Trans Bhutan
Trail
Haa to Trashigang
A 500-Year-Old Trail, Walkable Again After 60 Years
The Trans Bhutan Trail is not a single trek in the way Jomolhari or Druk Path are — it's a restored historic route running the entire length of the country, from Haa in the west to Trashigang in the east, crossing nine dzongkhags and 27 gewogs. For centuries it was the only way to move across Bhutan on foot: traders, pilgrims, and the royal messengers known as garps once ran its length carrying mail between dzongs. It fell into disuse after Bhutan's first national highway was built in 1962, and much of it was lost to disrepair or absorbed into the new roads.
A multi-year restoration led by the Bhutan Canada Foundation rebuilt the trail's bridges, footpaths, and stone steps, reconnecting 400 cultural and historic sites along the way. It reopened in March 2022 — the first time in roughly 60 years anyone could walk the route continuously. Today the Trans Bhutan Trail organisation, a not-for-profit, reinvests 100% of trail-related proceeds into its upkeep and the communities along it.
Very few travellers walk all 403km in one trip — that's a genuine month-long undertaking. Most experience the trail as a handful of day sections woven into a standard Bhutan itinerary: an afternoon out of Thimphu, a morning above Punakha, a walk between two dzongs you were already planning to visit. That's the most practical way to include it, and it's how we'd usually recommend building it into your trip.
Trans Bhutan Trail at a Glance
Key facts to plan around before you book.
Total Length
403 km, in 28 sections
Grade
Easy to Strenuous, depending on section
Full Traverse
~36 days, end to end
Start / End
Haa (west) to Trashigang (east)
High Point
~3,900–4,000m at its highest passes
Best season
Year-round options; most sections best Mar–May and Sep–Nov
How It Works
Choosing Your Section
The stretch between Paro and Thimphu is the most accessible part of the trail for a first-time visitor, passing the giant Buddha Dordenma statue above Thimphu before descending into the Debsi valley toward Simtokha Dzong — built in 1629 and the oldest dzong in Bhutan to survive in its original form. This section pairs naturally with time you would already spend in Paro and Thimphu.
One of the most photographed stretches of the entire trail passes directly through Dochula Pass, home to the Druk Wangyal Chorten — the "108 Chortens" — at 3,116m, with panoramic Himalayan views on a clear morning. This section is an easy add-on for anyone already driving the Thimphu–Punakha road.
Further sections continue past Punakha and Trongsa Dzongs and the Chendebji Chorten, through farmland, forest, and villages rarely seen by travellers moving only by road. This stretch suits travellers who already have a few extra days built into a central Bhutan itinerary.
The trail continues east of Bumthang into a part of Bhutan that receives a fraction of the country's tourism — exactly the appeal for travellers who have already done a first Bhutan trip and want to go further off the circuit. Expect longer stages, more basic facilities, and considerably more solitude.
These four are illustrative starting points, not a fixed itinerary — the trail's 28 official sections can be combined in many ways depending on how much time you have and which part of the country you're already visiting. Tell us your dates and interests and we'll build a specific plan around them.
Walking the Trail with Found Bhutan
Add It to Your Existing Itinerary
The easiest way to experience the Trans Bhutan Trail is as an addition to a standard Bhutan tour — a half-day or full-day section slotted in alongside the dzongs and valleys you're already visiting, not a separate trip.
Licensed Guide, Always
As with every trek in Bhutan, a licensed guide accompanies you on the trail, and your tour operator handles the logistics of getting to and from each section's start and end points.
Choose Your Difficulty
Because the trail is modular, you can pick sections to match your fitness and time — from an easy half-day walk near Thimphu to a multi-day push through the quieter stretches east of Bumthang.
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