Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
The Trans Bhutan Trail Hiking, History & Monastic Marvels
Bhutan
Your action-packed adventure begins in Thimphu, the captivating capital. Here, you’ll pick up the trail to travel to Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Gangtey and Paro. This string of delightful destinations is home to some of Bhutan’s best sites and most scenic viewpoints, so keep your cameras to hand…
At each step along the way, trips to monasteries, nunneries, temples and fortresses will embellish your journey. You’ll also learn about Bhutan’s mystical history and fascinating local lore from your expert guide, who will accompany you throughout the trip.
When you’re not trekking along the trail, you can kick back with a drink overlooking the green valleys, tuck into a medley of mouth-watering meals in local farmhouses, duck into traditional shops to browse yak-hair products and meet village residents on cobbled streets. A world of wonders awaits...
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready – your Trans Bhutan Trail hiking holiday kicks off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and slip away to the lounge for some complimentary nibbles before take-off. Flights to Delhi, where you’ll stay the night before entering Bhutan, take ten hours, giving you plenty of time to shift into holiday gear.
When you land the following morning, grab your bags and meet your private driver to head to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to unwind after your travels, whether that means stepping out for a stroll or relaxing at your hotel.
Come evening, contact our local Concierge to nab you a spot in one of the best restaurants in the city for dinner tonight. Let’s kick this adventure off on a high note.
Wake up early this morning to tuck into a tasty breakfast before meeting your private driver to head to the airport and catch a two-hour flight to Paro, where your Bhutan adventure begins...
After landing, you’ll be privately transferred an hour and a half to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for the Tachog Lhakhang Old Bridge – a somewhat understated name, since it dates all the way back to the 15th century.
When you arrive at your hotel this afternoon, check in for two nights before dropping your bags and heading out to catch a spectacular show. We’re talking about the Changing of the Guard at Tashichho Dzong temple.
Accompanied by a private local guide, head to the royal palace to witness this captivating ceremony. Then, suitably wowed, return to your hotel to freshen up before your first Bhutanese dinner tonight. It’s bound to be a flavourful affair.
The name of the game today: acquainting yourselves with the wonders of Thimphu. After breakfast this morning, meet a private guide to hit the streets and discover the delights of the Bhutanese capital.
Start at the Buddha Dordenma, a 169ft-tall statue perched atop a hill. Having taken in the sweeping views over the city, descend to reach the Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre. This private workshop creates distinctive patterns and ceremonial textiles, including outfits for the royal family.
Continue to the National Memorial Chorten this afternoon, a monument built to honour Bhutan’s third king and dedicated to world peace. Afterwards, visit the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, a painting school where students study Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts across a six-year program. Cameras at the ready...
Return to your hotel this evening to tuck into another delicious dinner before sinking into a stack of plush pillows to rest up for the adventures of tomorrow.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, grab your bags, check out of your hotel and meet your private guide. It’s time to hit the Trans Bhutan Trail (and rack up some seriously steep step counts in the process).
Set off along the Dochula Pass, perched at 10,170ft. On clear days, it even offers panoramic views of the Himalayas to the north. From here, descend into the valley and follow the excellently titled ‘Divine Madman Trail’, named after a popular 15th-century spiritual leader, known as a lama.
Along the way, your guide will share fascinating stories about the lama’s life, including the origin of the trail’s nickname. Then, you’ll stop at Thinleygang Lhakhang – a historic two-story Buddhist temple – before enjoying a traditional Bhutanese lunch at a farmhouse.
After this, hop in a car for a private transfer to the village of Lobesa. Stroll the charming streets before heading to your hotel in Punakha to check in for a two-night stay and... relax.
Swap your hiking boots for comfortable trainers this morning as you head out with a local guide for a tour of the surrounding sites. It’s time to uncover another captivating corner of Bhutan.
Kick off your exploration today with a visit to Punakha Dzong, a magnificent fortress and important religious site that was built at the confluence of two rivers in 1637 AD.
After this, there are a multitude of options. You could visit the (deep breath) Sangchen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, perched on a ridge with views over the Punakha and Wangdue valleys. Or there are the picturesque villages of Talo and Nobgang and the ancestral homes of Bhutan’s Queen Mothers.
