Walk in the path of Bhutanese ancestors on this 400km trail that traverses the country from east to west
Stretching east to west across the country through nine districts, 28 village blocks, two municipalities and one national park, the Trans Bhutan Trail was, for hundreds of years, the only route that connected the two ends of the country. Pilgrims, messengers, armies and traders traversed it; now, after a concerted restoration, so can travellers for the first time in 60 years.
A joint effort of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, the Bhutan Canada Foundation, and more than 900 local workers, the restoration involved rebuilding 18 major bridges and 10,000 stairs to make the 400-kilometre trail accessible again. As with many things in Bhutan, it was a community-based project with the four pillars of Gross National Happiness (GNP) – good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of culture, and environmental conservation – at its heart.
The reopened trail is expected to create sustainable livelihoods for the communities residing along it. Passing through 400 identified historically and culturally significant sites, it will also serve as a living classroom and a green corridor for generations of locals to come.
Permits will be made available from April 2022 to tourists interested in exploring the trail. Choose between walking, running, or riding a bicycle through virgin forests, valleys with the soaring Himalayan peaks as a backdrop, and untouched slices of paradise that are seldom visited by foreigners.
Guided tours are available on a not-for-profit basis, with all proceeds reinvested into sustainability, education, and community projects related to the trail. With every purchase of a permit, a tree will also be planted on your behalf.
