Excerpt
SNOWMAN TREK
Until the 1960s there were no roads in Bhutan: everything proceeded on the backs of horses or yaks, including postal deliveries. In the northern part of Bhutan, that is still the casetrails for bipeds or quadrupeds, but no wheeled transport. And due to snow, some parts are only accessible to pack-yaks, not to pack-horses.
Arcing right across the north of Bhutan, from Paro all the way to Jakar, is the toughest walk in the Himalaya, the Snowman Trek. The trek is rough, but the rewards are great. Here, in the remote north, the romance of the Tibetan worldthe yaks, the hardy nomads, the snow, the high passesall comes together. This is a chance to witness a nomadic lifestyle that has disappeared in other part of the Tibetan world.
This trek requires great stamina, and deep pockets due to the longer period required to complete it (at US$200 a night levied). Costs are likely to snowball (pardon the pun) if you get stranded in Lunana due to heavy snow, and have to helicoptered out. Timing is critical on this route due to snowfalls in Lunana: the best season for trekking is late September to mid-October. There are several variations on the eastern side of the route for the exit. The entire trek can take between 25 and 30 days. If you build in more rest stops, it can take even longer.
Days 1-12: Paro to Laya (see Blue Poppy Trek), with a rest day in Laya.
Days 13-19: Laya to Thanza: East of Laya, the Snowman Trek begins in earnest, traversing a series of high passes in the Lunana region. Everything in Lunana is carried in by yak caravans