Bhutan Trekking
The Kingdom of Bhutan, known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is located in the Eastern Himalaya bordering Tibet and India. Its magnificent mountains, lush fields, thick forests, traditional lifestyle and serene atmosphere are the attractions of Bhutan.
Mountain peaks in the north reach up to over 7000 metres, the highest point being the Jula Kangri at 7553 metres. The southern part of the country has a lower altitude. Bhutan and its people have largely lived a life of isolation from the rest of the world, courtesy of being surrounded by the Mighty Himalayas. Western values have little or no impact here. The Bhutanese have succeeded in maintaining their cultural and spiritual heritage and believe that they live in the last Shangri-La. They are keen to preserve this belief by strictly limiting access to certain regions and controlling the number of tourists allowed to enter the country each year.
Bhutan is an incredible trekking destination, in terms of culture and history. Walking through the stunningly beautiful Paro Valley is a visually breathtaking and historically fascinating experience. It is also a delightful place to enjoy the country's most famous festival held at the Paro Dzong (a Dzong is a Bhutanese monastery). This beautiful terraced valley is home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples.
More than 90% of Bhutanese people are farmers living in small villages sparsely scattered over rugged mountain land. Buddhist teaching and philosophy play an important role in their peaceful lives. Today, the quality of life has dramatically improved since a cautious development policy brought in basic services such as education, health, power, roads and modernised agricultural techniques. More than 70% of the land area is still under forest cover. Its rich Himalayan flora and fauna, dazzling white peaks and lush valleys provide Bhutan's stunning beauty and aesthetic grandeur. It is often said that even the most experienced traveller will find Bhutan to be "a revelation".
