Bumthnag

In the misty climbs of the Chokhor Valley, white-washed dzongs and ancient temples cling to the verdant hillsides. In Ura, sleepy homesteads rub shoulders with mysterious Buddhist shrines. Close by, the ridges of the Tang valley flourish with apple orchards and buckwheat fields, while the people of Chhume weave traditional woollen yethras amidst healthy meals of puta noodles and kule pancakes. Welcome to Bumthang; the wild, earthy and untrodden spiritual heart of the Bhutanese nation.

To travel through this bucolic section of the Himalaya is to take a journey back in time. Here Bumthang tour guides graciously showcase revered palaces (like the 17th century Jakar Dzong), mythical monasteries, (like the Jambay Lhakhang), aged temples, (like the Thangbi Goemba of the 1400s), along with traditional villages and rustic Bhutanese weaving mills. The legendary beauty of the region’s backcountry envelops it all, and travellers can look forward to experiencing the bubbling hot springs at Duer, the serene waters of the so-called Burning Lake, as well as the trekking trails around the greater Himalaya.