Bhutan is the land of mountains, which automatically brings activities like trekking to it. Trekking in Bhutan spells delight and thrill. The incomparable views, serene nature, wilderness and unique people will stay in your mind forever. The natural environment in Bhutan is seen as a source of all life and the abode of the gods and spirits. Therefore, It is not surprising that the Bhutanese have lived in harmony with nature and that the nation has its environment still pristine and intact. Trekking is an ideal way to get a feel of the country, the purity and natural beauty of Bhutan. Treks can range from minimum as 2 days to maximum 25 days.
For trekkers the most appropriate trekking times are mid-March to mid-May and mid-September to November. There are however also trekking routes that are better suited to summer or winter. Earlier in the year the light is sharper but the nights are very cold. In autumn, after the rainy season, the skies clear and the leaves begin to turn yellow. Between mid-June and mid-September one should expect regular rainfall. At altitudes beneath 2,000 m leaches can be a challenge.
Camping equipment is fully included in our travel package. You only need to bring your personal gears for the trek. Here is a list of personal gears that most trekkers will need:
| Footwear (for treks below 4,000 m) | Trekking or running shoes Camp shoes or thongs Socks (polypropylene) |
| Footwear (for treks above 4,000 m) | Mountain trekking boots Socks (wool) to wear with boots Socks (light cotton) for under wool socks |
| Clothing (for treks below 4,000 m) | Down or fibre-filled jacket Jumper or piled jacket Hiking shorts Waterproof jackets, poncho or umbrella Hiking pants T-shirts or blouses Underwear Sun hat |
| Clothing (for treks above 4,000 m) | Insulated pants Nylon windbreaker Nylon wind pants Long underwear Woolen hat Gloves Long gaiters |
| Other Equipment | Rucksack Self-inflating sleeping mattress (optional, normal mattress is provided by us) Sleeping bag Water bottle Torch light with batteries Camera |
| Miscellaneous Items | Toilet articles Cigarette lighter Small knife Sun block and sun block for lips Sunglasses Towel Laundry soap Medical and first aid kit Sewing kit Bandana |
We have collected most of the treks available in Bhutan and arranged them by duration. From the information below, you can consider adding a trek into your itinerary. Please feel free to contact us if you want to know more details of each trek.
Bumdra Trek
Duration: 2 days | Max Elevation: 3,800 m | Difficulty: Easy
Season: March to June, September to November
Start: Sang Choekor | Finish: Tiger's Nest Base Point | Access Town: Paro
This is the shortest trek in Bhutan. Also as the trek starts and ends in Paro itself so this trek requires the shortest duration for the entire trip. The trek starts from the north of the valley and ends in north west of the valley ending with Tiger’s Nest, one of the holiest place in Bhutan. The first day requires lot of climbing offering great view of the valley and the mountain peaks. The second day will be much easier with mostly descending.
Gangtey Trek
Duration: 3 days | Max Elevation: 3,480 m | Difficulty: Easy
Season: September to May
Start: Phobjikha | Finish: Tikke Zampa | Access Towns: Phobjikha
A short trek at relatively low elevations, visiting several remote villages and monasteries. This trek is recommended from March to May and September to November, although it’s possible to trek here throughout winter. It is especially beautiful in April, when rhododendrons are in bloom.
Sagala Trek
Duration: 3 days | Max Elevation: 3,250 m | Difficulty: Medium
Season: February to June, September to November
Start: Haa | Finish: Drukgyel Dzong | Access Towns: Haa, Paro
Traversing the mountain trail that separates the two western valleys of Haa and Paro, this 3-day trek is one that exceeds all expectations. The trek starts in Haa – a beautiful valley where people rear cattle and grow crops such as wheat, potatoes, barley and millet. Haa borders Sikkim and Tibet and it was only opened to tourism in 2004. On a cloudless day one could see breathtaking panoramic views of Mt. Jomolhari (the second highest peak in Bhutan) and Mt. Kanchenjunga (the third highest peak in the world). The trail takes you through alpine meadows dotted with shrubs, flowers and through forest of pine, juniper and rhododendrons.
Samtengang Winter trek
Duration: 4 days | Max Elevation: 1,980 m | Difficulty: Easy
Season: September to April
Start: Punakha | Finish: Chhuzomsa | Access Town: Punakha
This is a low altitude trek south-east of Punakha. Low elevation makes this trek possible throughout the winter, but miserable when it is hot. The path takes you through forests of rhododendron and oak, through the villages of Sha and Chungsakha and across the longest foot bridge in Bhutan. While it is available throughout the winter, the best times to embark on this trek are between March to April, and September to October. This route sees few trekkers.
Gasa Hot Spring Trek
Duration: 5 days | Max Elevation: 2,340 m | Difficulty: Easy
Season: February to March, October to December
Start: Tashithang | Finish: Tashithang | Access Town: Punakha
Gasa lies in the extreme north west of Bhutan. The region is flooded with hot springs known for their various medicinal properties. Some of the hotsprings are so much isolated that visitors rarely make it. This trek is the last part of Laya Gasa Trek in reverse. The hot springs are fun, but there is a lot of climbing to get there.
