Here is something extremely special: the chance to trek the full length of Bhutan’s highest mountains, the completion of which would be the major achievement of a lifetime. Only a small handful of westerners have ever managed the whole route. The trek begins from Paro, making its way past Mt Chomolhari (7,314m/23,997ft), Bhutan’s second highest peak, before crossing numerous high passes, including one above 4,900m/16,000ft, finally to arrive at the village of Laya. From here instead of turning south to the old winter capital of Punakha the trek crosses the Karakachu La (5,200m/17,000ft) to enter Bhutan’s most remote district, Lunana. It is a difficult place to reach and even the King of Bhutan has not been there. It is enclosed on all sides by high mountains and the lowest pass affording entry is 16,500ft/ 5,000m. Even this is impassable during the winter months leaving Lunana totally isolated from the outside world. Its inhabitants venture beyond these passes only occasionally to trade goods at the old winter capital a week’s walk away. In 1989 we were the second ever British party to enter Lunana and exit via the spectacular Gophu La (5,230m/17,160ft). The first was the remarkable exploring botanist, Frank Ludlow in 1949. The pass gives excellent views of Gangkar Punsum (7,550m/24,770ft), the highest peak in Bhutan, and now the world’s highest unclimbed mountain. Many legends surround Lunana including stories involving the Dredmo or Yeti. Also the evil spirits of seven Tibetan brothers, defeated in battle, inhabit the area, the most powerful of whom live in a wood near Chozo Dzong, a village we pass through. Lunana’s remoteness makes it a demanding trek and those embarking on it must be in excellent physical condition and have plenty of walking experience. Mount Chomolhari Approach This trek follows the route of the Hidden Kingdom Trek as far as Lingshi, then turns south towards Thimphu, allowing Chomolhari base camp to be reached on a shorter trek. Even though this is only an eighteen day itinerary it takes us into very remote and mountainous country, crossing two high passes, both of which are nearly 4,880m/16,000ft. Nevertheless we have allowed the same time for acclimatisation as on the Hidden Kingdom Trek, giving us a chance to trek up to Chomolhari’s glacier, and to look properly around the fortress at Lingshi. At 7,314m/23,997ft, Chomolhari is the second highest peak in Bhutan. 18 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Yaks resting close to Mount Chomolhari Photo: Steve Berry Glacial lake on the Lunana trek Photo: Steve Berry The Complete Lunana Snowman Trek £4,795 £4,260 Dates: Sat 27 Sep – Tue 04 Nov land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 28 days European Leader: Steve Findlay Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 8 Camping: 27 Lodges/Guest houses: 2 Optional: Single Room £160 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £185 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 39 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to Bhutan –4 Visit Taksang 5–32 On trek Lingshi – Laya – Lunana – Bumthang 33–35 Bumthang, drive to Tongsa and Thimphu –36 Rest, sightseeing, drive to Paro 37–39 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of6clients £2,595 £1,975 Tue 15 Apr – Fri 02 May £2,495 £1,975 Tue 07 Oct – Fri 24 Oct, Tue 14 Oct – Fri 31 Oct land only land only Grade: Vigorous/Strenuous On Trek: 10 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 7 Camping: 9 Optional: Single Room £130 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 18 days 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 3–4 Fly to Paro, sightseeing, trek to Taksang 5–14 Trek to Chomolhari Base Camp, and Lingshi, return to Thimphu –15 Sightseeing in Thimphu 16–18 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London The Autumn departure varies slightly due to Bhutanese flight schedules Guaranteed to run for a minimum of3clients

