What's the difference between the Lingshi Laya and Gangkar Puensum treks in Bhutan?

I'm looking for a group tour and trying to decide between the Laya and Gangkar Puensum treks. Can you help me understand the differences? I'm thinking October or November 2026, with 18–23 days total in Bhutan being about ideal.

Both are strenuous camping treks into remote areas. The Lingshi route is better established and therefore sees more trekkers, though you're still not talking big numbers.

The Lingshi Laya trek takes you to the base camp of Bhutan's second-highest mountain, Chomolhari (7,314m), whereas Gangkar Punsum (7,550m) is the highest in Bhutan, and the highest unclimbed peak in the world.

The terrain on the Gangkar Punsum trek is wilder, and other than occasional yak herders there won't be any cultural interaction whilst on trek. On the Lingshi Laya trek you also meet nomadic yak herders, but the main difference is that you pass through traditional villages, including Laya itself, where the Layap residents wear distinctive conical hats and yak-wool robes.

Our October 2026 departure attends the Royal Highland Festival, which takes place in Laya each year and celebrates Layap cultural heritage with yak parades and milking competitions, traditional dancing and singing, five-legged races, and pole climbing. We highly recommend the Lingshi Laya trek for its combination of magnificent scenery and cultural insight.

For a second perspective: I've spent time in Bhutan but haven't done either of these treks myself. My colleague Seraphina has done both, and says that while they're different, the scenery is equally impressive on each. She particularly enjoyed the remote villages on the Lingshi trek.