As seen on
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail
Bhutan - 3,425m
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
8 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- The royal cities of Trongsa and Bumthang
- Chendebji Chorten
- Buddha Dordenma & Memorial Chorten
- Immersion in Bhutan's unique culture and authentic communities
- Hike to the famous 'Tiger’s Nest' monastery
- Punakha Dzong
- Paro Rinpung Dzong
- Bumthang Brewery & cheese factory
Discover the 'real' Bhutan on this small group walking tour
Before the arrival of roads in the 1960s, traders, royal messengers and even army officials would travel to different regions of the country along routes crisscrossing valleys. Overgrown and largely forgotten, this network of precious trails was restored during the pandemic by a not-for-profit tourism initiative at the request of the king. Now running across the country, the Trans Bhutan Trail is already being lauded as one of the greatest long-distance treks in the world.
Our five-day hike along a section of the trail - available as a small group tour or tailor-made trip - will take you through valleys sprinkled with wildflowers, along snow-melt streams powering prayer wheels, against a backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks.
There are stops at the royal cities of Trongsa and Bumthang - with their mesmerising dzong monasteries - before you end in Paro for the unmissable hike up to the iconic Taktsang Monastery or 'Tiger's Nest', nested within a craggy cliff 2,600 feet above the valley floor.
The trail offers a unique way to discover the 'real' Bhutan, while supporting local communities in rural areas inaccessible to outsiders for many years. If you would like to learn more about Bhutan, you can watch our webinar featuring UK travel writer Sarah Marshall HERE.
Bhutan's incredible cultural festivals
Bhutan's festivals, or Tshechus, are vibrant, deeply spiritual events celebrated across the country. These festivals honour Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Bhutan, and showcase traditional mask dances, music, and rituals performed by monks and laypeople. The Tshechus are not only visually stunning, with performers in elaborate costumes and masks, but they also hold profound cultural and religious significance, believed to bring blessings and merit to attendees.
Such an opportunity to experience Bhutan's rich heritage, unique customs, and the joyous, communal spirit of its people - is not to be missed, which is why we've aligned our itinerary to coincide with some of Bhutan's best festivals, as follows:
2025
- 8th - 12th April: Paro Festival
- 22nd - 24th April: Rhododendron Festival, Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu
- 2nd - 4th October: Thimphu Tshechu, Thimphu*
- 5th - 7th October: Gangtey Tshechu, Gangtey*
- 11th November: Black-necked Crane Festival, Gangtey**
2026
- 29th March - 2nd April: Paro Festival
- 13th - 14th April: Rhododendron Festival, Lamperi Botanical Park, Thimphu
- 21st - 23rd September: Thimphu Tshechu, Thimphu*
- 24th - 26th September: Gangtey Tshechu, Gangtey*
- 11th November: Black-necked Crane Festival, Gangtey**
*For both Thimphu and Gangtey Tshechu Festival we have carefully created a very special itinerary that encompasses both festivals, the itinerary can be found here.
** For Black-necked Crane Festival see the itinerary here
If you'd like to attend one that's not listed here, speak to our team about creating a bespoke itinerary for you.
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee
All international visitors to Bhutan must pay a 'Sustainable Development Fee' (SDF) of $100 per night of their stay to the Bhutanese Government. For our 8-night tour, this means a fee of $800 which has been incorporated into our tour cost accordingly.
If you purchase any additional nights with us, the additional SDF charges of $100 are included into the add-on costs. We need to know exactly how long you plan to stay in Bhutan so we can pay the government the correct SDF charge on your behalf and arrange your time-sensitive tourist visa.
Day 1: Arrival at Paro – Thimphu
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
On arrival at Paro International Airport, you will be met by your guide and driven by private vehicle to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu. With elevations ranging between 2,248 metres (7,375 feet) and 2,648 metres (8,688 feet) above sea level, Thimphu is the fifth highest capital city in the world by altitude. The city offers a unique blend of the modern world with Bhutanese tradition.
