Bhutan

The Bhutanese people fiercely guard their beliefs which is why it is prohibited to summit any of the peaks above 6,000m within Bhutan. Bhutan believes that the mountains are the homes of the gods and spirits and as such should be kept pure. For this reason, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, Gangkhar Puensum at approximately 7,500m, sits on the border between China and Bhutan.

This doesn’t mean Bhutan isn’t a country for mountaineers. It is very much a mountaineering country with many of the population native to the Himalaya and their way of life is rooted deep within the mountains in Bhutan. When this vibrant country opened for visitors in 1973 it was with the intention of inviting people to explore their incredible natural landscapes and experience the magic of the eastern Himalayas.

The largest city and capital of Bhutan is Thimphu and close to here is the international airport of Paro. Flights to Bhutan can only be booked from other Asian hub cities such as Delhi, Bangkok, Doha or Kathmandu. If you’re interested in visiting this exciting country, the best time to trek in Bhutan is September to November when the weather is drier, and the temperatures are mild. You have more chance of good weather through the autumn, however April to May is a beautiful time of year for wildflowers and less visitors.

There are some truly iconic experiences you mustn’t miss on your visit and Kandoo offers some of the best hikes Bhutan. Trekking to the Tiger’s Nest monastery, or Taktshang Lhakhang, is one of these. This awesome monastery defies gravity perched on the side of a mountain and the trek to reach it is an exciting adventure in itself. Perhaps the most famous of the Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan, The Tiger’s Nest dates back to the 1600s and features on most of our Bhutan trekking adventure itineraries.

Aside from the cultural sights in Bhutan, the country is famed for its trekking routes which attract visitors from afar. The Druk Path trek is a four-day hike from Paro to Thimphu across the exquisite landscape of Bhutan. Imagine glacial lakes, snow-capped mountains and lush forests and you’ll be some of the way to imagining the beauty of this iconic route. The Chomolhari Trek is an exciting hike from Paro to the Chomolhari base camp which offers stunning views of some of the highest peaks in Bhutan and onto Thimpu afterwards.

Lastly, perhaps the most famous, and definitely the most challenging, trekking route through Bhutan is the Snowman Trek Bhutan. This route takes you to the most remote parts of Bhutan and the combination of altitude, conditions here and the length of the hike make this ideally suited to experienced mountaineers only.