Laya Gasa Trek difficulty
The Laya Gasa Trek is not an easy trek and belongs to the difficulty category because of several reason. First, it does not involve a single hard part but a number of obstacles which add up over 18 days of trekking.
There are normally 5 to 8 hours of walking, but there are some days when you have to pass difficult high passes, which can take much longer. You will face ascending and descending at particular section, most likely during crossing of the Sinche La and Jari La due to poor road condition.
But the major reason that always makes the Laya Gasa Trek hard is altitude. From the moment the trail goes beyond Jangothang, there are no days when the altitude stays below 4,000 meter and above that anyone who is not careful can catch altitude sickness.
Trail condition also plays a part as well. This is an isolated trail with limited infrastructure. Here, bridges are often makeshift, river crossing happen without foot bridge, and weather can change unpredictably. The entire trekking time, you will have to survive in camping since there are no tea house or lodge on this route.
For this reason, the Laya Gasa Trek in Bhutan will be suitable for people who have done at least one difficult multi day trek before. The high-altitude trekking experience makes the Laya Gasa Trek very helpful to know the limit of your body and adapt your pace accordingly.
Physical Fitness and Preparation
Preparing for the Laya Gasa Trek requires more than simply being physically fit. Proper training involves preparing specifically for the trek ahead which will make a significant difference once you are out there.
Waking regularly is the starting point. Try to walk several times weekly before the planned trek, on varied terrain than just flat surface. In this way, you built the stamina needed for the long days on the trail.
Hill running and descending training is equally important. Doing hill repeats, climbing stairs or practicing with trekking poles to descend will allow the body to be prepared for repetitive changes in height when hiking through high passes like Sinche La.
The most important part of the physical preparation is cardiovascular activity, which will require several running, cycling, or swimming sessions per week to increase lung capacity needed in the mountains.
Backpacking training with a load is mandatory and is usually neglected. Training hikes with a backpack that weighs from 8 to 10 kilograms prepare the body for the additional load during Laya Gasa Trek itinerary.
Strength training comes last but not least. It should target the lower body, core and glutes as these muscle groups receive all the pressure while dealing with steep climbs and extended descent during every single day.
Best Time for Laya Gasa Trek
Spring (March to May)
Spring is the most stable season to go for Laya Gasa Trek. It brings consistent weather and comfortable day time temperature. The trail will slowly dry and becomes easier for walking through rough terrain. You will see clear mountain in the morning such as Jomolhari and rhododendron blooming in the lower forest.
Autumn (September to November)
The visibility in autumn is excellent, and the weather condition are at its peak compared to any other time of year because the monsoon clouds will go away. The days are relatively cool and the nights are very cold. There is no problem of wet trails due to the dry weather after the monsoons.
Monsoon/Summer (June to August)
During this time, Bhutan experiences heavy rain and so does the route of Laya Gasa Trek. This make the trails extremely muddy and slippery, especially in the lower forested parts. Clouds last for several days and no mountain can be seen during the trek which is really annoying. So, it is not the best time to go for a trek.
Winter (December to February)
In winter, high passes are covered in snow which makes them inaccessible. There are low temperatures during night, even lower than in autumn camps. That is why the usual itinerary for the Laya Gasa Trek doesn’t operate in winter months.
Accommodation on Laya Gasa Trek
The type of accommodation that is provided depend entirely on your location during the tour. You will stay in hotel in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, with facilities like private bathroom, shower, electricity and heating.
The moment you set out on the trek, everything becomes campsite based. You will experience camping trek where the whole team set up your camp each night.
The tent is shared between two people per tent, but you can request solo tent for yourself only before your journey. From our side, subzero rated sleeping bags and mattress is provided for you to handle cold weather.
For the toilet during the Laya Gasa Trek in Bhutan, the team will set up a toilet tent that will be next to your campsite. It’s very basic but private and functional. There is also limited facilities for shower during trek. Some of the campsites may provide warm bucket shower, and there will be days where you cannot have a shower. Trekkers mostly carry wet wipes and adjust accordingly.
There isn’t much electricity in the camps, which means that charging your devices may become a problem. To solve that problem, you need to carry a powerful power bank with you that can charge 2 to 3 times. As far as mobile connections go, they are non-existent most of the way.
Food and Water
The food that you eat will depend on whether you are in the city or trekking area. The food will be prepared for you at your hotel or at the local restaurants, which will offer breakfast and then lunch, and dinner will be Bhutanese and other continental cuisine.
When you begin to Laya Gasa Trek, the group will take care of all accommodation and food. It consists mainly of nutritious food like rice, pasta, dal, seasonal fruits and Bhutanese food (Ema Datshi) which is combination of spicy chili and cheese stew.
For breakfast, you can expect porridge, eggs, toast and tea or coffee that gives you energy to start your day. Your dinner is your major meal, and it is always served hot at the camp site after the day’s end, consisting of a carbohydrate, protein, and vegetables.
Lunch varies according to how long the route of the day is. If the day is short, the crew organizes an appropriate lunch break at the trail site. On longer days, you will have a packed lunch, which will usually consist of things like sandwiches, boiled eggs, or leftovers from the breakfast.
The source of drinking water is natural, from the streams and spring on the way. It is not safe to drink directly without any treatment, so team will boil the water first or use purification tablets or filter to make it drinkable.
Permit and Trekking Requirements
Bhutan follow “High Value, Low Volume” tourism policy, meaning independent travel is not welcome here. As a result, every tourist must apply for a visa through a licensed tour operator that will help on your behalf.
As a rule, citizen of most countries must require a visa to visit Bhutan, except for India, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Apart from visa, there is a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which price is 100 per day per person. The fee helps for education, healthcare and environmental programs.
As the Laya Gasa Trek takes place in the Jigme Dorji National Park and in the areas near the borders, the restricted-area trekking permit is needed as well. It should be issued together with your visa in advance of your travel.
In terms of documentation, you will require a passport that is valid for at least six months past your journey, a passport-style photograph, and travel insurance.
Epic Trek Nepal’s Bhutan partner manages the visa application process, payment for the SDF, the permit for restricted area, and all other logistics in Bhutan. You only have to give your documents on time and book your travel early because permit acquisition takes some time.
Travel Insurance
The Laya Gasa Trek is different from other sightseeing tours in Bhutan as it includes actual trekking to remote and high altitudes, and therefore travel insurance is essential prior to undertaking the trek.
While buying your travel insurance, you need to make sure that the insurance covers trekking up to an altitude of 5,000 meters, as there will be sections of the trek where you will go past this altitude. Since most travel insurances do not cover such treks, it is important to look out for this aspect.
Emergency medical care and evacuation are also vital, in case of altitude sickness or injury, as it might involve your immediate evacuation from areas like Sinche La Pass (5,005 m) and Jari La Pass (4,160 m).
Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are also going to help you in saving your money as you have spent a lot while making the arrangements for your trip to Bhutan. In addition to that, you need to ensure that you are insured against lost luggage, delayed flights, and personal losses.
We, at Epic Trek Nepal, do not offer any insurance plans, but we can help you in finding one suitable for trekking at high altitude locations. Just get in touch with us!
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