Sacred Peaks and Valleys: Jhomolhari Trek
I just returned from a 12-day trip to Bhutan where I wanted to experience everything that this remote Buddhist kingdom had to offer. What I discovered is that 12 days is not nearly enough time to see everything in Bhutan! That said, I had a fantastic experience and am overflowing with excitement about the experience. In fact, I've created two separate itineraries for next fall that I am inviting all of you to join me on.
The trek was eight days, and I couldn't help but compare the experience to my time in Nepal last year. It's a totally different kind of trekking experience so I won't even begin to try to pick favorites - it's impossible!
Bhutan is what makes trekking in Bhutan so special. It's the land of Gross National Happiness, where economic prosperity is only a means to an end - the end goal being happiness. It's the last Buddhist kingdom and many will say the "Last Shangri-La". The country, which only opened up to westerners barely 30 years ago, has truly retained its ancient culture and you feel it every minute of every day: the architecture, the national dress, the warm and friendly people and the rural atmosphere. With only 700,000 people in the country, you always feel like you've stepped backwards through time.
Trekking here is a magnificent experience! Less of a "Himalayan adventure" and more of a high-altitude, rural country experience. Here you see yaks and yak farmers, high alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers, families who've been practicing agriculture for a thousand years, and even the well-worn ancient trading route to Tibet. That said, we crossed three different passes, the highest of which was just over 16,000 feet, and witnessed the breathtaking, snow-capped Himalayas including Jhomolhari I, Jhomolhari II and Jitchu Drake. It is a physically strenuous trek, but one that is definitely worth the time and effort.
I hope you will join us next fall to experience the magic and beauty of trekking in Bhutan!
Sacred Peaks and Valleys: Jhomolhari Trek
Happy travels!