Bhutan’s thickly forested valleys, open ridges and often remote high-mountain country offer some of the best trekking in the Himalayas. Surprisingly few visitors to the country actually come to walk; those that do are often delighted to find they have all but the most popular routes almost to themselves.

Unlike Nepal, trekking here always involves camping. Many, if not most treks traverse remote and often sparsely inhabited regions. For practical reasons all trekkers need to be largely self-sufficient in food and fuel. Typically, then, walkers will be accompanied by a crew comprising pony men, a cook with an assistant or two, and, of course, a guide. The ponies transport tents, equipment, supplies and provisions not just for clients but for the crew, too.

It may seem like a lot of people but there’s something exhilarating about the almost expeditionary feel of trekking here. Crews generally have about them an easy camaraderie and (since many speak good English) often give an added insight into regular Bhutanese life and people. Above all, though, are Bhutan’s especially beautiful and pristine wilderness, and the awareness that you are walking through regions that see significantly fewer visitors.

Trekking in Bhutan is confined to around seventeen prescribed trails, some of which overlap or can be joined to form longer trips, ranging from just two days in the Punakha Valley to the demanding 25-day epic ‘Snowman’ trek. The best way to decide which of them is most suitable for you is to talk through the options with one of our Bhutan specialists.

On the ground, we use only highly competent, well-equipped crews with years of experience leading foreigners on treks through this beautiful country.