Top 07 treks to undertake inside Bhutan

Top 07 recommended treks to undertake inside Bhutan soon after covid-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the travel industry the hardest and has changed all of our worlds. Due to this virus epidemic, many of us who love nature could not get back to it for months and our love for great outdoors has been seriously put on hold. We know, how much you’re missing the great outdoors and now looking to have that safe and easy travel freedom back, but the question is when will travel recover? and where to go? We do not know when things do start to return to normal, especially international travel. However, for the moment the scale and spread of COVID-19 problem cannot be ignored too. Let not the virus outbreak hamper your future travel. Stay home and take advantage of the situation by gathering information from online sources to keep your dream of pursuing various outdoor activities alive. Bhutan can be one possible destination to go soon after the pandemic, because the country has by all accounts doing an excellent job in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Bhutan has so far 27 cases and the country is taking this threat very seriously.

The following treks can give you a beautiful time amidst alluring nature and forget all the stress and frustrations in your life.

01. Druk Path Trek (06 days on trek)

     This trek is relatively the most popular short high altitude trek. It starts from above Ta Dzong - the National Museum after a short uphill drive passing through several farmhouse, settlement and apple orchard. The trail on this trek is quite harsh and rough but your effort will not go in waste. Thought it is a popular route taken, most of the time it is less crowded and even at time you will trek without encountering with any trekkers along the trail. The trail on this trek is known for its rich lush green forest of pine, fur, rhododendron, and juniper, which is quite famous in this area and run riot in the month of May. The other interesting feature on this trek is that trekkers will encounter several small high altitude beautiful lakes.

02. Dagala 1000 Lakes Trek (06 days on trek)

       It is considered to be one of the most adoring and refreshing high altitude treks. The trekking trail takes you through an atmosphere surrounded by landscape filled with dazzling alpine wildflowers, multitude of several mesmerizing high altitude lakes and through a landscape surrounded by yaks and yak herders stone house. If you are here between mid-September to late November, at some point of your trek the stunning view of the Himalayan mountain peaks are enriching as well enjoying the breathtaking surrounding landscape.

03. Jomolhari Soi Yaktsa Trek (07 days on trek)

       This is one of the most beautiful short treks in Bhutan. It is truly rewarding and worth doing it. The trek takes you through varied landscape from dense forest to open meadow and from deep valley to High Mountain passes. The highlight of the trek is the fabulous view of the Jomolhari twin peaks and the neighboring Mt. Jichu Drakey. The trek starts from Gunitsawa village and then gently enters the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Park. The duration of this trek last for 7 days including the day acclimatization at Jomolhari Base Camp.

 04. Laya Gasa Trek (14 days on trek)

       This hidden and remote journey begins from the tiny village of Gunitsawa in the northern end of Paro valley. It is rated the medium-hard one and takes trekkers through some of the most astonishing terrain and landscape of Bhutan. As you continue the trail offers an amazing view of the surrounding Himalayan mountain peaks like Mt. Jomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drakey, Mt. Tsherimgang, Mt. Masagang and so many other mountain peaks. As you continue to ascend and descent, trekkers will trek through a meadow laden with wildflowers surrounded by giant trees like fur, pine, juniper and rhododendron forest. Along the trail you will also be able to spot some of the high altitude animals like blue sheep and Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

05. Snowman Trek (25 days on trek)

       Snowman Trek is regarded as one of the most difficult and rewarding trek in the world because of its rough mountain terrain. The trek starts from Paro while crossing more than twelve mountains passes in between and above 5300m. On this trek, trekkers may some time camp above 5000m or even halt night in the snow depending upon the seasonal temperature. The trail takes you to Lunana, which is considered to be one of the highest settlements in the country and further to Mt. Gangak Puensum – the highest peak (7514m) and finally down to Duer hot spring in Bumthang valley. The trail on this trek truly offers one of kind of experience for trekkers seeking adventure in an unexplored and unspoiled natural environment. Trekkers will not be disappointed with its mountainous geography and rugged topography.

06. Masagang Trek (16 days on trek)

       This trek is one of the most stunning and dramatic high altitude treks. The trek starts from Gunitsawa village at the northern end of scenic Paro valley and takes you all the way through reserved Jigme Dorji National Park. The trekking trail offers plenty of opportunities to view the mighty Himalayan mountain peaks like Jomolhari twin peak, Jichu Drakey, Tsherimgang, Masagang, Gangchentag, Tsendagang and Ganglakarchung.  Masagang is one of the most stunning and beautiful peaks towering over Laya valley. As you trek up from Laya to Masagang basecamp you will truly discover the wilderness experience.

07. Gangkar Puensum Exploratory Trek (15 days on trek)

       The Gangkar Puensum Exploratory Trek is one of the most beautiful high altitude treks in Bhutan. It visits an area to the south and east of Gangkar Puensum, the world’s highest unclimbed peak, which lies on the border of Bhutan with Tibet.  This is a wild area with spectacular mountain vistas that is home to yak herders and their animals during the summer months, but is rarely visited by trekkers.  The trek is quite challenging and it is most suited to those trekkers who have previous experience of hiking in a rugged, high altitude mountain environment.

Gangkar Puensum Peak