Then, end the day by visiting the Nalanda Buddhist Institute to meet the monks pursuing higher Buddhist studies and learning English. They appreciate any chance to practice their language skills, so don’t hesitate to strike up a few conversations.
After breakfast, hop in the car to journey to the 11,118ft-high Pelela Pass. One of the highest passes in the country, it marks the boundary between western culture and central Bhutan.
As you descend through the meadow, you’ll see yak herder camps scattered all around. Then, after stopping for lunch, visit the Kuenzang Choeling Monastery in the village of Rukubji. Believed to be 300 years old, it’s located on a plateau near two rivers, built to subdue a snake-demoness thought to reside here.
Later, follow the trail as it gently climbs into the forest before descending into another village: Chendebji. Here, you’ll visit the Chorten, a stupa (dome-shaped Buddhist monument) built where three ridges and the edge of the sky meet.
From Chendebji, hop back in the car to travel to the town of Trongsa, where you’ll spend the night. Once you’ve dropped your bags, enjoy a rejuvenating dinner – you've certainly earned it.
Leap out of bed this morning to visit the local fortress and museum. Located above the roaring Mangde Chhu river, the Trongsa Dzong fortress often disappears in clouds and fog. Talk about photogenic.
Explore the grounds of the fortress, which stretch downhill towards the first chapel (built in 1543), before visiting the Royal Museum. Perched on the hillside above the city, it’s full of national heritage and fascinating facts.
Come afternoon, grab your bags and begin your journey to the Yotong La Pass, where you’ll pick up the Trans Bhutan Trail. Located 11,270ft above sea level, this section was frequently used by the royal family to travel between their Trongsa and Bumthang residences.
From Yotong La, descend through meadows and forests until you reach the river. Enjoy a scenic walk here to reach the village of Geytsan, where the car will be waiting to take you to Bumthang.
Having arrived, check in for four nights and indulge in some post-journey stretching before turning your thoughts towards dinner tonight.
Another day, another scenic hike. Jump back into the car after breakfast this morning to be privately transferred to the village of Babzur. It’s time to embark on another unforgettable hike along the Trans Bhutan Trail.
The route today passes the Pema Choling Nunnery, where women and girls undertake a nine-year course in the Nyingma Buddhist tradition.
Continuing south, the trail leads to Mebartsho – or the Burning Lake, if you’re fancy – a revered site in Bhutanese spiritual history.
Then, stop for lunch before returning to Bumthang to visit the Bumthang Brewery, known for producing Red Panda Beer. Nearby, you’ll also find the Bumthang Swiss Cheese Factory. Time to pick up some tasty snacks for your next trek.
You know what they say: good things come in threes. So, after breakfast this morning, meet your private guide to kick off a day of temple visits with the suitably named Three Temples Valley Walk.
Easy and scenic, the walk stretches just under three miles. It begins at Jambay Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples, then continues to Kurjey Lhakhang, a sacred site associated with Guru Rinpoche, meaning ‘precious master.’
Keep following the trail as it crosses a suspension bridge and weaves through a string of small villages. After a little while, you’ll arrive at Tamshing Lhakhang, a temple known for its murals and connection to the revered saint, Pema Lingpa.
The rest of the afternoon is free for you to do as you please, allowing plenty of time to rest your legs before heading back out tomorrow.
Fuel up with a tasty breakfast to prepare for even more adventures in Bumthang today. Then, head to Ura, which sits at an elevation of about 10,170ft, making it the tallest valley in the Bumthang area.
Stroll along cobbled walkways through the 50 clusters of traditional homes that make up the village to immerse yourself in local life. The residents are mainly sheep and yak herders, so there will be plenty of furry friends to greet along the way.
At the centre of the village is the Ura temple, which you’ll visit with your guide before returning to your hotel this afternoon to indulge in a spot of R&R before dinner tonight – it’s your last meal in Bumthang, so make it a decadent one.
Today, pack your bags and check out to set off on the journey towards Gangtey, via the Trans Bhutan Trail. Bundle back into the car to travel to Trongsa this morning and begin your final section of trekking at the Trongsa Ta Dzong watchtower.
The trail passes directly through the heart of Trongsa, taking you through the impressive Trongsa Dzong and across the old bridge over the Mangdechhu River. From there, begin a steep climb up the opposite side of the valley to reach the Trongsa viewpoint. Here, you can enjoy stunning views of the fortress.
