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11-Nights Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail - Active

Bhutan
11-Nights Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail - Active
Bhutan
G Adventures
Vacation Offer ID 1532913
Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.
Overview

G Adventures

Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail
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.

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

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Group Size Notes
Max 15, avg 12.

Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners

What's Included
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.

Featured Destinations

Chendebi
Trongsa (Tongsa)

Trongsa (Tongsa)

Tongsa is near the center of Bhutan. It has a most impressive Dzong built on a spur, with a watchtower, Ta Dzong, on the hillside. The drive there via Gangtey and Wangdiphodrang is spectacular. It's also a good place to overnight while traveling to the eastern and southern parts of the country. The Tongsa Tsechu festival usually falls in January.
Destination Guide
Punakha

Punakha

Bhutan's former capital, Punakha is often seen on a long day trip from Thimphu. It offers superlative views of the Himalayas and can be used as a base to visit the nearby Wangdiphodrang Dzong and Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong is the winter home of the largest group of monks in the country (some 500) and the Je Khempo (Buddhist religious leader). It is considered to be the most elaborate temple in the country and is still used today as government offices for the district.

The drive over the Dochula Pass to Punakha is breathtaking. The Punakha Suspension Bridge, said to be one of the longest in the region, is a fun place to stop since it is close to the Punakha Dzong.

The Punakha Domche festival is in late February-March.

Don't be surprised by the numerous phallic symbols that are painted on many buildings in the region because of the Chimi Lhakhang Temple (known as the fertility temple); these represent new life and fertility. Phallic statues are also widely sold in markets and stores, and it may come as a surprise to many Western visitors. They are visible across the country, but there are noticeably more near the fertility temple. Many people come to this temple in hopes of getting pregnant. Many of these symbols are painted on building doors as a matter of protection.

Destination Guide
Bumthang

Bumthang

Comprised of four smaller valleys (Ura, Chumey, Tang and Choekhor) with a number of ancient Buddhist monasteries and temples, Bumthang is a deeply spiritual region that charms its visitors. Cultural treks are popular, and much of the area is part of a protected area where black-necked cranes migrate in winter.
Destination Guide
Thimphu

Thimphu

Thimphu, Bhutan's capital city, is located in the west of the country and testifies to the nation's struggle to modernize while maintaining its venerated traditions. New buildings are still based on traditional designs, with elaborately painted, trefoil-shaped windows and wooden frames built without nails. Regulations restrict new buildings to fewer than six stories, and there are no traffic lights in town; still, satellite dishes are everywhere, and internet cafes are easily found.
Destination Guide
Paro

Paro

The scenic, terraced town of Paro sits in the shadow of 24,000-ft/7,320-m Mount Chomolhari (divine mountain). Paro has Bhutan's only airport, so most travelers arrive there. Though it's really only a large village, three nights are recommended to get used to the altitude, as well as to see the many sights related to Paro's days as capital of the western region.

Among those sights are the 350-year-old Ta Dzong (now the National Museum), the Rinchen Pung or Paro Dzong (sacred scrolls, icons, and the like), where scenes from Bertolucci's Little Buddha were shot, the restored seventh-century Kyichu Lhakhang (holy temple) and the Dungtse Lhakhang (temple). Also worth seeing is the Drugyel Dzong, named after a famous victory of the Bhutanese over Tibetan invaders (about 9 mi/14 km northwest of town).

If you're in Paro on a Sunday morning, be sure to visit the colorful market, where grains, chilies, oranges, bananas and a host of other items are sold. The Paro Tsechu festival is held late March-April.

On a full-day trip, it's possible to visit the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), built on a rock ledge overlooking a sheer 2,600 ft/800 m drop to the Paro Valley. It is accessible only on foot or by pony as far as the viewpoint. According to legend, the monastery was founded by Guru Rimpoche, who landed there on the back of a flying tiger.

Destination Guide

View Full Itinerary

Valid Date Ranges

May 2025
05/11/2025 05/22/2025 $4,499 per person
June 2025
06/01/2025 06/12/2025 $4,499 per person
06/29/2025 07/10/2025 $4,499 per person
July 2025
07/27/2025 08/07/2025 $4,499 per person
August 2025
08/24/2025 09/04/2025 $4,499 per person
September 2025
09/14/2025 09/25/2025 $5,299 per person
October 2025
10/12/2025 10/23/2025 $5,299 per person
April 2026
04/05/2026 04/16/2026 $4,999 per person
04/26/2026 05/07/2026 $4,999 per person
May 2026
05/10/2026 05/21/2026 $4,999 per person
05/31/2026 06/11/2026 $4,999 per person
June 2026
06/28/2026 07/09/2026 $4,999 per person
July 2026
07/26/2026 08/06/2026 $4,999 per person
August 2026
08/23/2026 09/03/2026 $4,999 per person
September 2026
09/13/2026 09/24/2026 $4,999 per person
09/27/2026 10/08/2026 $4,999 per person
October 2026
10/04/2026 10/15/2026 $4,999 per person
10/11/2026 10/22/2026 $4,999 per person
Pricing is per person, land only, in US dollars and based on double occupancy. For specific validity dates, discount amount and tour information, please return to the promotion in question. Promotion valid on G Adventures small group tours excluding Independent, MS Expedition or National Geographic Journeys, unless otherwise stated. Promotion applicable to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Does not apply to airfare (unless otherwise stated), pre-/post-accommodation, 'My Own Room' or 'My Own Tent', transfers, theme packs, insurance, polar kayaking & camping excursions or other in-country services. G Adventures reserves the right to withdraw this offer from sale at any time. Itinerary and map subject to change. Please click here for a description of the travel style options provided by G Adventures. 

Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
 

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.