Hike the Trans Bhutan Trail between Himalayan lodges

For centuries, a footpath linked the dzongs of Bhutan. It carried pilgrims between temples and “Garps”, the trail runners who took messages from fortress to fortress. When roads arrived in the 1960s the route fell out of use. From 2018, under royal direction and led by the Bhutan Canada Foundation, it was rebuilt: more than 900 workers repaired bridges, footpaths and over ten thousand steps, and the trail reopened as the Trans Bhutan Trail.

What the experience is

The trail runs 403 kilometres from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east, past four dzongs and twenty-one temples. It moves through rice terraces, rhododendron forest, remote villages and market towns, and rises to between 3,900 and 4,000 metres at its highest point. A full through-hike takes 28 days or longer, which is why most visitors choose sections: the trail is divided into manageable stages with frequent access points, and day and half-day walks are offered.

The lodge-to-lodge version is the comfortable way to do it. Each day ends in a guesthouse, a farm homestay, a campsite or a hotel; accommodation along the trail ranges from homestays to luxury lodges, and the official site says international guests are housed in at least three-star hotels where these exist. Some stages are largely downhill and well within reach of most walkers; others are demanding.

Good to know

International visitors must be accompanied by a local guide. The trail itself is free to walk, while organised itineraries bundle accommodation, meals and cultural visits. Spring (February to May) and autumn (September to November) are described as mild, dry and usually sunny.

Why OKYTO recommends it

Because the trail is a place, not a product: a historic route, restored by the people who live along it, that lets you cross a country at walking pace. The lodges are what make the days sustainable; the villages and temples are what make them memorable.