Trans Bhutan Trail: Highlights Along the Hiking Route

The Trans Bhutan Trail winds from the east to the west of Bhutan and is considered one of Asia's most beautiful hiking trails. Here you'll find out which five highlights await you along the 250-mile long trail.

Sometimes it's hours uphill, then long stretches downhill, often over 9,800 feet above sea level, where the oxygen level is comparatively low: Those on the Trans Bhutan Trail need good fitness and a decent dose of adventure spirit.

Spanning over 250 miles, the trail runs through the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, cutting through the Himalayas. Since the 16th century, the Trans Bhutan Trail has connected the west and east of the country, once being the only link between the two borders.

Over time, the trail faded into obscurity; bridges collapsed, stairs decayed, and the Trans Bhutan Trail was eventually closed off completely. It wasn't until 2018 that the country began restoring the historic path. Since 2022, the trail has been open again to tourists - but only accompanied by a local guide.

Hikers spend about 34 days on the full route from the town of Haa in western Bhutan to the remote town of Trashigang in the east. But the exertion is worth it! On the Trans Bhutan Trail, you can experience Bhutan's impressive culture and nature up close. The trail leads past temples, monasteries, remote villages and towns, over mountain passes, through rice fields and rhododendron forests, with a total of 400 sights lining the path. Here are our highlights along the Trans Bhutan Trail.

At an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level, the Pelela Pass is one of the highest trails in Bhutan - and also part of the Trans Bhutan Trail.

The pass spans the Black Mountain, marking the boundary from western to central Bhutan. Almost the entire route is lined with hundreds of colorful prayer flags.

From here, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, including Mount Jomolhari, as well as the Jichu Drake and Kang Bum mountains on a clear day.

According to legend, the second Buddha Guru Padmasambhava flew on the back of a tiger in the 8th century to where the Taktsang Monastery has stood since 1962.

He then tamed the tiger and meditated for three years, three months, three days, and three hours in a cave in the rock. Hence the name of the monastery; Taktsang translates to Tiger's Nest.

The monastery is probably one of the most famous sights along the Trans Bhutan Trail. Perched at an altitude of 10,240 feet above sea level, it clings to the steep cliffs near the town of Paro as if glued there. The monastery consists of four temples and residential complexes, which are connected by staircases and passageways. The Tiger's Nest is only accessible by a steep, four-mile-long path that climbs 2,620 feet in height.

If the climb is too strenuous on foot, you can also ride on the back of a mule. But: According to the legend, only those who undertake the climb on foot will be freed from their sins.

The Trans Bhutan Trail also takes you through Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. At around 7,500 feet in altitude, the city has approximately 115,000 residents. Here you'll find the seat of government for the king, parliament, and administration, as well as numerous religious sites and attractions awaiting your visit.

For example, you can visit the Museum of Traditional Textile Crafts, a 167-foot tall gilded Buddha statue, or the Dechenchoeling Palace, the main palace of the king of Bhutan.

At the Centenary Farmers Market, you can buy plenty of local delicacies six days a week, including honey, seasonal fruits and vegetables, dried seeds, Mekhu (rice crackers), or Ema Datshi, a dish of chilies cooked in cheese sauce. A visit is convenient even in bad weather - the market is held in a multi-story building.

What also makes Thimphu special: There are no traffic lights! Instead, police officers manage the traffic - from three traffic islands, each with a dragon-decorated hut.

Dzongs represent the religious and administrative center of a district in Bhutan and are thus an important part of Bhutanese architecture. The term means fortress, as Dzongs resemble castles in appearance. Along the Trans Bhutan Trail, you can discover four Dzongs, including the Trongsa Dzong. It is located on the edge of the small town of the same name in central Bhutan.

The fortress monastery rises above the roaring flows of the Mangde Chhu River and seems to seamlessly blend into the back of the mountain on which it was built in 1648. The Trongsa Dzong is composed of many buildings with white walls and ornate roofs, connected by alleys, corridors, stone staircases, and cobblestone courtyards.

Inside, countless art pieces await you, including a painting of the Wheel of Life. This symbol plays an important role in Buddhism: It consists of four concentric circles representing the eternal cycle of life.

If you walk the entire Trans Bhutan Trail, you'll have to cross five suspension bridges in total. The most spectacular of them is the Punakha Suspension Bridge.

At 525 feet long and about 3 feet wide, it spans the Po Chhu River in the small town of Punakha and is therefore the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Punakha itself is also worth a visit. Explore places like the Punakha Dzong or the Buddhist temple Chimi Lahkhang while you're there.

To avoid mass tourism, Bhutan highly regulates entry for tourists. Visitors must pay a fee of $100 per day they spend in the country. That's about 90 euros.

This 'Sustainable Development Fee' is meant to benefit ecological and social projects as well as the development of the country's infrastructure and healthcare system.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net.

bettercities.net