Bhutan highlights holiday with trekking options

Planet

Carbon reduction

Our multi-day trekking in Bhutan trips avoid internal flights. To get to Bhutan, we recommend guests fly from Delhi to Paro and return the same way as this is the shortest and most direct route, using less carbon. Our focus is on spending longer in Bhutan and travelling more slowly—mostly on foot—to keep emissions lower and to give you more time to absorb the landscapes.

We prioritize low-impact activities such as walking tours and hikes to reduce vehicle use and ease pressure on sensitive sites. Around 50% of the trip days involve a multi-day trek without using a car at all. On other days, there’s still an active element—such as a shorter hike, or rafting.

In Bhutan, the 3* properties we use aim to source as much food as possible locally, and several have gardens to grow seasonal vegetables. Where possible, we encourage more plant-forward meals to help reduce the footprint of food supply.

Environment & wildlife

In Bhutan, all guests pay a daily tourist fee of $100 per person, per day. This goes directly to the government and supports the country’s high-value, low-impact model—contributing to local education and environmental preservation initiatives.

Guests visit the Black-necked Crane Centre, where the entrance fee supports the preservation of these remarkable birds. In the Gangtey Valley, there are no overhead electricity cables so as not to restrict their flight paths.

During the multi-day trek (this example includes the Jomolhari Trek), our trekking guides are trained in low-impact camp set-up and leave-no-trace practices—taking waste out with them, cooking simple local meals, and treating the land around camp with care and respect.

Throughout the trip, expert local guides share insights into the fragile ecosystems you visit and offer practical tips for responsible travel—such as eating locally, choosing more vegetarian meals, picking up any litter seen on treks, and accepting the occasional power cut as part of life in a country working to keep its footprint low. The 3* hotels are simple and homely rather than modern chain properties; we choose them because they help keep tourism income local and support local employment.

People

Local economy

Our Bhutan properties are independent and locally or family owned. A great example is Rema Resort in Paro—a family-run hotel focusing on sustainable eco-tourism. The property grows their own vegetables and herbs, focusing on the cultivation of Bhutan’s red rice. Not only does the hotel serve its guests this delicious farm to table food, it aims to gives guests the chance to learn about the source of their food – deepening the appreciate for sustainable farming, the local environment and Bhutanese culture. and pioneering model of local sustainable agriculture.
By choosing locally run guesthouses and small hotels, we help channel tourism revenue into the local economy and support local jobs and suppliers.

We include time to browse craft markets in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, and encourage guests to buy meaningful, well-made gifts created by local artisans—paying directly where possible.

The trip is on a full-board basis, with lunches typically taken in local restaurants—so local business owners benefit alongside hotels. Food for the multi-day trek is purchased locally.

Guides and drivers throughout the tour are from the local area and are trained by our local ground partners, who are themselves based in the destinations.

Employment, inclusivity & diversity

100% of the people we work with on this trip—from office staff to drivers and guides—are from the country, and are all paid at least the minimum wage for each destination.
Many markets and bazaars visited during the trip sell crafts made by lower-income community members. We encourage guests to make purchases where money goes directly to the maker.