Bhutan Trekking Tour

1. When is the best time for a trekking tour in Bhutan?

Autumn (late September to November) is the most popular and best time for trekking in Bhutan, when the climate is at its best. The skies are usually clear, offering fabulous clear views of the mountain peaks. Nights are very cold but daytime temperatures are likely to reach the mid 20 centigrade degrees. Plus, it coincides with many of the major festivals that Bhutan is known for.

Spring, from March to May, is the next best trekking time in Bhutan. Though there are more clouds and rain than in autumn, wildflowers like rhododendrons and magnolias etc. will be in full bloom. It’s not quite as chilly at night and you should still have glimpses of the high peaks, but they are unlikely to be as clear as in autumn.

Summer (June to August) is the monsoon season so the views are not clear enough and roads can be muddy and slippery for trekking. During the winter months (December to February), it is also possible to trek at lower altitudes (below 2000m) on trails that take you through villages, forests and across valleys.

2. How much does it cost to trek in Bhutan?

It varies. The cost of trekking in Bhutan consists of the following parts: visa fee, flights to and from Bhutan, tour package fee and tips. No visa and visa fee is needed for Indians, Maldivians and Bangladeshis. For nationals from other countries, the visa fee is USD 40 per person.

Tour package fee is what we know as the minimum daily rate, i.e. for a group of 3 travellers or more, USD 250 per person in spring and autumn and USD 200 per person in summer and winter. This daily rate includes everything, except for the tips given to your guide and driver, during your stay in Bhutan, from transportation, accommodation to guide and vehicle. However, other discounts are available or surcharge is requested depending on the complexity of the trek, number of people in the group and extra accommodation and food requests (e.g. a cook), etc. Please contact our experienced travel consultant for a more detailed plan.

3. What are the required travel permits for trekking in Bhutan?

You need to get Bhutan visa to be able to trek in Thimphu and Paro only. Restricted Area Permit is needed if you plan to go to places beyond these two places. Anyway, wherever you go for trekking in Bhutan, we will get every permit needed ready before you start the trek. All you need to do is just sit back and relax.

4. How far in advance to book the Bhutan trekking tour？

You have to book Bhutan trek tour at least 3 months in advance. The best time for trekking in Bhutan sees a lot of tourists so flights and accommodations can be hard to get during this time. Even if you travel in low season, you’d better book as early as you can coz there are limited tour agent and guides there in Bhutan.

5. How many days required to trek in Bhutan?

It varies from 3 days to around 30 days depending on the places and paths you choose. For short treks like Bumthang Owl Trek, 3 days are enough. For challenging routes like the Snowman Trek, it can take 22-25 days. Bhutan visa allows you to stay up to 14 days in Bhutan and the extension of the visa will allow you to stay up to 30 days. We can customize a worry-free and unique trek tour to your own needs.

6. Does Altitude Sickness occur when trekking in Bhutan?

It may occur but our carefully designed itinerary have minimized the likelihood. Even though the altitude in Bhutan is higher than most people are used to, altitude sickness is rare in our Bhutan tours as most valleys we go through are mainly around 2,500m, like Thimphu at 2,350m and Paro at 2,250m. Though there are some exceptions - some really tough treks like the Jhomolhari trek can go as high as 5,000m. Anyway, it is no harm to bring with you certain medicines prescribed by your doctor.

7. Is it safe to do a solo trek in Bhutan

Yes, it is. However, you are not really trekking ‘alone’ but accompanied by a local guide. Foreigners cannot travel by themselves but have to join a pre-arranged guided tour from a licensed local Bhutan agent or their international partners. With our experienced guides and drivers who know our guests’ needs and every corner of Bhutan very well, your solo travel is totally safe. Plus, the Bhutanese are in general very kind and helpful as well. So, don’t worry!