Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail

(20 reviews)

From:

CAD $5,579 Was CAD $6,199

12 Days

Best Rate: Guarantee

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Imagine exploring the happiest country on Earth while walking along the same path used by royals, monks, and traders for thousands of years.

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Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 11 May 2025

Experience Overview

Imagine exploring the happiest country on Earth while walking along the same path used by royals, monks, and traders for thousands of years. That’s the Trans Bhutan Trail. Until the 1960s, it was the only way to get around the mountain kingdom of Bhutan. And now, for the first time in 60 years, you can hike it yourself. On this 12-day tour, you’ll travel and trek along the best portions of this historic trail, using your own two feet to experience rural and spiritual life in the most beautiful parts of the country. Venturing from west to east, you’ll hike along high mountain passes, across lush river valleys, and through villages from a different era, stopping to soak in local history, culture, and customs along the way. There really is magic on the Trans Bhutan Trail, and it’s ready to be rediscovered.

Highlights

Hike the ancient Trans Bhutan Trail with local trekking guides
Interact with artists at Choki Art School
Hike along the Divine Mad Man trail
Enjoy amazing farm lunches and cooking sessions with locals
Immerse into local life at a homestay in Bumthang.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 1496

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Budget

Transport: Private vehicle, walking.

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Budget

Tour Operator: G Adventures

Supplier Code: ADTP

Starts: Paro, Bhutan

Finishes: Paro, Bhutan

Duration: 12 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical Rating: Demanding

Includes

Activities

Your Welcome Moment: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting, Thimphu Your Local Living Moment: Bhutanese Homestay
Arrival transfer
Visit Choki Art School
Sustainable Development Fees
Pangri Zampa Monastery visit
Thimphu Dzong visit
Visits to Buddha Point and Memorial Chorten
Hike the Divine Madman Trail
Toebchandhana Lhakhang (temple) visit
Punakha Dzong visit
Bhutanese Cooking Demonstration
Pelela Pass Segment of the Trans Bhutan Trail
Rukubji’s village Lhakhang (temple) visit
Chorten (stupa) visit
Trans Bhutan Trail Trongsa Portion
Trongsa Dzong (fortress) visit
Jakar Dzong (fortress) visit
Pema Choeling Nunnery and Mebartsho Lake visit
Bhutanese Farmhouse Lunch
Bumthang Brewery visit
Ta Dzong National Museum visit
Paro Rinpung Dzong and Ta Dzong visits
Departure transfer
All transportation between included activities

Accommodation

Hotels (8nts), Homestays (2nts), camping (1 nt).

11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, walking.

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,579 ($465 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Paro/Thimphu

Upon arrival enjoy a private transfer from Paro International Airport to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital city. The rest of the day is yours before a brief welcome meeting in the evening with the rest of the group in the hotel. Afterwards head out to enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant where you'll have your first opportunity to sample Bhutanese cuisine. If you still have energy left after dinner, consider bar hopping through some of Thimphu's best spots to get a taste of local nightlife.
Thimphu is a city with elevations ranging between 2,248 meters (7,375 feet) and 2,648 meters (8,688 feet) above sea level. It is also the fifth highest capital city in the world by altitude; and it is also the only capital city in the world without any traffic lights. You'll be captivated by the unique blend of the modern world alongside the striking Bhutanese tradition.

Day 2: Thimphu

Spend the day seeing the best of Thimphu's many highlights. In the morning transfer to the scenic Kabesa valley, just north of Thimphu, to visit the Choki Traditional Art School, an institution offering free education to underprivileged youth who have an interest in learning traditional art and craft. On the way back stop in at the Pangri Zampa Monastery to enjoy a private reading with a monk astrologer. The rest of the day includes a visit to Thimphu Dzong (fortress), lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a trip to Buddha Point, and a final stop for the day at the Memorial Chorten, a Tibetan-style stupa built in 1974. In the evening indulge in dinner as a group at a local restaurant.

Day 3: Thimphu/Chendebi

Begin the drive early with packed breakfast to Pelela, where the group will rejoin the Trans Bhutan Trail. Descend through meadows below Pelela and stop at a traditional farmhouse in the village of Rukubji to enjoy a hot lunch before visiting the temple known as Kuenzang Choling. Rukubji is also famous for its unique local language, called Ngyen-Kye and you will have the chance to learn about it from the villagers over tea.

Then rejoin the trail for a gentle climb out of the valley, through the forest, and to the village of Chendebi where you will camp for the night. Head for a visit to the Chorten (stupa) in the village and then indulge in an organic, locally sourced dinner at the campsite.

