Trekking and Hiking in Bhutan

Bhutan is the perfect oasis for hikers and trekkers. Trekking and hiking in Bhutan are two of the most popular outdoor activities chosen by tourists. Unlike the trekking and hiking trails in Nepal, the trails around Bhutan have hardly any human settlements. Secluded, pristine and untouched, the forested walking trails around this beautiful kingdom offers you the best of Himalayan trekking and hiking experience.

Bhutan offers a range of walking adventures for all fitness levels and age groups. From easy 1-day hikes to grueling month-long treks, you can choose a hill-walking experience according to your interest, fitness level, and timetable.

One of the most popular day hikes in Bhutan is the hike to Tiger's Nest Taktsang Monastery in Paro. The walk involves climbing a hill to the iconic clifftop Buddhist monastery that was a meditation retreat of the Second Buddha or Padmasambhava. Other popular day hikes include hikes to Kila Gompa near the Chele La Pass, Kamsum Namgyal Chorten, and the walk along the Langchutse trail.

The short hike to Bumdra Monastery takes you to one of the sacred pilgrimage sites in Bhutan. Surrounded by the Bhutanese mountains' panoramic views, the Bumdra hike involves camping out in a luxury tent for a night.

Day hikes are easy and can be done by people of all ages provided they are fit and able to walk long distances.

Bhutan's trekking trails winds along ancient trails used by the Drukpas and nomadic yak herders. The trails sometimes treacherous go through juniper and rhododendron forests, alpine meadows, lonely hilltop monasteries, glaciers, and sometimes a remote rural mountain settlement.

As there are no lodges built along the trail, one gets to experience an old-style camping trek. At the end of the day's trek tents will be pitched up and food prepared by the local trekking crew. Graded moderate to challenging, Bhutan's treks take you to elevations sometimes above 5000 meters.

Some of Bhutan's most popular treks include the Druk Path Trek-8 days, Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek-8 days, Jumolhari Trek-11 days, Soi Yaksa Trek-12 days, Laya Gasa Trek-17days and Snowman Trek-30 days. These treks take you across ancient foot trails that connected Bhutanese cities before motorable highways were built, lush forests, mountain lakes, and traditional Bhutanese farms. Some of the difficult and challenging treks involve crossing glaciers and high mountain passes above 5000 meters. The panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks from the trails are stunning and guaranteed to leave you awestruck.

Depending on the difficulty, one can choose a trek that suits one's fitness level. For beginners as well as seasoned trekkers Bhutan has a trail for every hiker and hill walker wishing to discover the dramatic Bhutanese landscape.