8PdrhFIFA8EuAmKp/b47184c4af7554c88ecf67e3ba208b86/Ours._Nyeli_La__High_Altitude_Pass_in_Bhutan._One_of_the_passes_along_the_Jomolhari_trek__1___1_.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Today you cross Nyile La, the first of two mountain passes on the Jomolhari trek.
![Pur. Nyele La, Nyile La, mountain pass, Bhutan, Jigme Dorji NP](https://images.followalice.com/6YmiL3JCVV1KRvHfL70ClQ/97310867ef3cba28dc735efe1cb0c52c/Pur._Nyele_Pass_Bhutan__1_.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Day 5 – Trek to Chebisa
Distance: 10 km / 6 mi Duration: 5-6 hr Ascent: 280 m / 919 ft Descent: 410 m / 1,345 ft Chebisa elevation: 3,880 m / 12,730 ft
![Pur. Yak in Himalayas](https://images.followalice.com/48EBNZE7hkO2dfLLCyKJH3/7f45fd31718ac3244e01543080cfcc41/Pur._Yak_in_Himalayas.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Day 6 – Trek to Shomuthang
Distance: 17 km / 11 mi Duration: 6-7 hr Ascent: 890 m / 2,920 ft Descent: 540 m / 1,772 ft Shomuthang elevation: 4,220 m / 13,845 ft Gogu La elevation: 4,440 m / 14,567 ft
![Pur. Bharal, Himalayan blue sheep](https://images.followalice.com/3gR5iy2XDU6gkBLSnGIYAA/8f1f3952e23e4d42117966ad33db5899/Pur._Bharal__Himalayan_blue_sheep.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Day 7 – Trek to Robluthang
Distance: 18 km / 11 mi Duration: 6-7 hr Ascent: 700 m / 2,297 ft Descent: 760 m / 2,493 ft Robluthang elevation: 4,160 m / 13,648 ft Jhari La elevation: 4,750 m / 15,584 ft
![This handsome fella is a takin, also known as the gnu goat](https://images.followalice.com/6k8C9ExokPFYWopoR13c88/429eebd1dc14759252dede372e86d2f2/Follow-Alice-to-Bhutan-26-1024x683.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Day 8 – Trek to Limithang
Distance: 19 km / 12 mi Duration: 6-7 hr Ascent: 850 m / 2,789 ft Descent: 870 m / 2,854 ft Limithang elevation: 4,140 m / 13,583 ft Sinche La elevation: 5,005 m / 16,421 ft
![Himalayan blue poppies / poppy](https://images.followalice.com/20nUlanJoMmwxLLTPcdwmd/a6f840bfae43c18e69e0571448d5fc5e/Himalayan-blue-poppies-1024x683.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
The blue poppy – Bhutan's national flower – has been upgraded to a species of its own! It doesn't produce opium like other poppies.
Day 9 – Trek to Laya
Distance: 10 km km / 6 mi Duration: 4-5 hr Ascent: 60 m / 197 ft Descent: 340 m / 1,115 ft Laya elevation: 3,820 m / 12,533 ft
![Pur. Laya village, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/4dDFRK7olnAACEhd5P9qRw/3c79a8ef285afc63bc73ec53fc5e07e3/Pur._Laya_village__Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Be sure to ask your guide to share with you the history of Laya and the legend of how the land protected them from Tibetan invaders!
![Tribal women with traditional dress in the Laya villages in Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/1YubV3L8KxuMoVkK0ubivf/c79b4f58042fdd0bb15b85bed1290cc0/Ours._Tribal_women_with_traditional_dress_in_the_Laya_villages_in_Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Day 10 – Trek to Koina
Distance: 19 km / 12 mi Duration: 6-7 hr Ascent: 250 m / 820 ft Descent: 1,070 m / 3,510 ft Koina elevation: 3,050 m / 10,006 ft
Best time of year for the Laya trek
The very best times for the Laya trek are April and the third week of October.
![Blue sheep in the Bhutanese Himalayas](https://images.followalice.com/7bsxLKG5Z74U679pGufMgB/92a450c391d3002c8cd8c1f3ca212d8e/Ours._Blue_sheep_in_the_Bhutanese_Himalayas.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Best weather
Spring (April to June) Autumn (mid September to mid November)
Best scenery
![Pur. View of Jomolhari in spring with flowers, Bhutan](https://images.followalice.com/2goctklIRbCby7Fh78o8VA/4fc158dcdf9e1ddf05a6570b8fbebfe5/Pur._View_of_Jomolhari_in_spring_with_flowers__Bhutan.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Best cultural experience
![Gasa Dzong, Locally known as the Tashi Thongmon Dzong, the fortress served as a defending barrack in the 17th century](https://images.followalice.com/46cZJqsRmAbRTfgTcifhuL/f4403ab59016c317366c79c20a4af679/Ours._Gasa_Dzong__Locally_known_as_the_Tashi_Thongmon_Dzong__the_fortress_served_as_a_defending_barrack_in_the_17th_century.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)