After checking in at your hotel and some time to rest, head out with your guide to explore. First, head to Buddha Point, home to Thimphu’s most recognized landmark, the Buddha Dordenma. Guarding the entry to the Thimphu valley, this 51 metre (167 feet) gilded bronze statue is filled with 125,000 miniature statues and sits atop a three-storey base housing a chapel and thousands of donated statuettes. The statue was commissioned to mark His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s 60th birthday and was originally made in China before being transported to Thimphu in pieces.
Afterwards, you will make a stop at the Memorial Chorten, a Tibetan-style stupa built in 1974 and one of Thimphu’s busiest religious sites. Your guide will select a good local restaurant in Thimphu for dinner this evening, which will be your first chance to learn about and sample Bhutanese cuisine.
Accommodation: Kisa Villa, Eutsholing Boutique or similar
Day 2: Thimphu – Dochula – Thinleygang – Lobesa
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, head east out of Thimphu this morning to begin your first day of trekking on the ancient Trans Bhutan Trail. You will join the Trail this morning at Dochula Pass, some 3,100 metres (10,170 feet) above sea level. At clearer times of the year, you will be able to enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas to the north from Dochula.
From here, descend down into the adjacent valley and join what is known as the ‘Divine Madman Trail’. You will now be following in the footsteps of the Divine Madman himself, Drukpa Kuenley, when he came to Bhutan from Tibet in the 16th century to fulfil his legacy of suppressing evil energies through his dharma teachings. During your trek today, your guide will share some of the extraordinary stories which relate to the lama’s colourful life. Make a stop at Thinleygang Lhakhang (temple) before enjoying a traditional Bhutanese lunch cooked in a local farmhouse.
After lunch, rejoin your vehicle and head east towards Lobesa, where you will check into your hotel and enjoy dinner with your guide.
Accommodation: Gatshothang, Dharma Siddi or similar
Trek Distance: 10.5 kilometres (6.52 miles), Estimated Trek Duration: 5 hours, Elevation Gain: 50 metres (164 feet), Starting Elevation: 3,100 metres (8,700 feet), Ending Elevation: Ending Elevation: 1,560 metres (5,100 feet), Maximum Elevation: 3,100 metres (8,700 feet)
Day 3: Lobesa – Pelela – Chendebji – Trongsa
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast at the hotel, head to your vehicle for a transfer to Pelela, where you will rejoin the Trans Bhutan Trail.
At 3,407 metres (11,177 feet) above sea level, the Pelela Pass is one of Bhutan’s highest and is traditionally considered to mark the boundary between west and central Bhutan. Local craftspeople often sell fine yak-hair products at the pass. As you descend through the meadows below Pelela, keep an eye out for the yak herder camps which can be seen scattered around the valley.
Stop in a traditional farmhouse in the village of Rukubji to enjoy a hot lunch, before visiting Rukubji’s village Lhakhang (temple), also known as Kuenzang Choling. It is thought that this temple was built some 300 years ago by a Lama named Tshendhen Duelwa. Unlike most temples, it is not built on a ridge with a view out over a valley, but rather on an extended plateau and close to two rivers: the reason for this is that the Lama built the temple on top of the head of a snake-demoness which he subdued in the same location. Rukubji is also famous for its unique local language, and you will have the chance to learn about this during your time here.
Afterwards, rejoin the trail for a gentle climb out of the valley then through a forest, before dropping back down the village of Chendebji. At Chendebji, visit the Chorten (stupa), which is built on the point on which it is believed that the three ridges and the three edges of the sky meet. The Chorten was built by Lam Ngedup Tshering Wangchuk in order to subdue a local demoness, Nyala Dudm, and bring peace to the Chendebji Valley.
At Chendebji, you will rejoin your vehicle for a road transfer to the town of Trongsa.
On arrival, check in to your hotel where you will have time to rest. Your guide will arrange for dinner either at your hotel or a good local restaurant.
