Camping treks, teahouse-free routes and high passes — a plain-spoken introduction to walking in Bhutan, with notes on seasons, fitness and which trek suits whom.
Bhutan has no network of teahouses, so trekking here means camping. That sounds daunting but is in fact comfortable: a crew of cook, helpers and pack animals carries everything, sets up camp ahead of you and has tea ready on your arrival.
Two routes we recommend
The Druk Path is a five-day ridge walk from Paro to Thimphu with alpine lakes and views of the high Himalaya. It is moderate, tops out near 4,200 metres and suits fit walkers with some hiking experience.
The Jomolhari Trek is longer and tougher. Spending eight days among yak pastures and crossing two passes near 5,000 metres, it rewards experienced trekkers with close views of Jomolhari itself.
When to go
Spring (April to early June) brings rhododendron and wildflowers; autumn (late September to November) gives the clearest skies. Monsoon rain and winter snow make most high routes unsuitable outside these windows.
Fitness and altitude
You do not need technical skills, but you do need to be comfortable walking four to eight hours a day with a light pack. We build acclimatisation into every itinerary, usually by hiking to the Tiger’s Nest first.
Insurance matters
Choose a policy that covers trekking at the altitudes of your route and includes emergency evacuation. We will tell you exactly what to check.
