Overview
Bumthang Cultural Trek is a fourteen day package in the Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan where you hike for about ten days going and returning to the cultural valley of Bumthang to see how the people and villages in this valley go about their lifestyle and what their cultural aspects are while there.
Bhutan, where this Bumthang Cultural Trek takes place, is a country that is perched in the Himalayan region between India to the south, east and west, and the autonomous region of Tibet to the north. This country, which is predominantly Buddhist, has a mixture of sects in it, which in some ways are distinctively apart from each other in what they wear and do. The cultural trek to Bumthang shows you what is different in these people though they are Bhutanese as a whole. The Bumthang Trek, itself involves going through some of the finest trekking trails with landscapes that keep you enthralled all along the way. There are snow-covered mountain peaks to keep you occupied when the difficulty of walking sets in. The flora, fauna, natural vegetation, animal and birdlife is so special to the region in which you do this Bumthang Cultural trek. So much so, you would like the other treks in Bhutan, which are Druk Path Trek Jomolhari Circuit Trek Laya Gasa Trek or Gangtey Valley Trek check out the Bhutan Trekking Packages. To keep its natural environment in pristine condition, the country of Bhutan has over sixty percent of its landmass covered with forests and the other forty percent is used in sustainable agricultural practices. So much so, Bhutan is the only country in the world, with a negative carbon rating, making it clean its own pollution plus its neighbouring countries. In addition to this, it uses gross domestic happiness, rather than gross domestic product to measure the benefits of the social order in the country. With these, it has a natural open air historical archives of monasteries, temples, shrines, Dzongs (fortresses) so well integrated into its natural landscape which is neither detrimental but only allowing for the peaceful existence of the mind, body and soul. Hence trekking in a region, so well kept, makes Bumthang Cultural Trek something worth undertaking or any other for a matter of fact.
There are many wonders which you are likely to come across on a Bumthang Cultural Trek, but what you surely are going to encounter while coming into Bhutan for it, is the terrain of the High Himalayan Mountains with its snow-covered peaks to the north and the landscape with the lush green hills and valleys with fast flowing rivers, some of which have cut gorges into them, that come from ancient glacial basins below the high Himalayan snow-capped mountains. You land at the only international airport in the lush green valley of Paro. You are then met to the introduction of your hiking tour staff who cordially welcome you to the Kingdom of Bhutan. Then you begin with some touring activities before you embark on the actual hike to Bumthang. You hike to Bumthang will take you across Buddhist temple, Shrines, Dzong (fortresses) and flora and fauna unique to the Region of Bumthang. When you have taken in the unique sights and sound of what is uniquely related to this region, you return to the remaining part of the tour of Dzongs, Monasteries and the Taktsang Monastery in Paro. You finally complete your tour with the thought, that if you really did this trek to Bumthang.
How difficult is hiking on this tour?
Like all treks in Bhutan, you have to do a bit of steep climbing in order to get to the next area, so, the treks can be taken as being moderately hard but can be done by anyone who happens to be in proper physical condition. Plus the landscape and wonders of the terrain will remove any physical discomfort you might have on the hike.
Outline Trekking Itinerary for Bumthang Cultural Trek
Day 1: Arrival Paro (2250m) – Thimphu (2350m)
Day 2: Thimphu – Punakha (1310m)
Day 3: Punakha – Gangtey (2,900m)
Day 4: Punakha – Bumthang (2,800m)
Day 5: Bumthang Sightseeing (2,800m)
Day 6: Trek to Ngang Lhakhang (2,895m)
Day 7: Trek to Tahung ‘Meadow Camp’ (2,790m)
Day 8: Trek to Gamling/Mesithang (2,640m)
Day 9: Trek to Bumthang (2,800m)
Day 10: Bumthang – Gangtey (2320m)
Completing breakfast, we retrace the same way back to Gangtey which takes about eight hours to cover. When we arrive at Gangtey, we check into a hotel.
Day 11: Gangtey – Paro (2350m)
Day 12: Paro – Hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery (3,120m)
Day 13: Depart Bhutan
Trip Highlights
- Catch panoramic view of the world’s tallest Himalayas while flying in/out from Paro.
- Witness Bhutanese culture and tradition.
- Explore Paro exploding with colors and tradition.
- Hike into the Bhutan’s cultural heartland – Bumthang Valley.
- Explore around the tiny capital Thimphu.
- Go on a popular hike to Taktsang Monastery ‘Tiger’s Nest’- one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan.
- Visit Punakha Dzong – the most beautiful monastery in Bhutan.
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