Accommodation: Yangkhill Resort or similar
Trek Distance: 21.5 kilometres (13.5 miles), Estimated Trek Duration: 8 hours, Elevation Gain: 500 metres (1,650 feet), Starting Elevation: 3,402 metres (11,162 feet), Ending Elevation: 2,276 metres (7,468 feet), Maximum Elevation: 3,402 metres (11,162 feet)
Day 4: Trongsa – Bumthang
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a tour of Trongsa Dzong (fortress), which was first built by Ngagi Wangchuck as a small meditation room in 1541, after he discovered self-manifested hoof-prints belonging to the deity Pelden Lhamo on the same spot. Trongsa, which means ‘new village’ in the local dialect, soon sprung up around the site. The Dzong (fortress) was built in its present form in 1644 and then enlarged again at the end of the 17th century. It is home to some 450 district monks who spend their winters in Trongsa and their summers in Bumthang. You will visit a selection of the Dzong’s 23 lhakhangs (temples), before heading to the Trongsa Ta Dzong (watchtower), which now houses the interesting Royal Heritage Museum.
Afterwards, join your vehicle for a transfer to the Yotongla Pass (3,436 metres, 11,270 feet), where you will rejoin the Trans Bhutan Trail. This section of the Trail is historically closely associated with the Royal Family, who would have used it regularly to transfer between royal residences in Trongsa and Bumthang. From Yotongla, the Trail descends through meadows and open forest until it meets Gyeltsachhu (Gyeltsa River). From there, enjoy a scenic walk along the river as far as Geytsa Village, where you will rejoin your vehicle for a transfer to Bumthang. A picnic Lunch will be served at a suitable point on the trail.
On arrival in Bumthang, check into your hotel and relax for the remainder of the day. Your guide will arrange for dinner either at your hotel or a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Yugharling or similar
Trek Distance: 9.5 kilometres (5.90 miles), Estimated Trek Duration: 5 hours, Elevation Gain: 50 metres (164 feet), Starting Elevation: 2,276 metres (7,468 feet), Ending Elevation: 2,574 metres (8,445 feet), Maximum Elevation: 3,425 metres (11,237 feet)
Day 5: Bumthang
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, join your vehicle which will transfer you to the village of Babzur, where you will rejoin the Trail for a pleasant half-day excursion. The Trail will first take you past the Pema Choling Nunnery. Women and girls who enrol here follow a nine-year course in the Nyingma Peling Buddhist tradition and are known for a particular drum ceremony known as “chod”.
After your visit to the nunnery, head south along the Trans Bhutan Trail towards the sacred Mebartsho (the Burning Lake), where, in the 15th century, the great treasure hunter Pema Lingpa is said to have discovered several of Guru Rinpoche’s hidden treasures. Lingpa had a dream in which he was summoned to this particular location on the Tang River and, when he arrived, he saw at the bottom of the river a temple with many doors, one of which was open. He then swam down into a large cave where he was handed a treasure chest by a one-eyed woman. He would later repeat the feat in the presence of the local people and whilst holding a lit butter lamp which did not go out underwater – and it is because of that that this pool was named “burning lake”.
Enjoy a typical Bhutanese lunch at a local farmhouse in the nearby village of Phomdrong. During your visit, your host will show you how to make Bumthap Putha, a special type of buckwheat noodle traditional to the Bumthang region.
After lunch, return to Bumthang, where you will visit the Bumthang Brewery, producers of Bhutan’s celebrated Red Panda Beer. Nearby is Bhutan’s only commercial cheese factory. Both the brewery and the cheese factory are legacies of a Swiss-run development project called Swiss Farm, which introduced distinctive European farming and production techniques into the Bumthang area. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Yugharling or similar
Trek Distance: 4.5 kilometres (2.80 miles), Estimated Trek Duration: 3 hours, Elevation Gain: 200 metres (656 feet), Starting Elevation: 2,800 metres (9,186 feet), Ending Elevation: 2,713 metres (8,901 feet), Maximum Elevation: 2,800 metres (9,186 feet)
Day 6: Bumthang – Punakha
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
After breakfast this morning, rejoin your vehicle for a transfer back to Trongsa. Alight at the Trongsa Ta Dzong (watchtower), where you begin your last section of trekking on the Trans Bhutan Trail. The Trail still heads right through the centre of Trongsa and today you will head through Trongsa Dzong (fortress), crossing the old bridge over Mangdechhu (Mangde River), before heading up the other side of the valley for a steep climb up to the Trongsa viewpoint: from here, enjoy fantastic views back over the Dzong (fortress).
