The Layap are an indigenous people inhabiting the high altitudes of northwestern Bhutan, specifically the village of Laya, located at over 3,800 meters in the Gasa district. They are considered one of the most isolated ethnic groups in the world, with a semi-nomadic culture adapted to the extreme conditions of the Himalayas.
The arrival of solar electricity, mobile phones, and improved trails is rapidly changing their daily lives. Many young people now attend schools outside the village, sparking a debate about preserving their unique traditions.
Dress and the Conical Hat: Layap women are famous for their woven bamboo hat called the belo, which features a vertical wooden point. They wear black yak-wool dresses with colorful stripes and elaborate silver and bead jewelry.
Language: They speak Layakha, a Tibeto-Burman language closely related to Dzongkha (Bhutan's national language).
Polyandry: Historically, they practiced fraternal polyandry (a woman marrying several brothers) to prevent the fragmentation of land and herds, though this tradition is rapidly declining among younger generations.
Yak Herding: Their survival depends almost entirely on yaks, which provide meat, milk, cheese (chugo), butter, and wool for clothing and tents.
Cordyceps: A significant portion of their current income comes from harvesting cordyceps (yartsa gunbu), a medicinal fungus of high value in the Asian market.
Seasonal Migration: They practice transhumance; in winter, when snow covers Laya, many move to lower areas like Punakha to trade and protect their livestock from the extreme cold.
