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Bhutan Treks
Trekking in Bhutan involves walking through routes that pass by some of the highest mountains in the world. The power and beauty of the mountains is more impressive on foot than from any vehicle. Whether you take a two-night trek around the Bumthang valley or walk for three days from Thimphu to Paro or take the eight-day trek to the base of Mount Jomolhari, the views, villages, people and experience will be unparalleled. The best trekking times are March to May and Sept to beginning of November.
Nabji-Korphu Community-based Nature Tourism Trek
Duration: 6 days, Max. Elevation: 1,500m
Highest Camp: 1,500m
Standard: Easy
Best Seasons: October - April
Start: Tongtongphey (Trongsa)
Finish: Reotala (Trongsa)
Samtengang Winter Trek
The best time for Samtengang Winter Trek might be March to April and October to November, but as the name suggests, it is possible throughout the whole winter. This is a short trek passing through some villages of Punakha valley.
Duration: Four days, Max. Elevation: 2,000m
Highest Camp: 1,980m
Standard: Easy
Best Seasons: April and September to October
Start: Punakha
Finish: Chhuzomsa
Rodung La Trek
This route was the most important trade route to eastern Bhutan till the road was built. Nowadays hardly anybody, except some ardent trekkers, travels along this route anymore. The route can also be seen as an extension of the Snowman Trek ending in Bumthang. The combination of the two of them, Snowman and Rodung La trek, connects the country from the west (Paro) to the far east (Trashi Yangtse). Although the trek does not lead into really high altitude, it is tough and involves long steep descents or ascents; depending on the side you start the trek. Definitely one of the harder treks in Bhutan!
Duration: 10 days, Max. Elevation: 4,160m
Highest Camp: 3,680m
Standard: Medium to hard
Best Seasons: October to early November and April to early May
Start: Toktu Zampa (Bumthang) Finish: Trashi Yangtse
Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
Although the trek leads up to plenty of beautiful high altitude mountain lakes and provides stunning views of the whole Bhutanese Himalayan range as well as Kanchenjunga (3rd highest mountain of the world, Sikkim) it is still not a very popular trek. You might not meet any other trekkers during the whole trek. It is also possible to start and end the trek in Gynekha. The optional route back to Gynekha leads through beautiful Bhutanese villages. Although most days are short, the day from Gur to Labatama involves a lot of climbing and is, therefore, pretty strenuous.
Duration: Six days, Max. Elevation: 4,520m
Highest Camp: 4,300m
Standard: Medium
Best Seasons: April to June and September to October
Start: Gynekha (Thimphu)
Finish: Chamgang (Thimphu)
Gasa Hot Spring Trek
The Gasa Hot Spring Trek is one of the easier treks in Bhutan although it is advisable to connect the walking days and walk up to the tsachu from Tashitang road head in one day. Soon the road will reach Damji. Then the Gasa Hot Spring Trek will decrease to a three day trek. Although the altitude difference between starting and ending point is minimal, the many ups and downs on the way can make it more strenuous than it looks at first sight. However, the relaxation at the tsachu and the views and a visit of Gasa Dzong are absolutely rewarding. From April to September one will have lots of leeches en route. They love the warm and humid climate of Punakha valley, and they will love you.
Duration: Five days, Max. Elevation: 2,430
Highest Camp: 2,250
Standard: Easy
Best Seasons: February to March & October to December
Start: Tashitang (Punakha)
Finish: Tashitang (Punakha)
Bumthang Cultural Trek
The Bumthang Cultural Trek. Bumthang is well known as one of the main cultural centers of Bhutan and there are many opportunities to visit temples and small Bhutanese villages along the trek route. Although the trek is on the easy side, it involves a few major climbs like the one up to Pephe La with an ascent of about 500 m.
Duration: Three days, Max. Elevation: 3,360m
Highest Camp: 2,800m
Standard: Easy to medium
Best Seasons: March to May & September to November
Start: Toktu Zampa (Bumthang)
Finish: Mesithang (Bumthang)
Laya Gasa Trek
The first part of the Laya Gasa Trek goes along the same route as the Jomolhari Trek I right till Lingshi. Besides the unforgettable views of Mount Jomolhari, the trek offers spectacular views on Jichu Drake, Gangchhenta (Great Tiger Mountain). Between Jangothang and Laya the trail hardly goes below 4,000m and one has good opportunities to spot blue sheep or even takin. Some beautiful Bhutanese mountain villages, the unique culture and appearance of the Layaps (people of Laya district) and finally a day of relaxation at the Gasa hot springs add to an extremely rewarding trekking experience. All in all, the Laya Gasa Trek is considered to be the most beautiful trek of Bhutan, only to be beaten by the tough Snowman Trek.
