Bhutan: The East Opens Up

In April 2007, Bhutan plans to officially open its eastern valleys of Merak and Sakten to the world; Wilderness Travel will lead a three-week trip there, crossing the entire nation from Paro, in the west. Until now, these remote valleys—home to the seminomadic Brokpa people, who migrated from the Tibetan plateau centuries ago—have been visited by few Westerners. This is a trek to some very distinct cultural areas, far from the standard routes. The Bhutanese government has talked about opening the region for years, and it's finally happened. After touring monasteries and cities in western Bhutan, you'll set out on a five-day trek into Merak and Sakten themselves—climbing to cross 13,500-foot (4,115-meter) mountain passes, stopping to explore traditional weaving villages. Along the way, you'll get firsthand experience of eastern Bhutan's distinctive knife-edged ridgelines and its semitropical climate; you'll also meet the Brokpa and observe their pastoral way of life.

Vitals -

Length: 22 days

Price: $6,995

Departs: April

For more details - http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/peop/btpeop_sakten01b.html