Bhutan is the secret kingdom for those who wish to see the true Himalayas in all it's rugged beauty. At Kandoo, we love the peaceful, remote nature of Bhutan, particularly in comparison to it's popular Nepalese neighbour. There is so much great trekking to do here and the people are famed for their kindness and welcoming character. First-time trekkers in Bhutan find the mountain temples and shrines bring a sense of calm and serenity to the awe-inspiring Himalayan mountains. The Thimpu region of the Bhutanese Himalaya is home to some incredible ridgelines and peaks, including the monstrous Chomolhari standing at 7326m.
If long distance trekking is what you are after then the Snowman Trek really is the epitome of a Himalayan trekking adventure. Traversing across Bhutan through high mountain passes and into really, remote locations it is a once in a lifetime expedition.
Currently there are only two airline operators that fly to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. The main airport is in Paro (2,225m) and currently receives flights from Bangkok, Dhaka, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. This means that you need to get to one of these hubs to catch a connecting flight to Paro.
The flight into Paro is pretty exciting as the position of the airport requires the plane to get much closer to the mountain tops than most other flights in the world. If you are lucky enough to fly from Kathmandu to Paro and the weather is clear you will fly over 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the world - Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga.
If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route to Paro, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.
Visa guidelines
Visas can only be arranged by travel companies and are issued on arrival to those on a prepaid all-inclusive tour. In order to process your Bhutan visa we require a clear readable colour copy of your passport containing the passport number and photograph in JPEG or PDF format.
Transit visas:
Your domestic flight into Bhutan is likely to be on a separate ticket to your international flight. As a result, your luggage will not be checked right through to your final destination and you will need to clear immigration at your transit airport in order to collect your bag and check it back in for your international connection. Double check with your airline what the immigration and visa requirements are for the airport you are to transit through, and whether they are able to re-check your bags for you. Otherwise, you may need to arrange transit visas prior to travel. This is especially important if you are planning on travelling via India, as a transit visa is required and it must be arranged in advance.
Our Bhutan treks
The mountains of Bhutan are defined by three main geographic zones: the Great Himalaya, the Lower Himalaya, and the Sub-Himalaya. Within these are some of the tallest mountains in the world! Bhutan is home to twenty one peaks that are over 7,000m...the tallest of which is Gangshar Puensum standing at 7570m, close to the border with Tibet. Between these peaks lie untouched valleys filled with exotic wildlife including; tigers, snow leopards and red panda. As Bhutan operates a system where trekkers must be accompanied by a Bhutanese guide, many of the trekking routes have much less people than neighbouring Nepal and have a greater sense of remoteness; of being immersed in the mountains. We operate three world class adventures in Bhutan:
THE DRUK PATH | The Druk Path trek is a four day trek, crossing the spectacular natural landscape between Paro and Thimphu. A journey through rhododendron forests and alongside glacial lakes, against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and dramatic valleys. Along the way you will discover more about the history of Bhutan through unspoilt villages, ancient lhakhangs and dzongs.
THE CHOMOLHARI TREK | This seven day trek begins with a visit to the stunning Tiger’s Nest Monastery, located high on the cliffside of the upper Paro valley. It then meanders through the picturesque valleys of Paro and Thimphu, to the incredible mountain vistas of Chomolhari (7326m), Jichu Drake (6794m) and Tshrim Khang.
THE SNOWMAN TREK | The Snowman trek goes to the remote Lunana district and is considered to be the most difficult treks in Bhutan. The combined attributes of distance, high altitudes, weather conditions and remoteness make this a very tough trek and it should only be considered if you have experience and a good level of fitness.
When to trek
You can find detailed advice on when to trek in our Bhutan Travel Guide.
This a brief summary. Weather should be the first thing you think about when you decide when to trek. Bhutan has a bad monsoon season during the summer when the rain is torrential nearly every day. In the winter, the temperatures can be very, very low particularly at night. This means that, as a general rule, the best weather for trekking is in Spring and Autumn.
In winter, it is normally quite dry everywhere in Bhutan, but it will be very, very cold. This means that trekking is possible on
The Druk Path, but you will need extra warm sleeping bag and plenty of suitable warm winter clothes. Trekking the
Chomolhari and
Snowman Trek, which involve crossing high passes, are closed during the winter.
Training for your trek in Bhutan
The trekking in Bhutan ranges from not too difficult to extremely tough. The Druk path is doable by anyone with some trekking experience and a good mindset, whereas The Snowman Trek regularly wins the title 'toughest trek in the world'. What makes trekking in Bhutan extra challenging is the altitude - you will be at a high altitude for the majority of the trek. The routes travel between 2,500-5000m of elevation. At this altitude the lack of oxygen in the air has a range of effects on the human body, but the most obvious is breathlessness. At 5000m there is half the oxygen content in the air that there is at sea level. This makes any exertion a lot harder, so the most important thing you can do is go slowly. Exerting yourself too hard is a great way to bring on altitude sickness.