Druk Path Trek
Duration: 6 Days | Max Elevation: 4,210 m | Difficulty: Medium
Season: March to June, September to November
Start: Paro Ta Dzong | Finish: Motithang | Access Towns: Paro, Thimphu
As one of the most scenic and popular treks in Bhutan, this trek follows a wilderness trail passing through a gorgeous natural landscape of blue pine forests, high ridges and pristine lakes while at the same time offering the opportunity to visit some ancient lhakhangs, dzongs and villages. Although it is a short trek, it still goes to high altitude, making it moderately strenuous.
Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
Duration: 6 days | Max Elevation: 4,720 m | Difficulty: Medium
Season: April to June, September to October
Start: Geynikha Primary School | Finish: Chamgang | Access Town: Thimphu
This is a short trek near Thimphu to a large number of lovely, high altitude lakes. As you walk amidst the shimmering lakes you’ll be treated to stunning views of the entire Himalayan mountain range and some of the world’s highest peaks including Mt. Everest, Jomolhari, Masang Gang, Jichu Drake, Gangche Ta and many more. This trek is not difficult and most trekking days are short but there are some long steep climbs.
Merak Sakten Trek
Duration: 7 days | Max Elevation: 3,500 m | Difficulty: Medium
Season: Mid March to May, September to November
Start: Chaling | Finish: Phongmay | Access Town: Trashigang
This trek explores the remote eastern Bhutan region of the Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary and commences from the village of Chaling, near the town of Trashigang, and terminates at the village of Phongmay near the important regional weaving village of Radhi. Unlike anywhere else in the country, it offers visitors to experience a unique semi-nomadic lifestyle, culture and vernacular in one of the most scenic pastoral valleys in the protected area of Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary.
Jomolhari Loop
Duration: 8 days | Max Elevation: 4,520 m | Difficulty: Medium
Season: April to May, September to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong | Finish: Drukgyel Dzong | Access Town: Paro
It is a shorter and easier version of the main Jomolhari trek. It goes to the Jomolhari base camp at Jangothang, returning either via the same route or by an alternative trial. With altitude differences of 2,500 m and nearly 5,000 m it offers a wide range of landscapes, fauna and flora.
Jomolhari Trek
Duration: 9 days | Max Elevation: 4,930 m | Difficulty: Medium to Hard
Season: April to June, September to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong | Finish: Dodina | Access Towns: Paro, Thimphu
Bhutan’s most popular trek offer spectacular views of the 7,326 m high Jomolhari from a high camp at Jangothang. The first three days of the trek follow the Paro Chu Valley to Jangothang, climbing gently, but continually, with a few short, steep climbs over side ridges. It then crosses a high pass and visits the remote village of Lingzhi, and then crosses another pass before making its way towards Thimphu. The last four days of the trek cover a lot of distance and require many hours of walking. The trek also affords an excellent opportunity to see yaks.
Duer Hot Spring Trek
Duration: 9 days | Max Elevation: 4,700 m | Difficulty: Medium to Hard
Season: March to April, September to November
Start: Duer | Finish: Duer | Access Town: Jakar
This grueling nine day journey will take you up to the Duer Hotsprings, arguably the most beautiful hot springs in the Himalayas. This trek is the old expendition route to Gangkhar Puensum. With special permission, it might be possible to extend this trek to the base camp of Gangkhar Puensum itself, although this is a rough, difficult route. It is also possible to vary either the upward or return route to travel via the Mangde Chu Valley to meet a gravel road that leads west from Trongsa. Snow covers during winter so the trek is considered open from March to April and from September to early November. Its starting point, Duer Village, is one hour (5 km) of rough driving from Toktu Zampa.
Laya Gasa Trek
Duration: 14 days | Max Elevation: 5,005 m | Difficulty: Medium to Hard
Season: April to June, September to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong | Finish: Tashithang | Access Towns: Paro, Punakha
This trek is an extension of the Jomolhari trek. It offers diverse flora and fauna, as well as a good opportunity to spot blue sheep. This trek begins in Paro and follows the same route as the Jomolhari Trek as far as Lingzhi, then heads north into the high country. The best trekking month in the Laya region is April, The trek will introduce you to the unusual culture of the Laya people and offers a stop at a natural hot spring in Gasa.
Swonman Trek
Duration: 25 days | Max Elevation: 5,320 m | Difficulty: Hard
Season: September to October
Start: Drukgyel Dzong | Finish: Duer/Sephu | Access Towns: Paro, Bumthang/Trongsa
The Snowman Trek is an extension of the beautiful Laya Gasa Trek, and leads from Laya into high altitudes of the Bhutanese Himalayas. It takes tough and enduring trekkers into the Lunana region and further on to Gangkhar Puensum and Bumthang or down to Sephu in Trongsa district, depending on which route you choose. The Snowman Trek is said to be one of the most difficult trek in the world. Fewer than the half the people who attempt this trek actually finish it, either because of problems with altitude or heavy snowfall on the high passes.