Rejoin the vehicle at the viewpoint and head to the town of Punakha, where you will check into your accommodation and enjoy dinner with your guide at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Gasothang homestay, Dharma Sidddi or similar
Trek Distance: 4 kilometres (2.49 miles), Estimated Trek Duration: 4 hours, Elevation Gain: 350 metres (1,148 feet), Starting Elevation: 2,050 metres (6,726 feet), Ending Elevation: 2,125 metres (7,956 feet), Maximum Elevation: 2,125 metres (7,956 feet)
Day 7: Punakha – Paro
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, head to the Punakha Dzong (fortress), built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in around 1637 at the confluence of the Phochhu (male river) and the Mochhu (female river). Arguably, it is the most beautiful Dzong in the country. The Dzong guards Bhutan’s most treasured relic, the Rangjung Kharsapani, an image of Chenresig kept away from the public in the utse (tower). It has survived Tibetan invasions, numerous fires, floods and a glacial lake burst. The Dzong served as the capital and seat of the Bhutanese Government until the early 1950s; and the coronation of His Majesty the First Druk, Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck, took place here. The building currently serves as the winter residence for the monastic body.
After your visit, you will be transferred west to the city of Paro (Approx 3.5 hours). On arrival in Paro, visit Ta Dzong or the ‘watchtower’, originally built in 1649 to protect Paro Dzong from the Tibetan military. In 1968, Ta Dzong became Bhutan’s National Museum, and is now home to a number of exhibitions including sculpture, painting and artefacts depicting Bhutan’s magical past. Afterwards, continue to the stunning Paro Rinpung Dzong (fortress), meaning ‘Fortress on a Heap of Jewels’. The original construction of this dzong is believed to have been completed in 1458 and it was restored to its present glory by His Majesty the Third of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, to mark his royal wedding in 1951.
After your visits, head to your hotel, where we recommend you relax and unwind in a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath before enjoying dinner with your guide at a nearby restaurant.
Accommodation: Olathang Cottages or similar
Day 8: Paro - Tiger's Nest - Paro
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast this morning, head northwest out of Paro by private vehicle for a visit to the iconic Taktshang Goemba, more commonly known as the ‘Tiger’s Nest Monastery’. Precariously perched on a sheer cliff face 900 metres (2,950 feet) above the Paro Valley floor, the Tiger’s Nest is undoubtedly Bhutan’s most famous religious building. It is built on the site where Guru Rinpoche is said to have arrived on the back of a tigress when he came to subdue the local demon, Singye Samdrup. After subduing the demon, Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in a cave here for three whole months.
The Monastery is only accessible by foot via one and a half to two hour hike up the valley side. The trek offers spectacular views from the ridge and passes a small chorten, a basic monastery, and a waterfall on its way.
Once you have reached the Tiger’s Nest, you will have a chance to visit the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated, as well as the extensive network of Lhakhangs (chapels) which house images, murals, chortens, and a holy spring. You may also wish to make a diversion to the attractive Machig-phu Lhakhang (temple) on the way back down to the access road.
After the visit, you will head back to your hotel in Paro, where you will be able to relax for the remainder of the day or do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs.
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your guide at a nearby restaurant.
Accommodation: Olathang Cottages or similar
Day 9: Paro – Depart
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast today, you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure flight, rejuvenated by the Bhutanese way of life.
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.
We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is not available to book for part of the trip where it would have been possible.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips
- Souvenir items
- Travel insurance
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure is comfortable and welcoming hotel accommodation offering rooms with ensuite facilities. We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip.
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options. An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.
The itinerary provides information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and guest houses are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels, guest houses or camps. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be a local, English-speaking, qualified guide who knows the area like the back of their hand, as well as the history & heritage of the area!
