Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail - 11 Days

After arriving in Paro enjoy an included transfer to your hotel in Thimphu where you will meet the rest of the group and your local tour leader. If time permits, head out in the afternoon to Buddha Point, home to Thimphu’s most recognized landmark, the Buddha Dordenma. Then, visit the Memorial Chorten, a Tibetan-style stupa built in 1974 and one of Thimphu’s most impressive religious sites. This evening gather as a group at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and your first chance to sample Bhutanese cuisine. With elevations ranging between 2,248 meters (7,375 feet) and 2,648 meters (8,688 feet) above sea level, Thimphu is the fifth highest capital city in the world by altitude. It is also the only capital city in the world without any traffic lights. The city offers a unique blend of the modern world with Bhutanese tradition.

Today, your trek continues as you depart from Thimphu and drive to the village of Hongtsho to begin your trek. Your first major milestone is the climb to the Dochula Pass, situated at 3,100 meters (10,170 feet). Here, you will visit the 108 Stupas (Druk Wangyal Chortens), built to honor Bhutanese soldiers and the leadership of the Fourth King. On clear days, the pass offers spectacular panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

After exploring the pass and the nearby Druk Wangyal Lhakhang, you will continue trekking along the "Divine Madman Trail," a historic route named after the legendary 16th-century monk Drukpa Kuenley. The path descends through lush ecological corridors into the Royal Botanical Park at Lampelri, where you will stop for a scenic picnic lunch amidst a forest famous for its many species of rhododendrons and diverse birdlife. Your day concludes with a final trek to your campsite in Thinleygang, where a locally sourced dinner will be served under the stars. This section of the Trans Bhutan Trail connects the modern capital of Thimphu with the historic spiritual centers of the east, following a route once used by high-ranking clergy as they moved between their summer and winter residences. The Dochula Pass serves as a powerful spiritual landmark; its 108 memorial stupas are arranged in three concentric circles to symbolize spiritual completion and the removal of 108 human desires to reach enlightenment. The nearby Druk Wangyal Lhakhang temple is unique for its modern murals that blend traditional Buddhist imagery with scenes from 21st-century Bhutanese history.

As you move toward Lampelri, you enter an important biological corridor that links two of Bhutan’s national parks. This area is a haven for biodiversity, home to rare species like the red panda and over 46 varieties of rhododendron. The trail itself is steeped in the folklore of the "Divine Madman," Drukpa Kuenley, whose unconventional methods of teaching have left a lasting mark on Bhutan’s cultural and religious identity. Your day ends in the quiet valley of Thinleygang, offering a peaceful immersion into the rural landscapes that the restored trail was designed to protect and celebrate.

The group will transfer eastwards with packed breakfast to Pelela for the start of the hike at 3,410 metres (11,187 feet) above sea level. Arrive to Pelela Pass for a picnic lunch before starting the trek. As you descend through the meadows below Pelela, keep an eye out for the yak herder camps which can be seen scattered around the valley. Visit Rukubji’s village, famous for its unique local language called Ngyen-Kye, and have the chance to learn about it from the villagers over tea.

After visiting Rukubji, drive down to the village of Chendebi, where the group will camp for the night. A delicious organic, locally sourced dinner will be served at the campsite in the evening. This ancient route, which runs 403 kilometres from Haa in the West of Bhutan to Trashigang in the East, dates back at least as far as the 16th century, when it would have been the only means of communication between the strategically located dzongs (fortresses) along the route. The Trail’s Garps (messengers) were quite legendary, travelling with vital messages between Dzongs at great speeds with little food or rest. Over time, the Trail came to play a major role in uniting the region’s many kingdoms, culminating in the birth of Bhutan as a nation in 1907. With the advent of Bhutan’s National Highway in the 1960s, the Trail fell into disrepair but was restored in 2019 thanks to a partnership between the Royal Bhutanese Government, the Tourism Council of Bhutan, and the Bhutan Canada Foundation. The Trail now receives visitors from across Bhutan and the world. When stopping the the village of Rukubji learn more about the local language from the locals. The dialect, called Ngyen-Kye, is a mix of other dialects from across Bhutan and even some English words, and is now only spoken by a dozen or so households.

Head back to the Trans Bhutan Trail after breakfast at your camp. On today's trek, 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 to our hotel, 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. Trongsa is Bhutan’s geographical center point and is very closely linked to the Bhutanese Royal Family: the first two hereditary Kings ruled from Trongsa Dzong (fortress) and the crown prince still traditionally serves as the Penlop (Governor) of Trongsa before acceding to the throne. The Trans Bhutan Trail still passes directly through the middle of the city of Trongsa and, in centuries gone by, the trail would actually have passed right through Trongsa Dzong itself.

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 interesting Royal Heritage Museum. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore Trongsa at your own pace.

Wave farewell to Trongsa today and head back out on the Trail for some more hiking. Drive to Yotong La Pass to join the trail. Trek through a stretch of dense forest and cross through meadows, through open forest until the trail reaches the Gyetsa River. Arrive at Gyatsa Youth Community Cafe after lunch and enjoy a hands-on cultural activity with the youth. Once the group arrives at camp in Gyetsa you’ll be able to enjoy a hot shower and a locally-sourced organic dinner at the campsite.

Today after breakfast the group will trek through the most historic section of the trail. This section was used by the royal family when they travelled between their winter and summer residences. You’ll travel through Kikila Pass before descending into the Bumthang Valley. We’ll stop along the way for a picnic lunch, enjoying the scenery.

Once you arrive in Jakar, 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. Visit the Red Panda Brewery after for a well-deserved rest. This evening, enjoy a special experience as you settle into your local homestay accommodation. Spend the evening with a few of your fellow travelers 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.

Enjoy breakfast at your homestay before transferring back to the charming town of Punakha for a day of exploring. You’ll stop for lunch en route and then visit the Bazam (bridge) just across the river from Punakha Dzong (fortress). In order to cross the bridge on foot you must be wearing formal Bhutanese dress, including a gho for men and a kora for women. On the other side head out on a tour of the Dzong (fortress).

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

Today after breakfast, the group will transfer to Paro where you’ll check into the hotel and have lunch. Then , it’s time to head out and see some of Paro’s most popular sites. Visit the Ta Dzong or ‘watchtower’ which is now Bhutan’s National Museum, home to a number of exhibitions including sculpture, painting and artifacts depicting Bhutan’s magical past. Then, continue to the stunning Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress), meaning ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’, This evening indulge in some delicious dinner with your CEO and fellow travellers.

Fill up on breakfast 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 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!

Enjoy one last breakfast before being transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight home. While at the airport, opt to experience a cultural art class at the social enterprise, VAST, a the tour operator-supported studio.