Bhutan highlights holiday with trekking options

Planet

Carbon reduction

Our multi-day trekking trips in Bhutan avoid internal flights. To get to Bhutan, we recommend guests fly from Delhi to Paro and return the same way, as this is one of the shortest and most direct routes into the country. Our focus is on spending longer in Bhutan and travelling more slowly, with much of the trip on foot, which means fewer vehicle journeys and more time to absorb the landscapes.

We prioritise walking tours and hikes, which reduce vehicle use. Six of the 16 days are spent on the trek, and on four of them (Days 5–8) no vehicles are used 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 vegetarian meals, which generally have a lower carbon footprint than meat-based dishes.


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 Volume’ tourism policy, 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, power lines are buried underground so they don’t obstruct the cranes’ flight paths.

During the multi-day trek (this example includes the Jomolhari Trek), our trekking guides are trained to carry out all waste, cook simple local meals and treat 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 that grows its own vegetables and herbs, including Bhutan’s traditional red rice. Guests enjoy this delicious farm-to-table food and can learn where it comes from, deepening their appreciation of local farming, the environment and Bhutanese culture.

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 them 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 Bhutan.


Employment, inclusivity & diversity

100% of the people we work with on this trip, from office staff to drivers and guides, are from Bhutan, and are all paid at least the minimum wage in Bhutan.

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.