Duration: 14 days, Max. Elevation: 5,005m
Highest Camp: 4,220m
Standard: Medium to hard
Best Seasons: April to June & Mid September to Mid Nov
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Tashitang (Punakha)
Snowman Trek I (to Sephu)
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 leads through the most remote areas up to very high altitudes. Trekkers have to camp in altitudes above 5,000m more than once, and depending on the seasonal temperatures, the camps are sometimes on snow.
Duration: 25 days, Max. Elevation: 5,320m
Highest Camp: 5,050m
Standard: Hard
Best Seasons: Mid June to Mid October
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Sephu (Trongsa)
Snowman Trek II (to Bumthang)
The Snowman Trek is an extension of the beautiful Laya Gasa Trek, and leads from Laya further into the 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 leads through the most remote areas up to very high altitudes. Trekkers have to camp in altitudes above 5,000m more than once, and depending on the seasonal temperatures, the camps are sometimes on snow.
Duration: 25 days, Max. Elevation: 5,320m
Highest Camp: 5,120m
Standard: Hard
Best Seasons: Mid June to Mid October
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Duer Village (Bumthang)
Jomolhari Trek I
Jomolhari Trek - Jomolhari Trek I is the longer one of the two Jomolhari routes- and the most popular trek in Bhutan. With altitude differences of 2,500m and nearly 5,000m (lowest and highest point of the route), it offers a wide range of landscape, fauna and flora. The highlight of this trek is the spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari from Jomolhari Base camp, Jangothang. Nearly the whole trek goes through a small part of the Jigme Singye National Park, passing a few of the Yak herder’s settlement and the remotest region of Lingshi. One should be reasonably physically fit to enjoy the majestic mountain views, endure thin air, serenity & the wilderness of the landscape while on the trek.
Duration: Nine days,
Max. Elevation: 4,930m
Highest Camp: 4,080m
Standard: Medium
Best Seasons: March to June & October to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Dodena (Thimphu)
Jomolhari Trek II
Jomolhari Trek - Jomolhari Trek II is the shorter one of the two Jomolhari routes- -the most popular trek in Bhutan. With altitude differences of 2,500m and nearly 5,000m (lowest and highest point of the route) it offers a wide range of landscape and fauna and flora. The highlight of this trek is the spectacular view of Mount Jomolhari from Jomolhari Base camp in Jangothang. Trekkers who want to avoid high passes and high altitude can chose an easier version of the Jomolhari Trek II by going back the same way down from Jangothang (see days 1-3), while still having the majestic impressions of Mount Jomolhari.
Duration: Eight days, Max. Elevation: 4,890m
Highest Camp: 4,080m
Standard: Medium
Best Seasons: April to June, September to November
Start: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Finish: Drukgyel Dzong (Paro)
Punakha Winter Trek
The best seasons for this trek are March to May and September to November. But due to the low altitudes, the trek is possible throughout the whole winter. The trek is the old walking route from Thimphu to Punakha.
Duration: Four days, Max. Elevation: 3,400
Highest Camp: 3,360
Standard: Easy
Best Seasons: September to May
Start: Dechencholing (Thimphu)
Finish: Zomlingthang (Punakha)
Gangtey Trek
Although the trek is possible throughout the whole winter, the best seasons for the Gangte Trek are March to May and September to November. It is a short and relatively easy trek with beautiful villages and monasteries en route.
Duration: Three days, Max. Elevation: 3,480m
Highest Camp: 3,330m
Standard: Easy
Best Seasons: September to May
Start: Phobjika
Finish: Tikke Zampa
Duer Hot Spring Trek
Duer Hot Springs are said to be the most beautiful natural hot springs in the Himalayas. The Duer Hot Spring Trek is a demanding nine day trek along the same route as the finishing of the Snowman Trek. Some long days and steep and long ascents (e.g. the day before reaching the hot springs) ranks it among the more demanding treks in Bhutan. A mule trail is being built from Trongsa up to Duer Hot Springs. As soon as this new route is ready the trek will be a stunningly beautiful round trip, Bumthang - Duer Hot Springs - Trongsa.
Duration: nine Days, Max. Elevation: 4,700m
Highest Camp: 3,400m
Standard: Medium to hard, Best Seasons: March to April & September to November
Start: Bumthang
Finish: Bumthang
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