Trans Bhutan Trail trek, tailor made

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
This 14-day tailor-made itinerary is designed with lower-carbon travel in mind and includes no internal flights. Where possible, we recommend routing via Delhi–Paro and returning the same way, as this is typically the shortest and most direct air connection, helping to reduce overall emissions. We also keep the pace deliberately slower, focusing on quieter, less-visited areas of Bhutan to spread the benefits of tourism beyond the main hotspots.
Over half of the trip is spent hiking the Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail, which means no vehicle use on those days—cutting local emissions and pollution, helping to keep roads quieter and reducing congestion. It also gives you more time on foot in rural Bhutan: walking through farmland and forest, meeting local communities, and experiencing the countryside away from crowded viewpoints. The Trans-Bhutan Trail was closed for many years and was re-opened after covid. This means guests will be visiting untouched remote areas of Bhutan that are otherwise missed, on an ancient historic route, amongst nature, away from tourists.
Across the trip, the simple, welcoming 3-star properties we use aim to source food locally wherever possible. Several have kitchen gardens that provide seasonal produce, and we encourage a focus on locally available dishes, including plenty of vegetarian options, to reduce the need to transport ingredients long distances. In remote Wangdue, Wangdue Eco Lodge is a really unique property and stands out for its sustainable approach. The hotel is built using environmentally conscious materials, combining traditional building methods with a green approach. The hotel grows its own vegetables, fruit and herbs, and guests can learn more about where their meals come from—deepening appreciation for Bhutanese culture and the environment. They hotel also ensures the food grown and served is free from preservatives or artificial ingredients.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Bhutan’s approach to tourism is built around a high-value, low-impact model. All visitors pay a daily tourist fee (currently listed as US\$100 per person per day), which goes to the government to help fund national priorities, including education and environmental initiatives.
On the 6-day Ancient Trans-Bhutan Trail hike, the trekking team follows established low-impact practices: choosing newly opened paths, taking all litter and waste with them to help protect fragile mountain environments. This route is less travelled than classic treks such as the Druk Path and Jomolhari trek, and its longer duration provides additional paid working days for the local trekking crew. Wherever practical, supplies are sourced locally—including from more remote communities that see fewer tourism benefits than the main trekking corridors. The result is a true wilderness experience: quiet trails, minimal disturbance, and the untouched beauty of the Himalayas.

Including a trek that covers remote valleys is one way tourism income can reach smaller, rural communities. This itinerary features Tang in the remote Bumthang region, supporting local businesses and services at a time when visitors are otherwise less frequent.

Throughout the trip, your expert local guides share insight into the ecosystems you visit and offer practical ways to travel responsibly—such as eating locally, choosing vegetarian meals when you can, carrying out any litter you see on the trail, and accepting occasional power cuts as part of life in a country working hard to keep its environmental footprint low. Some of the 3-star hotels are simple and “homely” rather than polished; we choose them because they are locally run and help keep tourism revenue in Bhutan, supporting local jobs and small businesses. This context helps guests understand local realities and minimise their impact.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
All accommodation on this 14-day Bhutan itinerary is in independent, locally or family-owned hotels and lodges. In Bumthang, for example, Kaila Guest House is a long-established, family-run property that has welcomed travellers for generations. Choosing small, locally managed places helps direct tourism revenue into the local economy and often supports local employment and suppliers.
We build in time to browse craft markets in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, and encourage guests to choose meaningful, good-quality items made by local artisans—ideally paying directly to the maker where possible.
The trip is full board, and lunches are typically taken in local restaurants—so the benefits of your holiday are shared beyond the hotels. For multi-day treks, food is purchased locally wherever feasible to support local producers and reduce supply miles.
Your guides, drivers and specialist trekking team are Bhutanese and are arranged through our local ground partners, ensuring skills, knowledge and income remain within the communities you visit.


EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
Everyone involved in delivering this trip—from office staff and drivers to guides and the trekking crew—is from Bhutan. Our local partners are committed to fair employment practices, including meeting local wage requirements and providing training and support for staff in specialist roles.
Many of the markets and bazaars visited offer crafts made by people on lower incomes, so we encourage guests to shop locally and thoughtfully—helping money go directly to individuals and small family businesses.