Trekking Information

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Trekking in Bhutan offers a rare and exhilarating experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the country’s pristine natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. With its rugged Himalayan terrain, Bhutan provides a challenging yet rewarding trekking experience, with routes ranging from easy to difficult. The country’s trekking season typically falls in the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is mild and clear. Popular treks include the iconic Snowman Trek, the Druk Path Trek, and the Jomolhari Trek, each offering breathtaking views of the Himalayas, lush forests, and picturesque villages. To trek in Bhutan, you’ll need to obtain a permit and hire a licensed guide, ensuring a safe and responsible trekking experience that also supports the local economy.

Trekking Permits and Guides

  • Permits: Required for all treks, obtainable through licensed tour operators.
  • Guides: Mandatory for all treks, ensuring a safe and responsible trekking experience.

Trekking Permits and Guides

  • Spring: March to May, offering mild weather and clear skies.
  • Autumn: September to November, providing comfortable temperatures and stunning views.
General

• Strong kit bag with simple design without wheels and foldable to keep overnight trekking kit for horses or yaks to carry.
• Day backpack to put personal items you will need during the day.
• Sleeping bag: a 3 season bag up to above 3000m, a 4-5 season bag for high altitude and in winter. Fleece or silk liner for extra warmth.
• Inflatable camping pillow If you find it more comfortable when sleeping).
• Waterproof sac to put over your day pack and plastic bags or big plastic bags to keep things and spare clothes dry.
• Thermarest inflating mattress (if you feel you need extra padding on your Bhutan trekking holidays).

• Thick to trekking socks reduce risk of blisters
• Sandals/ light shoes/ trainers/ flip- flops to wear around the campsite.
• Hiking boots (should be water repellent)
• Gaiters can be very useful for trekking in snow or close to the monsoon season.

• Waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Fleece pants.
• T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts.
• Thermal shirts/underwear.

• Down jacket can be very useful on cold evenings.
• Fleece jacket/ vest.
• Waterproofs/ Wind jacket
• Fleece gloves/ Warms mittens/ gloves.

Headwear

• Sun hat.
• Bandana or scarf.
• Wool/fleece hat or balaclava.
• Sunglasses.

• Any personal medicine.
• Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen, nurofen and aspirin).
• Sting relief and Insect repellent.
• Plasters, zinc oxide tape and compeed patches.
• Strepsils, Lemsip, cold and flu medicine
• Diamox (helps with acclimatization)
• Medicine for diarrhea eg Imodium.
• Antiseptic cream.
• Malaria prophylactic tablets.
• Rehydration powder e.g. Dioralyte.
• Throat lozenges.
• Tweezers

• Travel towel.
• Soap and biodegradable washing liquid.
• Laundry soap for long treks.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Toilet paper, tissues, wet wipes
• Water purification tablets- or you can just use boiled water and on shorter treks mineral water.
• Camera with spare batteries and memory cards.
• Books, pen, notebook, iPod, cards, etc.