Trans Bhutan Trail
This historic trail dates back to the 16th century, when it served as a pilgrimage route for travelling Buddhists. It spans rice paddies, forests, remote villages and bustling towns. Restored in 2018, the 403km trail now allows travellers to walk or cycle in the paths trodden by generations of Bhutanese people, to enjoy intimate views of the Kingdom.
History
The Trans Bhutan Trail dates back at least to the 16th century when it connected fortresses called Dzongs and served as the pilgrimage route for Buddhists in the east travelling to the most sacred sites in western Bhutan and Tibet. Trail runners, or ‘Garps’, worked the Trail and were legendary, travelling with vital messages and mail between Dzongs at great speeds with little food or rest. The Trail came to play a major role in uniting the region’s many provinces, repelling foreign incursions, and fostering the birth of Bhutan as a nation in 1907.
By the 1960s the Trail had fallen into disuse with the construction of a national highway. Bridges, footpaths and stairways collapsed, gewogs (villages) and landholdings were separated, and this traditional pilgrimage route became neglected. In 2018, with the wisdom and vision of His Majesty, The King, the restoration of the Trail was led by the Bhutan Canada Foundation with the support of the Tourism Council of Bhutan to restore the Trail to make it accessible again for locals, pilgrims, and travellers. Today the 403 kilometre Trail, spanning the country from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east, can be walked, run, or biked, in part or in whole.
The Trail visits 27 Gewogs, 4 Dzongs, 21 temples, 12 mountain passes, 5 suspension bridges, 10 cantilever bridges, 77 chortens and 30 stupas. It crosses a variety of terrain, from lush rice paddies, rhododendron forests, thick wilderness, remote villages and bustling towns. It also goes through some of Bhutan’s most major cities including Thimphu the capital and the royal city of Bumthang.
How difficult is the Trans Bhutan Trail
It can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be! Whilst we offer the full Trans Bhutan Trail experience, our 36 day End-to-End itinerary, the Trail is also broken down into smaller, accessible routes so you can experience it in a way that suits you. We even offer an itinerary where you can run sections of the Trans Bhutan Trail. Altitude is generally moderate at most, with the highest point of the Trail between 3,900 and 4,000 meters above sea level. Many sections of the Trail are at considerably lower average altitudes. Please contact one of our travel consultants to discuss your requirements and to have a programme tailored to your particular needs.
Help our mission
The Trans Bhutan Trail is a not-for-profit social and tourism enterprise. 100% of the profits go back into maintaining the Trail and supporting communities and individuals along the route. Travelling with us is the best way to support this mission.
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