Bhutan, known as the land of the thundering dragon, is a place unlike any other, preserved and undiluted from the rest of the world.Their active desire to safe-keep their land and it’s traditions has made it so that outsiders have only been granted entrance in the past 45 years. Even now the number of visitors is limited to about 40,000 yearly.
It is a country where time stands still, where national happiness is recorded and prioritized, mystical buddhism is affluent, and the natural landscape is breathtaking and diverse making for some of the most beautiful trekking in the world. Just as the land itself is varied and yields multiple climates and possibilities, so do the different treks offered. All provide their own unique look at the captivating, abundant scenery of Bhutan, but which is the right trek for you?
3 Options for Shorter Treks in Bhutan
For those who are looking to bask in Bhutan’s stunning scenic views, but perhaps are new to trekking or just want something a little quicker, the Druk Path, Dagala Lakes & Tsaluna Treks are excellent options.
View From The Druk Path Trek
1. The Druk Path Trek (see more details)
This trek involves 6 days of trekkingand is a great introduction to trekking in Bhutan. Starting near Paro, the hike will take you through rhododendrons, alpine woods and beautiful vistas, the hills bursting with wildflowers in the spring. Along the way you’ll be met by pristine mountain lakes and stunning views of Gangkar Puensum, the highest unclimbed peak in the world. Comparatively this is a fairly easy trek and most of the time you are between 2500 and 4000m (8000 to 13000 feet).
Suspension bridge along the Dagala Trek
2. The Dagala Lakes Trek (see more details)
This4 day trektakes you up into the mountains to some of Bhutan’s most beautiful alpine lakes. On top of the astounding lake views, you’ll also catch sight of phenomenal mountain ranges, the Dagala range, and Thimphu as well as pass yak herders and traditional villages, making for a culturally immersive experience. Though it’s a short trek the trek passes over a number of 4,000 meter passes and climbs steeply in several sections. As it is a less popular trek you might just get the trail to yourself.
Beautiful Rhododendron in Full Bloom
3. The Tsaluna Trek (see more details)
If you’re really short on time this moderate 3 day trek is basically a shorter version of the Druk Path Trek. The trail takes you across the mountains dividing the Paro and Thimphu valleys, winding through flourishing rhododendron forests and high altitude lakes brimming with fish. All the while you’ll be met with great views of Mt. Jomolhari, Chomolhari, and other picturesque snow-capped peaks.
One of Bhutan’s Best
3 Options for Longer & More Challenging Treks in Bhutan
1. The Jomolhari Trek (see more details)
If you want something a little more challenging, The Jomolhari trek is one of Bhutan’s most popular treks. This 8 day trek highlights the Bhutanese landscape’s great diversity, taking you through lush forests, meadows, and bamboo to the high pastureland where yak herders graze their animals. You’ll journey across both Bhonte La pass (4,890m) and Takhung La pass (4,520m), garnering spectacular views of Mt. Jomolhari and Mt. Jichu Drake along the way.
Yak in Front of the High Himalayas on the Laya-Gasa Trek
2. The Beautiful Laya-Gasa Trek 12 days (see more details)
This wondrous 12 day trek is a more extensive version of the Jumolhari Trek. It is medium to difficult and takes you up and down through diverse terrain and rich wildlife, offering views of snow-capped mountains, rhododendron, yaks, and glacial lakes. On the trail lies the fascinating ‘hidden land’ of Laya, where the people are known for their distinctive dress, specifically the women’s conical bamboo hats. As the trek continues you’ll pass waterfalls on your way to Gasa where you can view the amazing Gasa Dzong and enjoy a bath in a natural hot spring that’s famous for their medicinal properties.
Oomta Lake on Snowman Trek
3 .The Snowman Trek (see more details)
The Snowman Trek is in a league by itself and a great choice if your looking for a real challenge. Widely regarded as one of the most difficult treks on earth, the 25 day long trek is Bhutan’s most famous trek, taking adventurers across the Himalayan border between Bhutan and Tibet. It crosses 11 incredible passes the tallest of them being Gangla Karchung La at 5230m, Jaze La, 5251m, Loju La, 5155m and Rinchenzoe La, 5332m. One major challenge of this trek is the isolated nature of it, making helicopter evacuation extremely difficult. Because this trek takes you to such high altitudes your window of opportunity to do it is slimmer, as it often closes due to heavy snow. The best time to go would be during October after the monsoon ends but before the snow comes to the passes.
These are just 6 amazing treks Bhutan has to offer, if none of those quite meet your fancy check out these other options for Trekking in Bhutan. Note that we combine most of our trekking packages with several days of touring Bhutan. If you are interested in just the trekking portion of a package please don’t hesitate to ask.
Related Reading:
Discover Bhutan’s Best Trekking Seasons
Packing Checklist for Bhutan Treks
Flickr Image Credit:
Rajarshi MITRA
Jean-Marie Hullot
Adam Singer
Harum.koh
Ian Cochrane
Ian Cochrane
Yaklela
