Bhutan

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• Contents
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• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews
• Further Reading

January 2007

Page 6 trek 18 read ‘Gankar Punsum Southeast Face Trek – Thole La – Bumthang’

Page 7 map key, the orange dot – please read ‘village/city’. A major change has occurred: the map of Bhutan has shrunk in size and shape in 2006 with the upper protusion to the north sloughed off: nearly 7200km (16%) moved to Tibet/China

Page 22 Since 2005 Druk Air has a helicopter service in the country, with 4 or 5 seats and an average price of US$1500 per hour in 2005. (Check with Druk Air) Airport tax has increased from 300ng to 500ng. Airport tax from 2006 should be included in the air ticket.

Page 28 third point ‘…should all be passed anticlockwise’ – please read ‘….should all be passed clockwise’

Page 62 Trek 1 can be done in less than 3 days

Page 78 about Shana camp: this camp site is getting dirtier and dirtier

Page 79, day 2 time indicator please read ‘6 – 8hrs’

Page 79 where the old ruined bridge was is now (2005) a new bridge installed which we don’t cross!

Page 81, day 3 time indicator please read ‘4 – 6hrs’. Jangothang is getting a dirty campsite with many toilet holes

Page 84, third paragraph, first sentence ‘…camp, two new buildings (2002) have been erected …’ should be ‘…camp, two collapsed buildings (2005) can be found now ….’

Page 88 point 3, change altitude from rocky summit from 4760m into 4870m

Page 146 map detail ‘probably closed from 2005’ – this was not the case in 2005

Page 149 Re second camp: A third camp, protected from wind and better from stone fall is at the end of the second lake.

Page 183 note that on the map the route indicated between Jele La and Pumo La is not part of the Druk Path, but a one day very long hike between Paro and Thimphu called 'Punishment Trek'

Page 213 at the end of the second paragraph after the word Samtengang: ‘A dirt road is also reaching Samtengang now, however from the west – south/west.’

Page 215 road from Punakha up north towards Gasa is now (2005) reaching Damji. The condition of the road is not always easy to use due to mud.

Page 220 The Gangte trek is changing pretty much. More dirt road is built (a big stretch ready in 2007) There are talks about a new trekking route, starting more South in the Phobjika valley and probably 1 or 2 days longer

Page 228 trek E Nabji – Jangbi. This trek is now running (spring 2007). Check with www.tourism.gov.bt or tour operators dealing with Bhutan

Page 252 heading read: Trek 18 Gankar Punsum Southeast Face Trek – Thole La - Bumthang

Page 272 map: a dirt/dust road is going up the valley now towards Zhabjethang. This makes the trek described as route 1 on page 273 less attractive

Page 273 day 1 time indicator please read: '3 - 4hrs'

Page 275 day 2 time indicator please read: ‘5 - 7hrs’

Page 276 day 3, a dirt road is reaching Ugyen Choling Palace

Page 288 map: the dirt/dust road to Buli is ready

Page 315 trek 27, rumour says this trek is opening in 2007. Double check with tour operators and Bhutan authorities. A dirt road is planned close to where the trekking is located

Page 316/317 map: dirt/dust road to Gonphu and onwards to Panbhang in the future

Page 327 fauna section:‘A Field Guide to the Mammals of Bhutan’ by Tashi Wangchuk and others; Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture – Thimphu, Bhutan. An illustrated guide to the Orchids of Bhutan; published by DBS in Thimphu