In order to avoid getting altitude sickness we adopt a slow, steady pace and spend time acclimatising at various points throughout our treks. This sometimes results in days when you can only walk for 4-5 hours before you have to stop. So in terms of distance walked and the altitude climbed, a day's trekking in Bhutan will be no more difficult than a typical day's hiking at home. Doing this for 6+ days consecutively and at altitude do combine though to make any trek a tough challenge and you will need to be really fit when you arrive. See our training guide for tips on how to prepare yourself for your arrival in Bhutan.
Camping and food in Bhutan
Hotels in Bhutan are not categorized into stars as in most of the other countries, however, all hotels have to be approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Our standard hotels are all clean and comfortable and are chosen because of their great locations, often in quieter parts of town, to help you get a good nights' sleep.
Kandoo use good quality, spacious tents to ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable on your Bhutanese trek. They are designed to sleep three people, but we only ever sleep 2 to a tent, to ensure you have plenty of space for you and your gear. Keep in mind, these are proper mountain tents, designed to cope with extreme conditions so don’t expect to be able to stand up and walk around inside! Your meals will be taken in a separate mess tent where you will be able to sit comfortably, while you relax and chat to your team mates and enjoy some of the delicious food that our cook has freshly prepared for you. Inside, you’ll be pleased to find a table (of course) and a proper, comfortable chair with arms. With a full 2 metres of headroom, even the tallest climbers will be able to stretch a bit, and move about without hunching over.
On our Bhutan treks meals are provided during your stay at the pre and post trek hotels, and dishes will be prepared for you on your trek. All meals are provided on a fixed menu basis, with enough options for vegetarians. Bhutanese cuisine generally consists of steamed rice (red and white) with a varied choice of spicy curries, both vegetarian and non vegetarian. Most hotels provide meals buffet‐style. There are usually continental, Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes. The food in hotels is often the best in town, but restaurants in the main towns are increasingly becoming popular. All tourist hotels have a good selection of international and Bhutanese beverages. We provide healthy and nutritious cooked meals on your trek for every meal which always include fresh vegetables and meat. Everyday a lunch boy will catch you up on the trail in time to serve you a hot picnic lunch. We cater for a variety of special dietary requirements, whether you're vegetarian or gluten-free just let us know when you book.
In addition to the drinking water we provide on the trek, we will also provide drinking water during your cultural tours. To reduce the use of plastic bottles, we would ask that you bring a re-usable drinks bottle that we can fill for you. If you are planning on using a hydration bag for the trek, this may not be comfortable to use around town, so we recommend you bring a smaller drinks bottle as well.
Toilets
The toilet situation is something a lot of our guests want to know about! In Bhutan, all the hotels will have western flushing toilets. On the trek, the remote nature of the trip means the toilets will be less luxurious, however we do everything we can to make them private and as comfortable as possible in such extreme conditions. At camp, you will have a toilet tent that provides a little privacy and will simply cover a hole in the ground upon which a portable seat has been set up. If you need to use the toilet whilst trekking then this will be a case of finding somewhere hidden, off the path and going wild. We can guarantee it will be the most scenic toilet break you've ever had!
Luggage
Bag weight: 15kg
We
operate a strict limit of 15kg for your main equipment bag. This is more than
sufficient for your needs on the trek. Your bag will be weighed before you
leave the hotel to start the trek and if it is overweight you will have to take
items out and leave them at the hotel.
Your main equipment bag will be carried by mules for the trek. You should also bring a small day
pack to carry water, snacks and anything else you may need whilst
trekking. This could be used as your
hand luggage on your flight. On the trek all items must be packed in
your main equipment bag or daypack. They should not be attached to the outside, as we are
not responsible if items fall off when the bags are being carried by the mules.
Budgeting
The
Bhutanese Ngultrum (Nu) is the local currency of Bhutan and equal in value to
the Indian Rupee. It is a closed currency so you will not be able to buy this
before you arrive. All major currencies, such as US Dollars, Sterling Pounds
and Euros, and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at Paro Airport, banks and
hotels. Hotels in the towns will accept foreign currency but we recommend that you take local currency on the actual trek with you for incidentals and souvenirs. Top tip:$50 bills/travellers’ checks (and larger) get a better exchange rate than smaller bills.
Bhutan is
a cash economy and credit cards are not commonly accepted. Mastercard may be
accepted in larger shops and hotels, but Amex is rarely accepted. If you are
relying on a credit or debit card for emergency funds while you travel, make
sure you tell your card issuer that you will be using it abroad, or you may
find that it won't work when you really need it.
A meal out for 2 people in Bhutan will cost ~$18, however this is included in the cost of your trip so, unless you wish to eat at a different restaurant, the only money you need is for tips and souvenirs. The most common souvenir purchases are Bhutanese wall hangings. These can be expensive, ranging from $20-$1000. Prepare for this if you plan on bringing one home. There are, however, plenty of inexpensive souvenirs you can pick up as well. Our recommended guidance for spending budget in Bhutan would be between $50-150 on top of your tips, give you ample souvenir spending money.
