Gasa
Bhutan · 2770 m
Description
Gasa is the northernmost and least populated district of Bhutan, a mountain valley below the Tibetan border whose hot springs have drawn Bhutanese pilgrims for centuries. The tsachu at the bottom of the gorge holds several stone pools of different temperatures and fills through the winter with families who come for weeks at a time to treat joint complaints. Above the springs a small round dzong sits on a spur. Gasa is the trailhead for the Laya trek and the Snowman, generally considered the hardest trek in the world. The road up from Punakha is rough and takes most of a day.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: October – March
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Gasa tsachu hot springs (November - March)
- Gasa Dzong on its spur
- Laya trek to the highland villages(Multi-day trip)
- Snowman trek trailhead(Multi-day trip)
- Layap highlanders and their conical bamboo hats
- Jigme Dorji National Park
- Takin and blue sheep on the high slopes
- Royal Highland Festival at Laya (approx. October)