Trans-Bhutan Trail

Information

Distance

403.0 km

Duration

27–36 days

Max elevation

4,000 m

Country

Bhutan (BT)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous (depending on the segment) — total elevation gain of about 20,800 m; the western section is gentler, the eastern section is steeper

Best Season

October–November (clear post-monsoon skies, autumn foliage) and March–May (spring flowers, rhododendron trees in bloom)

Permits & Fees

All non-Indian visitors must hold a Bhutan visa (one-time fee of $40) plus the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per person per night (rate valid until August 2027; concessions for children). Indian citizens are charged Rs. 1,200 per night. Travel must be arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator; a DOT-certified trekking guide is required to accompany you for the entire route.

Description

The Trans-Bhutan Trail is a 403 km cross-country footpath stretching from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east, the only walking route to span the Kingdom of Bhutan from end to end. It follows a historic network of 16th-century trails once used by rulers, monks, traders, and royal messengers as the sole means of traversing the country — before modern roads were built in the 1960s. A restoration project begun in 2018 reconstructed over 18 major bridges and 10,000 stone steps, culminating in the trail's reopening to visitors on 28 September 2022. The route passes through 27 gewogs in 9 dzongkhags with diverse landscapes: subtropical forests in the west, flowering meadows, the mystical Phobjikha Valley, grand dzongs at Punakha and Trongsa, and the rarely visited wild eastern hills. The full through-hike takes 27–36 days; shorter 7–10 day segments are also available.

Trail Highlights

The only east–west cross-country walking route in Bhutan, 403 km from Haa to Trashigang, following a historic 16th-century trail once used by kings, monks, traders, and royal couriers; passing through 27 gewogs and 9 dzongkhags; views of subtropical forest, rhododendron flower meadows, historic dzongs (Punakha Dzong, Trongsa Dzong), the Phobjikha Valley (habitat of the endangered black-necked crane), and the nearly untouched eastern hills of Bhutan.