After two-and-a-half years of pandemic quarantine, Bhutan reopened in September, changing its longstanding “high value, low volume” tourism policy. Although visitors are no longer required to travel on packages his tours, the “sustainable development fee” mandated in Bhutan has been raised from $65 to $200 per day.
At the same time, the 250-mile Trans-Bhutan Trail, which has been used for centuries as a route of pilgrimage and communication, is reopening after a three-year restoration project that repairs suspension bridges, stone steps and long overgrown temples. it was done. The trail stretches east-west across most of the country, passing through cities, villages, farmlands and wilderness. Depending on the route and the time of year, trekkers will explore the snow-capped Himalayas, visit clifftop fortresses, climb sacred mountain trails, and pass through blooming rhododendron forests.
An official guide is required and itineraries range from half a day to over a month. Accommodation options include guesthouses, home stays, luxury hotels and well-equipped campgrounds on each of the trail’s 28 sections. Proceeds from trips booked with Trans Bhutan Trail, the nonprofit that led the restoration, go to trail maintenance, educational programs, guide training, and other community purposes.
— Sarah Clemens
Marcus Westberg