The Red Rice Trade Route, Eastern Bhutan Travel the breadth of Bhutan from Ha in the west to Tashiyangtse and Tashigang in the far east, exiting overland as few do, through Samdrup Jongkhar, into India. We immerse ourselves in the local culture as we visit a wealth of striking Dzongs, ancient Lakhangs and sites of religious significance en-route. Rice does not grow well in the Bumthang valley, central Bhutan, and in times past the people of Bumthang would travel annually to more fertile pastures following the ancient practice of Tho tsui – the rice search. Crossing the high Rodang La pass, 4,109m/13,478ft, home to the mythical migoi (Bhutanese yeti) and a host of migoi folktales, they would take their local produce to trade for red rice and chillies. On our trek we follow their ancient trade route from Bumthang high over the mountains, in part through beautiful rhododendron forest. This trek offers a unique overview of this mystical country. We see first -hand the contrast between the more sophisticated west and traditional east, and experience the regional diversity of the Bhutanese people and landscape. In eastern Bhutan there are several distinct dialects and on trek we find the villagers very hospitable. They see few westerners and we may be welcomed to a village with bowls of warm (rice spirit) and chopped fried-egg! The trek includes a stay, subject to availability, at historic Ugyen Choeling Palace and a visit to the festival Tashigang, which few western visitors are lucky enough attend. 19 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com Left: The boy that sweeps the Ugyen Choeling Palace Right: Snap happy Photos: Jude Limburn Turner This is one of our longest Bhutanese treks, and one which we have successfully run every year since 1988, when we were the first British company to pioneer the route. It has everything: remoteness, fantastic mountains, fascinating villages and dzongs, all within a kingdom which itself is culturally unique in the Himalaya. The trek starts from Paro, where we strike out towards the Tibetan border into Bhutan’s mountainous north-west corner. The route takes us beneath Chomolhari, 7,314m/23,997ft, the country’s second highest mountain, and Jichu Drake, 6,858m/22,500ft, first climbed by a joint British-Indian expedition in 1988. We may be lucky enough to see bears, herds of ‘blue sheep’, takin and many varieties of eagle, and perhaps even the Yeti, known here as the ‘Dredmo’. According to the local people this is a large, hairy, man-like creature which roams the hillsides, whistling ‘like a policeman’. The semi-tropical and alpine forests we pass through on the first day and a half of the trek also contain a wealth of flowers and plants. Many varieties of small, pretty birds flit through the undergrowth, which changes character as we climb higher. The main villages in the area are Lingshi, Laya and Gasa. Their mountain tribes-people, dressed in their yak wool clothes and conical bamboo hats, see few visitors. To reach this little-known area is not easy and involves crossing passes up to 5,000m/16,000ft high, over a total distance of some 150 miles. Rest days occur at timely intervals, including a stay near the hot sulphurous springs of Gasa. The Hidden Kingdom Trek has proved very popular and is without doubt one of the finest treks in the Himalaya. £3,095 £2,560 Dates: Tue 06 May – Fri 30 May, Tue 07 Oct – Fri 31 Oct land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 17 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 7 Camping: 16 Optional: Single Room £140 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £156 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 25 days 1–3 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to Paro –4 Sightseeing, trek to Taksang 5–21 Trek Chomolhari-Lingshi-Laya –22 Drive to Thimphu and Paro 23–25 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients £3,795 £3,265 Dates: Tue 30 Sep – Sun 26 Oct* £3,895 £3,265 Dates: Tue 04 Nov – Sun 30 Nov † land only land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 12 days European Leader: M A Harper*, “Ned” Kelly † Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 7 Camping: 8 Lodges: 9 Optional: Single Room £160 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £156 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 27 days 1–2 Fly to Kathmandu, at leisure 3–4 Fly to Paro, sightseeing, drive to Ha 5–6 Walks in Ha valley, drive to Thimphu, sightseeing 7–8 Drive to Gangtey, day walks 9–17 Drive to Bumthang, sightseeing, trek to Lhuntse over Rodang-La 4th Nov departure: Day 10 – Attend festival † 18–21 Trek to Tashiyangtse 22–23 Drive to Tashigang, visit festival, day walks in Radi Valley 24–27 Drive to Gauhati via Samdrup Jongkhar, fly to Delhi, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients The Hidden Kingdom Trek