TREKKING AND HIKING TOURS (BHUTAN)

Journey details

Bhutan offers trekking for every kind of traveller. Its trails wind through protected wilderness, remote villages, and high Himalayan passes, and each route reveals a different side of the kingdom. Easy winter walks through the warm lowlands of central Bhutan, such as the Nabji Korphu trek (October to April), pass through Monpa villages and the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. Trekkers spend nights in peaceful settings like Nabji, ringed by green paddy fields, enjoy the hospitality of Korphu, and watch folk songs and dances at Nimshong. Around 395 bird species have been recorded here, alongside Golden Langurs, Red Pandas, Himalayan Black Bears, and Clouded Leopards. It is also Bhutan's first community-based trek, with villagers actively involved in its logistics. For a deeper cultural journey, the moderate Merak Sakteng trek in the east (March to May and September to November) leads into the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 2003 to protect the region's biological and cultural diversity. Here, the semi-nomadic Brokpa people live in pastoral valleys that have welcomed only a handful of foreign visitors. Trekkers find pristine ecosystems and a community that proudly guards its distinct traditions and way of life. Afterwards, a drive from east to west connects valley after valley of temples, monasteries, dzongs, and remote villages, where daily life is itself a form of art. At the far end of the spectrum lies the Snowman Trek, ranked among the most arduous treks in the world. Following the Jomolhari and Laya-Gasa routes along the northern border with Tibet, it passes turquoise lakes, remote settlements, and unclimbed peaks between 6,010 and 7,570 metres. The trek is named for the six peaks over 7,000 metres (23,100 ft) it passes beneath, and it crosses nine passes above 4,500 metres (15,850 ft) on its way into the Lunana district. Snow often closes the route, so the usual window is late September to mid-October, after the monsoon and before the passes close, or from the last week of April. It demands excellent fitness, prior high-altitude experience, and careful acclimatisation. Whether you choose a gentle lowland walk or a month-long high-altitude expedition, trekking in Bhutan is a chance to walk through landscapes and living cultures that remain remarkably unspoiled. Pack layers, sturdy boots, and waterproofs, and always travel with a licensed guide, as required in Bhutan.