Having filled your camera roll with stunning snaps, return to the car to set your sights on Gangtey. When you arrive, check in for two nights, divvy up the sides of the bed and freshen up before a chilled evening.
Begin your day with breakfast overlooking the scenic Phobjikha Valley, which (during the winter months) is full of rare, black-necked cranes from Tibet. Once you’ve fuelled up, start your exploration with a visit to Gangtey Goenpa, a significant Nyingma monastery.
After the visit, take a peaceful walk along the Gangtey Nature Trail. This gentle path winds through pine forests, open fields and small village hamlets, offering picturesque panoramas of the valley.
For lunch, stop to sample some local dishes such as hoentay, a buckwheat dumpling typical of the region. Then, with rumbling stomachs put to rest, visit the Black-necked Crane Visitor Centre to learn about the conservation efforts aimed at protecting these endangered birds.
Round off your day at the hotel, where you can scroll through your camera roll and single out a few black-necked crane snaps to send to friends and family back home.
Leave the green valleys of Gangtey behind this morning as you grab your bags and buckle up for your private transfer to Paro. The journey takes around four hours and 40 minutes, so don’t hesitate to request some road trip tunes.
Along the way, keep your eyes on the windows as verdant valleys and mountain terrain roll by. You’ll head west through the Wangdue Phodrang District and Thimphu, before following the Wang Chhu river towards Paro.
Here, check in for an overnight stay and drop your bags before heading out again to enjoy a private archery lesson. Led by a local expert, discover the national sport of Bhutan on this short course. It’s time to add some niche know-how to your skillset.
Kick off your adventures today with a short drive from Paro to the Sang Chokhor Buddhist College after breakfast. From this 9,514ft starting point, Should be specific and detailed, following our descend through pine forests, rhododendron groves and open ridges adorned with prayer flags.
After three to four hours of hiking, having ducked into a few of the temples along the way, you’ll arrive at the Bumdra Monastery. The nearby meadow is home to the Bumdra Camp, where tents are set up in a secluded alpine setting with panoramic mountain views.
It’s here that you’ll be spending the night, so check in and drop your things before kicking back with a drink to celebrate all your hard work this evening. You’re sure to be trekking pros by now.
Rise and shine – it's your last full day in Bhutan. Perch up in front of a bountiful breakfast this morning before packing your day bags to set off on your final scenic hike.
Today, you’re journeying to Tiger’s Nest, also known as the Taktsang Monastery. The trail descends through beautiful forests and past several remote temples and meditation sites, all of which you can nip into along the way.
After visiting the iconic monastery, trek down the cliffside and through the forest trails to reach the base, where a car will be waiting to privately transfer you back to Paro.
Take some time to settle in and unwind, then delight in a delicious dinner of local specialities tonight, paired with some top-tier wine (of course), so you can toast to a trip well spent.
Sadly, like all great adventures, your time in Bhutan comes to an end today. Tuck into one last tasty breakfast this morning, then check out and meet your private driver to transfer to the airport and catch a two-hour-20-minute flight to Delhi.
After landing, head to a conveniently central hotel and check in for an overnight stay to rest up for your flight home tomorrow morning. Then, reminisce about your travels over dinner and hit the hay.
After breakfast the following morning, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport to fly back to the UK. The journey takes just over 11 hours, so you’ll arrive home in time for dinner – we hope you brought back some Bhutanese beer to pair it with.
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
PRIVATE ASTROLOGY SESSION IN THIMPHU
For an extra special welcome to Bhutan, opt for a private astrology session on your second day. Astrology is an ancient and highly respected practice here, with locals often consulting the stars before making important life decisions. Head to the Pangri Zampa Monastery to visit a monk for a private reading and let the universe lead the way.HOT STONE BATH IN GANGTEY
Dial up the post-trekking bliss with a hot stone bath during one of your afternoons in Gangtey. This traditional bathing experience uses smooth, heated stones to warm a tub of water, creating a natural and soothing environment. Often set in simple, earthy settings like a wooden cabin or an outdoor space, it’s the perfect way to unwind after a day of exploration.
Why visit Bhutan with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Bhutan
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
