Hiking in Bhutan: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

More than 130,000 foreign visitors head to Bhutan each year to discover this amazing country for themselves. As a result, popular destinations can get pretty crowded.

Hiking gives you the option to visit some of these more crowded areas, but then escape back into the wilderness afterwards. Either way, try and see some of the most iconic landmarks along the way, if you can.

The Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong,Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, five Dziong religious sites, Jigme Dorji National Park Royal Manas National Park, Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Tamzhing Monastery are among the most popular tourist destinations.

Keep in mind to clean up after yourself and do as much ‘leave no trace’ camping and hiking as possible. Bhutan is one of the most environmentally aware countries in the world and you don’t want to be an ungracious guest.

Stunning scenery

Bhutan may be small, but there is certainly a lot to see. Heading out on foot is the best way to discover everything that you can as well. Enjoy rolling hills, snow-capped peaks, lush green valleys and rushing waterfalls, all of which are sprinkled throughout the small kingdom. In spite of its size, you could spend months here and not discover everything there is to see.

Wonderful wildlife

From the elusive and incredibly rare snow leopards and Bengal tigers to the iconic red pandas and Indian elephants, there is a lot of wildlife to see in Bhutan. Hiking will get you in proximity to some of these majestic and exotic animals. Nature conservancies and national parks abound here, head through them to see some of these rare animals. There’s no shortage of birds or fauna either.

Come for the culture

Along with the country’s natural beauty, enjoy some of its cultural heritage too. The kingdom is home to an ancient culture and hiking through the country will shed some light on this rich and storied culture. You’ll get the opportunity to pass along mountain villages built on cliff edges as well as some of the country’s famous hanging monasteries. Be sure to sample some of the local cuisine as well, including the famed Ema Datshii dish.

Bhutan enjoys quite a warm climate throughout the year. The best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from autumn to spring. During this time of year, average daily temperatures range from 12ºC to 20ºC. It is also generally quite humid during this time of year, but rain is not frequent.

Any trip to Bhutan begins with a flight into Paro International Airport (PBH). Direct flights are offered here from most major Indian airports, Singapore and Hong Kong. Guides will generally arrange to meet you at the airport and transport you to the start of the trip.

Dzongkha

+975

Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN)

October to April