Bhutan, also
known as DrukYul (Kingdom in the Sky) by the locals, is a
land of rich forests, wild flowers, and abundant wildlife
with a relatively small population of under a million people
made up of many different ethnic groups. Bhutan allows only
a limited number of western visitors to trek each year to
preserve its rich cultural heritage, way of life and fragile
environment. Because of the conditions imposed on visitor
entry to Bhutan we offer only two treks here. The Chomolhari
trek is truly an excellent alpine trek to the far northwestern
corner of Bhutan, near the Tibetan border.
We journey between the two main towns of Paro and Thimphu
winding up through pine forests, yak herders settlements
and passing beneath the shadow of Bhutan's divine mountain,
Chomolhari. Crossing 4600m high passes we enter a mountain
world of snow peaks, lakes and meadows of wild flowers,
where herds of wild bharal - blue sheep - roam. During our
stay in Paro, we walk up to the Tiger's Nest Monastery,
a monastery situated on the edge of a rock face. The Paro
valley is also home to Bhutan's oldest temples, National
Museum and the country's only airport.
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