Trans-Bhutan Trail

The Trans-Bhutan Trail is the restored medieval cross-country path of Bhutan — 403 km from the western border valley of Haa to the eastern town of Trashigang, passing through Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa, and Bumthang along the way. It was the country's main travel artery for centuries, used by traders, monks, pilgrims, and government messengers; it fell into disuse after the Lateral Road opened in the 1960s and was overgrown for sixty years until the Bhutan Canada Foundation funded its restoration. The trail reopened in September 2022, the same week international tourism resumed after the COVID pandemic.

The trail is organised into 28 distinct day-walks of 8–25 km each, connected by Bhutan's main east–west road. The full thru-hike is 36 days, but the trail is built to be walked in sections — most visitors do a 1–2 week trip that samples 4–8 of the sections, mixing walking days with cultural visits (the Tiger's Nest monastery near Paro, the Punakha Dzong fortress, the Bumthang valley monasteries). Highlights include the high crossings of Dochu La pass (3,150 m) east of Thimphu, the Black Mountain section between Trongsa and Bumthang, and the temperate-rainforest stretches descending into eastern Bhutan. Climb totals are substantial — Bhutan's terrain crosses a series of north–south ridges separating each valley, so the cumulative gain over the full route exceeds 35,000 m.

Like all Bhutan trekking, the Trans-Bhutan Trail is government-regulated: all foreign visitors must travel with a licensed operator and pay the $100-per-day Sustainable Development Fee (in addition to operator costs). The trail itself is free; the SDF and guide fees are the price of entry. The trail can be walked year-round but October–November and March–April are the most pleasant seasons. The trail association (transbhutantrail.com) handles bookings and works with about 40 authorised operators across the country. Accommodation along the way is in farmhouses, lodges, and a few new trekking-specific homestays built as part of the trail restoration project.