Tips
Tipping is not approved by the Bhutanese tourist board.
However, it has become customary practice to tip the guides, cooks and other members of the support team who have assisted you throughout your trek. The decision on how much to tip
should be determined by how well the team served you while you were on the
trek. Tips can be made in US
dollars or Bhutanese Ngultrum. It is very important that US bills be new
(less than 10 years old), crisp and untorn. See below our tip recommendations per trekker for each trip:
Druk Path
Lead guide: $120
Assistant guide (groups of 5+ only): $80
Cook: $45
Assistant Cook: $30
Lunch Boy/Staff: $30
Horseman: $30
Driver: $50
Different crew members
will be with you for different stages of your trip to Bhutan:
- Your guides will be with
you every day that you are in Bhutan. An assistant guide will only be needed if your group exceeds 5 people (You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
- Your cook, lunch boy and
horsemen will be with you while you are on the trek itself (you may have up to 5 staff and 3 horsemen on your trek, depending on the number of participants. You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
- Your driver will provide
your airport transfers, drive you for your cultural tours and transfer you to
and from the trek.
Once you have completed your hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery on the first day, our team will have a better idea of your fitness levels and may decide to include additional crew on the trek to ensure the success of everyone in the group.
Lead guide: $150
Assistant guide (groups of 5+ only): $100
Cook: $90
Assistant Cook: $60
Lunch Boy/Staff: $60
Horseman: $60
Driver: $40
Different crew members
will be with you for different stages of your trip to Bhutan:
- Your guides will be with
you every day that you are in Bhutan. An assistant guide will only be needed if your group exceeds 5 people (You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
- Your cook, lunch boy and
horsemen will be with you while you are on the trek itself (you may have up to 5 staff and 3 horsemen on your trek, depending on the number of participants. You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
- Your driver will provide
your airport transfers, drive you for your cultural tours and transfer you to
and from the trek.
Once you have completed your hike to the Tigers Nest Monastery on the first day, our team will have a better idea of your fitness levels and may decide to include additional crew on the trek to ensure the success of everyone in the group.
Snowman Trek
As this trip is sold on a private basis only, crew members will depend on the requirements of the group. Tip recommendations for this trip will be sent out to participants 3 weeks before departure.
The above tip recommendations are for advice only.
Tips are always discretionary and if you are not happy with the service you
have received you do not have to pay tips.
Other things to do in Bhutan
Besides trekking, Bhutan has some fantastic cultural activities and a lots of spectacular festivals. Cultural tours in Bhutan are possible, however this would be an extension to your trip. If this is something you are interested in then please get in touch with a member of our team. The main sites in Bhutan are:
Paro - Take a tour of the city. Bhutan’s National Museum is housed in Ta Dzong, a watchtower built to defend Rinpung Dzong in the 17th century. Displayed over several floors, the collection includes religious thangkha paintings, relics and Bhutan’s beautiful postage stamps. From the museum, a walk down to Rinpung Dzong; built in 1646 by the first spiritual leader of Bhutan, the Dzong is now home to the monastic body of Paro, as well as the offices of the Thrimpon (judge) and Dzongda (administrative head) of Paro district. The entrance to the Dzong is across a traditional Bhutanese covered bridge called Nemi Zam, from where there are great views of the Dzong itself.
Taktshang Lakhang (25 min from Paro) - The famous Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched high on the hill. The Taktshang monastery nestles on a clifftop,
around 3100m above sea level. The main temple, one of the holiest sites for the
people of Bhutan, was built in 1692. The name ‘Tiger’s Nest’ originates from
the legend that in the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche, an Indian
Buddhist master, came to the monastery to meditate on the back of a tigress.
The monastery is now recognised as a sacred place of worship for Buddhists, and
will be visited by Bhutanese people at least once in their life. The main
building was badly damaged by fire in 1998, but restoration work has now been
completed.
Thimpu (1hr 15 from Paro) - Take a tour of Bhutan's capital and learn about it's monarchy's history. The King’s Memorial Chorten was planned by
Bhutan’s third king, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, but was only completed
after his death so now serves as his memorial. An important religious site and
the focus of daily worship, people will circumambulate the chorten throughout
the day, reciting prayers and whirling the red prayer wheels. Visit the Trashichhoe Dzong – The Fortress of the Glorious Religion – the seat
of government and religion which is home to the monarch’s throne room.
Originally built in 1641, the Dzong was rebuilt in the 1960s using traditional
Bhutanese methods.
Festivals in Bhutan are held mainly in the summer and autumn seasons with the biggest Thimpu Tshechu held between the 10th-13th August. The festivals tend to be colourful, flamboyant affairs with dancing and rituals performed in the streets. They are well worth adding into your trekking schedule if you have time.
If you are in the region and want to make the most of your time in the worlds highest mountain range, why not consider visiting
Nepal. With less restrictions on tourism and travel, Nepal provides a cheaper, more flexible approach to the Himalayas but with this some of the remoteness of the Bhutanese routes is lost.
