On Wednesday 28 September 2022, the restored historic 250-mile pilgrimage trail traversing Bhutan will be officially re-opened for the first time in six decades in a formal ceremony. The Trail launch will take place within days of Bhutan’s borders fully re-opening to travellers on 23 September.

The vision of his Majesty, the King of Bhutan, is for the Trans Bhutan Trail to restore a unique piece of Bhutan’s cultural heritage for the benefit of its people, including its health and wellness potential, its use as an educational and spiritual resource and the economic benefit to remote communities on its route.

Eighteen major bridges, more than 10,000 steps and 250 miles of Trail have been built or restored over the last three years, involving thousands of Bhutanese workers and villagers in a unique private/public partnership between the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Tourism Council of Bhutan and the Bhutan Canada Foundation (BCF), which has worked for many years to further the development of Bhutan and its people through programmes that support the country’s educational ambitions.

THE HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TRAIL

The Trail travels through Bhutan’s history, with some 400 historic and cultural sites identified along the route to date. Connecting fortresses – called Dzongs – it originally served as a pilgrimage route for Buddhists in the east, travelling to sacred sites in western Bhutan and Tibet.

With origins that go back at least 500 years, the new Trail will offer walkers and mountain bikers the opportunity to explore Bhutan’s rich culture and heritage and to see the country in an authentic and sustainable way.

For the first time in over half a century, the Trail has now reconnected its traditional communities, rekindling opportunities for cultural exchange and trade. Particularly in the east, the Trail provides a chance for smaller, more remote communities to reap the economic benefits of tourism, supporting local enterprises such as homestays, campsites and restaurants, and creating employment opportunities for local guides, drivers, and cooks.

SUSTAINABILITY, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & EDUCATION

The Trail will contribute to sustainable livelihoods for local communities along it, preserving and celebrating their traditional culture and protecting the delicate ecosystems which it crosses. In this regard, TBT aligns closely with the Tourism Council of Bhutan’s strategy for sustainable economic growth from ‘high-value, low impact’ tourism.

The Trail will encourage international guests to stay for longer (in 2019, only 32% of international visitors to Bhutan stayed for more than six nights, and less than 1% for over 15 nights); and to push further east into areas of the country which have historically attracted few visitors.

TBT is committed to ensuring the Trail has only positive impact on Bhutan’s environment and ecosystems. A TBT Trail Code, the terms of which all guests must adhere to, outlines the basic principles which bind this sustainable trail community. Other current sustainability initiatives include:

trail marker posts manufactured from recycled plastics;
local Trail stewardship responsibility delegated to Gewogs (counties);
bridges built using responsibly-sourced timber and sustainable community forestry practices;
one tree planted for each international visitor;
zero single-use plastics on TBT journeys; and
reusable water bottles for all international visitors and provision of filtered water to refill.
Working in partnership with local schools, scout groups and Gyalsung (National Youth Service), TBT is also committed to providing exceptional experiential education opportunities, including curricula in flora and fauna, low-impact trekking and survival skills, first aid and cultural history.

NEW EXPERIENTIAL TOURS

All aspects of guided walking and biking on the Trail can be arranged directly via TBT (transbhutantrail.org) on a not-for-profit basis, with all proceeds flowing back into creating a sustainable future for The Trail and the communities along it. With its own sustainability fund to ensure that the Trail will be properly maintained for generations to come, visitors booking a journey directly with TBT will play a vital role in the Trail’s future.

Together with attracting hikers and bikers, the Trail presents a rich experience for birdwatchers and botanists, photographers, rafters and runners, as well as for those seeking a spiritual, wellness, or religious journey. The new itineraries include:

NEW: Swap the kids’ club for an enriching adventure – Seven nights | Let children walk in the footsteps of Bhutan’s ancestors on this new family adventure. Open the next generation’s minds to a completely different culture and a treasured natural environment with this new eight-day tour, taking families into the heart of Bhutan. The tour costs £13,000 total for a family of four (two adults at £3,825 pp and two children aged 5-12 at £2,675 pp), including seven nights’ full-board, transfers, visas, excursions, and activities as per itinerary, entry fees, Trans Bhutan Trail passport and a local trekking guide throughout the trip. Children under five sharing a room pay only the visa fee ($40); children 13+ pay full adult price. Excludes international flights. Departures linked to UK school holidays. Flights extra.

NEW: Women’s Adventure Tour – 11 nights | Together with the opportunity to explore the Trans Bhutan Trail, this new 12-day tour led by female Bhutanese guides offers an insight into Bhutan’s fascinating matriarchal society, meeting some of the country’s most inspiring female entrepreneurs and exploring creative industries run by Bhutanese women. The tour costs £6,690 pp, including 11 nights’ hotel and lodge accommodation, all meals, transfers, guiding and excursions. Flights extra.

NEW: Mountain Biking Adventure – 14 nights | Visit some of Bhutan’s most important spiritual and historical landmarks on this 105.5km (65 mile) cycle, and immerse yourself in Bhutan’s unique traditional culture in the communities which flank the trail. Take in Bhutan’s unique capital, Thimphu, the charming town of Punakha, and the royal cities of Trongsa and Bumthang, before rounding off with a rewarding hike up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. The 14-night tour costs £7,865 pp (two sharing), including full-board accommodation (homestays and hotels), bike hire, transfers, visas, activities as per itinerary, entry fees, Trans Bhutan Trail passport, one year’s Trans Bhutan Trail Membership and a local guide throughout the trip. Flights extra.

NEW: End-to-End Trek – The ultimate bucket list challenge, 35 nights | For the ultimate trekking experience in Bhutan, complete the Trans Bhutan Trail end-to-end hike, one of the world’s greatest walks. Hike across the country from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east, covering 250 miles of refurbished stairways, pathways and bridges and traversing several of the Kingdom’s different climate zones, with views of the Himalayas in some sections of the route. The tour costs £16,785 pp (two sharing), including 35 nights’ full-board accommodation (campsites, homestays and hotels), transfers, visas, excursions, entry fees, Trans Bhutan Trail passport, one year’s Trans Bhutan Trail Membership and a local trekking guide throughout the trip. Flights extra.