We work jointly with our Bhutanese Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of reliable and suitably qualified local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 fellow travellers. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you. Our links with in-country travel experts often mean that we can assist you in developing a personalised itinerary.
Am I fit enough?
You are visiting the Himalayas, walking at altitude between 3000 and 5000m.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you therefore need to be a regular walker and in good physical condition. You do not need to be experienced in trekking, however. Any hiking is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops.
You will be carrying just a day pack, with water, layers and other basics.
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
Clients are advised to get into a regular walking pattern before the trip as convenient.
If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip itself.
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport where you will be met and taken to your hotel either by your guide, or a driver.
We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you.
We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Airport & Arrival Info
On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim and onwards to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
All group specific, final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
YellowWood partners with battleface as a travel insurance provider. Click here for a quote.
battleface insurance is provided in the UK by battleface Insurance Services Limited, a UK insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details provided on this webpage are for information only. Terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations apply. Always read the description of cover contained within your policy to ensure it is suitable for your needs.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
Visas
You will need a passport and visa to enter and exit Bhutan. Your visa is included in your adventure cost and we take care of all necessary arrangements for you before your adventure begins.
We kindly request that you provide us with your insurance documents, with your name clearly stated, along with a scanned copy of your passport. Once your application is processed, you will receive a convenient PDF copy of your visa. Simply print it out or display it on your tablet or phone upon arrival and departure in Bhutan.
Reviews
CHB
YellowWood tour in Bhutan
Just back from a YellowWood tour in Bhutan- everything was fabulous- the organisation before we went and then the local Bhutan partners and cannot more highly recommend our guide and driver- they were knowledgeable and caring and responsive to our wishes and interests.
A great trip to a fascinating country and cannot recommend it more highly
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail October 2023
Ellie
A wonderful tour of Bhutan
Had a fantastic time in Bhutan with YellowWood Adventures. It was a small group so we could be flexible with the itinerary. The local partner, guide and driver were wonderful and really went out of their way to make it a great experience. We walked some of the beautiful Trans Bhutan Trail and visited some amazing cultural sites. Our guide was really knowledgeable and gave us a great insight into the country and its culture. We stayed in really good accommodation. All in all I would thoroughly recommend it.
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail October 2023
Please take into consideration the time of year when you are travelling before making your final packing decisions.
Please bring a full first aid kit and any prescription medication with you. Consult your doctor regarding advice around inoculations and the prevention of disease contraction.
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- Passport, insurance & visa documents (you must have a printed or digital copy of your visa to present on arrival)
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Credit / Debit card for ATMs in town
- Phone & charging cables / plugs / adaptors
- Day bag to carry extra layers, water and other essentials
- Money belt
- Antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape). anti-diarrhoea tables - we recommend getting hold of some Ciprofloxacin (a quinolone antibiotic) ahead of the trip. It’s great for traveller's diarrhoea
- Washbag & usual contents
- Insect repellent
- Sun cream
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be low in the evenings. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended - they pack small too!
- Walking trousers for trekking. Soft shell fabric is ideal.
- Shorts for warmer days
- Sandals or trainers - worn in please!
- General socks / underwear
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in
- Some “smarter” outfits / evening wear
- Warm hat & gloves
Items for Hiking
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops. Technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather when hiking.
- Thermal base layers are ideal when camping & also useful if you get cold weather
- 20-30L rucksack with waist (& ideally chest) strap for hiking
- Walking boots - already broken in!
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners for both day sack and kit bag) to keep kit dry
- Refillable water bottle
- Standard large rucksack or large duffel style bag are all suitable for your baggage
Optional
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection
- For women: Light scarf useful for covering neck & shoulders in respect of religious spaces
- Flask, if you enjoy hot drinks on the go
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Purification tablets as alternative to Water Purification Bottle
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Walking poles
- Lightweight waterproof trousers
- Waterproof socks
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Trekking the Trans Bhutan Trail & Black-necked Crane Festival
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From
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
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