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Bhutan Walking & Hiking
Bhutan Walking & Hiking

It’s a place so few experience. So exotic. So dramatic. Hidden deep in the Himalayas. It has an unspoiled essence that’s indescribable. Centuries-old temples clinging to forested cliffs. Sacred daily rituals. Mountains with seemingly no end. There aren’t trains or helicopters. No traffic lights in the capital. Change is coming to Bhutan, but at its own pace. And you’ll see it. In the monk on his cell phone. In the satellite dish perched above a traditional home. In the emerging democracy. But the untouched Bhutan is still there. Thousand-year-old festivals. A deeply rooted spirituality. A king who measures “gross national happiness.” You’ve discovered something that seemed like it couldn’t still exist. But it does. See it for yourself.

Day 1 Namgay, our guide and longtime friend, opens doors normally closed to foreigners; ask him about his tenure in the National Assembly Explore Paro Dzong, a massive fortress and hub for spiritual and community life.

Days 2-3 An ancient landscape where life's daily rituals remain sacred Cresting Dochu La mountain pass, take in a panorama of snowcapped Himalayan peaks Pine forests line our path through Punakha Valley Hike to Chorten Nebu, a 14th-century temple accessible only by foot.

Day 4 Ascend herders' trails to find valley views and colorful prayer flags Exquisite riverside Punakha Dzong, Bhutan’s 300-year-old winter capital, still exudes eminence See the dzong from a different perspective during our rafting adventure on the Po Chhu River.

Day 5 Exchange ideas with Buddhist monks and receive a blessing  Enjoy lunch at the Royal Thimphu Golf Club overlooking the Royal Palace Visit the giant, nearly completed Buddha statue towering above the Wang Chuu river - it contains 100,000 tiny Buddha statues inside!

Days 6-8 Hike to secluded temples and monasteries, including the otherworldly cliff-clinging Tiger's Nest  Make your way past ride paddies, stands of prayer flags and small villages to a 100-year-old farmhouse  Paro's shops abound with exotic items A prominent Buddhist scholar joins us for a Q&A  Sip a hot brew 9,200 feet up at Taktshang teahouse and savor superb views.


Trip Highlights
  • An ancient landscape where life’s daily rituals remain sacred
  • Hike to secluded temples and monasteries, including the famed Tiger’s Nest
  • Namgay, our guide and friend, opens doors normally closed to foreigners
  • Ascend herders’ trails to find valley views and colorful prayer flags
  • Exchange ideas with Buddhist monks and receive a blessing
big map


Premiere Inns

Uma Paro (1 night): An upscale hillside retreat with luxurious guest rooms; the main building was formerly a Bhutanese nobleman’s home. (pool, spa)

Meri Puensum Resort (2 nights): Sitting high above the Punakha Valley and the Puna Tsang River, this simple hotel offers great views over rice fields and the valley below, and is currently our best option in the region.

Taj Tashi Hotel (2 nights): Designed in Bhutanese dzong architectural style, and just steps away from the lively town square. (pool, spa)

Zhiwa Ling (2 nights): With impressive masonry and elaborate hand-carved cornices, this hotel is set on a verdant mountainside and combines Bhutanese hospitality with modern conveniences. (spa)


Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Terrain Description
Alpine trails, ancient village footpaths, Buddhist pilgrim ways. Please note: The rugged terrain and altitude make the routes more challenging than the mileage suggests.

Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
Activity Level Average Time Biking Average Walking Average
Level 1 2-3 hours 10-20 mile 2-5 miles
Level 2 2-4 hours 21-30 miles 5-7 miles
Level 3 3-5 hours 31-40 miles 7-9 miles
Level 4 4-6 hours 41-55 miles 9-11 miles
Level 5 5-7+ hours 56-75+ miles 11-13+ miles


2012 Dates & Pricing*

CLASSIC TRIPS

*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.


Guest Trip Reviews

This trip was the most amazing travel experience I've ever had. The combination of living in and learning about the culture of Bhutan and beautiful hikes to incomparable temples with historic, religious and artistic features was incredible. The local guide was outstanding.
Nancy Ashley - Seattle, WA

This was a phenomenal experience rich in culture, history, architecture and landscape. Bhutan is a beautiful country with beautiful people. It left me wanting to return and see more and learn more about this wondrous place and its people. Bhutan was an amazing experience I will remember forever. There are many other places I would like to visit, but I have to go back to Bhutan!
Jennifer Carzoli - Chicago, IL

I have taken trips with other companies over the years -- mostly because of the specific region of the trip. The other companies have always disappointed, but Backroads has NEVER disappointed me. You have better leaders and I have always liked the people who sign up for Backroads trips better than those going with the other companies.
Kathleen Mahoney - New York, NY

Bhutan is simply an amazing place, straight out of the pages of National Geographic. I feel honored to be a guest in this extraordinary country every time I visit - the Buddhist culture & architecture make it feel like one of the last isolated kingdoms on the planet. Shangri-La is a myth, but no other country for me has such a magical allure, and exploring it on foot is truly a remarkable experience.
Christian Chumbley - Regional Manager Asia & the East Coast