Day 4: Chendebi/Trongsa

Wake with the sun and eat breakfast at camp before transferring towards the town of Trongsa to rejoin the Trans Bhutan Trail at the viewpoint high above the town. Recreate the experience of past royals as you descend as a group into the steep valley below. See spectacular views of the Dzong (fortress) and cross the old cantilever bridge over the Mangde River before climbing the other side of the valley to reach Trongsa Dzong via the Western gate. After arriving here the rest of the day is yours to relax and explore before joining back together for dinner at a local restaurant in the early evening.

Day 5: Trongsa

Devour a quick breakfast this morning before heading out for a tour of Trongsa Dzong (fortress), first built as a small meditation room in 1541. Visit a selection of the Dzong's 23 lhakhangs (temples), before heading to the Trongsa Ta Dzong (watchtower), which now houses the fascinating Royal Heritage Museum. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore Trongsa at your own pace.

Day 6: Trongsa to Bumthang

Bid farewell to Trongsa after breakfast at your hotel and transfer towards the city of Bumthang. Once you arrive, visit the majestic Jakar Dzong (fortress), also known as the ‘Castle of the White Bird'. Observe unique features like its fifty-meter utse (tower) and a sheltered passage with two parallel walls, interconnected by fortified towers, which guaranteed the fortress's inhabitants access to water during a siege. The rest of the day is yours to explore the town on your own before meeting back up with the group in the evening for a special experience as you settle into your local homestay accommodation.

Spend the night with a few of your fellow travellers in the home of a local Bhutanese family who will be your hosts for the evening. Share a meal and exchange stories while learning about what life is like for your local hosts.

Day 7: Bumthang

Have some breakfast before beginning your next trek on the Trans Bhutan trail. Along the way stop at the Pema Choeling Nunnery to learn about this institution and how it was created to increase opportunities for Bhutanese girls,coming from rural or vulnerable backgrounds. Then, continue south along the Trail towards the sacred Mebartsho (The Burning Lake) where you'll enjoy a typical Bhutanese lunch at a local restaurant in the Bumthang (Jakar) town.

After lunch, you will visit the Bumthang Brewery, producers of Bhutan's celebrated Red Panda Beer. In the evening, enjoy another homestay experience with local Bhutanese families. Tuck into a delicious homemade meal and rest up for another incredible day ahead
On days when you will be hiking it's recommended that you have your own day pack to carry during the long hiking days. In the pack you should have any daily, personal medicine you may need, sunscreen, cameras, a water bottle, and any valuables such as cash or passports.

During the trekking itself the camping crew will provide all travellers with boiled water. You can fill your water bottles with this water provided during the hiking days. But it is highly recommended that you bring your own water bottles.

Day 8: Bumthang to Punākha

After an early breakfast travel to Punakha. After lunch set out on an afternoon trek down into the adjacent valley on a section of the Trail known as the ‘Divine Madman Trail'. Hike from 1-2 hrs to the Diving Mad Man temple of Chimi Lakhang. After taking a look around you'll be transferred back to your hotel in Punakha for the evening.

Day 9: Punākha

Enjoy some breakfast before heading out for a day of exploring around the charming town of Punakha. Visit the Bazam (bridge) just across the river from Punakha Dzong (fortress). On the other side head out on a tour of the Dzong (fortress). Afterwards, drive north to Zomlingthang, and whet your appetite with a local cookery demonstration and a traditional Bhutanese outdoor lunch.

In the afternoon you can choose to go on a gentle rafting expedition down the Mo Chhu River before going out to dinner at a local restaurant as a group in the evening.

Day 10: Punākha/Paro

Drive to Paro. Enroute stop at Dochu La pass and visit the 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens. Upon arriving in Paro, enjoy a sightseeing tour. Visit Paro's Ta Dzong or ‘watchtower' which is now Bhutan's National Museum, later in the afternoon. Continue to the stunning Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress), meaning ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels' to explore with your CEO. The evening is yours to continue discovering Paro.

Day 11: Paro

Tuck in to breakfast at your hotel before heading northwest out of Paro for a visit to the iconic Taktshang Goemba, more commonly known as the ‘Tiger's Nest Monastery'. Precariously perched on a sheer cliff face 900 metres (2,950 feet) above the Paro Valley floor, the Tiger's Nest is undoubtedly Bhutan's most famous religious building. The trek offers spectacular views from the ridge and passes a small chorten, a basic monastery, and a waterfall on its way. Once you have reached the Tiger's Nest, you will have a chance to visit the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated, as well as the extensive network of Lhakhangs (chapels) which house images, murals, chortens, and a holy spring.

If time allows, make a quick trip to the fascinating Machig-phu Lhakhang (temple) on the way back down to the access road. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure to relax at your hotel or to explore Paro on your own, before enjoying a last dinner with your group at a local restaurant to celebrate the trip!

Day 12: Paro

Enjoy one last breakfast before being transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight home.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.

In Business Since 1990

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Reviews

Gregg B - Traveled, October 2023

Our guide and driver were great. On the trip, the home stays where back to back. Probably best if possible to separate by a day.